WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_date_format' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_date_format', 'Date Format', 'Enter date format Ex. d/m/Y OR M j, Y', 'input', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'pttheme_contact_email' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('pttheme_contact_email', 'Contact Form Email', 'Enter your Email address for Contact Form', 'input', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_breadcrumbs' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_breadcrumbs', 'Breadcrumbs Navigation', 'Display Breadcrumbs navigation. i.e. Home > Blog > Title - <a href=options-general.php?page=yoast-breadcrumbs.php">Change options here</a>', 'radio', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_auto_install' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_auto_install', 'Disable Auto Install', 'Want to disable Auto Install ?', 'radio', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_postcontent_full' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_postcontent_full', 'Content Display', 'Instead of default Post excerpts display Full Post Content in Category Listing', 'radio', 'Full Content,Excerpt')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_content_excerpt_count' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_content_excerpt_count', 'Content Excerpt Word Count', 'Enter Content Excerpt Word Count.', 'input', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_content_excerpt_readmore' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_content_excerpt_readmore', 'Content Excerpt \"Read More\" Link Text', 'Enter Content Excerpt \"Read More\" Link Text', 'input', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'navigation_settings' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('navigation_settings', 'Navigation Settings', '', 'heading', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_top_pages_nav_enable' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_top_pages_nav_enable', 'Top Header Navigation Settings', 'Wish to activate Top Header Navigation?', 'radio', 'Activate,Deactivate')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_top_pages_nav' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_top_pages_nav', 'Top Header Navigation Pages', 'Select Pages which you wish to show in Top Navigation', 'pages', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_category_top_nav' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_category_top_nav', 'Top Header Navigation Article Category', 'Select Categories which you wish to show in Top Navigation', 'categories', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_main_pages_nav_enable' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_main_pages_nav_enable', 'Main Header Navigation Settings', 'Wish to activate Main Header Navigation?', 'radio', 'Activate,Deactivate')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_include_main_nav' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_include_main_nav', 'Main Navigation Pages', 'Select Pages which you wish to show in Main Navigation', 'pages', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_category_main_nav' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_category_main_nav', 'Main Navigation Article Category', 'Select Categories which you wish to show in Main Navigation', 'categories', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_top_home_links' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_top_home_links', 'Top Navigation Home Links', 'Display home link in top navigation', 'radio', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_main_nav_home_links' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_main_nav_home_links', 'Main Navigation Home Links', 'Display home link in main navigation', 'radio', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'header_footer_scripts' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('header_footer_scripts', 'Add Scripts', '', 'heading', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_scripts_header' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_scripts_header', 'Header Scripts', 'If you need to add scripts to your header (like <a href="http://haveamint.com/">Mint</a> tracking code), do so here.', 'textarea', '10')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_scripts_footer' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_scripts_footer', 'Footer Scripts', 'If you need to add scripts to your footer (like <a href="http://www.google.com/analytics/">Google Analytics</a> tracking code), do so here.', 'textarea', '10')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'seo_options' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('seo_options', 'SEO Options', '', 'heading', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_home_title_seo' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_home_title_seo', 'Home Title', 'Home Title for SEO', 'textarea', '3')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_home_desc_seo' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_home_desc_seo', 'Home Description', 'Home description for SEO', 'textarea', '10')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_home_keyword_seo' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_home_keyword_seo', 'Home Keywords', 'Home keywords for SEO (comma separated)', 'textarea', '10')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_category_noindex' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_category_noindex', 'Use noindex for Categories', 'Check this box for excluding category pages from being crawled', 'radio', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_archives_noindex' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_archives_noindex', 'Use noindex for Archives', 'Do you want to index Archives ? This helps in removing duplicate content from being indexed', 'radio', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_tag_archives_noindex' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_tag_archives_noindex', 'Use noindex for Tag Archives', 'Do you want to index Tags ? This helps in removing duplicate content from being indexed', 'radio', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'pttheme_seo_hide_fields' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('pttheme_seo_hide_fields', 'Hide SEO Custom Fields', 'Check this to hide the custom SEO fields created in post and page screens', 'radio', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_use_third_party_data' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_use_third_party_data', 'Use Third Party SEO Plugin', 'Data added to custom fields in post & pages will be used where applicable', 'radio', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_notification_type' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_notification_type', 'Email Notifications Type', 'select Email Notifications options', 'radio', 'PHP Mail, WP SMTP Mail')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'post_settings' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('post_settings', 'Posts', '', 'heading', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_home_page' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_home_page', 'Home Page', 'Enter Number of post in home page', 'input', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_cat_page' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_cat_page', 'Archive Page', 'Enter Number of post in Archive Page', 'input', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_search_page' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_search_page', 'Search Page', 'Enter Number of post in search page', 'input', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_listing_date' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_listing_date', 'Listing Post Date', 'Display post date in listing pages', 'select', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_listing_tags' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_listing_tags', 