One country, two systems

One country, two systems is a framework under which Hong Kong retains distinct systems within the sovereignty of the People's Republic of China, as established by the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration and implemented from 1997.

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: A special administrative region of China established on 1 July 1997. It is the territory where the framework has been applied since the handover.
Sino-British Joint Declaration: A 1984 treaty setting the terms for Britain’s transfer of Hong Kong to China in 1997. It committed China to preserve Hong Kong’s existing systems for 50 years after the transfer.
Hong Kong autonomy: The degree of self-government Hong Kong exercises under the Basic Law within China’s sovereignty. Autonomy is the central practical question in assessing the framework’s operation.
Taiwan question: The political and legal dispute over Taiwan’s status and its relationship with the People’s Republic of China. China has proposed the framework for Taiwan, whose government rejects its application.
Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal: Hong Kong’s highest appellate court, established in 1997. Its independent appellate jurisdiction illustrates the separate judicial system.
Hong Kong handover: The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to China on 1 July 1997. The framework took effect when the handover established the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Hong Kong protests: A series of mass demonstrations in Hong Kong over political, social, and civil-liberty issues. Protests have challenged government decisions and raised disputes over the framework’s promises.
Federalism: A system of government that constitutionally divides authority between a central government and constituent units. Hong Kong has substantial distinct institutions but is not a constituent state in a federal system.
National People's Congress Standing Committee: The standing body of China’s national legislature, with authority to interpret the Basic Law. Its interpretations shape the boundaries of Hong Kong’s constitutional autonomy.
Deng Xiaoping: China’s paramount leader from the late 1970s through the 1980s and architect of reform and opening. He advanced the framework as a way to resolve sovereignty disputes while preserving distinct systems.

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