Special Administrative Regions
Although mainland China is currently far away from a full-fledged civil democracy, Hong Kong and Macau as Special Administrative Regions do have some essences of liberal democracy.
As European colonies, both were denied democratic governments until very late in the colonial period. Hong Kong got its first elections in the 1980s and Macau in the 1990s. Both Hong Kong and Macau have legislatures; 30 of Hong Kong's 60 legislators are directly elected, as are 12 of Macao's 29. Also, like grassroots elections in China, Hong Kong does hold elections for the district counsel, which act as consultants to the government.
Read more about this topic: Democracy In China
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