'Listing Post Tags', 'Display post tags in listing pages', 'select', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_listing_category' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_listing_category', 'Listing Post Category', 'Display post category in listing pages', 'select', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_listing_comment' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_listing_comment', 'Listing Post Comment', 'Display post comment in listing pages', 'select', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_listing_author' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_listing_author', 'Listing Post Author', 'Display post author in listing pages', 'select', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_details_date' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_details_date', 'Detail Post Date', 'Display post date in detail page', 'select', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_details_tags' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_details_tags', 'Detail Post Tags', 'Display post tags in detail pages', 'select', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_details_category' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_details_category', 'Detail Post Category', 'Display post category in detail pages', 'select', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_details_comment' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_details_comment', 'Detail Post Comment', 'Display post comment in detail pages', 'select', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_details_author' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_details_author', 'Detail Post Author', 'Display post author in detail pages', 'select', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_pagination' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_pagination', 'Pagination', '', 'radio', 'Default + WP Page-Navi support, AJAX-fetching posts')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_common_settings' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_common_settings', 'Style & Color Settings', '', 'heading', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_fonts' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_fonts', 'Fonts', 'Choose your site fonts', 'select', 'Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif, Arial, Arial Black, Trebuchet MS, Helvetica, sans-serif, Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif,')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_body_background_color' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_body_background_color', 'Body Background Color', 'Choose your site background color', 'colorpicker', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_body_background_image' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_body_background_image', 'Body Background Image', 'Upload background image from here', 'upload', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_body_bg_postions' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_body_bg_postions', 'Body Background Image Postions', 'Select body background image postion', 'select', 'no-repeat,repeat,repeat-x,repeat-y,repeat-y center top,repeat-y left top')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_link_color_normal' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_link_color_normal', 'Link Color Normal', 'Select link color normal', 'colorpicker', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_link_color_hover' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_link_color_hover', 'Link Color Hover', 'Select Hover link color', 'colorpicker', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_main_title_color' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_main_title_color', 'Main Title Color', 'Select main title color', 'colorpicker', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_customcss' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_customcss', 'Use Custom Stylesheet', 'If you want to make custom design changes using CSS enable this and <a href="theme-editor.php">edit custom.css file here</a>', 'radio', 'Activate, Deactivate')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_page_layouts' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_page_layouts', 'Page Layout', '', 'heading', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_page_layout' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_page_layout', 'Page Layout', 'Select page layout', 'select', 'Full Page, Page 2 column - Right Sidebar, Page 2 column - Left Sidebar, Page 3 column - Fixed, Page 3 column - Right Sidebar, Page 3 column - Left Sidebar')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_bottom_options' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_bottom_options', 'Select footer top', 'select bottom section options', 'select', 'Two Column - Right(one third), Two Column - Left(one third), Equal Column, Three Column, Fourth Column, Full Width')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_article_setting' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_article_setting', 'Article Settings', '', 'heading', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_articlelisting_expiry_disable' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_articlelisting_expiry_disable', 'Disable Article Expiry ', 'Wish to disable article expiry process? If you disable the option, none of article will expire in future.', 'radio', 'Yes, No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_articlelisting_preexpiry_notice_disable' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_articlelisting_preexpiry_notice_disable', 'Disable Article Expiry Email Notification', 'Wish to disable article pre expiry notification to author? If you disable the option, pre expiry email notification will stop.', 'radio', 'Yes, No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_articlelisting_preexpiry_notice_days' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_articlelisting_preexpiry_notice_days', 'Number of days Before Pre Expiry', 'Enter number of days before pre expiry notification Email will be sent.', 'select', '1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_articlelisting_ex_status' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_articlelisting_ex_status', 'Article Expiry Status', 'Select the article status after the article expires..', 'select', 'draft, publish, trash')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_article_status' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_article_status', 'Article Status', 'Select the article status for the article submit..', 'select', 'draft, publish, trash')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_articlecategory_dislay' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_articlecategory_dislay', 'Add Article page Settings', 'Category display settings', 'select', 'checkbox, radio, select')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_addarticle_captcha' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_addarticle_captcha', 'Captcha', 'Captcha Validation on Add Article Page', 'radio', 'Yes, No')
In fact, one of China’s central objectives for the transition period was to determine how some of Hong Kong’s prosperity could be spread and shared with the mainland Chinese. This would occur, China anticipated, not by patterning any of its own economic and business initiatives after Hong Kong’s successful models, but by entering into a lateral and mutually beneficial relationship with Hong Kong. Specifically, China would be in a better position to negotiate and influence trade and partnership agreements, thereby solidifying its position as an emerging superpower. China would certainly exert influence over Hong Kong, but would avoid substantial interference in governance for at least fifty years; this condition was specifically included in the Sino-British Joint Declaration document (Chan & Postiglione 4).
