Hong Kong is officially named "Hong Kong, China" because it is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China, having been handed back by the British in 1997 after a 99-year lease expired. Under the "one country, two systems" framework, it remains part of China while retaining its own legal, economic, and monetary systems until 2047.
According to the Basic Law Hong Kong will remain as an autonomous Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China with its own currency, legal system, and parliamentary system. Chinese call this type of governance as one country, two systems.
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Situated on China's southern coast just south of Shenzhen, it consists of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories.
This divide stems from the fact that, culturally, Hong Kong is its own thing, proudly distinct from mainland China. While most Hong Kongers consider themselves Chinese, they do not consider themselves a part of China.
JUST NOW: Supreme Court Drops a 9–0 Bombshell on Trump—America Stunned by What Happens Next!
Can you be a citizen of Hong Kong but not China?
According to the relevant provisions stipulated in the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, a permanent resident in Hong Kong or Macao SAR can be either a Chinese citizen ...
Hong Kong is not a country; it is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, operating under the "one country, two systems" principle, which grants it a high degree of autonomy in most areas except defense and foreign affairs, maintaining its own legal, economic, and social systems distinct from mainland China.
Britain returned Hong Kong to China because the 99-year lease on the vital New Territories was expiring in 1997, making it impractical to separate them from Hong Kong Island and Kowloon; facing a powerful China that wanted all territories back, Britain negotiated the "One Country, Two Systems" agreement to ensure Hong Kong's capitalist system and autonomy for 50 years, preventing economic collapse and a potential invasion.
The 1984 Sino–British Joint Declaration set the terms of the 1997 handover, under which China pledged to uphold "one country, two systems" for 50 years. Hong Kong became China's first special administrative region, followed by Macau in 1999 under similar arrangements.
In March 2022, Xia Baolong, head of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, said that after 2047, the "one country, two systems" could be extended by another 50 years, until 2097. In July 2022, Leung Chun-ying, former chief executive, said that he expected the system to be extended past 2047.
According to a number of opinion polls conducted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (HKPORI), and Reuters, a majority of Hongkongers do not support Hong Kong independence. However, support for independence is higher amongst young Hongkongers.
Can you say you've been to China if you went to Hong Kong?
Hong Kong and China have different travel requirements, different politics and present two different travel experiences – although you could technically say you went to China if you did indeed visit Hong Kong.
Ethnically, Hong Kong mainly consists of Chinese who constitute approximately 92% of the population. Of these, many originate from various regions in Guangdong. There are also a number of descendants of immigrants from elsewhere in Southern China during and after the Chinese Civil War.
Why is Hong Kong separate from China in the Olympics?
After Hong Kong was handed over to the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1997, the NOC for the new special administrative region (SAR) of China has since been known as "Hong Kong, China". Hong Kong maintains its own NOC and is represented separately from mainland China at the Olympics.
What happens if you have more than three kids in China?
In this regard, during the 2020 National People's Congress (NPC) session, NPC deputy Huang Xihua suggested removing the penalty policy for having more than three children. Previously, the fine, called a "social upbringing fee" or "social maintenance fee", was the punishment for the families having more than one child.
A society where problems are hidden rather than solved can appear “orderly,” but that order is often achieved through coercion and silence, not care and dignity. Homelessness exists, but it is made largely invisible through a mix of short-term containment, forced removal, and strict control over reporting.
Thousands of Hongkongers emigrated for political reasons after the Chinese government imposed its stringent national security law in 2020. The following year, the UK government changed its policy for those with British National Overseas (BNO) status, extending opportunities to live and work in the UK.
Britain likely did not think they would ever need to return it. However, 99 years later, China did indeed demand this land back. By this point, most of Hong Kong's population lived in the New Territories, and it was not possible to separate it.
Are Hong Kong citizens considered Chinese citizens?
Yes, most Hong Kong residents, particularly those of Chinese descent born in Hong Kong, are considered Chinese citizens under Chinese nationality law, even if they hold foreign passports for travel, though China generally doesn't recognize dual nationality and requires declarations for foreign citizenship status. Since the 1997 handover, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, making its residents Chinese nationals, but they possess distinct residency rights and use HKSAR passports, separate from mainland China.
While English is commonly used as an official language and is almost always used in business and government dealings, Cantonese is the dialect most often heard in the streets of Hong Kong. Many people in Hong Kong also speak Mandarin and the number of Mandarin speakers is now on the rise.
There is resentment in Hong Kong towards the mainland over convergence and assimilation, as well as the increasing interference from the government of China and its ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Hong Kong's internal affairs.
A typical tourist can expect to spend between HK$800-2,500 (US$100-320) per day depending on travel style, with budget travelers managing on HK$800 (US$100), mid-range travelers spending around HK$1,500-2,000 (US$190-260), and luxury travelers spending upwards of HK$3,000 (US$385) daily.
