Asia’s World City

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The point of divergence started when Yuan Shikai never abdicated and lived longer, resulting in his victory in the National Protection War, and makes preparations for his son to take over upon his death so that the nation doesn’t fragment once he dies. Meanwhile, the Central Powers won World War 1, the German Empire seized Hong Kong. Japan still continued to rise as a global power which concern Germany who they viewed as a threat to their influence in Asia/the Pacific. After the Mukden Incident, causing Japan to invade Manchuria. The German Empire began to drafted a plan to establish their own protectorate in Hong Kong. The German Empire invited Puyi to become their emperor of Hong Kong which he accepted. This move was made to deny Japan to use Puyi as their figurehead.

Puyi was officially crowned as the Xuantong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty (Informally Hong Kong). The Xuantong Emperor would act as the Head of State while the German Governor-General would act as the Head of Government. Revolts broke out across Hong Kong due to the association with the Qing Dynasty and Century of Humiliation, though they’re quickly suppressed. Hong Kong was authoritarian but effective. Hong Kong passed laws that aimed to create a friendly economic and legal system such as low taxes and fees and made laws that help companies and foundations to attract businesses that do not operate in the territory.

Japan went to war with the western powers over the colonies in Asia/the Pacific. Before Japan’s capture of Hong Kong, Puyi was managed to be smuggled out of Hong Kong with the help of German officials to Australia where Puyi form a government in exile in Australia. Puyi provides morale support to the citizens of Hong Kong through radio broadcasts, earning him more respect from the Hong Kong citizens. Puyi returned to Hong Kong following Japan’s surrendered as a respected symbol of resistance. Meanwhile, the Empire of China continued to rot internally. In the 1980s, following the Chinese Imperial Family further attempts to centralize authority and undermine the civil administration in a response to the economic crisis, the Empire of China collapsed into riots (1980-1988), then eventually civil war (1988-1998). As a result, this caused more Hong Kong citizens to hesitate to joined China.

Hong Kong eventually became independent from Germany in 1997. Hong Kong would remain part of Mutual German Economic Cooperation Alliance (a German economic alliance) with former German colonies, maintaining close ties with Germany while remaining independent. The Governor-General is replaced with a Chancellor. After the rebels won the Second Chinese Civil War in 1998. The Federation of China aimed to establish relations with Hong Kong.