The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997 ended the territory's status as a part of the Commonwealth through the United Kingdom. Non-sovereign states or regions are not permitted to become members of the Commonwealth. The government of the People's Republic of China has not pursued membership.
Why China is not part of the Commonwealth Games? Because China was never a part of the British colonisation, it is not a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
The United States “once fell under the rule of the British Empire,” too. Why isn't it part of the Commonwealth? One word can answer that question: War. The United States is one of a small number of countries that went to battle against the monarchy for independence, and as a result calls itself a republic.
Participation in the Games is limited to member states of the Commonwealth of Nations and their territories. Although there are 56 members of the Commonwealth of Nations, 72 teams currently participate in the Commonwealth Games as a number of dependent territories compete under their own flags.
The US became independent from the UK in 1776, after 13 American colonies broke away and declared themselves a republic, refusing to recognise the British monarch as their head of state. This – the need to recognise the king or queen as the head of state – was a prerequisite to remaining a part of the Commonwealth.
Ireland and Zimbabwe are the only republic states to have withdrawn from the Commonwealth entirely. In 1948 and 2003 respectively. Here is a list of Commonwealth republics and the year they first joined the Commonwealth: Bangladesh (1972)
Hong Kong competed at the Commonwealth and British Empire Games as a British colony or dependent territory from 1934 to 1994. The abbreviation for Hong Kong was HKG. In 1997, the United Kingdom handed Hong Kong over to the People's Republic of China, meaning it could no longer participate.
When India and Pakistan were granted independence in 1947, they became members of the Commonwealth.
However, the Games will be remembered mostly for the large political boycott that took place. The boycotts came about because of the Thatcher Government's attitude towards British sporting links with apartheid-era South Africa. In total, the Games were boycotted by 32 of the 59 Commonwealth nations.
Its treatment as a member ended on 18 April 1949 when Irish legislation that the Commonwealth chose to regard as having caused Ireland to become a republic became law. It is the only country whose membership terminated without any declaration withdrawing from the organisation.
Why do England, Wales, Scotland, and Wales Compete Separately? Unlike at the Olympic Games, the home nations compete separately rather than as Team GB. At the Olympic Games, only sovereign states can enter which is why British athletes compete for Great Britain, rather than four England, Wales, Scotland, or Wales.
Commonwealth member countries benefit from being part of a mutually supportive community of independent and sovereign states, aided by more than 80 Commonwealth organisations. The Commonwealth Secretariat, established in 1965, supports Commonwealth member countries to achieve development, democracy and peace.
The Commonwealth Games is open to eligible competitors of the Commonwealth Games Association of all Commonwealth countries, colonies and dependent or associated territories of a Commonwealth country. Although there are 52 Commonwealth nations, the Commonwealth Games Movement recognises 72 nations and territories.
Hong Kong competed at the Commonwealth and British Empire Games as a British colony or dependent territory from 1934 to 1994. The abbreviation for Hong Kong was HKG. In 1997, the United Kingdom handed Hong Kong over to the People's Republic of China, meaning it could no longer participate.
A Commonwealth of Republics
Ireland left never to return and Zimbabwe left and is now seeking to re-join. Other countries looking to join the commonwealth include South Sudan, Suriname, Burundi and the as-yet-unrecognized Somaliland. The combined population of the Commonwealth's member states is 2.4bn.
World War II had severely damaged the British Empire in terms of economy. To cut their losses they were forced to relinquish many of their colonies.
The origins of the Commonwealth lie in Britain's former colonial empire. Until 1949, the member states of today's Commonwealth were united through common allegiance to the British Crown. After the Second World War, many countries sought their independence.
In 1949 many Pakistanis considered that too much attention had been given to India to keep her in the Commonwealth, and so the principal rationale for Pakistan's continued membership was to keep an eye on India and not to concede Commonwealth platforms to her whilst denying them to themselves.
And that's all fun and games, except the U.S. can't compete. The Commonwealth is a group of 54 “independent and equal countries,” according to the Commonwealth's website. Notably, these countries include swimming powerhouses like Australia, South Africa, Canada, and, of course, the United Kingdom.
Singapore has taken part in every Games since their debut in 1958. Singapore participated as a crown colony in 1958 and 1962, and as an independent Commonwealth country from 1966 onwards.
Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, 1900: Original Public Record Copy (1900). The Australian Constitution does not contemplate any state or territory leaving Australia. The only legal path to secession would be by a national referendum.
Australia is a founding member of the modern Commonwealth and has been an active participant in Commonwealth organisations, programs and meetings for over 60 years.
Until 1949, Britain and Australia shared a common nationality code. The final constitutional ties between the United Kingdom and Australia ended in 1986 with the passing of the Australia Act 1986.