{"data":[{"timestamp":-17.527,"speaker":"instructor","utterance":"to  Everyone:\n\tHii","type":"chat"},{"timestamp":-11.527,"speaker":"navigator","utterance":"Hello","type":"chat"},{"timestamp":-3.527,"speaker":"instructor","utterance":"to  Everyone:\n\tPlease open the Britannica 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Kong.\n\t\t\t\t\t</div>\n</div>","screenshot_effect":null}},{"type":"browser","timestamp":89.9210000038147,"state":{"screenshot":"screenshot-12-1.png","page":"page-13-0.html","screenshot_status":"good"},"action":{"intent":"copy","arguments":{"metadata":{"mouseX":533,"mouseY":347,"tabId":1146733273,"timestamp":1686640264448,"url":"https://www.britannica.com/browse/Geography-Travel","viewportHeight":657,"viewportWidth":1366,"zoomLevel":1},"properties":{"composed":true,"eventPhase":0,"returnValue":true,"timeStamp":38960},"element":{"attributes":{"class":"font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm","data-webtasks-id":"6567f96b-b9d5-46f1","href":"/story/is-hong-kong-a-country"},"bbox":{"bottom":319.0625,"height":21,"left":145.5,"right":333.09375,"top":298.0625,"width":187.59375,"x":145.5,"y":298.0625},"innerHTML":"Is Hong Kong a Country?","outerHTML":"<a href=\"/story/is-hong-kong-a-country\" class=\"font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm\" data-webtasks-id=\"6567f96b-b9d5-46f1\">Is Hong Kong a 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lake?\n\t\t\t\t\t</div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t</div>","tagName":"DIV","textContent":"\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t9 of the World’s Deepest Lakes\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHow deep is your lake?\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t","xpath":"id(\"content\")/div[2]/div[1]/div[2]/div[1]/div[2]/div[1]"}},"event_id":17,"element_html":"<div class=\"card-body text-hyphenate\" data-webtasks-id=\"07b9edbc-6271-4e6b\">\n<a class=\"font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm\" data-webtasks-id=\"72153437-deff-4fd7\" href=\"/story/9-of-the-worlds-deepest-lakes\">9 of the World’s Deepest Lakes</a>\n<div class=\"font-serif mt-10 font-14\" data-webtasks-id=\"d119192b-4756-48ca\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHow deep is your 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0px;"},"bbox":{"bottom":395.234375,"height":272.296875,"left":674.5,"right":954.5,"top":122.9375,"width":280,"x":674.5,"y":122.9375},"innerHTML":"\n\n\t<div class=\"card text-normal col-100 \" data-webtasks-id=\"67c75657-ea0c-44aa\">\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-media position-relative\" data-webtasks-id=\"d442efa4-31c1-47aa\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"/list/7-must-see-buildings-in-brussels\" style=\"--aspect-ratio: 16/9\" data-webtasks-id=\"47d97458-74bc-4363\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n    \n        <img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/77/219377-131-0B8CD23A/Grand-Place-Grote-Markt-Brussels.jpg?w=400&amp;h=225&amp;c=crop\" alt=\"Grand Place Grote Markt with Town Hall Hotel de Ville and Maison du Roi King`s House or Breadhouse in Brussels. Travel\" class=\"col-100\" data-webtasks-id=\"dfe772f7-dd1d-47c4\">\n    \n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t</a>\n\t\t\t\t</div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"col\" data-webtasks-id=\"3da7cb03-f982-439c\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-body text-hyphenate\" data-webtasks-id=\"8c953884-dd71-48c9\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"/list/7-must-see-buildings-in-brussels\" class=\"font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm\" data-webtasks-id=\"4298d534-f8db-462b\">7 Must-See Buildings in Brussels</a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"font-serif mt-10 font-14\" data-webtasks-id=\"033c9cf3-5d8e-4abf\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tKnow before you go. \n\t\t\t\t\t</div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t</div>\n\t\t</div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\n\t</div>\n","outerHTML":"<div class=\"p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 \" data-webtasks-id=\"441ae20b-55aa-44e2\" style=\"position: absolute; left: 560px; top: 0px;\">\n\n\t<div class=\"card text-normal col-100 \" data-webtasks-id=\"67c75657-ea0c-44aa\">\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-media position-relative\" data-webtasks-id=\"d442efa4-31c1-47aa\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"/list/7-must-see-buildings-in-brussels\" style=\"--aspect-ratio: 16/9\" data-webtasks-id=\"47d97458-74bc-4363\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n    \n        <img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/77/219377-131-0B8CD23A/Grand-Place-Grote-Markt-Brussels.jpg?w=400&amp;h=225&amp;c=crop\" alt=\"Grand Place Grote Markt with Town Hall Hotel de Ville and Maison du Roi King`s House or Breadhouse in Brussels. Travel\" class=\"col-100\" data-webtasks-id=\"dfe772f7-dd1d-47c4\">\n    \n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t</a>\n\t\t\t\t</div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"col\" data-webtasks-id=\"3da7cb03-f982-439c\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card-body text-hyphenate\" data-webtasks-id=\"8c953884-dd71-48c9\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"/list/7-must-see-buildings-in-brussels\" class=\"font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm\" data-webtasks-id=\"4298d534-f8db-462b\">7 Must-See Buildings in Brussels</a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"font-serif mt-10 font-14\" data-webtasks-id=\"033c9cf3-5d8e-4abf\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tKnow before you go. \n\t\t\t\t\t</div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t</div>\n\t\t</div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\n\t</div>\n</div>","tagName":"DIV","textContent":"\n\n\t\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n    \n        \n    \n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t7 Must-See Buildings in Brussels\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tKnow before you go. \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\n","xpath":"id(\"content\")/div[2]/div[1]/div[3]"}},"event_id":22,"element_html":"<div class=\"p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25\" data-webtasks-id=\"441ae20b-55aa-44e2\" style=\"position: absolute; left: 560px; top: 0px;\">\n<div class=\"card text-normal col-100\" data-webtasks-id=\"67c75657-ea0c-44aa\">\n<div class=\"card-media position-relative\" data-webtasks-id=\"d442efa4-31c1-47aa\">\n<a data-webtasks-id=\"47d97458-74bc-4363\" href=\"/list/7-must-see-buildings-in-brussels\" style=\"--aspect-ratio: 16/9\">\n<img alt=\"Grand Place Grote Markt with Town Hall Hotel de Ville and Maison du Roi King`s House or Breadhouse in Brussels. Travel\" class=\"col-100\" data-webtasks-id=\"dfe772f7-dd1d-47c4\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/77/219377-131-0B8CD23A/Grand-Place-Grote-Markt-Brussels.jpg?w=400&amp;h=225&amp;c=crop\"/>\n</a>\n</div>\n<div class=\"col\" data-webtasks-id=\"3da7cb03-f982-439c\">\n<div class=\"card-body text-hyphenate\" data-webtasks-id=\"8c953884-dd71-48c9\">\n<a class=\"font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm\" data-webtasks-id=\"4298d534-f8db-462b\" href=\"/list/7-must-see-buildings-in-brussels\">7 Must-See Buildings in Brussels</a>\n<div class=\"font-serif mt-10 font-14\" data-webtasks-id=\"033c9cf3-5d8e-4abf\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tKnow before you go. \n\t\t\t\t\t</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>","screenshot_effect":null}},{"type":"browser","timestamp":114.39300012588501,"state":{"screenshot":"screenshot-23-1.png","page":"page-24-0.html","screenshot_status":"good"},"action":{"intent":"copy","arguments":{"metadata":{"mouseX":706,"mouseY":339,"tabId":1146733273,"timestamp":1686640288920,"url":"https://www.britannica.com/browse/Geography-Travel","viewportHeight":657,"viewportWidth":1366,"zoomLevel":1},"properties":{"composed":true,"eventPhase":0,"returnValue":true,"timeStamp":63423},"element":{"attributes":{"class":"font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm","data-webtasks-id":"4298d534-f8db-462b","href":"/list/7-must-see-buildings-in-brussels"},"bbox":{"bottom":338.25,"height":40.1875,"left":705.5,"right":882.578125,"top":298.0625,"width":177.078125,"x":705.5,"y":298.0625},"innerHTML":"7 Must-See Buildings in Brussels","outerHTML":"<a href=\"/list/7-must-see-buildings-in-brussels\" class=\"font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm\" data-webtasks-id=\"4298d534-f8db-462b\">7 Must-See Buildings in Brussels</a>","tagName":"A","textContent":"7 Must-See Buildings in Brussels","xpath":"id(\"content\")/div[2]/div[1]/div[3]/div[1]/div[2]/div[1]/a[1]"},"selected":"7 Must-See Buildings in Brussels"},"event_id":24,"element_html":"<a class=\"font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm\" data-webtasks-id=\"4298d534-f8db-462b\" href=\"/list/7-must-see-buildings-in-brussels\">7 Must-See Buildings in Brussels</a>","screenshot_effect":null}},{"type":"browser","timestamp":122.58100008964539,"state":{"screenshot":"screenshot-27-1.png","page":"page-27-0.html","screenshot_status":"good"},"action":{"intent":"click","arguments":{"metadata":{"mouseX":965,"mouseY":300,"tabId":1146733273,"timestamp":1686640297108,"url":"https://www.britannica.com/browse/Geography-Travel","viewportHeight":657,"viewportWidth":1366,"zoomLevel":1},"properties":{"altKey":false,"button":0,"buttons":1,"clientX":965,"clientY":300,"composed":true,"ctrlKey":false,"detail":1,"eventPhase":0,"layerX":10,"layerY":177,"metaKey":false,"movementX":0,"movementY":0,"offsetX":-1,"offsetY":21,"pageX":965,"pageY":700,"returnValue":true,"screenX":965,"screenY":371,"shiftKey":false,"timeStamp":71593.70000004768,"x":965,"y":300},"element":{"attributes":{"class":"card-body text-hyphenate","data-webtasks-id":"ae33b1f9-2d67-4417"},"bbox":{"bottom":434.625,"height":155.5625,"left":965.5,"right":1223.5,"top":279.0625,"width":258,"x":965.5,"y":279.0625},"innerHTML":"\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"/story/where-does-the-name-europe-come-from\" class=\"font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm\" data-webtasks-id=\"529a0ea9-814b-49af\">Where Does the Name <em data-webtasks-id=\"0e8f9136-bd30-4940\">Europe</em> Come From?</a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"font-serif mt-10 font-14\" data-webtasks-id=\"bfef915d-777f-4802\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEurope existed as a conceptual construct long before geographers began arguing whether there are seven continents or six,...\n\t\t\t\t\t</div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t","outerHTML":"<div class=\"card-body text-hyphenate\" data-webtasks-id=\"ae33b1f9-2d67-4417\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"/story/where-does-the-name-europe-come-from\" class=\"font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm\" data-webtasks-id=\"529a0ea9-814b-49af\">Where Does the Name <em data-webtasks-id=\"0e8f9136-bd30-4940\">Europe</em> Come From?</a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"font-serif mt-10 font-14\" data-webtasks-id=\"bfef915d-777f-4802\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEurope existed as a conceptual construct long before geographers began arguing whether there are seven continents or six,...\n\t\t\t\t\t</div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t</div>","tagName":"DIV","textContent":"\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\tWhere Does the Name Europe Come From?\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEurope existed as a conceptual construct long before geographers began arguing whether there are seven continents or six,...\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t","xpath":"id(\"content\")/div[2]/div[1]/div[4]/div[1]/div[2]/div[1]"}},"event_id":27,"element_html":"<div class=\"card-body text-hyphenate\" data-webtasks-id=\"ae33b1f9-2d67-4417\">\n<a class=\"font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm\" data-webtasks-id=\"529a0ea9-814b-49af\" href=\"/story/where-does-the-name-europe-come-from\">Where Does the Name <em data-webtasks-id=\"0e8f9136-bd30-4940\">Europe</em> Come From?</a>\n<div class=\"font-serif mt-10 font-14\" data-webtasks-id=\"bfef915d-777f-4802\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEurope existed as a conceptual construct long before geographers began arguing whether there are seven continents or six,...\n\t\t\t\t\t</div>\n</div>","screenshot_effect":null}},{"type":"browser","timestamp":124.52400016784668,"state":{"screenshot":"screenshot-29-1.png","page":"page-29-0.html","screenshot_status":"good"},"action":{"intent":"copy","arguments":{"metadata":{"mouseX":1114,"mouseY":326,"tabId":1146733273,"timestamp":1686640299051,"url":"https://www.britannica.com/browse/Geography-Travel","viewportHeight":657,"viewportWidth":1366,"zoomLevel":1},"properties":{"composed":true,"eventPhase":0,"returnValue":true,"timeStamp":73579},"element":{"attributes":{"class":"font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm","data-webtasks-id":"529a0ea9-814b-49af","href":"/story/where-does-the-name-europe-come-from"},"bbox":{"bottom":338.25,"height":40.1875,"left":985.5,"right":1154.421875,"top":298.0625,"width":168.921875,"x":985.5,"y":298.0625},"innerHTML":"Where Does the Name <em data-webtasks-id=\"0e8f9136-bd30-4940\">Europe</em> Come From?","outerHTML":"<a href=\"/story/where-does-the-name-europe-come-from\" class=\"font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm\" data-webtasks-id=\"529a0ea9-814b-49af\">Where Does the Name <em data-webtasks-id=\"0e8f9136-bd30-4940\">Europe</em> Come From?</a>","tagName":"A","textContent":"Where Does the Name Europe Come From?","xpath":"id(\"content\")/div[2]/div[1]/div[4]/div[1]/div[2]/div[1]/a[1]"},"selected":"Where Does the Name Europe Come From?"},"event_id":29,"element_html":"<a class=\"font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm\" data-webtasks-id=\"529a0ea9-814b-49af\" href=\"/story/where-does-the-name-europe-come-from\">Where Does the Name <em data-webtasks-id=\"0e8f9136-bd30-4940\">Europe</em> Come From?</a>","screenshot_effect":null}},{"timestamp":135.473,"speaker":"navigator","utterance":"Here is the list of top articles I found:\n\t-Is Hong Kong a Country?\n\t-9 of the World’s Deepest Lakes\n\t-7 Must-See Buildings in Brussels\n\t-Where Does the Name Europe Come From?","type":"chat"},{"timestamp":146.473,"speaker":"instructor","utterance":"to  Everyone:\n\tOpen the first article.","type":"chat"},{"timestamp":152.473,"speaker":"navigator","utterance":"Okay.","type":"chat"},{"timestamp":175.473,"speaker":"navigator","utterance":"What would you like to know?","type":"chat"},{"timestamp":178.473,"speaker":"instructor","utterance":"to  Everyone:\n\tIs Hong Kong a Country?","type":"chat"},{"type":"browser","timestamp":188.1159999370575,"state":{"screenshot":"screenshot-35-0.png","page":"page-36-0.html","screenshot_status":"good"},"action":{"intent":"click","arguments":{"metadata":{"mouseX":310,"mouseY":366,"tabId":1146733273,"timestamp":1686640362643,"url":"https://www.britannica.com/story/is-hong-kong-a-country","viewportHeight":657,"viewportWidth":1366,"zoomLevel":1},"properties":{"altKey":false,"button":0,"buttons":1,"clientX":310,"clientY":366,"composed":true,"ctrlKey":false,"detail":1,"eventPhase":0,"layerX":20,"layerY":295,"metaKey":false,"movementX":0,"movementY":0,"offsetX":19,"offsetY":294,"pageX":310,"pageY":366,"returnValue":true,"screenX":310,"screenY":437,"shiftKey":false,"timeStamp":28203.600000023842,"x":310,"y":366},"element":{"attributes":{"class":"grey-box w-100 grey-box-middle","data-webtasks-id":"2eab1b93-83ea-40d1"},"bbox":{"bottom":1136.71875,"height":1065.71875,"left":290,"right":1009,"top":71,"width":719,"x":290,"y":71},"innerHTML":"\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\n\t\t<script type=\"application/ld+json\" data-webtasks-id=\"6b33a632-7eb3-4dc8\">\n\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@context\" : \"https://schema.org\",\n\t\t\t\"@type\" : \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t\t\t\"itemListElement\" :\n\t\t\t[\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@type\" : \"ListItem\",\n\t\t\t\"position\" : 1,\n\t\t\t\"item\" :\n\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@id\" : \"https://www.britannica.com/stories/companion\",\n\t\t\t\"name\": \"Companion\"\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\n\t\t\t]\n\t\t}\n\t\t</script>\n\n\t\n\n\t<nav class=\"breadcrumb \" data-webtasks-id=\"2db84c14-47bf-41f7\">\n\t\t<span class=\"breadcrumb-item \" data-webtasks-id=\"391657fa-cd5e-43a9\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"/\" class=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"73f9aec4-6096-48ae\">Home</a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t</span>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"breadcrumb-item \" data-webtasks-id=\"b722b050-648d-46f4\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"\" href=\"/stories/companion\" data-webtasks-id=\"d5e5d020-7b39-4021\">\n\t\t\tCompanion</a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t</span>\n\t\t\n\t</nav>\n\n\n<div data-webtasks-id=\"07a19923-5ed0-440b\">\n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n        <div class=\"d-block d-md-none md-feature-tools float-right mb-15\" style=\"right:20px\" data-feature-id=\"12711\" data-webtasks-id=\"28e44e90-5319-4abe\">\n            \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n    \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        <button class=\"js-tooltip-actions ml-10 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10\" data-webtasks-id=\"ecfa80db-8325-40ee\">\n            <em class=\"material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5\" data-icon=\"more_vert\" data-webtasks-id=\"846e8218-1ed9-4f6a\"></em>\n\t\n    \n                Actions\n        </button>\n    \n\n\n            \n            <div class=\"md-actions-popover popover popover-sm py-5 px-0 z-1\" style=\"position: absolute; inset: 0px auto auto 0px; margin: 0px; transform: translate(0px, 0px);\" data-popper-reference-hidden=\"\" data-popper-escaped=\"\" data-popper-placement=\"bottom-start\" data-webtasks-id=\"6677c6f6-da38-4bff\">\n\n                \n\n                \n\n                \n\n                \n                    <div data-webtasks-id=\"c7f2bf3c-b4b6-4d17\">\n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n        <button class=\"js-modal qa-cite-modal-button btn btn-sm btn-link\" data-modal=\"[data-feature-id=12711] .sm-cite-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"9b002953-54d6-4478\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<em class=\"material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon\" data-icon=\"verified\" data-webtasks-id=\"a5826e39-206a-49ab\"></em>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCite\n\t\t</button>\n    \n    \n\n\n\n\n                    </div>\n                \n\n                \n\n                \n                    <div data-webtasks-id=\"6364dd7f-5fc2-457f\">\n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n        <button class=\"js-share-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link\" data-modal=\"[data-feature-id=12711] .md-share-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"8d7135dc-d61d-4cf8\">\n            \n                <em class=\"material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon\" data-icon=\"share\" data-webtasks-id=\"a5ddfeb4-53ef-4c8d\"></em>\n\t\n            \n            Share\n        </button>\n    \n    \n\n\n\n\n                    </div>\n                \n            </div>\n        </div>\n    \n    \n<h1 class=\"mb-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"472aa35b-361f-4807\">Is Hong Kong a Country?</h1>\n\n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n    <div class=\"d-none d-md-flex my-10\" data-webtasks-id=\"ee17d73e-1c99-41c4\">\n        \n\n        \n\n        \n\n        \n            <div class=\"mr-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"df2bce91-28ce-414c\">\n                \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n    \n        \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        <button class=\"js-modal qa-cite-modal-button btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10\" data-modal=\"[data-feature-id=12711] .md-cite-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"e2a5efdd-4721-4dc4\">\n            <em class=\"material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5\" data-icon=\"verified\" data-webtasks-id=\"363b94d6-55c8-4124\"></em>\n\t\n    \n            Cite\n        </button>\n    \n\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n            </div>\n        \n\n        \n\n        \n            <div data-webtasks-id=\"46aac614-11be-42df\">\n                \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n    \n        \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        <button class=\"js-share-modal-button js-modal  btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10\" data-modal=\" .md-share-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"71581888-a128-4fa2\">\n            <em class=\"material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5\" data-icon=\"share\" data-webtasks-id=\"3fb06d4d-bb4e-4611\"></em>\n\t\n    \n            Share\n        </button>\n    \n\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n            </div>\n        \n    </div>\n    \n<div class=\"md-byline mb-10 font-12\" data-webtasks-id=\"e4629c43-ba2c-430c\">\n\t\t<div data-webtasks-id=\"bd02c8a7-7518-4b23\">\n\t\t<span class=\"written-by font-12 text-gray-700\" data-webtasks-id=\"85ed2e6e-ca15-425c\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWritten by\n\t\t\t\t</span>\n\t\t<div class=\"editor-popover popover p-0\" style=\"position: absolute; inset: 0px auto auto 0px; margin: 0px; transform: translate(79px, 162px);\" data-popper-placement=\"bottom-start\" data-webtasks-id=\"f6f3e694-b568-4b85\">\n  <a class=\"d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor\" href=\"/editor/Amy-McKenna/6443\" data-webtasks-id=\"037cba07-efec-4465\">\n        <div class=\"editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold\" data-webtasks-id=\"558e78d2-f031-4ef5\">Amy McKenna</div>\n\n        <div class=\"editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black\" data-webtasks-id=\"779c2dff-b6e8-45e8\">Amy McKenna is a senior editor, primarily focused on geography and history matters pertaining to sub-Saharan Africa. She joined Encyclopaedia Britannica in 2004. She was previously employed by Standard...</div>\n            </a>\n    <div data-popper-arrow=\"\" style=\"position: absolute; left: 0px; transform: translate(33px, 0px);\" data-webtasks-id=\"21d7d9bf-b01d-49d9\"></div>\n</div>\n\n<span class=\"btn btn-link byline-link editor-link p-0 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor\" data-webtasks-id=\"20234242-09a2-4ce6\">\n  Amy McKenna</span></div>\n\t<div class=\"font-sans-serif font-12 text-gray-700\" data-webtasks-id=\"0df1b56d-8d42-41a7\">\n\t\t<span class=\"qa-fact-checked-by\" data-webtasks-id=\"a020a750-ba14-4947\">Fact-checked by</span> <div class=\"editor-popover popover p-0\" style=\"position: absolute; inset: 0px auto auto 0px; margin: 0px; transform: translate(109px, 182px);\" data-popper-placement=\"bottom-start\" data-webtasks-id=\"75f06c6b-67da-4264\">\n  <a class=\"d-block p-20 font-12\" href=\"/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419\" data-webtasks-id=\"16992153-0f1f-45e6\">\n        <div class=\"editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold\" data-webtasks-id=\"dd96b30a-68b9-4f6b\">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div>\n\n        <div class=\"editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black\" data-webtasks-id=\"78c2c9f4-cda4-4971\">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div>\n            </a>\n    <div data-popper-arrow=\"\" style=\"position: absolute; left: 0px; transform: translate(99px, 0px);\" data-webtasks-id=\"a621d6d5-6548-4146\"></div>\n</div>\n\n<span class=\"btn btn-link byline-link editor-link p-0 font-12\" data-webtasks-id=\"9ff03ef3-fc58-4bbe\">\n  The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div></div>\n</div>\n\n                    <!-- The element for the player. -->\n\n\t\t\t\t    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t<div class=\"mt-20\" data-webtasks-id=\"a8d2a0c7-552c-41de\">\n\t\t<google-read-aloud-player data-voice=\"en-us-m-3\" data-tracking-ids=\"UA-168915890-24,G-0B6QQVKFV8\" data-api-key=\"AIzaSyBJdCURs_s6wfa7XECRfj5mZVTjYdsf538\" data-docking-anchor-offset-vertical=\"90\" data-docking-anchor-offset-horizontal=\"360\" data-url=\"https://www.britannica.com/story/is-hong-kong-a-country\" data-scope=\"-story-is-hong-kong-a-country\" data-webtasks-id=\"082c3fb3-24e1-41b9\"></google-read-aloud-player>\n\t</div>\n\n   <article class=\"topic-content content mt-20\" data-webtasks-id=\"c769e96a-68dd-465a\"><figure class=\"md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false\" data-type=\"1\" data-webtasks-id=\"d643efc6-8d3b-4e6e\"><div class=\"md-assembly-wrapper card-media\" data-type=\"image\" data-webtasks-id=\"cd4578a9-b8ec-4abb\"><a style=\"min-height: 160px;\" href=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/43/82343-050-92634E48/Flag-Hong-Kong-province-China.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center \" data-href=\"*\" data-webtasks-id=\"db1d5978-9689-479c\"><img src=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/43/82343-050-92634E48/Flag-Hong-Kong-province-China.jpg?w=600&amp;q=60\" alt=\"Flag of Hong Kong. China province\" data-width=\"1600\" data-height=\"1067\" loading=\"eager\" data-webtasks-id=\"d5cda9c9-bef3-4e95\"><button class=\"magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white\" aria-label=\"Zoom in\" data-webtasks-id=\"f4c33b0b-48db-47b2\"><em class=\"material-icons link-blue\" data-icon=\"zoom_in\" data-webtasks-id=\"4eae0e19-f9c1-41a2\"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"345bf379-c913-4d4b\"><cite class=\"credit d-block mt-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"bca7a611-2364-49bf\">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</cite></figcaption></figure> <!--[BP1]--><p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"10bd81bc-a86f-417b\">No, <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/Hong-Kong\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"31ba5e45-c28d-4714\">Hong Kong</a> is not a country. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/China\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"6116e81c-2612-4511\">China</a>. Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region stems from its history as a former British colony.</p><!--[P1]--><!--[AM1]--><span class=\"AM1 am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"f711320d-0a34-4c96\"></span><!--[MOD1]--><span class=\"MOD1\" data-webtasks-id=\"a18cbedc-eb7e-469e\"></span>  <figure class=\"md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false\" data-type=\"1\" data-webtasks-id=\"66c09518-acbc-454c\"><div class=\"md-assembly-wrapper card-media\" data-type=\"image\" data-webtasks-id=\"99b06236-cc25-470a\"><a style=\"min-height: 160px;\" href=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/96/84796-050-C4DEA436/Hong-Kong-Island-Victoria-Peak.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center \" data-href=\"*\" data-webtasks-id=\"2af6d62d-03c9-4d8d\"><img src=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/96/84796-050-C4DEA436/Hong-Kong-Island-Victoria-Peak.jpg?w=600&amp;q=60\" alt=\"Aerial view of Hong Kong Island as seen from Victoria Peak. (photo dated 2016)\" data-width=\"1000\" data-height=\"627\" loading=\"eager\" data-webtasks-id=\"35fe6cbe-0836-4d68\"><button class=\"magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white\" aria-label=\"Zoom in\" data-webtasks-id=\"2bb65df0-2beb-4be1\"><em class=\"material-icons link-blue\" data-icon=\"zoom_in\" data-webtasks-id=\"fb0bea50-11c8-4307\"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"ed70fda1-3147-4157\"><cite class=\"credit d-block mt-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"f8d33ebd-4896-4296\">© Cherdchanok/Shutterstock.com</cite></figcaption></figure>  <!--[BP2]--><p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"05ba2d57-34ed-4243\">By way of treaty or lease with China, the islands and mainland area now known as Hong Kong came under the control of <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"84a28ace-ae9f-4aee\">Great Britain</a> at various points in the 19th century. From that time until its transfer back to China in the late 20th century, Hong Kong developed on a different trajectory, both politically and economically, than mainland China—which, in contrast to Hong Kong’s status as a British colony, began that period with its imperial dynasty in decline and ended it as a republic under communist rule.</p><!--[P2]--><!--[AM2]--><span class=\"AM2 am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"3267dfe0-c6d5-413a\"></span><!--[MOD2]--><span class=\"MOD2\" data-webtasks-id=\"57f82907-d00f-4e1a\"></span> <!--[BP3]--><p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"a20acc3c-356b-4a9e\">Spurred by the pending expiration of a 99-year lease (1898–1997) for part of the territory, the 1984 Chinese-British joint declaration paved the way for all of Hong Kong to be returned to China. The <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/event/handover-of-Hong-Kong\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"ed135cfc-fb22-4e15\">handover</a> occurred on July 1, 1997, at which point the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region took effect. The Basic Law outlined the concept of “one country, two systems,” under which Hong Kong, though now part of China, was allowed to maintain its capitalist economy and to retain a large degree of political autonomy (except in matters of foreign policy and defense) for a period of 50 years.</p><!--[P3]--><!--[AM3]--><span class=\"AM3 am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"ee74bfc4-1406-4028\"></span><!--[MOD3]--><span class=\"MOD3\" data-webtasks-id=\"a0dd64c5-29ba-4ea1\"></span> <span class=\"AM-END-OF-ARTICLE am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"e596f6ed-4662-42a0\"></span></article> \n","outerHTML":"<div class=\"grey-box w-100 grey-box-middle\" data-webtasks-id=\"2eab1b93-83ea-40d1\">\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\n\t\t<script type=\"application/ld+json\" data-webtasks-id=\"6b33a632-7eb3-4dc8\">\n\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@context\" : \"https://schema.org\",\n\t\t\t\"@type\" : \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t\t\t\"itemListElement\" :\n\t\t\t[\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@type\" : \"ListItem\",\n\t\t\t\"position\" : 1,\n\t\t\t\"item\" :\n\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@id\" : \"https://www.britannica.com/stories/companion\",\n\t\t\t\"name\": \"Companion\"\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\n\t\t\t]\n\t\t}\n\t\t</script>\n\n\t\n\n\t<nav class=\"breadcrumb \" data-webtasks-id=\"2db84c14-47bf-41f7\">\n\t\t<span class=\"breadcrumb-item \" data-webtasks-id=\"391657fa-cd5e-43a9\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"/\" class=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"73f9aec4-6096-48ae\">Home</a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t</span>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"breadcrumb-item \" data-webtasks-id=\"b722b050-648d-46f4\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"\" href=\"/stories/companion\" data-webtasks-id=\"d5e5d020-7b39-4021\">\n\t\t\tCompanion</a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t</span>\n\t\t\n\t</nav>\n\n\n<div data-webtasks-id=\"07a19923-5ed0-440b\">\n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n        <div class=\"d-block d-md-none md-feature-tools float-right mb-15\" style=\"right:20px\" data-feature-id=\"12711\" data-webtasks-id=\"28e44e90-5319-4abe\">\n            \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n    \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        <button class=\"js-tooltip-actions ml-10 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10\" data-webtasks-id=\"ecfa80db-8325-40ee\">\n            <em class=\"material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5\" data-icon=\"more_vert\" data-webtasks-id=\"846e8218-1ed9-4f6a\"></em>\n\t\n    \n                Actions\n        </button>\n    \n\n\n            \n            <div class=\"md-actions-popover popover popover-sm py-5 px-0 z-1\" style=\"position: absolute; inset: 0px auto auto 0px; margin: 0px; transform: translate(0px, 0px);\" data-popper-reference-hidden=\"\" data-popper-escaped=\"\" data-popper-placement=\"bottom-start\" data-webtasks-id=\"6677c6f6-da38-4bff\">\n\n                \n\n                \n\n                \n\n                \n                    <div data-webtasks-id=\"c7f2bf3c-b4b6-4d17\">\n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n        <button class=\"js-modal qa-cite-modal-button btn btn-sm btn-link\" data-modal=\"[data-feature-id=12711] .sm-cite-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"9b002953-54d6-4478\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<em class=\"material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon\" data-icon=\"verified\" data-webtasks-id=\"a5826e39-206a-49ab\"></em>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCite\n\t\t</button>\n    \n    \n\n\n\n\n                    </div>\n                \n\n                \n\n                \n                    <div data-webtasks-id=\"6364dd7f-5fc2-457f\">\n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n        <button class=\"js-share-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link\" data-modal=\"[data-feature-id=12711] .md-share-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"8d7135dc-d61d-4cf8\">\n            \n                <em class=\"material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon\" data-icon=\"share\" data-webtasks-id=\"a5ddfeb4-53ef-4c8d\"></em>\n\t\n            \n            Share\n        </button>\n    \n    \n\n\n\n\n                    </div>\n                \n            </div>\n        </div>\n    \n    \n<h1 class=\"mb-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"472aa35b-361f-4807\">Is Hong Kong a Country?