"One country, two systems" is an idea originally proposed by Deng Xiaoping during the early 1980s, then Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China (PRC), for the reunification of China. He suggested that there will be only one China, but areas such as Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan can have their own capitalist economic and political systems, while the rest of China uses the "socialist" system. Under the suggestion, Taiwan can continue to have its own political party, military, economic and financial affairs, including commercial and cultural agreements with foreign countries, but will only enjoy "certain rights" in foreign affairs.^[1] Traditional Chinese characters refers to one of two standard sets of printed Chinese characters. ... Simplified Chinese character (Simplified Chinese: or ; traditional Chinese: or ; pinyin: or ) is one of two standard sets of Chinese characters of the contemporary Chinese written language. ... This article is about all of the Cantonese (Yue) dialects. ... Jyutping (sometimes spelled Jyutpin) is a romanization system for Standard Cantonese developed by the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong (LSHK) in 1993. ... Map of eastern China and Taiwan, showing the historic distribution of Mandarin Chinese in light brown. ... Pinyin, more formally called Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: ), is the most common variant of Standard Mandarin romanization system in use. ... Wade-Giles, sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a Romanization (phonetic notation and transliteration) system for the Chinese language based on Mandarin. ... This article is about all of the Cantonese (Yue) dialects. ... Jyutping (sometimes spelled Jyutpin) is a romanization system for Standard Cantonese developed by the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong (LSHK) in 1993. ... The Yale romanizations are four systems created during World War II for use by United States military personnel. ... Deng Xiaoping   (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Teng Hsiao-ping; August 22, 1904 – February 19, 1997) was a prominent Chinese politician and reformer, and the late leader of the Communist Party of China (CCP). ... Paramount leader (Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: , literally the highest leader of the country), in modern Chinese political science, unofficially refers to the political leader of the Peoples Republic of China who controls the three branches of the Chinese political system (Communist Party of China, Peoples Republic of China and... Chinese (re)unification (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: ) is a goal of Chinese nationalism that refers to the reunification of all of Greater China under a single political entity. ... For other uses, see Capitalism (disambiguation). ... This article is about the term itself and its relationships. ...

Hong Kong and Macau

In 1984, Deng Xiaoping proposed to apply the principle to Hong Kong in the negotiation talks with the British 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 the talks with Portugal over Macau. This article is about the year. ... Deng Xiaoping   (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Teng Hsiao-ping; August 22, 1904 – February 19, 1997) was a prominent Chinese politician and reformer, and the late leader of the Communist Party of China (CCP). ... The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is, in practice, the political leader of the United Kingdom. ... Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS (née Roberts; born 13 October 1925) served as British Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990 and leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 until 1990, being the first and only woman to hold either post. ... A major road, Kwong Fuk Road in Tai Po, a town in the New Territories. ... New Kowloon (Chinese: 新九龍; Cantonese IPA: , Jyutping: san1 gau2 lung4, Mandarin Pinyin: XÄ«n JiÇ”lóng) is an area in Kowloon, Hong Kong, bounded in the south by Boundary Street, and in the north by the ranges of the Lion Rock, Beacon Hill, Tates Cairn and Kowloon Peak. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ...

The principle is that upon reunification, despite the practice of "socialism" in mainland China, both Hong Kong and Macau which were often regarded as colonies of the UK and Portugal respectively, can retain their established system under a high degree of autonomy for at least fifty years after reunification to a very large extent. What will happen after 2047 and 2049 (50 years after the return of Hong Kong and Macao, respectively) is never stated in any written documents, although some hold the belief that the "One Country, Two Systems" principle will be abolished by that time, and Hong Kong, along with Macau, will be integrated into Mainland China's "socialist" system, either voluntarily or involuntarily. This article is about the term itself and its relationships. ... ... 2047 (MMXLVII) will be a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2049 (MMXLIX) will be a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Hong Kong Basic Law Article 5 reads:

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. A Special administrative region (SAR) is an administrative division of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ... The Constitution of the Peoples Republic of China (中华人民共和国宪法; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó XiànfÇŽ) is the highest law within the Peoples Republic of China. ... The Great Hall of the People, where the NPC convenes The National Peoples Congress (全国人民代表大会 in Pinyin: Quánguó Rénmín Dàibiǎo Dàhuì, literally Pan-Nation Congress of the Peoples Representatives), abbreviated PNCOTPR, is the highest legislative body in the Peoples Republic of China. ...

The SARs of Hong Kong and Macau were formally established on July 1, 1997 and December 20, 1999 respectively, immediately after the People's Republic of China (PRC) assumed the sovereignty over the respective regions. is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ...

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, currencies and extradition. Diplomatic relations and national defense of the two SARs are, however, the responsibility of the Central People's Government in Beijing. In the law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of courts which administer justice in the name of the sovereign or state, a mechanism for the resolution of disputes. ... Court of Final Appeal usually refers to the last court in which one can appeal cases brought before the highest level. ... Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting customs duties and for controlling the flow of animals and goods (including personal effects and hazardous items) in and out of a country. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Extradition is the official process by which one nation or state requests and obtains from another nation or state the surrender of a suspected or convicted criminal. ... This page is about negotiations; for the board game, see Diplomacy (game). ... Any activity or effort performed to protect a nation against attack or other threats. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with State Council of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Peking redirects here. ...

Hong Kong continues using English common law. Macau continues using the Portuguese civil law system. This article concerns the common-law legal system, as contrasted with the civil law legal system; for other meanings of the term, within the field of law, see common law (disambiguation). ... For other uses of civil law, see civil law. ...

