Relationship dossier
Hong Kong
Macau
Relationship assessment
Practical cooperation between two Chinese special administrative regions, including a bilateral framework and shared transport links.
Hong Kong toward Macau
+30Hong Kong participates with Macao in a bilateral cooperation framework and in coordination around shared transport links, including the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Hong Kong's government operates within the foreign-affairs framework of the People's Republic of China.
Macau toward Hong Kong
+30Macao participates with Hong Kong in a bilateral cooperation framework and in coordination around shared transport links, including the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Macao's government operates within the foreign-affairs framework of the People's Republic of China.
Overall relationship
+30The relationship is shaped by practical cooperation between two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China. A bilateral cooperation framework and shared regional transport infrastructure support engagement, although the breadth and implementation of direct collaboration are not fully clear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Hong Kong and Macao maintain practical interregional cooperation under their respective special administrative region governments, including a bilateral cooperation framework and coordination on transport and economic links. Both are part of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge project, a major shared infrastructure connection. Their governments do not conduct independent foreign policy, and the scope and implementation of bilateral cooperation are not fully clear.
Key developments
Hong Kong and Macao established a cooperation framework for collaboration across areas including economic ties, transport, tourism, education and culture.
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge opened, creating a major cross-boundary transport link involving Hong Kong and Macao, alongside Zhuhai.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of cooperation under the Hong Kong-Macao framework are unclear.
- The extent of ongoing direct coordination between the two regional governments is uncertain.