One Country, Two Systems

Deng Xiaoping formulated the One Country, Two Systems Constitutional theory, which granted Hong Kong independence and autonomy as a means of reuniting China. Hong Kong entered China in 1997, and China vowed to maintain Hong Kong's imperialist structure without altering the one nation, two systems for the next fifty years. However, at the end of fifty years, in 2047, China would most likely introduce totalitarian rule and put an end to Hong Kong's One Country Two Systems (Das, Rup Narayan). The framework, however, may not last after fifty years that will end in 2047. The sustainability of the system depends on Beijing’s willingness to accord sovereignty to Hong Kong which mainland China will not allow after the fifty years. However, the autonomy of Hong Kong will soon end as mainland China is already interfering with Hong Kong’s crucial areas such as economy and security. Recent reports have indicated that mainland security officials are operating in the autonomous Hong Kong city, a threat to the existence of the system in future.
Despite mainland China’s commitment to grant Hong Kong sovereignty, Hong Kong’s One Country Two Systems framework is becoming unstable as it depends on mutual trust and China’s mainland restraint on its self-imposed restrictions to rule Hong Kong. Such a delicate balance requires the highest political tolerance, patience, and bilateral agreements from both Hong Kong and mainland China to maintain, attributes which Beijing seems to lose interest in (Das, Rup Narayan).
To begin with, Beijing may reclaim its territory and impose its mainland rule to govern Hong Kong thereby doing away with the Hong Kong’ one country two system approach. In such a case, the impact would be adverse for the future generations who are currently the young generations differently.
Mainland China is already carrying out socioeconomic projects that link Hong Kong to Beijing China as a sign of China’s preparation to integrate Hong Kong into China. As such, the One Country, Two systems will end in future, especially in 2047.
Xiaoping Deng proposed the principle of “One country, two systems” in the 1980s to reconcile the capitalist's economies of Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong with the communist mainland China. Britain, under the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984, agreed to hand over sovereign power to China.
Through the One Country, Two Systems, the Basic Law allows Hong Kong to be independently autonomous though China provides defense support. The Two System since inception has had some benefits and challenges as well (Das, Rup Narayan). However, will the benefits outweigh the problems in future? That’s a question that Hong Kongers are yet to determine.
The One Country Two System has enabled both China and Hong Kong to benefit immensely and has worked better than anticipated. Hong Kong is distinct, prosperous and one of the freest part of China. China has benefited from the Hong Kong’s dynamic capitalism while avoiding interfering with its affairs.
Furthermore, though China provides defense protection to Hong Kong, The Chinese Peoples’ Liberation Army though in Hong Kong remains in barracks except during the ceremonial parades without interfering with Hong Kong’s sovereignty. Such autonomy that China has granted Hong Kong is unique as China always ensures military operations within its territory.
However, the concern is, for how long will mainland China continue providing military protection to Hong Kong without having control over the internal affairs of Hong Kong? Unlike the Chinese citizens, Hong Kong citizens enjoy lots of democratic rights such as rights to free political demonstrations. The Hong Kong’s media are proactive, and there is more political tolerance of protests in Hong Kong than the Chinese mainland.
The One Country, Two Systems principle, has contributed a lot to Hong Kong’s economic growth and social stability. Such a system presents unique advantages for Hong Kong’s future growth and development (Das, Rup Narayan). The one country two systems have boosted the economy of Hong Kong as the mainland China provides the market for Hong Kong’s product.
As such, both Hong Kong and Mainland China have mutual economic benefits as China benefits from the products from Hong Kong while providing the ready market for Hong Kong’s products due to high Chinese population (So, Alvin Y.). China has become more prosperous economically as it receives goods and services from Hong Kong without investing in the production process, channeling the surplus resources for its economic development.
Besides, the regulations on free movement of goods and people between Hong Kong and the mainland have increased the flow of resources. The free movement has enhanced the economic growth of both Hong Kong and mainland China, maximising the commercial potential of the Greater Bay Area in China. The Greater Bay is an example of a financial trade area for both mainland China and Hong Kong, consisting of nine cities within Guangdong and Macau and forms the most critical part regarding economic growth for China and Hong Kong (Yang, Chun).
The 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration gave Hong Kong autonomy for the next fifty years, a period that shall end in 2047. The one country two systems have performed well since 1997 as Hong Kong has achieved a lot within the past twenty years since handover (Das, Rup Narayan). However, the future of the One Country Two Systems’ is uncertain and is likely to end in 20147.
The uncertainty of the “One Country, Two Systems” framework faces a threat of scrapping after the fifty year period is over. The city’s Mini-Constitution as the Basic Law guides refers only to its capitalist system and cannot prevent Beijing from exercising sovereignty over Hong Kong, a factor that affects the future success of the One Country Two Systems framework (Das, Rup Narayan).
