Hong Kong is part of China, but it’s governed under a special system because of its colonial history with Britain and the political deal made when it was handed back in 1997.

Quick Scoop

1. The basic idea in one line

Hong Kong is not a separate country, but a Special Administrative Region of China with its own laws, economy, and border, created by a historic “one country, two systems” deal between Britain and China.

2. How history made Hong Kong “separate”

  • In the 1800s, after the Opium Wars, parts of Hong Kong were ceded or leased to Britain, turning it into a British colony for over 150 years.
  • Under British rule, Hong Kong developed its own legal system, institutions, and global trading role, which were very different from mainland China’s socialist system after 1949.
  • In 1984, the UK and China signed the Sino‑British Joint Declaration: Britain agreed to return Hong Kong in 1997, and China promised a “high degree of autonomy” for 50 years.
  • On 1 July 1997, sovereignty transferred to China and Hong Kong officially became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

Think of it like someone moving back into the family home, but keeping their own room, rules, and bank account—for a set period of time.

3. What “one country, two systems” means

This phrase explains why Hong Kong feels “separate” day‑to‑day even though it is legally part of China. Key points:

  • One country
    • Hong Kong is an “inalienable part” of the People’s Republic of China in Chinese law.
    • Foreign affairs and defense are controlled by Beijing.
  • Two systems
    • Hong Kong keeps a capitalist economy while mainland China is run under a socialist system.
    • Hong Kong has its own constitution‑like document, the Basic Law, which sets out its rights and autonomy.
    • It has separate immigration controls and a physical border with mainland China, so you need to cross checkpoints traveling between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

This arrangement was promised to last for 50 years after 1997, i.e., until 2047.

4. How Hong Kong differs from mainland Chinese cities

Even though Beijing’s control has increased in recent years, several important differences explain why people still talk about Hong Kong as “separate”.

  • Legal system
    • Hong Kong’s courts use common law (inherited from Britain) and have an independent judiciary, including a Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong rather than in Beijing.
  • Economy and money
    • Hong Kong has its own currency, the Hong Kong dollar, and a separate customs and economic system from mainland China.
* It is treated as a separate customs territory in many trade and financial arrangements.
  • Rights and freedoms (historically)
    • For many years after 1997, Hong Kong residents enjoyed more protected freedoms of speech, assembly, and the press than people in mainland China.
* Large protests—for example over political reform—were common and more openly tolerated than on the mainland, though this has tightened in the 2020s.
  • Identity and daily life
    • Many Hongkongers see their identity as distinct: neither fully British nor the same as mainland Chinese, shaped by a mix of Cantonese culture and colonial institutions.
* There are visible differences in language use, media, schooling, and civic norms, which fuel the feeling of “Hong Kong is not China” for some locals.

5. So why do people say “separate from China”?

Putting it all together, people describe Hong Kong as “separate” because:

  1. It has a unique history as a long‑time British colony returned under special terms.
  2. It runs under “one country, two systems,” with its own laws, courts, currency, and border.
  3. It has had more civil and political freedoms than mainland China (though these are now being narrowed).
  4. Many residents see their identity and everyday life as different from that of mainland Chinese cities.

Legally, however, China’s position—and the text of the Basic Law—is clear: Hong Kong is part of China; its “separateness” is about autonomy and systems, not sovereignty.

TL;DR: Hong Kong is not a separate country from China, but because of its colonial past and the “one country, two systems” deal, it has its own laws, money, border, and political traditions, which makes it feel and function very differently from other Chinese cities—at least until the promised period around 2047.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.