 Hong Kong was leased to the British Empire in 1841 until the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, when it was converted into a special administrative region.Kouang-Tchéou-Wan, also known as Zhanjiang, was leased to the French Third Republic in 1898 until the end of World War II in 1946.Macau was granted to the Portuguese Empire in 1851 until the transfer of sovereignty over Macau in 1999, when it was converted into a special administrative region.