Historical connections exist between many European powers and markets such as Hong Kong, India, and Africa. Briefly discuss these historic relationships. How do past relationships impact international business in these markets today?

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As a consequence of the "opium war," Hong Kong was ceded to the British. In 1860, the British obtained possession of Kowloon and later they were granted a 99-year lease on the area. The lease expired on July 1, 1997. On that date China again assumed political control of Hong Kong and designated it a special administrative region (SAR). As an SAR, Hong Kong enjoys a fair degree of autonomy. It has its own legislature, economic freedom, free-port status, and a separate taxation system. Hong Kong will enjoy these privileges until 2047. However, China has made it clear that it will impose its own political will on Hong Kong. India was part of the British Empire until 1947, when the Indian subcontinent was partitioned along religious lines into India, where Hindus were in the majority, and Pakistan, where Muslims were dominant. India adopted many aspects of British government, including the parliamentary system, a strong independent judiciary, and a professional bureaucracy. Most of Africa was colonized in the late nineteenth century by the major European powers for strategic military purposes or to meet domestic political demands. The tide of colonialism began to reverse in the mid-1950s, as one by one the European powers surrendered control of their colonies. Vestiges of colonialism remain in today's Africa, however, affecting opportunities available to international businesses. For example, Chad, Niger, and the Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) retain close economic and cultural ties to France. They link their currencies to that of France and follow French legal, educational, and governmental procedures. Because of these ties, French manufacturers, financial institutions, and service-sector firms often dominate international commerce with these countries. Similarly, the public institutions of Kenya, Zimbabwe, and the Republic of South Africa are modeled along British lines, giving British firms a competitive advantage in these countries.