Hong Kong’s political unrests and unpopularity and ineffectiveness of C. Y. Leung’s administration forced Beijing to intervene and devise control mechanisms such as interpreting the Basic Law in its favor (Das, Rup Narayan). In future, Beijing will get more involved in politics of Hong Kong to ensure political stability regardless of democracy in Hong Kong. Such moves have undermined the sovereignty of Hong Kong and threaten the continued existence of the One Country Two Systems framework.
The uncertainty of the future of the One Country Two Systems framework is due to Chinese economic interests. Hong Kong is getting integrated closely with China’s mainland indirectly. Mainland China is spearheading the constructions of the Greater Bay to link Hong Kong, Pearl River Delta, and Macao, for economic development. Such actions are indicating China’s long-term plan of absorbing and entrenching Hong Kong into Chinese economic order once the 50 years are over which is a threat to the existence of the One Country Two Systems of Hong Kong (Yang, Chun).
Additionally, the mainland China is seeking Hong Kong's community allegiance. Beijing is focusing on promoting its culture, social practices, education and understanding of the Basic Law is China’s priority. China’s plan of constructing the Museum Palace in the West Kowloon Cultural District is a symbolic dominance of Chinese culture within the metropolitan area, indicating China’s plan to integrate Hong Kong into its authoritarian control completely (So, Alvin Y.).
Moreover, Hong Kong’s One Country Two System Framework depends on Beijing’s wish to grant them sovereignty which. However, Hong Kong's autonomy seems to reduce in areas such as judicial independence as China is already interfering with Hong Kong’s legal system as well as China’s security officials’ wrongly arresting and abducting Hong Kong citizens who protest against China’s dictatorship. Are such actions indicating a complete collapse of the One Country Two Systems framework? And will Hong Kong eventually be part of China’s controlled towns? Such Chinese actions are already affecting the autonomy of Hong Kong and would eventually cause the One Country, Two Systems to fail.
People are already skeptical of what will happen when the “One Country Two Systems” framework that allowed Hong Kong to have a high level of autonomy reaches the five years agreement period. Loss of personal freedom such as freedom of expression and protests as well as the right to fair judicial trial among the Hong Kong citizens is of great concern as the young are also uncertain of their future that has led to fostering of pro-independence discussions and worries for the next generation (So, Alvin Y.).
Integration of Hong Kong into the mainland China's socialist system would lead to loss of Hong Kong’s culture (So, Alvin Y.). The future generation may never know their roots or the existence f Hong Kong. Additionally, if China imposed its authoritarian rule in Hong Kong, the next generation would lose its democratic right of voting or protesting.
Another concern is for the future generation is house ownership. Housing, the priority of many young people will be the first to experience the impact when the system fails. The young people only own houses through residential mortgages which and banks are reluctant to offer mortgages extending past thirty years into the future is uncertain.
The future generations may therefore not own houses and those who may not have cleared their mortgages may lose their homes when Hong Kong becomes integrated into the socialist China and loses its independent authority (So, Alvin Y.).
The One Country Two System framework's success requires the commitment of both mainland China and Hong Kong. However, how much will mainland China commit to the agreement? The truth is, mainland China seems to be losing interest in the One Country Two Systems and is more likely to end the One Country Two System at the end of fifty years unless they experience the pressure to maintain the system from international organizations. As such, the United Nations must pressurise the Chinese government to keep their promise and commitment to ensuring noninterference with Hong Kong’s autonomy. Such measures include international community’s efforts to remind China of the broader implications of violating the agreement and being untrustworthy and enforce economic restrictions such as banning China from trading with other international countries in Europe and America.
What would happen to the system if United Nations do not compel mainland China to remain committed to the system? Failure to pressurize Chinese and Hong Kong’s politics would lead to its collapse hence forcing Hong Kong to be part of the authoritarian leadership of mainland China which would lead to loss of democracy, infringement of media’s freedom and political intolerance.
In conclusion, the loss of Hong Kong’s One Country, Two Systems would, in turn, affect the future generations who would not have the democratic rights currently present in Hong Kong. The United Nations must, therefore, put pressure on both Hong Kong and mainland China to maintain the One Country, Two Systems even after the fifty years that will end in 2047.




Work cited
Das, Rup Narayan. "Hong Kong: An Experiment in 'One Country, Two Systems.'" China Report, vol 29, no. 2, 1993, pp. 153-164.
So, Alvin Y. "One Country, Two Systems” and Hong Kong-China National Integration: The Crisis-Transformation Perspective." Journal of Contemporary Asia, vol 41, no. 1, 2011, pp. 99-116. Informa UK Limited,
Yang, Chun. "The Pearl River Delta and Hong Kong: An Evolving Cross-Boundary Region under “One Country, Two Systems.”" Habitat International, vol 30, no. 1, 2006, pp. 61-86. Elsevier BV.