</h1>\n\n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n    <div class=\"d-none d-md-flex my-10\" data-webtasks-id=\"ee17d73e-1c99-41c4\">\n        \n\n        \n\n        \n\n        \n            <div class=\"mr-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"df2bce91-28ce-414c\">\n                \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n    \n        \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        <button class=\"js-modal qa-cite-modal-button btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10\" data-modal=\"[data-feature-id=12711] .md-cite-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"e2a5efdd-4721-4dc4\">\n            <em class=\"material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5\" data-icon=\"verified\" data-webtasks-id=\"363b94d6-55c8-4124\"></em>\n\t\n    \n            Cite\n        </button>\n    \n\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n            </div>\n        \n\n        \n\n        \n            <div data-webtasks-id=\"46aac614-11be-42df\">\n                \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n    \n        \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        <button class=\"js-share-modal-button js-modal  btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10\" data-modal=\" .md-share-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"71581888-a128-4fa2\">\n            <em class=\"material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5\" data-icon=\"share\" data-webtasks-id=\"3fb06d4d-bb4e-4611\"></em>\n\t\n    \n            Share\n        </button>\n    \n\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n            </div>\n        \n    </div>\n    \n<div class=\"md-byline mb-10 font-12\" data-webtasks-id=\"e4629c43-ba2c-430c\">\n\t\t<div data-webtasks-id=\"bd02c8a7-7518-4b23\">\n\t\t<span class=\"written-by font-12 text-gray-700\" data-webtasks-id=\"85ed2e6e-ca15-425c\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWritten by\n\t\t\t\t</span>\n\t\t<div class=\"editor-popover popover p-0\" style=\"position: absolute; inset: 0px auto auto 0px; margin: 0px; transform: translate(79px, 162px);\" data-popper-placement=\"bottom-start\" data-webtasks-id=\"f6f3e694-b568-4b85\">\n  <a class=\"d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor\" href=\"/editor/Amy-McKenna/6443\" data-webtasks-id=\"037cba07-efec-4465\">\n        <div class=\"editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold\" data-webtasks-id=\"558e78d2-f031-4ef5\">Amy McKenna</div>\n\n        <div class=\"editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black\" data-webtasks-id=\"779c2dff-b6e8-45e8\">Amy McKenna is a senior editor, primarily focused on geography and history matters pertaining to sub-Saharan Africa. She joined Encyclopaedia Britannica in 2004. She was previously employed by Standard...</div>\n            </a>\n    <div data-popper-arrow=\"\" style=\"position: absolute; left: 0px; transform: translate(33px, 0px);\" data-webtasks-id=\"21d7d9bf-b01d-49d9\"></div>\n</div>\n\n<span class=\"btn btn-link byline-link editor-link p-0 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor\" data-webtasks-id=\"20234242-09a2-4ce6\">\n  Amy McKenna</span></div>\n\t<div class=\"font-sans-serif font-12 text-gray-700\" data-webtasks-id=\"0df1b56d-8d42-41a7\">\n\t\t<span class=\"qa-fact-checked-by\" data-webtasks-id=\"a020a750-ba14-4947\">Fact-checked by</span> <div class=\"editor-popover popover p-0\" style=\"position: absolute; inset: 0px auto auto 0px; margin: 0px; transform: translate(109px, 182px);\" data-popper-placement=\"bottom-start\" data-webtasks-id=\"75f06c6b-67da-4264\">\n  <a class=\"d-block p-20 font-12\" href=\"/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419\" data-webtasks-id=\"16992153-0f1f-45e6\">\n        <div class=\"editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold\" data-webtasks-id=\"dd96b30a-68b9-4f6b\">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div>\n\n        <div class=\"editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black\" data-webtasks-id=\"78c2c9f4-cda4-4971\">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div>\n            </a>\n    <div data-popper-arrow=\"\" style=\"position: absolute; left: 0px; transform: translate(99px, 0px);\" data-webtasks-id=\"a621d6d5-6548-4146\"></div>\n</div>\n\n<span class=\"btn btn-link byline-link editor-link p-0 font-12\" data-webtasks-id=\"9ff03ef3-fc58-4bbe\">\n  The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div></div>\n</div>\n\n                    <!-- The element for the player. -->\n\n\t\t\t\t    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t<div class=\"mt-20\" data-webtasks-id=\"a8d2a0c7-552c-41de\">\n\t\t<google-read-aloud-player data-voice=\"en-us-m-3\" data-tracking-ids=\"UA-168915890-24,G-0B6QQVKFV8\" data-api-key=\"AIzaSyBJdCURs_s6wfa7XECRfj5mZVTjYdsf538\" data-docking-anchor-offset-vertical=\"90\" data-docking-anchor-offset-horizontal=\"360\" data-url=\"https://www.britannica.com/story/is-hong-kong-a-country\" data-scope=\"-story-is-hong-kong-a-country\" data-webtasks-id=\"082c3fb3-24e1-41b9\"></google-read-aloud-player>\n\t</div>\n\n   <article class=\"topic-content content mt-20\" data-webtasks-id=\"c769e96a-68dd-465a\"><figure class=\"md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false\" data-type=\"1\" data-webtasks-id=\"d643efc6-8d3b-4e6e\"><div class=\"md-assembly-wrapper card-media\" data-type=\"image\" data-webtasks-id=\"cd4578a9-b8ec-4abb\"><a style=\"min-height: 160px;\" href=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/43/82343-050-92634E48/Flag-Hong-Kong-province-China.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center \" data-href=\"*\" data-webtasks-id=\"db1d5978-9689-479c\"><img src=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/43/82343-050-92634E48/Flag-Hong-Kong-province-China.jpg?w=600&amp;q=60\" alt=\"Flag of Hong Kong. China province\" data-width=\"1600\" data-height=\"1067\" loading=\"eager\" data-webtasks-id=\"d5cda9c9-bef3-4e95\"><button class=\"magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white\" aria-label=\"Zoom in\" data-webtasks-id=\"f4c33b0b-48db-47b2\"><em class=\"material-icons link-blue\" data-icon=\"zoom_in\" data-webtasks-id=\"4eae0e19-f9c1-41a2\"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"345bf379-c913-4d4b\"><cite class=\"credit d-block mt-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"bca7a611-2364-49bf\">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</cite></figcaption></figure> <!--[BP1]--><p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"10bd81bc-a86f-417b\">No, <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/Hong-Kong\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"31ba5e45-c28d-4714\">Hong Kong</a> is not a country. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/China\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"6116e81c-2612-4511\">China</a>. Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region stems from its history as a former British colony.</p><!--[P1]--><!--[AM1]--><span class=\"AM1 am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"f711320d-0a34-4c96\"></span><!--[MOD1]--><span class=\"MOD1\" data-webtasks-id=\"a18cbedc-eb7e-469e\"></span>  <figure class=\"md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false\" data-type=\"1\" data-webtasks-id=\"66c09518-acbc-454c\"><div class=\"md-assembly-wrapper card-media\" data-type=\"image\" data-webtasks-id=\"99b06236-cc25-470a\"><a style=\"min-height: 160px;\" href=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/96/84796-050-C4DEA436/Hong-Kong-Island-Victoria-Peak.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center \" data-href=\"*\" data-webtasks-id=\"2af6d62d-03c9-4d8d\"><img src=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/96/84796-050-C4DEA436/Hong-Kong-Island-Victoria-Peak.jpg?w=600&amp;q=60\" alt=\"Aerial view of Hong Kong Island as seen from Victoria Peak. (photo dated 2016)\" data-width=\"1000\" data-height=\"627\" loading=\"eager\" data-webtasks-id=\"35fe6cbe-0836-4d68\"><button class=\"magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white\" aria-label=\"Zoom in\" data-webtasks-id=\"2bb65df0-2beb-4be1\"><em class=\"material-icons link-blue\" data-icon=\"zoom_in\" data-webtasks-id=\"fb0bea50-11c8-4307\"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"ed70fda1-3147-4157\"><cite class=\"credit d-block mt-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"f8d33ebd-4896-4296\">© Cherdchanok/Shutterstock.com</cite></figcaption></figure>  <!--[BP2]--><p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"05ba2d57-34ed-4243\">By way of treaty or lease with China, the islands and mainland area now known as Hong Kong came under the control of <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"84a28ace-ae9f-4aee\">Great Britain</a> at various points in the 19th century. From that time until its transfer back to China in the late 20th century, Hong Kong developed on a different trajectory, both politically and economically, than mainland China—which, in contrast to Hong Kong’s status as a British colony, began that period with its imperial dynasty in decline and ended it as a republic under communist rule.</p><!--[P2]--><!--[AM2]--><span class=\"AM2 am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"3267dfe0-c6d5-413a\"></span><!--[MOD2]--><span class=\"MOD2\" data-webtasks-id=\"57f82907-d00f-4e1a\"></span> <!--[BP3]--><p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"a20acc3c-356b-4a9e\">Spurred by the pending expiration of a 99-year lease (1898–1997) for part of the territory, the 1984 Chinese-British joint declaration paved the way for all of Hong Kong to be returned to China. The <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/event/handover-of-Hong-Kong\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"ed135cfc-fb22-4e15\">handover</a> occurred on July 1, 1997, at which point the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region took effect. The Basic Law outlined the concept of “one country, two systems,” under which Hong Kong, though now part of China, was allowed to maintain its capitalist economy and to retain a large degree of political autonomy (except in matters of foreign policy and defense) for a period of 50 years.</p><!--[P3]--><!--[AM3]--><span class=\"AM3 am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"ee74bfc4-1406-4028\"></span><!--[MOD3]--><span class=\"MOD3\" data-webtasks-id=\"a0dd64c5-29ba-4ea1\"></span> <span class=\"AM-END-OF-ARTICLE am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"e596f6ed-4662-42a0\"></span></article> \n</div>","tagName":"DIV","textContent":"\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@context\" : \"https://schema.org\",\n\t\t\t\"@type\" : \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t\t\t\"itemListElement\" :\n\t\t\t[\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@type\" : \"ListItem\",\n\t\t\t\"position\" : 1,\n\t\t\t\"item\" :\n\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@id\" : \"https://www.britannica.com/stories/companion\",\n\t\t\t\"name\": \"Companion\"\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\n\t\t\t]\n\t\t}\n\t\t\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHome\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCompanion\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\n\n\n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n        \n            \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n    \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n            \n\t\n    \n                Actions\n        \n    \n\n\n            \n            \n\n                \n\n                \n\n                \n\n                \n                    \n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n        \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCite\n\t\t\n    \n    \n\n\n\n\n                    \n                \n\n                \n\n                \n                    \n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n        \n            \n                \n\t\n            \n            Share\n        \n    \n    \n\n\n\n\n                    \n                \n            \n        \n    \n    \nIs Hong Kong a Country?\n\n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n    \n        \n\n        \n\n        \n\n        \n            \n                \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n    \n        \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n            \n\t\n    \n            Cite\n        \n    \n\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n            \n        \n\n        \n\n        \n            \n                \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n    \n        \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n            \n\t\n    \n            Share\n        \n    \n\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n            \n        \n    \n    \n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWritten by\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n  \n        Amy McKenna\n\n        Amy McKenna is a senior editor, primarily focused on geography and history matters pertaining to sub-Saharan Africa. She joined Encyclopaedia Britannica in 2004. She was previously employed by Standard...\n            \n    \n\n\n\n  Amy McKenna\n\t\n\t\tFact-checked by \n  \n        The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica\n\n        Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.\n            \n    \n\n\n\n  The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica\n\n\n                    \n\n\t\t\t\t    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\n   Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. No, Hong Kong is not a country. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region stems from its history as a former British colony.  © Cherdchanok/Shutterstock.com  By way of treaty or lease with China, the islands and mainland area now known as Hong Kong came under the control of Great Britain at various points in the 19th century. From that time until its transfer back to China in the late 20th century, Hong Kong developed on a different trajectory, both politically and economically, than mainland China—which, in contrast to Hong Kong’s status as a British colony, began that period with its imperial dynasty in decline and ended it as a republic under communist rule. Spurred by the pending expiration of a 99-year lease (1898–1997) for part of the territory, the 1984 Chinese-British joint declaration paved the way for all of Hong Kong to be returned to China. The handover occurred on July 1, 1997, at which point the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region took effect. The Basic Law outlined the concept of “one country, two systems,” under which Hong Kong, though now part of China, was allowed to maintain its capitalist economy and to retain a large degree of political autonomy (except in matters of foreign policy and defense) for a period of 50 years.  \n","xpath":"id(\"-story-is-hong-kong-a-country\")/div[1]"}},"event_id":36,"element_html":"<div class=\"grey-box w-100 grey-box-middle\" data-webtasks-id=\"2eab1b93-83ea-40d1\">\n<script data-webtasks-id=\"6b33a632-7eb3-4dc8\" type=\"application/ld+json\">\n\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@context\" : \"https://schema.org\",\n\t\t\t\"@type\" : \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t\t\t\"itemListElement\" :\n\t\t\t[\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@type\" : \"ListItem\",\n\t\t\t\"position\" : 1,\n\t\t\t\"item\" :\n\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@id\" : \"https://www.britannica.com/stories/companion\",\n\t\t\t\"name\": \"Companion\"\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\n\t\t\t]\n\t\t}\n\t\t</script>\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" data-webtasks-id=\"2db84c14-47bf-41f7\">\n<span class=\"breadcrumb-item\" data-webtasks-id=\"391657fa-cd5e-43a9\">\n<a class=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"73f9aec4-6096-48ae\" href=\"/\">Home</a>\n</span>\n<span class=\"breadcrumb-item\" data-webtasks-id=\"b722b050-648d-46f4\">\n<a class=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"d5e5d020-7b39-4021\" href=\"/stories/companion\">\n\t\t\tCompanion</a>\n</span>\n</nav>\n<div data-webtasks-id=\"07a19923-5ed0-440b\">\n<div class=\"d-block d-md-none md-feature-tools float-right mb-15\" data-feature-id=\"12711\" data-webtasks-id=\"28e44e90-5319-4abe\" style=\"right:20px\">\n<button class=\"js-tooltip-actions ml-10 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10\" data-webtasks-id=\"ecfa80db-8325-40ee\">\n<em class=\"material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5\" data-icon=\"more_vert\" data-webtasks-id=\"846e8218-1ed9-4f6a\"></em>\n\t\n    \n                Actions\n        </button>\n<div class=\"md-actions-popover popover popover-sm py-5 px-0 z-1\" data-popper-escaped=\"\" data-popper-placement=\"bottom-start\" data-popper-reference-hidden=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"6677c6f6-da38-4bff\" style=\"position: absolute; inset: 0px auto auto 0px; margin: 0px; transform: translate(0px, 0px);\">\n<div data-webtasks-id=\"c7f2bf3c-b4b6-4d17\">\n<button class=\"js-modal qa-cite-modal-button btn btn-sm btn-link\" data-modal=\"[data-feature-id=12711] .sm-cite-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"9b002953-54d6-4478\">\n<em class=\"material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon\" data-icon=\"verified\" data-webtasks-id=\"a5826e39-206a-49ab\"></em>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCite\n\t\t</button>\n</div>\n<div data-webtasks-id=\"6364dd7f-5fc2-457f\">\n<button class=\"js-share-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link\" data-modal=\"[data-feature-id=12711] .md-share-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"8d7135dc-d61d-4cf8\">\n<em class=\"material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon\" data-icon=\"share\" data-webtasks-id=\"a5ddfeb4-53ef-4c8d\"></em>\n\t\n            \n            Share\n        </button>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<h1 class=\"mb-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"472aa35b-361f-4807\">Is Hong Kong a Country?</h1>\n<div class=\"d-none d-md-flex my-10\" data-webtasks-id=\"ee17d73e-1c99-41c4\">\n<div class=\"mr-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"df2bce91-28ce-414c\">\n<button class=\"js-modal qa-cite-modal-button btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10\" data-modal=\"[data-feature-id=12711] .md-cite-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"e2a5efdd-4721-4dc4\">\n<em class=\"material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5\" data-icon=\"verified\" data-webtasks-id=\"363b94d6-55c8-4124\"></em>\n\t\n    \n            Cite\n        </button>\n</div>\n<div data-webtasks-id=\"46aac614-11be-42df\">\n<button class=\"js-share-modal-button js-modal btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10\" data-modal=\" .md-share-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"71581888-a128-4fa2\">\n<em class=\"material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5\" data-icon=\"share\" data-webtasks-id=\"3fb06d4d-bb4e-4611\"></em>\n\t\n    \n            Share\n        </button>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"md-byline mb-10 font-12\" data-webtasks-id=\"e4629c43-ba2c-430c\">\n<div data-webtasks-id=\"bd02c8a7-7518-4b23\">\n<span class=\"written-by font-12 text-gray-700\" data-webtasks-id=\"85ed2e6e-ca15-425c\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWritten by\n\t\t\t\t</span>\n<div class=\"editor-popover popover p-0\" data-popper-placement=\"bottom-start\" data-webtasks-id=\"f6f3e694-b568-4b85\" style=\"position: absolute; inset: 0px auto auto 0px; margin: 0px; transform: translate(79px, 162px);\">\n<a class=\"d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor\" data-webtasks-id=\"037cba07-efec-4465\" href=\"/editor/Amy-McKenna/6443\">\n<div class=\"editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold\" data-webtasks-id=\"558e78d2-f031-4ef5\">Amy McKenna</div>\n<div class=\"editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black\" data-webtasks-id=\"779c2dff-b6e8-45e8\">Amy McKenna is a senior editor, primarily focused on geography and history matters pertaining to sub-Saharan Africa. She joined Encyclopaedia Britannica in 2004. She was previously employed by Standard...</div>\n</a>\n<div data-popper-arrow=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"21d7d9bf-b01d-49d9\" style=\"position: absolute; left: 0px; transform: translate(33px, 0px);\"></div>\n</div>\n<span class=\"btn btn-link byline-link editor-link p-0 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor\" data-webtasks-id=\"20234242-09a2-4ce6\">\n  Amy McKenna</span></div>\n<div class=\"font-sans-serif font-12 text-gray-700\" data-webtasks-id=\"0df1b56d-8d42-41a7\">\n<span class=\"qa-fact-checked-by\" data-webtasks-id=\"a020a750-ba14-4947\">Fact-checked by</span> <div class=\"editor-popover popover p-0\" data-popper-placement=\"bottom-start\" data-webtasks-id=\"75f06c6b-67da-4264\" style=\"position: absolute; inset: 0px auto auto 0px; margin: 0px; transform: translate(109px, 182px);\">\n<a class=\"d-block p-20 font-12\" data-webtasks-id=\"16992153-0f1f-45e6\" href=\"/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419\">\n<div class=\"editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold\" data-webtasks-id=\"dd96b30a-68b9-4f6b\">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div>\n<div class=\"editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black\" data-webtasks-id=\"78c2c9f4-cda4-4971\">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div>\n</a>\n<div data-popper-arrow=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"a621d6d5-6548-4146\" style=\"position: absolute; left: 0px; transform: translate(99px, 0px);\"></div>\n</div>\n<span class=\"btn btn-link byline-link editor-link p-0 font-12\" data-webtasks-id=\"9ff03ef3-fc58-4bbe\">\n  The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div></div>\n</div>\n<!-- The element for the player. -->\n<div class=\"mt-20\" data-webtasks-id=\"a8d2a0c7-552c-41de\">\n<google-read-aloud-player data-api-key=\"AIzaSyBJdCURs_s6wfa7XECRfj5mZVTjYdsf538\" data-docking-anchor-offset-horizontal=\"360\" data-docking-anchor-offset-vertical=\"90\" data-scope=\"-story-is-hong-kong-a-country\" data-tracking-ids=\"UA-168915890-24,G-0B6QQVKFV8\" data-url=\"https://www.britannica.com/story/is-hong-kong-a-country\" data-voice=\"en-us-m-3\" data-webtasks-id=\"082c3fb3-24e1-41b9\"></google-read-aloud-player>\n</div>\n<article class=\"topic-content content mt-20\" data-webtasks-id=\"c769e96a-68dd-465a\"><figure class=\"md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false\" data-type=\"1\" data-webtasks-id=\"d643efc6-8d3b-4e6e\"><div class=\"md-assembly-wrapper card-media\" data-type=\"image\" data-webtasks-id=\"cd4578a9-b8ec-4abb\"><a class=\"position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center\" data-href=\"*\" data-webtasks-id=\"db1d5978-9689-479c\" href=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/43/82343-050-92634E48/Flag-Hong-Kong-province-China.jpg\" style=\"min-height: 160px;\" target=\"_blank\"><img alt=\"Flag of Hong Kong. China province\" data-height=\"1067\" data-webtasks-id=\"d5cda9c9-bef3-4e95\" data-width=\"1600\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/43/82343-050-92634E48/Flag-Hong-Kong-province-China.jpg?w=600&amp;q=60\"/><button aria-label=\"Zoom in\" class=\"magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white\" data-webtasks-id=\"f4c33b0b-48db-47b2\"><em class=\"material-icons link-blue\" data-icon=\"zoom_in\" data-webtasks-id=\"4eae0e19-f9c1-41a2\"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"345bf379-c913-4d4b\"><cite class=\"credit d-block mt-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"bca7a611-2364-49bf\">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</cite></figcaption></figure> <!--[BP1]--><p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"10bd81bc-a86f-417b\">No, <a class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"31ba5e45-c28d-4714\" href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/Hong-Kong\">Hong Kong</a> is not a country. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of <a class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"6116e81c-2612-4511\" href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/China\">China</a>. Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region stems from its history as a former British colony.</p><!--[P1]--><!--[AM1]--><span class=\"AM1 am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"f711320d-0a34-4c96\"></span><!--[MOD1]--><span class=\"MOD1\" data-webtasks-id=\"a18cbedc-eb7e-469e\"></span> <figure class=\"md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false\" data-type=\"1\" data-webtasks-id=\"66c09518-acbc-454c\"><div class=\"md-assembly-wrapper card-media\" data-type=\"image\" data-webtasks-id=\"99b06236-cc25-470a\"><a class=\"position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center\" data-href=\"*\" data-webtasks-id=\"2af6d62d-03c9-4d8d\" href=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/96/84796-050-C4DEA436/Hong-Kong-Island-Victoria-Peak.jpg\" style=\"min-height: 160px;\" target=\"_blank\"><img alt=\"Aerial view of Hong Kong Island as seen from Victoria Peak. (photo dated 2016)\" data-height=\"627\" data-webtasks-id=\"35fe6cbe-0836-4d68\" data-width=\"1000\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/96/84796-050-C4DEA436/Hong-Kong-Island-Victoria-Peak.jpg?w=600&amp;q=60\"/><button aria-label=\"Zoom in\" class=\"magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white\" data-webtasks-id=\"2bb65df0-2beb-4be1\"><em class=\"material-icons link-blue\" data-icon=\"zoom_in\" data-webtasks-id=\"fb0bea50-11c8-4307\"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"ed70fda1-3147-4157\"><cite class=\"credit d-block mt-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"f8d33ebd-4896-4296\">© Cherdchanok/Shutterstock.com</cite></figcaption></figure> <!--[BP2]--><p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"05ba2d57-34ed-4243\">By way of treaty or lease with China, the islands and mainland area now known as Hong Kong came under the control of <a class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"84a28ace-ae9f-4aee\" href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom\">Great Britain</a> at various points in the 19th century. From that time until its transfer back to China in the late 20th century, Hong Kong developed on a different trajectory, both politically and economically, than mainland China—which, in contrast to Hong Kong’s status as a British colony, began that period with its imperial dynasty in decline and ended it as a republic under communist rule.</p><!--[P2]--><!--[AM2]--><span class=\"AM2 am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"3267dfe0-c6d5-413a\"></span><!--[MOD2]--><span class=\"MOD2\" data-webtasks-id=\"57f82907-d00f-4e1a\"></span> <!--[BP3]--><p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"a20acc3c-356b-4a9e\">Spurred by the pending expiration of a 99-year lease (1898–1997) for part of the territory, the 1984 Chinese-British joint declaration paved the way for all of Hong Kong to be returned to China. The <a class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"ed135cfc-fb22-4e15\" href=\"https://www.britannica.com/event/handover-of-Hong-Kong\">handover</a> occurred on July 1, 1997, at which point the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region took effect. The Basic Law outlined the concept of “one country, two systems,” under which Hong Kong, though now part of China, was allowed to maintain its capitalist economy and to retain a large degree of political autonomy (except in matters of foreign policy and defense) for a period of 50 years.</p><!--[P3]--><!--[AM3]--><span class=\"AM3 am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"ee74bfc4-1406-4028\"></span><!--[MOD3]--><span class=\"MOD3\" data-webtasks-id=\"a0dd64c5-29ba-4ea1\"></span> <span class=\"AM-END-OF-ARTICLE am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"e596f6ed-4662-42a0\"></span></article>\n</div>","screenshot_effect":null}},{"type":"browser","timestamp":191.9630000591278,"state":{"screenshot":"screenshot-38-1.png","page":"page-38-0.html","screenshot_status":"good"},"action":{"intent":"copy","arguments":{"metadata":{"mouseX":528,"mouseY":364,"tabId":1146733273,"timestamp":1686640366490,"url":"https://www.britannica.com/story/is-hong-kong-a-country","viewportHeight":657,"viewportWidth":1366,"zoomLevel":1},"properties":{"composed":true,"eventPhase":0,"returnValue":true,"timeStamp":32083.700000047684},"element":{"attributes":{"class":"topic-paragraph","data-webtasks-id":"10bd81bc-a86f-417b"},"bbox":{"bottom":497.78125,"height":143.984375,"left":311,"right":988,"top":353.796875,"width":677,"x":311,"y":353.796875},"innerHTML":"No, <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/Hong-Kong\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"31ba5e45-c28d-4714\">Hong Kong</a> is not a country. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/China\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"6116e81c-2612-4511\">China</a>. Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region stems from its history as a former British colony.","outerHTML":"<p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"10bd81bc-a86f-417b\">No, <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/Hong-Kong\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"31ba5e45-c28d-4714\">Hong Kong</a> is not a country. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/China\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"6116e81c-2612-4511\">China</a>. Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region stems from its history as a former British colony.</p>","tagName":"P","textContent":"No, Hong Kong is not a country. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region stems from its history as a former British colony.","xpath":"id(\"-story-is-hong-kong-a-country\")/div[1]/article[1]/p[1]"},"selected":"No, Hong Kong is not a country."},"event_id":38,"element_html":"<p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"10bd81bc-a86f-417b\">No, <a class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"31ba5e45-c28d-4714\" href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/Hong-Kong\">Hong Kong</a> is not a country. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of <a class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"6116e81c-2612-4511\" href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/China\">China</a>. Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region stems from its history as a former British colony.</p>","screenshot_effect":null}},{"timestamp":195.473,"speaker":"navigator","utterance":"No, Hong Kong is not a country.","type":"chat"},{"timestamp":198.473,"speaker":"instructor","utterance":"to  Everyone:\n\tWhat is Hong Kong's status?","type":"chat"},{"type":"browser","timestamp":203.99300003051758,"state":{"screenshot":"screenshot-41-1.png","page":"page-41-0.html","screenshot_status":"good"},"action":{"intent":"click","arguments":{"metadata":{"mouseX":603,"mouseY":326,"tabId":1146733273,"timestamp":1686640378520,"url":"https://www.britannica.com/story/is-hong-kong-a-country","viewportHeight":657,"viewportWidth":1366,"zoomLevel":1},"properties":{"altKey":false,"button":0,"buttons":1,"clientX":603,"clientY":326,"composed":true,"ctrlKey":false,"detail":1,"eventPhase":0,"layerX":313,"layerY":255,"metaKey":false,"movementX":0,"movementY":0,"offsetX":292,"offsetY":47,"pageX":603,"pageY":326,"returnValue":true,"screenX":603,"screenY":397,"shiftKey":false,"timeStamp":44075,"x":603,"y":326},"element":{"attributes":{"data-api-key":"AIzaSyBJdCURs_s6wfa7XECRfj5mZVTjYdsf538","data-docking-anchor-offset-horizontal":"360","data-docking-anchor-offset-vertical":"90","data-scope":"-story-is-hong-kong-a-country","data-tracking-ids":"UA-168915890-24,G-0B6QQVKFV8","data-url":"https://www.britannica.com/story/is-hong-kong-a-country","data-voice":"en-us-m-3","data-webtasks-id":"082c3fb3-24e1-41b9"},"bbox":{"bottom":333.796875,"height":55,"left":311,"right":988,"top":278.796875,"width":677,"x":311,"y":278.796875},"innerHTML":"","outerHTML":"<google-read-aloud-player data-voice=\"en-us-m-3\" data-tracking-ids=\"UA-168915890-24,G-0B6QQVKFV8\" data-api-key=\"AIzaSyBJdCURs_s6wfa7XECRfj5mZVTjYdsf538\" data-docking-anchor-offset-vertical=\"90\" data-docking-anchor-offset-horizontal=\"360\" data-url=\"https://www.britannica.com/story/is-hong-kong-a-country\" data-scope=\"-story-is-hong-kong-a-country\" data-webtasks-id=\"082c3fb3-24e1-41b9\"></google-read-aloud-player>","tagName":"GOOGLE-READ-ALOUD-PLAYER","textContent":"","xpath":"id(\"-story-is-hong-kong-a-country\")/div[1]/div[2]/google-read-aloud-player[1]"}},"event_id":41,"element_html":"<google-read-aloud-player data-api-key=\"AIzaSyBJdCURs_s6wfa7XECRfj5mZVTjYdsf538\" data-docking-anchor-offset-horizontal=\"360\" data-docking-anchor-offset-vertical=\"90\" data-scope=\"-story-is-hong-kong-a-country\" data-tracking-ids=\"UA-168915890-24,G-0B6QQVKFV8\" data-url=\"https://www.britannica.com/story/is-hong-kong-a-country\" data-voice=\"en-us-m-3\" data-webtasks-id=\"082c3fb3-24e1-41b9\"></google-read-aloud-player>","screenshot_effect":null}},{"type":"browser","timestamp":204.82800006866455,"state":{"screenshot":"screenshot-41-1.png","page":"page-42-0.html","screenshot_status":"good"},"action":{"intent":"click","arguments":{"metadata":{"mouseX":569,"mouseY":361,"tabId":1146733273,"timestamp":1686640379355,"url":"https://www.britannica.com/story/is-hong-kong-a-country","viewportHeight":657,"viewportWidth":1366,"zoomLevel":1},"properties":{"altKey":false,"button":0,"buttons":1,"clientX":569,"clientY":361,"composed":true,"ctrlKey":false,"detail":1,"eventPhase":0,"layerX":279,"layerY":290,"metaKey":false,"movementX":0,"movementY":0,"offsetX":258,"offsetY":7,"pageX":569,"pageY":361,"returnValue":true,"screenX":569,"screenY":432,"shiftKey":false,"timeStamp":44947.10000002384,"x":569,"y":361},"element":{"attributes":{"class":"topic-paragraph","data-webtasks-id":"10bd81bc-a86f-417b"},"bbox":{"bottom":497.78125,"height":143.984375,"left":311,"right":988,"top":353.796875,"width":677,"x":311,"y":353.796875},"innerHTML":"No, <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/Hong-Kong\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"31ba5e45-c28d-4714\">Hong Kong</a> is not a country. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/China\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"6116e81c-2612-4511\">China</a>. Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region stems from its history as a former British colony.","outerHTML":"<p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"10bd81bc-a86f-417b\">No, <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/Hong-Kong\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"31ba5e45-c28d-4714\">Hong Kong</a> is not a country. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/China\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"6116e81c-2612-4511\">China</a>. Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region stems from its history as a former British colony.</p>","tagName":"P","textContent":"No, Hong Kong is not a country. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region stems from its history as a former British colony.","xpath":"id(\"-story-is-hong-kong-a-country\")/div[1]/article[1]/p[1]"}},"event_id":42,"element_html":"<p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"10bd81bc-a86f-417b\">No, <a class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"31ba5e45-c28d-4714\" href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/Hong-Kong\">Hong Kong</a> is not a country. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of <a class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"6116e81c-2612-4511\" href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/China\">China</a>. Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region stems from its history as a former British colony.</p>","screenshot_effect":null}},{"type":"browser","timestamp":207.8140001296997,"state":{"screenshot":"screenshot-44-1.png","page":"page-44-0.html","screenshot_status":"good"},"action":{"intent":"copy","arguments":{"metadata":{"mouseX":721,"mouseY":433,"tabId":1146733273,"timestamp":1686640382341,"url":"https://www.britannica.com/story/is-hong-kong-a-country","viewportHeight":657,"viewportWidth":1366,"zoomLevel":1},"properties":{"composed":true,"eventPhase":0,"returnValue":true,"timeStamp":47935.10000002384},"element":{"attributes":{"class":"topic-paragraph","data-webtasks-id":"10bd81bc-a86f-417b"},"bbox":{"bottom":497.78125,"height":143.984375,"left":311,"right":988,"top":353.796875,"width":677,"x":311,"y":353.796875},"innerHTML":"No, <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/Hong-Kong\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"31ba5e45-c28d-4714\">Hong Kong</a> is not a country. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/China\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"6116e81c-2612-4511\">China</a>. Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region stems from its history as a former British colony.","outerHTML":"<p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"10bd81bc-a86f-417b\">No, <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/Hong-Kong\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"31ba5e45-c28d-4714\">Hong Kong</a> is not a country. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/China\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"6116e81c-2612-4511\">China</a>. Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region stems from its history as a former British colony.</p>","tagName":"P","textContent":"No, Hong Kong is not a country. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region stems from its history as a former British colony.","xpath":"id(\"-story-is-hong-kong-a-country\")/div[1]/article[1]/p[1]"},"selected":"Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China."},"event_id":44,"element_html":"<p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"10bd81bc-a86f-417b\">No, <a class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"31ba5e45-c28d-4714\" href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/Hong-Kong\">Hong Kong</a> is not a country. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of <a class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"6116e81c-2612-4511\" href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/China\">China</a>. Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region stems from its history as a former British colony.</p>","screenshot_effect":null}},{"timestamp":212.473,"speaker":"navigator","utterance":"Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China.","type":"chat"},{"timestamp":221.473,"speaker":"instructor","utterance":"to  Everyone:\n\tWhen did Hong Kong come under British control?","type":"chat"},{"type":"browser","timestamp":226.43300008773804,"state":{"screenshot":"screenshot-47-1.png","page":"page-47-0.html","screenshot_status":"good"},"action":{"intent":"scroll","arguments":{"metadata":{"mouseX":416,"mouseY":439,"tabId":1146733273,"timestamp":1686640400960,"url":"https://www.britannica.com/story/is-hong-kong-a-country","viewportHeight":657,"viewportWidth":1366,"zoomLevel":1},"properties":{"altKey":false,"button":0,"buttons":0,"clientX":415,"clientY":468,"composed":true,"ctrlKey":false,"detail":0,"eventPhase":0,"layerX":125,"layerY":398,"metaKey":false,"movementX":0,"movementY":0,"offsetX":104,"offsetY":214,"pageX":415,"pageY":469,"returnValue":true,"screenX":415,"screenY":539,"shiftKey":false,"timeStamp":66035.60000002384,"x":415,"y":468},"scrollX":0,"scrollY":200},"event_id":47,"element_html":null,"screenshot_effect":"screenshot-47-1.png"}},{"type":"browser","timestamp":231.1890001296997,"state":{"screenshot":"screenshot-49-1.png","page":"page-49-0.html","screenshot_status":"good"},"action":{"intent":"click","arguments":{"metadata":{"mouseX":324,"mouseY":383,"tabId":1146733273,"timestamp":1686640405716,"url":"https://www.britannica.com/story/is-hong-kong-a-country","viewportHeight":657,"viewportWidth":1366,"zoomLevel":1},"properties":{"altKey":false,"button":0,"buttons":1,"clientX":306,"clientY":383,"composed":true,"ctrlKey":false,"detail":1,"eventPhase":0,"layerX":16,"layerY":512,"metaKey":false,"movementX":0,"movementY":0,"offsetX":15,"offsetY":511,"pageX":306,"pageY":583,"returnValue":true,"screenX":306,"screenY":454,"shiftKey":false,"timeStamp":71188.5,"x":306,"y":383},"element":{"attributes":{"class":"grey-box w-100 grey-box-middle","data-webtasks-id":"2eab1b93-83ea-40d1"},"bbox":{"bottom":936.71875,"height":1065.71875,"left":290,"right":1009,"top":-129,"width":719,"x":290,"y":-129},"innerHTML":"\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\n\t\t<script type=\"application/ld+json\" data-webtasks-id=\"6b33a632-7eb3-4dc8\">\n\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@context\" : \"https://schema.org\",\n\t\t\t\"@type\" : \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t\t\t\"itemListElement\" :\n\t\t\t[\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@type\" : \"ListItem\",\n\t\t\t\"position\" : 1,\n\t\t\t\"item\" :\n\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@id\" : \"https://www.britannica.com/stories/companion\",\n\t\t\t\"name\": \"Companion\"\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\n\t\t\t]\n\t\t}\n\t\t</script>\n\n\t\n\n\t<nav class=\"breadcrumb \" data-webtasks-id=\"2db84c14-47bf-41f7\">\n\t\t<span class=\"breadcrumb-item \" data-webtasks-id=\"391657fa-cd5e-43a9\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"/\" class=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"73f9aec4-6096-48ae\">Home</a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t</span>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"breadcrumb-item \" data-webtasks-id=\"b722b050-648d-46f4\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"\" href=\"/stories/companion\" data-webtasks-id=\"d5e5d020-7b39-4021\">\n\t\t\tCompanion</a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t</span>\n\t\t\n\t</nav>\n\n\n<div data-webtasks-id=\"07a19923-5ed0-440b\">\n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n        <div class=\"d-block d-md-none md-feature-tools float-right mb-15\" style=\"right:20px\" data-feature-id=\"12711\" data-webtasks-id=\"28e44e90-5319-4abe\">\n            \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n    \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        <button class=\"js-tooltip-actions ml-10 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10\" data-webtasks-id=\"ecfa80db-8325-40ee\">\n            <em class=\"material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5\" data-icon=\"more_vert\" data-webtasks-id=\"846e8218-1ed9-4f6a\"></em>\n\t\n    \n                Actions\n        </button>\n    \n\n\n            \n            <div class=\"md-actions-popover popover popover-sm py-5 px-0 z-1\" style=\"position: absolute; inset: 0px auto auto 0px; margin: 0px; transform: translate(0px, 200px);\" data-popper-reference-hidden=\"\" data-popper-escaped=\"\" data-popper-placement=\"bottom-start\" data-webtasks-id=\"6677c6f6-da38-4bff\">\n\n                \n\n                \n\n                \n\n                \n                    <div data-webtasks-id=\"c7f2bf3c-b4b6-4d17\">\n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n        <button class=\"js-modal qa-cite-modal-button btn btn-sm btn-link\" data-modal=\"[data-feature-id=12711] .sm-cite-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"9b002953-54d6-4478\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<em class=\"material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon\" data-icon=\"verified\" data-webtasks-id=\"a5826e39-206a-49ab\"></em>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCite\n\t\t</button>\n    \n    \n\n\n\n\n                    </div>\n                \n\n                \n\n                \n                    <div data-webtasks-id=\"6364dd7f-5fc2-457f\">\n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n        <button class=\"js-share-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link\" data-modal=\"[data-feature-id=12711] .md-share-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"8d7135dc-d61d-4cf8\">\n            \n                <em class=\"material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon\" data-icon=\"share\" data-webtasks-id=\"a5ddfeb4-53ef-4c8d\"></em>\n\t\n            \n            Share\n        </button>\n    \n    \n\n\n\n\n                    </div>\n                \n            </div>\n        </div>\n    \n    \n<h1 class=\"mb-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"472aa35b-361f-4807\">Is Hong Kong a Country?</h1>\n\n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n    <div class=\"d-none d-md-flex my-10\" data-webtasks-id=\"ee17d73e-1c99-41c4\">\n        \n\n        \n\n        \n\n        \n            <div class=\"mr-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"df2bce91-28ce-414c\">\n                \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n    \n        \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        <button class=\"js-modal qa-cite-modal-button btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10\" data-modal=\"[data-feature-id=12711] .md-cite-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"e2a5efdd-4721-4dc4\">\n            <em class=\"material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5\" data-icon=\"verified\" data-webtasks-id=\"363b94d6-55c8-4124\"></em>\n\t\n    \n            Cite\n        </button>\n    \n\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n            </div>\n        \n\n        \n\n        \n            <div data-webtasks-id=\"46aac614-11be-42df\">\n                \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n    \n        \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        <button class=\"js-share-modal-button js-modal  btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10\" data-modal=\" .md-share-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"71581888-a128-4fa2\">\n            <em class=\"material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5\" data-icon=\"share\" data-webtasks-id=\"3fb06d4d-bb4e-4611\"></em>\n\t\n    \n            Share\n        </button>\n    \n\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n            </div>\n        \n    </div>\n    \n<div class=\"md-byline mb-10 font-12\" data-webtasks-id=\"e4629c43-ba2c-430c\">\n\t\t<div data-webtasks-id=\"bd02c8a7-7518-4b23\">\n\t\t<span class=\"written-by font-12 text-gray-700\" data-webtasks-id=\"85ed2e6e-ca15-425c\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWritten by\n\t\t\t\t</span>\n\t\t<div class=\"editor-popover popover p-0\" style=\"position: absolute; inset: 0px auto auto 0px; margin: 0px; transform: translate(79px, 162px);\" data-popper-placement=\"bottom-start\" data-webtasks-id=\"f6f3e694-b568-4b85\">\n  <a class=\"d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor\" href=\"/editor/Amy-McKenna/6443\" data-webtasks-id=\"037cba07-efec-4465\">\n        <div class=\"editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold\" data-webtasks-id=\"558e78d2-f031-4ef5\">Amy McKenna</div>\n\n        <div class=\"editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black\" data-webtasks-id=\"779c2dff-b6e8-45e8\">Amy McKenna is a senior editor, primarily focused on geography and history matters pertaining to sub-Saharan Africa. She joined Encyclopaedia Britannica in 2004. She was previously employed by Standard...</div>\n            </a>\n    <div data-popper-arrow=\"\" style=\"position: absolute; left: 0px; transform: translate(33px, 0px);\" data-webtasks-id=\"21d7d9bf-b01d-49d9\"></div>\n</div>\n\n<span class=\"btn btn-link byline-link editor-link p-0 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor\" data-webtasks-id=\"20234242-09a2-4ce6\">\n  Amy McKenna</span></div>\n\t<div class=\"font-sans-serif font-12 text-gray-700\" data-webtasks-id=\"0df1b56d-8d42-41a7\">\n\t\t<span class=\"qa-fact-checked-by\" data-webtasks-id=\"a020a750-ba14-4947\">Fact-checked by</span> <div class=\"editor-popover popover p-0\" style=\"position: absolute; inset: 0px auto auto 0px; margin: 0px; transform: translate(109px, 182px);\" data-popper-placement=\"bottom-start\" data-webtasks-id=\"75f06c6b-67da-4264\">\n  <a class=\"d-block p-20 font-12\" href=\"/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419\" data-webtasks-id=\"16992153-0f1f-45e6\">\n        <div class=\"editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold\" data-webtasks-id=\"dd96b30a-68b9-4f6b\">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div>\n\n        <div class=\"editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black\" data-webtasks-id=\"78c2c9f4-cda4-4971\">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div>\n            </a>\n    <div data-popper-arrow=\"\" style=\"position: absolute; left: 0px; transform: translate(99px, 0px);\" data-webtasks-id=\"a621d6d5-6548-4146\"></div>\n</div>\n\n<span class=\"btn btn-link byline-link editor-link p-0 font-12\" data-webtasks-id=\"9ff03ef3-fc58-4bbe\">\n  The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div></div>\n</div>\n\n                    <!-- The element for the player. -->\n\n\t\t\t\t    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t<div class=\"mt-20\" data-webtasks-id=\"a8d2a0c7-552c-41de\">\n\t\t<google-read-aloud-player data-voice=\"en-us-m-3\" data-tracking-ids=\"UA-168915890-24,G-0B6QQVKFV8\" data-api-key=\"AIzaSyBJdCURs_s6wfa7XECRfj5mZVTjYdsf538\" data-docking-anchor-offset-vertical=\"90\" data-docking-anchor-offset-horizontal=\"360\" data-url=\"https://www.britannica.com/story/is-hong-kong-a-country\" data-scope=\"-story-is-hong-kong-a-country\" data-webtasks-id=\"082c3fb3-24e1-41b9\"></google-read-aloud-player>\n\t</div>\n\n   <article class=\"topic-content content mt-20\" data-webtasks-id=\"c769e96a-68dd-465a\"><figure class=\"md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false\" data-type=\"1\" data-webtasks-id=\"d643efc6-8d3b-4e6e\"><div class=\"md-assembly-wrapper card-media\" data-type=\"image\" data-webtasks-id=\"cd4578a9-b8ec-4abb\"><a style=\"min-height: 160px;\" href=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/43/82343-050-92634E48/Flag-Hong-Kong-province-China.