IR - One Definition A Day: Hongkong - "One country, two systems"
"One country, two systems" is an idea originally proposed by Deng Xiaoping, then Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China (PRC), for the reunification of China during the early 1980s. He suggested that there would be only one China, but independent Chinese regions such as Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, could have their own capitalist economic and political systems, while the rest of China uses the socialist system. Under the suggestion, each of the three regions could continue to have its own political system, legal, economic and financial affairs, including commercial and cultural agreements with foreign countries, and would enjoy "certain rights" in foreign affairs. Taiwan could continue to maintain its own military force, thus evading recognition of Taiwan as part of the Republic of China.[1]Hong Kong and Macau (See also: Sino-British Joint Declaration and Joint Declaration on the Question of Macau)
In 1984, Deng Xiaoping proposed to apply the principle to Hong Kong in the negotiation with theBritish Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher over the future of Hong Kong when the lease of the New Territories (including New Kowloon) of Hong Kong to the United Kingdom was to expire in 1997. The same principle was proposed in talks with Portugal about Macau.
The principle is that, upon reunification, despite the practice of socialism in mainland China, both Hong Kong and Macau, which were colonies of the UK and Portugal respectively, can retain their established system under a high degree of autonomy for at least 50 years after reunification. What will happen after 2047 (Hong Kong) and 2049 (Macau) has never been publicly stated.
Chapter 1, Article 5 of the Hong Kong Basic Law, the constitutional document of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, reads:[2]
| “ | The socialist system and policies shall not be practised in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the previous capitalist system and way of life shall remain unchanged for 50 years."[3][4] | ” |
The establishment of these regions, called special administrative regions (SARs), is authorized by Article 31 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, which states that the State may establish SARs when necessary, and that the systems to be instituted in them shall be prescribed by law enacted by the National People's Congress in light of the specific conditions.
The SARs of Hong Kong and Macau were formally established on 1 July 1997 and 20 December 1999 respectively, immediately after the People's Republic of China (PRC) assumed the sovereignty over the respective regions.
Framework
The two SARs of Hong Kong and Macau are responsible for their domestic affairs including, but not limited to, the judiciary and courts of last resort, immigration and customs, public finance, currenciesand extradition. Diplomatic relations and national defense of the two SARs however, is the responsibility of the Central People's Government in Beijing.
Hong Kong continues using English common law. Macau continues using the Portuguese civil law system. (Source: Wikipedia, Read more)
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