evidence: Hong Kong is one of Asia's busiest hotspots. Not only is it an international financial hub, business center, shopping paradise, and tourist destination, but it is also a special administrative region (SAR) of China. As such, Hong Kong is an inalienable part of China and, at times, has resisted Beijing's interference in its political life. [...] Key Takeaways - Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region controlled by the People's Republic of China and enjoys limited autonomy. [...] Britain negotiated a 99-year lease with China on its Hong Kong colony in 1898. That lease ended in 1997 when Britain returned Hong Kong to China. It then became the Hong Kong SAR of the People's Republic of China.