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center \" data-href=\"*\" data-webtasks-id=\"db1d5978-9689-479c\"><img src=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/43/82343-050-92634E48/Flag-Hong-Kong-province-China.jpg?w=600&amp;q=60\" alt=\"Flag of Hong Kong. China province\" data-width=\"1600\" data-height=\"1067\" loading=\"eager\" data-webtasks-id=\"d5cda9c9-bef3-4e95\"><button class=\"magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white\" aria-label=\"Zoom in\" data-webtasks-id=\"f4c33b0b-48db-47b2\"><em class=\"material-icons link-blue\" data-icon=\"zoom_in\" data-webtasks-id=\"4eae0e19-f9c1-41a2\"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"345bf379-c913-4d4b\"><cite class=\"credit d-block mt-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"bca7a611-2364-49bf\">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</cite></figcaption></figure> <!--[BP1]--><p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"10bd81bc-a86f-417b\">No, <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/Hong-Kong\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"31ba5e45-c28d-4714\">Hong Kong</a> is not a country. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/China\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"6116e81c-2612-4511\">China</a>. Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region stems from its history as a former British colony.</p><!--[P1]--><!--[AM1]--><span class=\"AM1 am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"f711320d-0a34-4c96\"></span><!--[MOD1]--><span class=\"MOD1\" data-webtasks-id=\"a18cbedc-eb7e-469e\"></span>  <figure class=\"md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false\" data-type=\"1\" data-webtasks-id=\"66c09518-acbc-454c\"><div class=\"md-assembly-wrapper card-media\" data-type=\"image\" data-webtasks-id=\"99b06236-cc25-470a\"><a style=\"min-height: 160px;\" href=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/96/84796-050-C4DEA436/Hong-Kong-Island-Victoria-Peak.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center \" data-href=\"*\" data-webtasks-id=\"2af6d62d-03c9-4d8d\"><img src=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/96/84796-050-C4DEA436/Hong-Kong-Island-Victoria-Peak.jpg?w=600&amp;q=60\" alt=\"Aerial view of Hong Kong Island as seen from Victoria Peak. (photo dated 2016)\" data-width=\"1000\" data-height=\"627\" loading=\"eager\" data-webtasks-id=\"35fe6cbe-0836-4d68\"><button class=\"magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white\" aria-label=\"Zoom in\" data-webtasks-id=\"2bb65df0-2beb-4be1\"><em class=\"material-icons link-blue\" data-icon=\"zoom_in\" data-webtasks-id=\"fb0bea50-11c8-4307\"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"ed70fda1-3147-4157\"><cite class=\"credit d-block mt-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"f8d33ebd-4896-4296\">© Cherdchanok/Shutterstock.com</cite></figcaption></figure>  <!--[BP2]--><p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"05ba2d57-34ed-4243\">By way of treaty or lease with China, the islands and mainland area now known as Hong Kong came under the control of <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"84a28ace-ae9f-4aee\">Great Britain</a> at various points in the 19th century. From that time until its transfer back to China in the late 20th century, Hong Kong developed on a different trajectory, both politically and economically, than mainland China—which, in contrast to Hong Kong’s status as a British colony, began that period with its imperial dynasty in decline and ended it as a republic under communist rule.</p><!--[P2]--><!--[AM2]--><span class=\"AM2 am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"3267dfe0-c6d5-413a\"></span><!--[MOD2]--><span class=\"MOD2\" data-webtasks-id=\"57f82907-d00f-4e1a\"></span> <!--[BP3]--><p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"a20acc3c-356b-4a9e\">Spurred by the pending expiration of a 99-year lease (1898–1997) for part of the territory, the 1984 Chinese-British joint declaration paved the way for all of Hong Kong to be returned to China. The <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/event/handover-of-Hong-Kong\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"ed135cfc-fb22-4e15\">handover</a> occurred on July 1, 1997, at which point the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region took effect. The Basic Law outlined the concept of “one country, two systems,” under which Hong Kong, though now part of China, was allowed to maintain its capitalist economy and to retain a large degree of political autonomy (except in matters of foreign policy and defense) for a period of 50 years.</p><!--[P3]--><!--[AM3]--><span class=\"AM3 am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"ee74bfc4-1406-4028\"></span><!--[MOD3]--><span class=\"MOD3\" data-webtasks-id=\"a0dd64c5-29ba-4ea1\"></span> <span class=\"AM-END-OF-ARTICLE am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"e596f6ed-4662-42a0\"></span></article> \n","outerHTML":"<div class=\"grey-box w-100 grey-box-middle\" data-webtasks-id=\"2eab1b93-83ea-40d1\">\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\n\t\t<script type=\"application/ld+json\" data-webtasks-id=\"6b33a632-7eb3-4dc8\">\n\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@context\" : \"https://schema.org\",\n\t\t\t\"@type\" : \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t\t\t\"itemListElement\" :\n\t\t\t[\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@type\" : \"ListItem\",\n\t\t\t\"position\" : 1,\n\t\t\t\"item\" :\n\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@id\" : \"https://www.britannica.com/stories/companion\",\n\t\t\t\"name\": \"Companion\"\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\n\t\t\t]\n\t\t}\n\t\t</script>\n\n\t\n\n\t<nav class=\"breadcrumb \" data-webtasks-id=\"2db84c14-47bf-41f7\">\n\t\t<span class=\"breadcrumb-item \" data-webtasks-id=\"391657fa-cd5e-43a9\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"/\" class=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"73f9aec4-6096-48ae\">Home</a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t</span>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"breadcrumb-item \" data-webtasks-id=\"b722b050-648d-46f4\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"\" href=\"/stories/companion\" data-webtasks-id=\"d5e5d020-7b39-4021\">\n\t\t\tCompanion</a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t</span>\n\t\t\n\t</nav>\n\n\n<div data-webtasks-id=\"07a19923-5ed0-440b\">\n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n        <div class=\"d-block d-md-none md-feature-tools float-right mb-15\" style=\"right:20px\" data-feature-id=\"12711\" data-webtasks-id=\"28e44e90-5319-4abe\">\n            \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n    \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        <button class=\"js-tooltip-actions ml-10 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10\" data-webtasks-id=\"ecfa80db-8325-40ee\">\n            <em class=\"material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5\" data-icon=\"more_vert\" data-webtasks-id=\"846e8218-1ed9-4f6a\"></em>\n\t\n    \n                Actions\n        </button>\n    \n\n\n            \n            <div class=\"md-actions-popover popover popover-sm py-5 px-0 z-1\" style=\"position: absolute; inset: 0px auto auto 0px; margin: 0px; transform: translate(0px, 200px);\" data-popper-reference-hidden=\"\" data-popper-escaped=\"\" data-popper-placement=\"bottom-start\" data-webtasks-id=\"6677c6f6-da38-4bff\">\n\n                \n\n                \n\n                \n\n                \n                    <div data-webtasks-id=\"c7f2bf3c-b4b6-4d17\">\n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n        <button class=\"js-modal qa-cite-modal-button btn btn-sm btn-link\" data-modal=\"[data-feature-id=12711] .sm-cite-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"9b002953-54d6-4478\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<em class=\"material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon\" data-icon=\"verified\" data-webtasks-id=\"a5826e39-206a-49ab\"></em>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCite\n\t\t</button>\n    \n    \n\n\n\n\n                    </div>\n                \n\n                \n\n                \n                    <div data-webtasks-id=\"6364dd7f-5fc2-457f\">\n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n        <button class=\"js-share-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link\" data-modal=\"[data-feature-id=12711] .md-share-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"8d7135dc-d61d-4cf8\">\n            \n                <em class=\"material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon\" data-icon=\"share\" data-webtasks-id=\"a5ddfeb4-53ef-4c8d\"></em>\n\t\n            \n            Share\n        </button>\n    \n    \n\n\n\n\n                    </div>\n                \n            </div>\n        </div>\n    \n    \n<h1 class=\"mb-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"472aa35b-361f-4807\">Is Hong Kong a Country?</h1>\n\n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n    <div class=\"d-none d-md-flex my-10\" data-webtasks-id=\"ee17d73e-1c99-41c4\">\n        \n\n        \n\n        \n\n        \n            <div class=\"mr-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"df2bce91-28ce-414c\">\n                \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n    \n        \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        <button class=\"js-modal qa-cite-modal-button btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10\" data-modal=\"[data-feature-id=12711] .md-cite-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"e2a5efdd-4721-4dc4\">\n            <em class=\"material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5\" data-icon=\"verified\" data-webtasks-id=\"363b94d6-55c8-4124\"></em>\n\t\n    \n            Cite\n        </button>\n    \n\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n            </div>\n        \n\n        \n\n        \n            <div data-webtasks-id=\"46aac614-11be-42df\">\n                \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n    \n        \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        <button class=\"js-share-modal-button js-modal  btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10\" data-modal=\" .md-share-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"71581888-a128-4fa2\">\n            <em class=\"material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5\" data-icon=\"share\" data-webtasks-id=\"3fb06d4d-bb4e-4611\"></em>\n\t\n    \n            Share\n        </button>\n    \n\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n            </div>\n        \n    </div>\n    \n<div class=\"md-byline mb-10 font-12\" data-webtasks-id=\"e4629c43-ba2c-430c\">\n\t\t<div data-webtasks-id=\"bd02c8a7-7518-4b23\">\n\t\t<span class=\"written-by font-12 text-gray-700\" data-webtasks-id=\"85ed2e6e-ca15-425c\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWritten by\n\t\t\t\t</span>\n\t\t<div class=\"editor-popover popover p-0\" style=\"position: absolute; inset: 0px auto auto 0px; margin: 0px; transform: translate(79px, 162px);\" data-popper-placement=\"bottom-start\" data-webtasks-id=\"f6f3e694-b568-4b85\">\n  <a class=\"d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor\" href=\"/editor/Amy-McKenna/6443\" data-webtasks-id=\"037cba07-efec-4465\">\n        <div class=\"editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold\" data-webtasks-id=\"558e78d2-f031-4ef5\">Amy McKenna</div>\n\n        <div class=\"editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black\" data-webtasks-id=\"779c2dff-b6e8-45e8\">Amy McKenna is a senior editor, primarily focused on geography and history matters pertaining to sub-Saharan Africa. She joined Encyclopaedia Britannica in 2004. She was previously employed by Standard...</div>\n            </a>\n    <div data-popper-arrow=\"\" style=\"position: absolute; left: 0px; transform: translate(33px, 0px);\" data-webtasks-id=\"21d7d9bf-b01d-49d9\"></div>\n</div>\n\n<span class=\"btn btn-link byline-link editor-link p-0 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor\" data-webtasks-id=\"20234242-09a2-4ce6\">\n  Amy McKenna</span></div>\n\t<div class=\"font-sans-serif font-12 text-gray-700\" data-webtasks-id=\"0df1b56d-8d42-41a7\">\n\t\t<span class=\"qa-fact-checked-by\" data-webtasks-id=\"a020a750-ba14-4947\">Fact-checked by</span> <div class=\"editor-popover popover p-0\" style=\"position: absolute; inset: 0px auto auto 0px; margin: 0px; transform: translate(109px, 182px);\" data-popper-placement=\"bottom-start\" data-webtasks-id=\"75f06c6b-67da-4264\">\n  <a class=\"d-block p-20 font-12\" href=\"/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419\" data-webtasks-id=\"16992153-0f1f-45e6\">\n        <div class=\"editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold\" data-webtasks-id=\"dd96b30a-68b9-4f6b\">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div>\n\n        <div class=\"editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black\" data-webtasks-id=\"78c2c9f4-cda4-4971\">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div>\n            </a>\n    <div data-popper-arrow=\"\" style=\"position: absolute; left: 0px; transform: translate(99px, 0px);\" data-webtasks-id=\"a621d6d5-6548-4146\"></div>\n</div>\n\n<span class=\"btn btn-link byline-link editor-link p-0 font-12\" data-webtasks-id=\"9ff03ef3-fc58-4bbe\">\n  The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div></div>\n</div>\n\n                    <!-- The element for the player. -->\n\n\t\t\t\t    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t<div class=\"mt-20\" data-webtasks-id=\"a8d2a0c7-552c-41de\">\n\t\t<google-read-aloud-player data-voice=\"en-us-m-3\" data-tracking-ids=\"UA-168915890-24,G-0B6QQVKFV8\" data-api-key=\"AIzaSyBJdCURs_s6wfa7XECRfj5mZVTjYdsf538\" data-docking-anchor-offset-vertical=\"90\" data-docking-anchor-offset-horizontal=\"360\" data-url=\"https://www.britannica.com/story/is-hong-kong-a-country\" data-scope=\"-story-is-hong-kong-a-country\" data-webtasks-id=\"082c3fb3-24e1-41b9\"></google-read-aloud-player>\n\t</div>\n\n   <article class=\"topic-content content mt-20\" data-webtasks-id=\"c769e96a-68dd-465a\"><figure class=\"md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false\" data-type=\"1\" data-webtasks-id=\"d643efc6-8d3b-4e6e\"><div class=\"md-assembly-wrapper card-media\" data-type=\"image\" data-webtasks-id=\"cd4578a9-b8ec-4abb\"><a style=\"min-height: 160px;\" href=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/43/82343-050-92634E48/Flag-Hong-Kong-province-China.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center \" data-href=\"*\" data-webtasks-id=\"db1d5978-9689-479c\"><img src=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/43/82343-050-92634E48/Flag-Hong-Kong-province-China.jpg?w=600&amp;q=60\" alt=\"Flag of Hong Kong. China province\" data-width=\"1600\" data-height=\"1067\" loading=\"eager\" data-webtasks-id=\"d5cda9c9-bef3-4e95\"><button class=\"magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white\" aria-label=\"Zoom in\" data-webtasks-id=\"f4c33b0b-48db-47b2\"><em class=\"material-icons link-blue\" data-icon=\"zoom_in\" data-webtasks-id=\"4eae0e19-f9c1-41a2\"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"345bf379-c913-4d4b\"><cite class=\"credit d-block mt-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"bca7a611-2364-49bf\">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</cite></figcaption></figure> <!--[BP1]--><p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"10bd81bc-a86f-417b\">No, <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/Hong-Kong\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"31ba5e45-c28d-4714\">Hong Kong</a> is not a country. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/China\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"6116e81c-2612-4511\">China</a>. Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region stems from its history as a former British colony.</p><!--[P1]--><!--[AM1]--><span class=\"AM1 am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"f711320d-0a34-4c96\"></span><!--[MOD1]--><span class=\"MOD1\" data-webtasks-id=\"a18cbedc-eb7e-469e\"></span>  <figure class=\"md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false\" data-type=\"1\" data-webtasks-id=\"66c09518-acbc-454c\"><div class=\"md-assembly-wrapper card-media\" data-type=\"image\" data-webtasks-id=\"99b06236-cc25-470a\"><a style=\"min-height: 160px;\" href=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/96/84796-050-C4DEA436/Hong-Kong-Island-Victoria-Peak.