The Meaning and Implementation of "One Country, Two Systems"
Basic'One Country, Two Systems' means one China with two systems: the mainland keeps socialism while Hong Kong keeps its original capitalist system and way of life, enjoying a high degree of autonomy under the Constitution and the Basic Law.
- The Hong Kong question stems from three unequal treaties (1842, 1860, 1898) — a legacy of history
- Timeline: 1984 Joint Declaration, 1990 Basic Law adopted, 1 July 1997 SAR established
- The Constitution and Basic Law form the constitutional basis; autonomy comes from NPC authorisation
文體小知識：公民教育說明文——講解「一國兩制」的概念、由來與憲制實踐，是理解香港特區的基礎知識。
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1The Hong Kong question traces back to the nineteenth century: Britain occupied Hong Kong through three unequal treaties — the Treaty of Nanking in 1842 ceding Hong Kong Island, the Convention of Peking in 1860 ceding the southern tip of the Kowloon Peninsula, and the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory in 1898 leasing the New Territories for 99 years. China never accepted these treaties, so the Hong Kong question is a legacy of history.
2In the 1980s, the state put forward the concept of 'One Country, Two Systems' to settle Hong Kong's future. The Sino-British Joint Declaration was signed in December 1984, the NPC adopted the Basic Law in April 1990, and on 1 July 1997 the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was established. Since then the mainland keeps its socialist system while Hong Kong retains its original capitalist system and way of life.
3The Constitution and the Basic Law together form the SAR's constitutional basis. The state holds indisputable sovereignty and governing rights over Hong Kong, and the NPC authorises the SAR to exercise a high degree of autonomy. The political system is executive-led with the Chief Executive at its core; the executive, legislature and judiciary each perform their functions and coordinate with one another under the Basic Law.
4The social events of 2019 exposed the gap in safeguarding national security. On 30 June 2020 the Hong Kong National Security Law was enacted, listed in Annex III of the Basic Law and implemented in Hong Kong the same day, and society returned to stability. Safeguarding national security and protecting residents' rights and freedoms need to be balanced — and Hong Kong's long-term prosperity rests precisely on the rule of law.
1Summary 重點摘要
'One Country, Two Systems' means one China with two systems: the mainland keeps socialism while Hong Kong keeps its original capitalist system and way of life, enjoying a high degree of autonomy under the Constitution and the Basic Law.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
The state's policy: under the premise of one China, the mainland keeps socialism while Hong Kong keeps its original capitalist system and way of life.
The three treaties by which Britain occupied Hong Kong; China has never recognised their validity.
Signed by China and Britain in December 1984, confirming China's resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong on 1 July 1997.
The constitutional document of the HKSAR, adopted by the NPC in April 1990 and effective from 1 July 1997.
The relationship between the Central Authorities and the HKSAR: sovereignty rests with the state, and the SAR's powers come from central authorisation.
Authorised by the NPC, Hong Kong enjoys executive, legislative and independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication.
A feature of the HKSAR political system: the Chief Executive is at its core and the executive leads the system.
The view that national security covers political, economic, cultural and many other fields.
Passed by the NPC Standing Committee on 30 June 2020, listed in Annex III of the Basic Law and implemented in Hong Kong the same day.
Everyone obeys the law and the government acts in accordance with law — a core value underpinning Hong Kong's stability and prosperity.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: How the Hong Kong question aroseFrom the mid-nineteenth century, Britain occupied Hong Kong through three unequal treaties: the Treaty of Nanking in 1842 ceding Hong Kong Island, the Convention of Peking in 1860 ceding the southern tip of the Kowloon Peninsula, and the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory in 1898 leasing the New Territories for 99 years. China has never recognised these treaties, so the Hong Kong question is a legacy of history. Knowing the three treaties' names, years and content is the basis of every answer in this topic.
- Step 2: The 'One Country, Two Systems' conceptTo settle Hong Kong's future, the state proposed 'One Country, Two Systems': under the premise of one China, the mainland keeps its socialist system while Hong Kong retains its original capitalist system and way of life, unchanged for 50 years. The idea balances national unity with Hong Kong's realities and formed the basis of the Sino-British negotiations. For example, Hong Kong kept its own currency and common law after the handover — concrete signs of 'two systems' coexisting.
