As we celebrate another year of the official establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, it is time to reflect once more on how far the city has come since 1997. Indeed, as an Australian academic, scientist, and internationalist who has called Hong Kong home for more than 11 years, I have witnessed this city’s remarkable spirit since 2015, but this has included times of turbulence, trouble, and triumph.
My initial reflections in a 2021 speech on Hong Kong’s unique trajectory under the “one country, two systems” framework were rooted in cautious but well-founded optimism. Today, five years later, that optimism is being substantiated by tangible progress and a clearer, more confident path forward that I believe is emerging. Hong Kong’s positive developments have not only reinforced my faith in its unique and pragmatic model but have also illuminated how its continued application is fundamental to the city’s flourishing future. How else does one explain its global rankings and status if the system does not work? Indeed, the city is currently in the top three globally as a financial center, initial public offering market, insurance pillar, business efficiency metric, and is a superconnector powerhouse for human talent, infrastructure, and regulatory reputation.
Hong Kong’s academic landscape is also world-leading among cities and a microcosm of its broader success. The city’s universities, including my own — the University of Hong Kong — consistently rank among the world’s best, with five in the global top 100, and now two in the top 20. This is no accident. It is the result of a unique ecosystem that fosters intellectual freedom, innovation, and global exchange — precisely the conditions preserved and protected by the innovative “one country, two systems” governance policy. The talent that Hong Kong universities, businesses, and tangible cultural benefits attract flows into the city, turning physically minuscule Hong Kong into an ideas juggernaut. This dynamism is the lifeblood of a society whose achievements have always punched far above their weight, as a simple internet trawl of the city’s track record would attest.
The “one country, two systems” principle is a unique masterstroke of strategic foresight because, as we say in Australia, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” This construct confirms what long-term observers understand. China’s governance is characterized by patience, prudence, and pragmatism, a trio that delivers peace, performance, and productivity within an envelope focused on societal harmony. It is a system that allows society to plan, invest, and dream while serving the broader national interest.
The subsequent years since my 2021 musings have been a period of tangible consolidation. The implementation of the Hong Kong SAR National Security Law, which I noted required careful application, has evolved. Its primary purpose — to restore stability and safeguard Hong Kong from chaos, unrest, and external interference — has been largely achieved. The streets are peaceful, the legislative chamber functions, and the focus has decisively shifted from protest to prosperity. While international critics remain vocal, the lived reality for most residents is one of regained security, allowing the core strengths of Hong Kong’s respected and internationally recognized common law system, with all its associated freedoms, to operate within a necessary framework of societal safety. It is merely part of a balanced, functioning public system. It is there, and it works, just as similar laws apply in many parts of the world.
The journey I have witnessed since I arrived in Hong Kong in early 2015 has reinforced my core belief: The “one country, two systems” framework is a living, thriving, and eminently successful paradigm
The legal and organizational stability has unlocked Hong Kong’s deeper integration into the nation’s most exciting growth engine, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. This is where promise turns into practice. The high-speed rail from West Kowloon in Hong Kong is a symbol of seamless, rapid connection with new sleeper services all the way to Beijing. As a result, we are witnessing an accelerating flow of people, capital, and innovation in both directions. Hong Kong’s unparalleled professional services, financial expertise, and research and innovation capabilities are synergizing with the Chinese mainland’s manufacturing might and technological drive. Young Hong Kong entrepreneurs are establishing startups in Shenzhen, while mainland tech firms, including in the rapidly emerging aerospace sector, are listing in Hong Kong. This is the “intent full of opportunity” I foresaw, which is now in vibrant, focused motion.
Of course, challenges persist. Current unpredictable global geopolitical tensions and instability cast long shadows, and the associated economic headwinds will require sensitive navigation and careful stewardship. The mission to foster deeper understanding and trust between Hong Kong and the mainland is a continuous journey, but it is, I hope, on the right path. So for me, the direction is unmistakable. The “patience, prudence, and pragmatism” I admired are evident in this phased, steady approach to a mutually beneficial integration that both recognizes and prioritizes Hong Kong’s distinct advantages, assiduously preserving them rather than diluting them.
The essence of the “one country, two systems” policy is respect. Respect for national sovereignty as well as for Hong Kong’s history, common law traditions, cosmopolitan character, and deep culture and unique way of life. The extended timeline and recent policies affirm that this respect is enduring. Hong Kong is not being homogenized or absorbed, as some Western-based voices contend; rather, it is being empowered to play its starring role on a much larger stage. It remains the place where East and West interact positively, where dim sum restaurants thrive alongside international brands, where rugby and cricket stand alongside Cantopop and Chinese opera, and especially where global talent congregates and contributes.
As I reflect on another HKSAR Establishment Day, I look to the future and see a Hong Kong that is stronger and more pivotal than ever. It is a Hong Kong anchored by the rule of law, the widespread use of English living up to its reputation as a superconnector, and propelled by the boundless opportunities of the Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative. I believe the “two systems within one country” paradigm is not a transient phase but a permanent feature of China’s ingenious constitutional architecture, ensuring the SAR’s continued vitality, stability and prosperity.
The journey I have witnessed since I arrived in Hong Kong in early 2015 has reinforced my core belief: The “one country, two systems” framework is a living, thriving, and eminently successful paradigm. It is the precious golden key to Hong Kong’s future, one in which the city continues to grow as a globally competitive, culturally vibrant, and confidently secure part of China. The promise from 1997 has now been proved over nearly three decades of action. Trust is being built alongside world-class infrastructure, institutes, and initiatives. I see the horizon for this incredible city, which I am proud to call home, and it is brighter than ever.
The author is Professor Emeritus at the University of Hong Kong and CEO and founder of NGO s3plus1.org.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.