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center \" data-href=\"*\" data-webtasks-id=\"2af6d62d-03c9-4d8d\"><img src=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/96/84796-050-C4DEA436/Hong-Kong-Island-Victoria-Peak.jpg?w=600&amp;q=60\" alt=\"Aerial view of Hong Kong Island as seen from Victoria Peak. (photo dated 2016)\" data-width=\"1000\" data-height=\"627\" loading=\"eager\" data-webtasks-id=\"35fe6cbe-0836-4d68\"><button class=\"magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white\" aria-label=\"Zoom in\" data-webtasks-id=\"2bb65df0-2beb-4be1\"><em class=\"material-icons link-blue\" data-icon=\"zoom_in\" data-webtasks-id=\"fb0bea50-11c8-4307\"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"ed70fda1-3147-4157\"><cite class=\"credit d-block mt-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"f8d33ebd-4896-4296\">© Cherdchanok/Shutterstock.com</cite></figcaption></figure>  <!--[BP2]--><p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"05ba2d57-34ed-4243\">By way of treaty or lease with China, the islands and mainland area now known as Hong Kong came under the control of <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"84a28ace-ae9f-4aee\">Great Britain</a> at various points in the 19th century. From that time until its transfer back to China in the late 20th century, Hong Kong developed on a different trajectory, both politically and economically, than mainland China—which, in contrast to Hong Kong’s status as a British colony, began that period with its imperial dynasty in decline and ended it as a republic under communist rule.</p><!--[P2]--><!--[AM2]--><span class=\"AM2 am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"3267dfe0-c6d5-413a\"></span><!--[MOD2]--><span class=\"MOD2\" data-webtasks-id=\"57f82907-d00f-4e1a\"></span> <!--[BP3]--><p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"a20acc3c-356b-4a9e\">Spurred by the pending expiration of a 99-year lease (1898–1997) for part of the territory, the 1984 Chinese-British joint declaration paved the way for all of Hong Kong to be returned to China. The <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/event/handover-of-Hong-Kong\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"ed135cfc-fb22-4e15\">handover</a> occurred on July 1, 1997, at which point the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region took effect. The Basic Law outlined the concept of “one country, two systems,” under which Hong Kong, though now part of China, was allowed to maintain its capitalist economy and to retain a large degree of political autonomy (except in matters of foreign policy and defense) for a period of 50 years.</p><!--[P3]--><!--[AM3]--><span class=\"AM3 am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"ee74bfc4-1406-4028\"></span><!--[MOD3]--><span class=\"MOD3\" data-webtasks-id=\"a0dd64c5-29ba-4ea1\"></span> <span class=\"AM-END-OF-ARTICLE am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"e596f6ed-4662-42a0\"></span></article> \n</div>","tagName":"DIV","textContent":"\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@context\" : \"https://schema.org\",\n\t\t\t\"@type\" : \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t\t\t\"itemListElement\" :\n\t\t\t[\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@type\" : \"ListItem\",\n\t\t\t\"position\" : 1,\n\t\t\t\"item\" :\n\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@id\" : \"https://www.britannica.com/stories/companion\",\n\t\t\t\"name\": \"Companion\"\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\n\t\t\t]\n\t\t}\n\t\t\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHome\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCompanion\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\n\n\n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n        \n            \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n    \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n            \n\t\n    \n                Actions\n        \n    \n\n\n            \n            \n\n                \n\n                \n\n                \n\n                \n                    \n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n        \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCite\n\t\t\n    \n    \n\n\n\n\n                    \n                \n\n                \n\n                \n                    \n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n        \n            \n                \n\t\n            \n            Share\n        \n    \n    \n\n\n\n\n                    \n                \n            \n        \n    \n    \nIs Hong Kong a Country?\n\n                        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n    \n        \n\n        \n\n        \n\n        \n            \n                \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n    \n        \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n            \n\t\n    \n            Cite\n        \n    \n\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n            \n        \n\n        \n\n        \n            \n                \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n    \n        \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n    \n        \n            \n\t\n    \n            Share\n        \n    \n\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n            \n        \n    \n    \n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWritten by\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n  \n        Amy McKenna\n\n        Amy McKenna is a senior editor, primarily focused on geography and history matters pertaining to sub-Saharan Africa. She joined Encyclopaedia Britannica in 2004. She was previously employed by Standard...\n            \n    \n\n\n\n  Amy McKenna\n\t\n\t\tFact-checked by \n  \n        The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica\n\n        Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.\n            \n    \n\n\n\n  The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica\n\n\n                    \n\n\t\t\t\t    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\n   Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. No, Hong Kong is not a country. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region stems from its history as a former British colony.  © Cherdchanok/Shutterstock.com  By way of treaty or lease with China, the islands and mainland area now known as Hong Kong came under the control of Great Britain at various points in the 19th century. From that time until its transfer back to China in the late 20th century, Hong Kong developed on a different trajectory, both politically and economically, than mainland China—which, in contrast to Hong Kong’s status as a British colony, began that period with its imperial dynasty in decline and ended it as a republic under communist rule. Spurred by the pending expiration of a 99-year lease (1898–1997) for part of the territory, the 1984 Chinese-British joint declaration paved the way for all of Hong Kong to be returned to China. The handover occurred on July 1, 1997, at which point the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region took effect. The Basic Law outlined the concept of “one country, two systems,” under which Hong Kong, though now part of China, was allowed to maintain its capitalist economy and to retain a large degree of political autonomy (except in matters of foreign policy and defense) for a period of 50 years.  \n","xpath":"id(\"-story-is-hong-kong-a-country\")/div[1]"}},"event_id":49,"element_html":"<div class=\"grey-box w-100 grey-box-middle\" data-webtasks-id=\"2eab1b93-83ea-40d1\">\n<script data-webtasks-id=\"6b33a632-7eb3-4dc8\" type=\"application/ld+json\">\n\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@context\" : \"https://schema.org\",\n\t\t\t\"@type\" : \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t\t\t\"itemListElement\" :\n\t\t\t[\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@type\" : \"ListItem\",\n\t\t\t\"position\" : 1,\n\t\t\t\"item\" :\n\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\"@id\" : \"https://www.britannica.com/stories/companion\",\n\t\t\t\"name\": \"Companion\"\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\n\t\t\t]\n\t\t}\n\t\t</script>\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" data-webtasks-id=\"2db84c14-47bf-41f7\">\n<span class=\"breadcrumb-item\" data-webtasks-id=\"391657fa-cd5e-43a9\">\n<a class=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"73f9aec4-6096-48ae\" href=\"/\">Home</a>\n</span>\n<span class=\"breadcrumb-item\" data-webtasks-id=\"b722b050-648d-46f4\">\n<a class=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"d5e5d020-7b39-4021\" href=\"/stories/companion\">\n\t\t\tCompanion</a>\n</span>\n</nav>\n<div data-webtasks-id=\"07a19923-5ed0-440b\">\n<div class=\"d-block d-md-none md-feature-tools float-right mb-15\" data-feature-id=\"12711\" data-webtasks-id=\"28e44e90-5319-4abe\" style=\"right:20px\">\n<button class=\"js-tooltip-actions ml-10 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10\" data-webtasks-id=\"ecfa80db-8325-40ee\">\n<em class=\"material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5\" data-icon=\"more_vert\" data-webtasks-id=\"846e8218-1ed9-4f6a\"></em>\n\t\n    \n                Actions\n        </button>\n<div class=\"md-actions-popover popover popover-sm py-5 px-0 z-1\" data-popper-escaped=\"\" data-popper-placement=\"bottom-start\" data-popper-reference-hidden=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"6677c6f6-da38-4bff\" style=\"position: absolute; inset: 0px auto auto 0px; margin: 0px; transform: translate(0px, 200px);\">\n<div data-webtasks-id=\"c7f2bf3c-b4b6-4d17\">\n<button class=\"js-modal qa-cite-modal-button btn btn-sm btn-link\" data-modal=\"[data-feature-id=12711] .sm-cite-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"9b002953-54d6-4478\">\n<em class=\"material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon\" data-icon=\"verified\" data-webtasks-id=\"a5826e39-206a-49ab\"></em>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCite\n\t\t</button>\n</div>\n<div data-webtasks-id=\"6364dd7f-5fc2-457f\">\n<button class=\"js-share-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link\" data-modal=\"[data-feature-id=12711] .md-share-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"8d7135dc-d61d-4cf8\">\n<em class=\"material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon\" data-icon=\"share\" data-webtasks-id=\"a5ddfeb4-53ef-4c8d\"></em>\n\t\n            \n            Share\n        </button>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<h1 class=\"mb-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"472aa35b-361f-4807\">Is Hong Kong a Country?</h1>\n<div class=\"d-none d-md-flex my-10\" data-webtasks-id=\"ee17d73e-1c99-41c4\">\n<div class=\"mr-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"df2bce91-28ce-414c\">\n<button class=\"js-modal qa-cite-modal-button btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10\" data-modal=\"[data-feature-id=12711] .md-cite-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"e2a5efdd-4721-4dc4\">\n<em class=\"material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5\" data-icon=\"verified\" data-webtasks-id=\"363b94d6-55c8-4124\"></em>\n\t\n    \n            Cite\n        </button>\n</div>\n<div data-webtasks-id=\"46aac614-11be-42df\">\n<button class=\"js-share-modal-button js-modal btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10\" data-modal=\" .md-share-modal\" data-modal-initialized=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"71581888-a128-4fa2\">\n<em class=\"material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5\" data-icon=\"share\" data-webtasks-id=\"3fb06d4d-bb4e-4611\"></em>\n\t\n    \n            Share\n        </button>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"md-byline mb-10 font-12\" data-webtasks-id=\"e4629c43-ba2c-430c\">\n<div data-webtasks-id=\"bd02c8a7-7518-4b23\">\n<span class=\"written-by font-12 text-gray-700\" data-webtasks-id=\"85ed2e6e-ca15-425c\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWritten by\n\t\t\t\t</span>\n<div class=\"editor-popover popover p-0\" data-popper-placement=\"bottom-start\" data-webtasks-id=\"f6f3e694-b568-4b85\" style=\"position: absolute; inset: 0px auto auto 0px; margin: 0px; transform: translate(79px, 162px);\">\n<a class=\"d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor\" data-webtasks-id=\"037cba07-efec-4465\" href=\"/editor/Amy-McKenna/6443\">\n<div class=\"editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold\" data-webtasks-id=\"558e78d2-f031-4ef5\">Amy McKenna</div>\n<div class=\"editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black\" data-webtasks-id=\"779c2dff-b6e8-45e8\">Amy McKenna is a senior editor, primarily focused on geography and history matters pertaining to sub-Saharan Africa. She joined Encyclopaedia Britannica in 2004. She was previously employed by Standard...</div>\n</a>\n<div data-popper-arrow=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"21d7d9bf-b01d-49d9\" style=\"position: absolute; left: 0px; transform: translate(33px, 0px);\"></div>\n</div>\n<span class=\"btn btn-link byline-link editor-link p-0 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor\" data-webtasks-id=\"20234242-09a2-4ce6\">\n  Amy McKenna</span></div>\n<div class=\"font-sans-serif font-12 text-gray-700\" data-webtasks-id=\"0df1b56d-8d42-41a7\">\n<span class=\"qa-fact-checked-by\" data-webtasks-id=\"a020a750-ba14-4947\">Fact-checked by</span> <div class=\"editor-popover popover p-0\" data-popper-placement=\"bottom-start\" data-webtasks-id=\"75f06c6b-67da-4264\" style=\"position: absolute; inset: 0px auto auto 0px; margin: 0px; transform: translate(109px, 182px);\">\n<a class=\"d-block p-20 font-12\" data-webtasks-id=\"16992153-0f1f-45e6\" href=\"/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419\">\n<div class=\"editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold\" data-webtasks-id=\"dd96b30a-68b9-4f6b\">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div>\n<div class=\"editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black\" data-webtasks-id=\"78c2c9f4-cda4-4971\">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div>\n</a>\n<div data-popper-arrow=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"a621d6d5-6548-4146\" style=\"position: absolute; left: 0px; transform: translate(99px, 0px);\"></div>\n</div>\n<span class=\"btn btn-link byline-link editor-link p-0 font-12\" data-webtasks-id=\"9ff03ef3-fc58-4bbe\">\n  The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div></div>\n</div>\n<!-- The element for the player. -->\n<div class=\"mt-20\" data-webtasks-id=\"a8d2a0c7-552c-41de\">\n<google-read-aloud-player data-api-key=\"AIzaSyBJdCURs_s6wfa7XECRfj5mZVTjYdsf538\" data-docking-anchor-offset-horizontal=\"360\" data-docking-anchor-offset-vertical=\"90\" data-scope=\"-story-is-hong-kong-a-country\" data-tracking-ids=\"UA-168915890-24,G-0B6QQVKFV8\" data-url=\"https://www.britannica.com/story/is-hong-kong-a-country\" data-voice=\"en-us-m-3\" data-webtasks-id=\"082c3fb3-24e1-41b9\"></google-read-aloud-player>\n</div>\n<article class=\"topic-content content mt-20\" data-webtasks-id=\"c769e96a-68dd-465a\"><figure class=\"md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false\" data-type=\"1\" data-webtasks-id=\"d643efc6-8d3b-4e6e\"><div class=\"md-assembly-wrapper card-media\" data-type=\"image\" data-webtasks-id=\"cd4578a9-b8ec-4abb\"><a class=\"position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center\" data-href=\"*\" data-webtasks-id=\"db1d5978-9689-479c\" href=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/43/82343-050-92634E48/Flag-Hong-Kong-province-China.jpg\" style=\"min-height: 160px;\" target=\"_blank\"><img alt=\"Flag of Hong Kong. China province\" data-height=\"1067\" data-webtasks-id=\"d5cda9c9-bef3-4e95\" data-width=\"1600\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/43/82343-050-92634E48/Flag-Hong-Kong-province-China.jpg?w=600&amp;q=60\"/><button aria-label=\"Zoom in\" class=\"magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white\" data-webtasks-id=\"f4c33b0b-48db-47b2\"><em class=\"material-icons link-blue\" data-icon=\"zoom_in\" data-webtasks-id=\"4eae0e19-f9c1-41a2\"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"345bf379-c913-4d4b\"><cite class=\"credit d-block mt-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"bca7a611-2364-49bf\">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</cite></figcaption></figure> <!--[BP1]--><p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"10bd81bc-a86f-417b\">No, <a class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"31ba5e45-c28d-4714\" href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/Hong-Kong\">Hong Kong</a> is not a country. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of <a class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"6116e81c-2612-4511\" href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/China\">China</a>. Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region stems from its history as a former British colony.</p><!--[P1]--><!--[AM1]--><span class=\"AM1 am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"f711320d-0a34-4c96\"></span><!--[MOD1]--><span class=\"MOD1\" data-webtasks-id=\"a18cbedc-eb7e-469e\"></span> <figure class=\"md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false\" data-type=\"1\" data-webtasks-id=\"66c09518-acbc-454c\"><div class=\"md-assembly-wrapper card-media\" data-type=\"image\" data-webtasks-id=\"99b06236-cc25-470a\"><a class=\"position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center\" data-href=\"*\" data-webtasks-id=\"2af6d62d-03c9-4d8d\" href=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/96/84796-050-C4DEA436/Hong-Kong-Island-Victoria-Peak.jpg\" style=\"min-height: 160px;\" target=\"_blank\"><img alt=\"Aerial view of Hong Kong Island as seen from Victoria Peak. (photo dated 2016)\" data-height=\"627\" data-webtasks-id=\"35fe6cbe-0836-4d68\" data-width=\"1000\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https://cdn.britannica.com/96/84796-050-C4DEA436/Hong-Kong-Island-Victoria-Peak.jpg?w=600&amp;q=60\"/><button aria-label=\"Zoom in\" class=\"magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white\" data-webtasks-id=\"2bb65df0-2beb-4be1\"><em class=\"material-icons link-blue\" data-icon=\"zoom_in\" data-webtasks-id=\"fb0bea50-11c8-4307\"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=\"\" data-webtasks-id=\"ed70fda1-3147-4157\"><cite class=\"credit d-block mt-5\" data-webtasks-id=\"f8d33ebd-4896-4296\">© Cherdchanok/Shutterstock.com</cite></figcaption></figure> <!--[BP2]--><p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"05ba2d57-34ed-4243\">By way of treaty or lease with China, the islands and mainland area now known as Hong Kong came under the control of <a class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"84a28ace-ae9f-4aee\" href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom\">Great Britain</a> at various points in the 19th century. From that time until its transfer back to China in the late 20th century, Hong Kong developed on a different trajectory, both politically and economically, than mainland China—which, in contrast to Hong Kong’s status as a British colony, began that period with its imperial dynasty in decline and ended it as a republic under communist rule.</p><!--[P2]--><!--[AM2]--><span class=\"AM2 am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"3267dfe0-c6d5-413a\"></span><!--[MOD2]--><span class=\"MOD2\" data-webtasks-id=\"57f82907-d00f-4e1a\"></span> <!--[BP3]--><p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"a20acc3c-356b-4a9e\">Spurred by the pending expiration of a 99-year lease (1898–1997) for part of the territory, the 1984 Chinese-British joint declaration paved the way for all of Hong Kong to be returned to China. The <a class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"ed135cfc-fb22-4e15\" href=\"https://www.britannica.com/event/handover-of-Hong-Kong\">handover</a> occurred on July 1, 1997, at which point the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region took effect. The Basic Law outlined the concept of “one country, two systems,” under which Hong Kong, though now part of China, was allowed to maintain its capitalist economy and to retain a large degree of political autonomy (except in matters of foreign policy and defense) for a period of 50 years.</p><!--[P3]--><!--[AM3]--><span class=\"AM3 am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"ee74bfc4-1406-4028\"></span><!--[MOD3]--><span class=\"MOD3\" data-webtasks-id=\"a0dd64c5-29ba-4ea1\"></span> <span class=\"AM-END-OF-ARTICLE am-inline\" data-webtasks-id=\"e596f6ed-4662-42a0\"></span></article>\n</div>","screenshot_effect":null}},{"type":"browser","timestamp":237.71399998664856,"state":{"screenshot":"screenshot-51-1.png","page":"page-51-0.html","screenshot_status":"good"},"action":{"intent":"copy","arguments":{"metadata":{"mouseX":588,"mouseY":422,"tabId":1146733273,"timestamp":1686640412241,"url":"https://www.britannica.com/story/is-hong-kong-a-country","viewportHeight":657,"viewportWidth":1366,"zoomLevel":1},"properties":{"composed":true,"eventPhase":0,"returnValue":true,"timeStamp":77834.89999997616},"element":{"attributes":{"class":"topic-paragraph","data-webtasks-id":"05ba2d57-34ed-4243"},"bbox":{"bottom":659.34375,"height":345.5625,"left":311,"right":988,"top":313.78125,"width":677,"x":311,"y":313.78125},"innerHTML":"By way of treaty or lease with China, the islands and mainland area now known as Hong Kong came under the control of <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"84a28ace-ae9f-4aee\">Great Britain</a> at various points in the 19th century. From that time until its transfer back to China in the late 20th century, Hong Kong developed on a different trajectory, both politically and economically, than mainland China—which, in contrast to Hong Kong’s status as a British colony, began that period with its imperial dynasty in decline and ended it as a republic under communist rule.","outerHTML":"<p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"05ba2d57-34ed-4243\">By way of treaty or lease with China, the islands and mainland area now known as Hong Kong came under the control of <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"84a28ace-ae9f-4aee\">Great Britain</a> at various points in the 19th century. From that time until its transfer back to China in the late 20th century, Hong Kong developed on a different trajectory, both politically and economically, than mainland China—which, in contrast to Hong Kong’s status as a British colony, began that period with its imperial dynasty in decline and ended it as a republic under communist rule.</p>","tagName":"P","textContent":"By way of treaty or lease with China, the islands and mainland area now known as Hong Kong came under the control of Great Britain at various points in the 19th century. From that time until its transfer back to China in the late 20th century, Hong Kong developed on a different trajectory, both politically and economically, than mainland China—which, in contrast to Hong Kong’s status as a British colony, began that period with its imperial dynasty in decline and ended it as a republic under communist rule.","xpath":"id(\"-story-is-hong-kong-a-country\")/div[1]/article[1]/p[2]"},"selected":"Hong Kong came under the control of Great Britain at various points in the 19th century."},"event_id":51,"element_html":"<p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"05ba2d57-34ed-4243\">By way of treaty or lease with China, the islands and mainland area now known as Hong Kong came under the control of <a class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"84a28ace-ae9f-4aee\" href=\"https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom\">Great Britain</a> at various points in the 19th century. From that time until its transfer back to China in the late 20th century, Hong Kong developed on a different trajectory, both politically and economically, than mainland China—which, in contrast to Hong Kong’s status as a British colony, began that period with its imperial dynasty in decline and ended it as a republic under communist rule.</p>","screenshot_effect":null}},{"timestamp":242.473,"speaker":"navigator","utterance":"Hong Kong came under the control of Great Britain at various points in the 19th century.","type":"chat"},{"type":"browser","timestamp":247.8789999485016,"state":{"screenshot":"screenshot-53-1.png","page":"page-53-0.html","screenshot_status":"good"},"action":{"intent":"scroll","arguments":{"metadata":{"mouseX":480,"mouseY":412,"tabId":1146733273,"timestamp":1686640422406,"url":"https://www.britannica.com/story/is-hong-kong-a-country","viewportHeight":657,"viewportWidth":1366,"zoomLevel":1},"properties":{"altKey":false,"button":0,"buttons":0,"clientX":476,"clientY":409,"composed":true,"ctrlKey":false,"detail":0,"eventPhase":0,"layerX":186,"layerY":638,"metaKey":false,"movementX":0,"movementY":0,"offsetX":165,"offsetY":295,"pageX":476,"pageY":709,"returnValue":true,"screenX":476,"screenY":480,"shiftKey":false,"timeStamp":87498.89999997616,"x":476,"y":409},"scrollX":0,"scrollY":500},"event_id":53,"element_html":null,"screenshot_effect":"screenshot-53-1.png"}},{"timestamp":254.473,"speaker":"instructor","utterance":"to  Everyone:\n\tWhat concept did the Basic Law outline for Hong Kong?","type":"chat"},{"type":"browser","timestamp":270.6080000400543,"state":{"screenshot":"screenshot-56-1.png","page":"page-56-0.html","screenshot_status":"good"},"action":{"intent":"click","arguments":{"metadata":{"mouseX":908,"mouseY":268,"tabId":1146733273,"timestamp":1686640445135,"url":"https://www.britannica.com/story/is-hong-kong-a-country","viewportHeight":657,"viewportWidth":1366,"zoomLevel":1},"properties":{"altKey":false,"button":0,"buttons":1,"clientX":908,"clientY":268,"composed":true,"ctrlKey":false,"detail":1,"eventPhase":0,"layerX":618,"layerY":897,"metaKey":false,"movementX":0,"movementY":0,"offsetX":597,"offsetY":93,"pageX":908,"pageY":968,"returnValue":true,"screenX":908,"screenY":339,"shiftKey":false,"timeStamp":110674.39999997616,"x":908,"y":268},"element":{"attributes":{"class":"topic-paragraph","data-webtasks-id":"a20acc3c-356b-4a9e"},"bbox":{"bottom":435.71875,"height":260.375,"left":311,"right":988,"top":175.34375,"width":677,"x":311,"y":175.34375},"innerHTML":"Spurred by the pending expiration of a 99-year lease (1898–1997) for part of the territory, the 1984 Chinese-British joint declaration paved the way for all of Hong Kong to be returned to China. The <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/event/handover-of-Hong-Kong\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"ed135cfc-fb22-4e15\">handover</a> occurred on July 1, 1997, at which point the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region took effect. The Basic Law outlined the concept of “one country, two systems,” under which Hong Kong, though now part of China, was allowed to maintain its capitalist economy and to retain a large degree of political autonomy (except in matters of foreign policy and defense) for a period of 50 years.","outerHTML":"<p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"a20acc3c-356b-4a9e\">Spurred by the pending expiration of a 99-year lease (1898–1997) for part of the territory, the 1984 Chinese-British joint declaration paved the way for all of Hong Kong to be returned to China. The <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/event/handover-of-Hong-Kong\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"ed135cfc-fb22-4e15\">handover</a> occurred on July 1, 1997, at which point the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region took effect. The Basic Law outlined the concept of “one country, two systems,” under which Hong Kong, though now part of China, was allowed to maintain its capitalist economy and to retain a large degree of political autonomy (except in matters of foreign policy and defense) for a period of 50 years.</p>","tagName":"P","textContent":"Spurred by the pending expiration of a 99-year lease (1898–1997) for part of the territory, the 1984 Chinese-British joint declaration paved the way for all of Hong Kong to be returned to China. The handover occurred on July 1, 1997, at which point the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region took effect. The Basic Law outlined the concept of “one country, two systems,” under which Hong Kong, though now part of China, was allowed to maintain its capitalist economy and to retain a large degree of political autonomy (except in matters of foreign policy and defense) for a period of 50 years.","xpath":"id(\"-story-is-hong-kong-a-country\")/div[1]/article[1]/p[3]"}},"event_id":56,"element_html":"<p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"a20acc3c-356b-4a9e\">Spurred by the pending expiration of a 99-year lease (1898–1997) for part of the territory, the 1984 Chinese-British joint declaration paved the way for all of Hong Kong to be returned to China. The <a class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"ed135cfc-fb22-4e15\" href=\"https://www.britannica.com/event/handover-of-Hong-Kong\">handover</a> occurred on July 1, 1997, at which point the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region took effect. The Basic Law outlined the concept of “one country, two systems,” under which Hong Kong, though now part of China, was allowed to maintain its capitalist economy and to retain a large degree of political autonomy (except in matters of foreign policy and defense) for a period of 50 years.</p>","screenshot_effect":null}},{"type":"browser","timestamp":273.52500009536743,"state":{"screenshot":"screenshot-57-1.png","page":"page-57-0.html","screenshot_status":"good"},"action":{"intent":"copy","arguments":{"metadata":{"mouseX":706,"mouseY":351,"tabId":1146733273,"timestamp":1686640448052,"url":"https://www.britannica.com/story/is-hong-kong-a-country","viewportHeight":657,"viewportWidth":1366,"zoomLevel":1},"properties":{"composed":true,"eventPhase":0,"returnValue":true,"timeStamp":113647.20000004768},"element":{"attributes":{"class":"topic-paragraph","data-webtasks-id":"a20acc3c-356b-4a9e"},"bbox":{"bottom":435.71875,"height":260.375,"left":311,"right":988,"top":175.34375,"width":677,"x":311,"y":175.34375},"innerHTML":"Spurred by the pending expiration of a 99-year lease (1898–1997) for part of the territory, the 1984 Chinese-British joint declaration paved the way for all of Hong Kong to be returned to China. The <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/event/handover-of-Hong-Kong\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"ed135cfc-fb22-4e15\">handover</a> occurred on July 1, 1997, at which point the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region took effect. The Basic Law outlined the concept of “one country, two systems,” under which Hong Kong, though now part of China, was allowed to maintain its capitalist economy and to retain a large degree of political autonomy (except in matters of foreign policy and defense) for a period of 50 years.","outerHTML":"<p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"a20acc3c-356b-4a9e\">Spurred by the pending expiration of a 99-year lease (1898–1997) for part of the territory, the 1984 Chinese-British joint declaration paved the way for all of Hong Kong to be returned to China. The <a href=\"https://www.britannica.com/event/handover-of-Hong-Kong\" class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"ed135cfc-fb22-4e15\">handover</a> occurred on July 1, 1997, at which point the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region took effect. The Basic Law outlined the concept of “one country, two systems,” under which Hong Kong, though now part of China, was allowed to maintain its capitalist economy and to retain a large degree of political autonomy (except in matters of foreign policy and defense) for a period of 50 years.</p>","tagName":"P","textContent":"Spurred by the pending expiration of a 99-year lease (1898–1997) for part of the territory, the 1984 Chinese-British joint declaration paved the way for all of Hong Kong to be returned to China. The handover occurred on July 1, 1997, at which point the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region took effect. The Basic Law outlined the concept of “one country, two systems,” under which Hong Kong, though now part of China, was allowed to maintain its capitalist economy and to retain a large degree of political autonomy (except in matters of foreign policy and defense) for a period of 50 years.","xpath":"id(\"-story-is-hong-kong-a-country\")/div[1]/article[1]/p[3]"},"selected":"The Basic Law outlined the concept of “one country, two systems"},"event_id":57,"element_html":"<p class=\"topic-paragraph\" data-webtasks-id=\"a20acc3c-356b-4a9e\">Spurred by the pending expiration of a 99-year lease (1898–1997) for part of the territory, the 1984 Chinese-British joint declaration paved the way for all of Hong Kong to be returned to China. The <a class=\"md-crosslink\" data-show-preview=\"true\" data-webtasks-id=\"ed135cfc-fb22-4e15\" href=\"https://www.britannica.com/event/handover-of-Hong-Kong\">handover</a> occurred on July 1, 1997, at which point the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region took effect. The Basic Law outlined the concept of “one country, two systems,” under which Hong Kong, though now part of China, was allowed to maintain its capitalist economy and to retain a large degree of political autonomy (except in matters of foreign policy and defense) for a period of 50 years.</p>","screenshot_effect":null}},{"timestamp":313.473,"speaker":"navigator","utterance":"The Basic Law outlined the concept of “one country, two systems,\" for Hong Kong.","type":"chat"},{"timestamp":325.473,"speaker":"instructor","utterance":"to  Everyone:\n\tThank you for the information.","type":"chat"},{"timestamp":335.473,"speaker":"navigator","utterance":"You are welcome!","type":"chat"}],"status":"checked"}