- Step 3: The road to the handoverIn December 1984, China and Britain formally signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration, confirming that the People's Republic of China would resume the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong on 1 July 1997. The Basic Law Drafting Committee was set up in 1985; after five years of consultation and drafting, the NPC adopted the Basic Law on 4 April 1990 as the SAR's constitutional document. On 1 July 1997 the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was established and the concept became practice. Memorise this timeline precisely — it is examined often.
- Step 4: Constitutional relationship and high autonomyThe Constitution and the Basic Law together form the constitutional basis of the HKSAR. The state has indisputable sovereignty and governing rights over Hong Kong; authorised by the NPC, Hong Kong exercises a high degree of autonomy, enjoying executive, legislative and independent judicial power including that of final adjudication. The Central Authorities and the SAR stand in a relationship of authorisation: the power of autonomy comes from the centre. This is the key to understanding 'one country' and 'two systems' — always state the source of the power clearly.
- Step 5: The SAR's political systemHong Kong's political system is executive-led, with the Chief Executive at its core. The executive formulates and implements policies, the legislature makes laws, and the judiciary exercises judicial power independently; the three branches each perform their functions under the Basic Law while coordinating and checking one another. For example, the government introduces a bill, the Legislative Council deliberates and passes it, and the courts hear cases independently — all within the Basic Law framework, so governance is both effective and supervised.
- Step 6: Why national security mattersThe social events of 2019 exposed a clear gap in the HKSAR's safeguarding of national security. The holistic approach to national security stresses that security covers political, economic, cultural and many other fields, not only military affairs. On 30 June 2020, the Standing Committee of the NPC passed the Hong Kong National Security Law and listed it in Annex III of the Basic Law; it took effect in Hong Kong the same day, prescribing offences for acts endangering national security, restoring social stability and protecting Hong Kong's long-term prosperity.
- Step 7: Balancing the rule of law and human rightsWhile national security laws are made and enforced, the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents remain protected by the Basic Law. Safeguarding national security and protecting human rights are not opposed: the law targets acts that endanger national security, while ordinary daily life and lawful expression are unaffected. In answers, analyse from the angle of balance — explain why national security must be safeguarded and point out that rights and freedoms are protected by law — rather than setting the two up as simple opposites.
5Worked example Example
Data-response practice: the data states that the Constitution and the Basic Law together form the constitutional basis of the HKSAR, and that the NPC authorises the SAR to exercise a high degree of autonomy. What constitutional status of the HKSAR does the data reflect? Explain.
- Read the question: it asks for the SAR's constitutional status; the key terms are 'constitutional basis' and 'authorisation' — build the answer around them
- State the 'one country' premise: the state has indisputable sovereignty and governing rights over the HKSAR, which is directly accountable to the Central People's Government
- Use the data: the constitutional basis comes from the Constitution and the Basic Law; the high degree of autonomy comes from NPC authorisation, covering executive, legislative and independent judicial power including final adjudication
- Conclude: the autonomy comes from central authorisation — the Central Authorities and the SAR stand in a relationship of authorisation
- Answer: The constitutional status of the HKSAR can be explained in two parts. First, the state has indisputable sovereignty and governing rights over Hong Kong, and the SAR is directly accountable to the Central People's Government — the premise of 'one country'. Second, the Constitution and the Basic Law together form the SAR's constitutional basis; authorised by the NPC, the SAR exercises a high degree of autonomy, enjoying executive, legislative and independent judicial power including that of final adjudication. The power of autonomy therefore comes from central authorisation, and the relationship is one of authorisation — exactly what the data reflects.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What are the three unequal treaties?
Q2When was the Sino-British Joint Declaration signed, and what did it confirm?
Q3Where does Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy come from?
Q4When did the Hong Kong National Security Law take effect?
Q5What is the feature of the HKSAR political system?
8Recap Recap
- The Hong Kong question stems from three unequal treaties (1842, 1860, 1898) — a legacy of history
- Timeline: 1984 Joint Declaration, 1990 Basic Law adopted, 1 July 1997 SAR established
- The Constitution and Basic Law form the constitutional basis; autonomy comes from NPC authorisation
- Executive-led with the Chief Executive at the core; three branches perform their duties and coordinate
- The NSL took effect on 30 June 2020; safeguarding security and protecting rights need to be balanced