Implementation

In Hong Kong, the system has been implemented through the Basic Law of Hong Kong, which serves as the "mini-constitution" of the region, and consistent with the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Similar arrangements are in place with Macau. Under the respective basic laws, the SARs have a high degree of autonomy and enjoy executive, legislative and independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication. They formulate their own monetary and financial policies, maintain their own currencies, formulate their own policies on education, culture, sports, social welfare system, etc. within the framework of the basic laws. The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China serves as the constitutional document of Hong Kong. ... The Sino-British Joint Declaration, formally known as the Joint Declaration of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Peoples Republic of China on the Question of Hong Kong, was signed by the Prime Ministers of the Peoples...

As stipulated by the basic laws, while the Central People's Government of the PRC is responsible for foreign affairs and defence in relation to the SARs, representatives of the Government of the SARs may participate, as members of delegations of the PRC, in diplomatic negotiations that directly affect the Regions, and in other international organizations or conferences limited to states and affecting the region. For those international organizations and conferences not limited to states, the SARs may participate using the names in the form of "Hong Kong, China". As separate economic entities, both SARs of Hong Kong and Macau are members of the World Trade Organization. Hong Kong is also one of the member economies of APEC. WTO redirects here. ... APEC may refer to: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Action Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour Advanced Placement European Civilization Atlantic Provinces Economic Council This article consisting of a 4-letter acronym or initialism is a disambiguation page — a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ...

The basic laws also provide constitutional protection on various fundamental human rights and freedoms. Specifically, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is given a constitutional status through the basic laws. Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ... Parties to the ICCPR: members in green, non-members in grey The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is a United Nations treaty based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, created in 1966 and entered into force on 23 March 1976. ...

Some international observers and human rights organisations have expressed doubts about the future of the relative political freedoms enjoyed in Hong Kong, and about the PRC's pledge to allow a high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong. They considered, for example, that the proposals in Article 23 of the Basic Law in 2003 (which was withdrawn due to mass opposition) might have undermined autonomy. Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23 is the basis (parent statute) of a security law proposed by the Government of Hong Kong. ...

Nonetheless, the governments of the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong both consider the principle to have been successfully implemented, quoting official reports of both the United Kingdom and the United States.

Republic of China (Taiwan)

This system has also been proposed by the PRC government for Taiwan, but the Republic of China (ROC) government has refused this suggestion. (It has also claimed that the system was originally designed for Taiwan.) Special provisions for the ROC military have also been proposed. The concept of "One country, two systems" tends to be highly unpopular in Taiwan, with polls consistently showing 80% opposition and only about 10% support.^[4] All of the major parties in Taiwan, including those that lean toward Chinese reunification have come out strongly against "One country, two systems." Some proposed "One country, two governments" which was obviously opposed by the Chinese communist party, while some proposed the "one country" in "One country, two systems" should be ROC instead of PRC. One of the few Taiwanese who have publicly supported "one country, two systems" is novelist Li Ao. For the Chinese civilization, see China. ... Chinese (re)unification (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: ) is a goal of Chinese nationalism that refers to the reunification of all of Greater China under a single political entity. ... Li Ao at Fayuansi, 2005 Li Ao (李敖 pinyin Lǐ Áo) (born April 25, 1935), is a writer, social commentator, historian, and politician in the Republic of China. ...

Although the "One country, two systems" guarantees that Hong Kong's economic and political systems will not be changed for 50 years after the British handover in 1997, Mainland Affairs Council of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has cited 169 cases in which they claim the PRC has breached the right of the people of Hong Kong to self-rule and severely intervened in the judicial system as well as freedom of speech.^[5] Economics (deriving from the Greek words οίκω [okos], house, and νέμω [nemo], rules hence household management) is the social science that studies the allocation of scarce resources to satisfy unlimited wants. ... A political system is a system of politics and government. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC; Chinese: 大陸委員會; pinyin: Dàlù Wěiyuánhuì) is a cabinet-level administrative agency under the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China. ... For the Chinese civilization, see China. ...

Since the accession of Hu Jintao, the PRC has stopped promoting immediate reunification via "one country, two systems" (although it remains official policy) in favor of gradual economic integration and political exchanges.^[6] This approach was emphasized during the 2005 Pan-Blue visits to mainland China.^[7] A mention of the "one country, two systems" framework was conspicuously absent in the Anti-Secession Law of the People's Republic of China. Lien Chan and the Kuomintang touring the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, China. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Tibet

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, has expressed interest in using "One Country, Two Systems" for governing Tibet. He has said that under such a system he would be willing to return to Tibet from exile. The government of the People's Republic of China, however, see this system as inapplicable to Tibet because "Tibet is already a part of China" and fears that "One Country, Two systems" will be used as a gateway to formal Tibetan independence.^[8] This article is about the Dalai Lama lineage. ... Tenzin Gyatso is the fourteenth and current Dalai Lama. ... A government in exile is a political group that claims to be a countrys legitimate government, but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power, and instead resides in a foreign country. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

See also

• Political divisions of China
• Special Administrative Region
• Basic Law of Hong Kong
• Hong Kong law
• Legal system of Hong Kong
• Basic Law of Macau
• Legal system of Macau
• Kingdom of the Netherlands - a similar arrangement

Due to Chinas large population and area, the political divisions of China have consisted of several levels since ancient times. ... Special administrative region may be: Peoples Republic of China Special administrative regions, present-day administrative divisions (as of 2006) set up by the Peoples Republic of China to administer Hong Kong (since 1997) and Macau (since 1999) Republic of China Special administrative regions, also translated as special administrative... The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China serves as the constitutional document of Hong Kong. ... The legal system of Hong Kong is based on the rule of law and the independence of the Judiciary. ... The Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China is the constitution of Macao. ... Macau law is broadly based on Portuguese law, and therefore part of the civil law tradition of continental European legal systems. ...

References