What changed after 1997?

Sovereignty, Constitutional order, Legal system and Political system. SOVEREIGNTYFrom part of UK to Inalienable Part of China; from UK/HK government to Local Administrative Region with High Degree of Autonomy directly under Central Government; foreign affairs and defence become the responsibility of China instead of UK. CONSTITUTIONAL ORDERHK not a Colony but part of China:   A city in China with a difference; Separate Political, Economical, Judicial, Legal and Social system with its own written constitutional framework under the national constitution; From UK rule to part of China: From no constitutional issues to constitutional framework. LEGAL SYSTEMFor first time, Hong Kong has a written constitutional framework; While under Art. 158 NPCSC has the power to interpret the Basic Law, HKCFA was empowered to interpret matters within limits of HK’s autonomy;This is a compromise under the Civil Law System to which China belongs. POLITICAL SYSTEM Basic Law has no expiry date;SAR government therefore has right to deal with land, and our freedoms and rights, can continue beyond 2047; But Basic Law also provides China ‘s Basic Policy regarding HK shall remain “unchanged” for 50 years along with our “Capitalist System”; if there is change in this respect, confidence of international investors will still be affected.

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