Clearly, one of the most important implications of the Sino-British Joint Declaration would be economic in nature. For many years prior to the handover, Hong Kong enjoyed unparalleled economic prosperity and relative economic stability and a high standard of living compared to most, if not all, of the neighboring Asian countries, including China, which greatly exceeds Hong Kong in terms of both land mass and population density (Chan & Postiglione 182). Given Hong Kong’s unique and long-lasting relationship with Britain, the country enjoyed robust international investment, both in terms of literal cash flow and in terms of significant infrastructure initiatives that other Asian countries had little, if any, hope of achieving (Meyer 2).
Consider, for example, that the United States alone has more than 900 businesses with regional headquarters or offices in Hong Kong (American Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong, 2005), representing an enormous stimulus to the local and international economy. Indeed, Hong Kong is one of the most important world players on the financial stage. As Meyer observes, “Traders and financiers in Hong Kong [have] always operated in multitiered national, world-regional, and global economies” (2). The potential impact of the transition, then, portended serious implications not only for China, but for Hong Kong itself, and the world economic markets at large.
The colonial relationship with Britain, despite some obvious problematic aspects, had other economic benefits for Hong Kong as well. One of the reasons that foreign investors and companies were so confident in establishing a presence in Hong Kong was because of its ties with Britain. For many Western nations, Hong Kong represented an attractive and relatively safe entry into a region where the United States, in particular, did not enjoy many positive relationships. Consider, for instance, the cases of China and Japan. The two biggest countries in terms of size and population density, as well as in political power and might, had both endured hostile wars—both militaristic and ideological– with the United States in the twentieth century. The trust and business relationships between the United States and each of these countries had been severely compromised, and suspicions still abounded on both sides that would likely preclude the United States from establishing any serious and profitable presence in either of these countries.
Then there was the case of Vietnam. While not known for its economic prosperity, Vietnam was clearly not a viable market for the United States to enter, even for industrialization purposes; the resentment over the war would linger for years to come. Hong Kong, by comparison, had no obvious political or ideological differences or disputes with the United States, which made it a particularly attractive locale for business in the Asian region. As more and more businesses, whether North American or otherwise, established a presence in Hong Kong, local systems of transportation, telecommunications, and other elements of business infrastructure were improved quickly and dramatically, thereby providing still more incentive for other countries to invest in Hong Kong in terms of their presence and with their cash.
Another related reason why Hong Kong proved so attractive to foreign investors and companies was that it was perceived as a country that valued an international presence, and which protected and promoted international values and civil liberties. Hong Kong, unlike the neighboring Asian countries named above, had not been directly involved in any international conflicts or human rights scandals. In fact, it maintained a relatively low profile. Many of the same people who were investing in Hong Kong would probably have been hard-pressed to explain anything they knew about Hong Kong apart from its impressive business atmosphere conducive to international trade. While the rest of the world was busily engaged in wars and conflicts, Hong Kong was busy making money.
The emphasis on money-making should not be underemphasized or misinterpreted. The accumulation of wealth and the promotion of prosperity, on both an individual and a social level, has long been considered very important to the people of Hong Kong, even to the exclusion of other political and social involvement and accomplishments. As Cheung and Sing note, “The pursuit of wealth has long been a common goal in [Hong Kong]” (843). Cheung and Sing go on to explain that “The first base of legitimacy for the Hong Kong government has [always] been prosperity” (843). Cheung and Sing trace this yearning for material comfort back through Hong Kong’s modern history, pointing out that “A substantial proportion of the older generation in Hong Kong were economic and political refugees fleeing from mainland China to Hong Kong in pursuit of prosperity and freedom” (843). Understandably, this quality has always been attractive to outside investors who are hungry to pursue and collect their own benefits, and there is probably a particular resonance for American investors, who share an ideological and philosophical approach to money-making as a tool for attaining freedom.
There is yet another variable that explains Hong Kong’s investor magnetism. Hong Kong also enjoyed an enviable degree of self-determination and autonomy with respect to its own economic affairs while it was a British colony (Feder 18). Feder explains that pre-handover, Hong Kong had what could be characterized as a “pro-market economy,” which he defines as a system in which “government neither impedes nor advances enterprise” (18). In this sense, the Hong Kong government mirrored the colonial relationship itself, taking a laissez-faire approach to overseeing the economy, and allowing business to drive its own destiny and set its own standards. This pro-market economy was one of the most important defining characteristics that contributed to Hong Kong’s economic prosperity, and Feder contrasts this model with the “pro-business economies of other Asian nations” (18). He observes that the inherent neutrality of the pro-market economy has been the “key to the city’s [Hong Kong’s] phenomenal success” (Feder 18).