Autonomy with Chinese Characteristics: The Case of Hong Kong

Abstract

Constitutional arrangements for Hong Kong after its reunification with China are examined to establish the nature of its constitutional transition by contrasting it with other types of transitions, particularly independence on decolonisation. The Chinese strategy for the reunification is discussed, along with the principles of One Country Two Systems (OCTS). Although OCTS is generally conceived of in terms of the autonomy of Hong Kong, it is suggested from an examination of the substantive and institutional limits on autonomy that OCTS may more realistically be analysed in terms of the entrenchment of different systems, particularly as regards the economy, in Hong Kong and their (partial) separation from those on the mainland. Also considered are the limits of OCTS as a scheme of autonomy which might be used to solve ethnic and other conflicts for which autonomy has been seen as the answer.