---
title: "Hong Kong Definition and Overview | Model Diplomat"
description: "Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of China, known for its unique governance under the 'one country, two systems' principle since 1997."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/hong-kong"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, governed under the "one country, two systems" principle since the 1997 handover from Britain.
- Under which treaties did Britain acquire Hong Kong?
- What is the legal basis of 'one country, two systems'?
- What did the 2020 National Security Law change?
- What is the significance of Article 23 of the Basic Law?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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## Research Hong Kong like a delegate

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## Timeline

1. 1 July 1997

   Hong Kong (香港) is a territory on the southern coast of China that passed from British colonial control to Chinese sovereignty on , becoming the Hong Kong Spe…

2. 30 June 2020

   In response, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress imposed the Hong Kong National Security Law on , criminalising secession, subversion, t…

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Example

In 2020 China's National People's Congress Standing Committee imposed the Hong Kong National Security Law, leading to the prosecution of media tycoon Jimmy Lai and the closure of his Apple Daily newspaper in 2021.

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