The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China is located on the southeastern coast of China, and the Macao SAR can be found off of China's southern coast. Both regions have recently been released from European colonial rule: Hong Kong from British control in 1997 and Macao from Portugal in 1999. As SARs, Hong Kong and Macao retain a high degree of autonomy, and they control all issues except those of state (e.g. diplomatic relations and national defense). As with other volumes in the Historical Dictionaries series, the Historical Dictionary of the Hong Kong SAR and the Macao SAR includes maps, photographs, a list of acronyms, a chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries on important persons, places, and events as well as political, economic and social background. However, unlike the rest of the series, all these sections are presented in duplicate: one for Hong Kong and one for Macao. The authoritative analysis and informative data presented clearly elucidate the unique situation of these two territories.

"...this useful dictionary will help to provide much valuable background information to the HKSAR and the Macao SAR...it should be found on the shelves of any reference collection that aims to be comprehensive." - s, Vol. 21, No. 7, 2007

"This book is an indispensable reference resource for studying and researching the histories of Hong Kong and Macao....recommended..." - American Reference Books Annual

"The Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions (SARs) of the People's Republic of China have recently been released from European rule, yet, as SARs, they retain a high degree of autonomy. This historical dictionary contains chronologies and entries on key political and economic figures, institutions, and programs in both regions. Appendices offer statistics and lists of officials for each region. Chan is executive coordinator of the Hong Kong Documentary Archives at Stanford University. Lo teaches political science at the University of Waterloo, Canada." - Reference and Research Book News