evidence: Destinations Asia Hong Kong Essentials What Country is Hong Kong Actually In? By Rory Boland Rory Boland Rory Boland is a guidebook author and travel writer who has lived and worked in Hong Kong and London. Travel's editorial guidelines Updated on August 21, 2024 Fact checked by Patrice Williams Fact checked by Patrice Williams Patrice J. Williams is a travel and style content creator, fact-checker and author of the thrift shopping book Looking Fly on a Dime. learn more Photo: Yongyuan Dai / Getty Images What country is Hong Kong actually in— is it in China or not? Since Hong Kong seems like a world away, it’s a fair question to ask. However, the answer isn't quite as simple as you might imagine—or as any commentators might like! Hong Kong exists as a Special Administrative Region controlled by The People's Republic of China and enjoys its own limited autonomy as defined by the Basic Law. The principle of "one country, two systems" allows for the coexistence of socialism and capitalism under "one country," which is mainland China. Hong Kong retains its own money, passport and immigration channels, and legal system, but the chain of command leads straight back to Beijing.