At the time the communists reported that Hong Kong would retain its current levels of political autonomy, and would continue enjoying its current social, economic, legal, and financial systems, as well as its current lifestyle, for a period of 50 years after the turnover.
中共同時表示，「九七」年以後的香港將成為行政特區，除外交、國防事務屬於中共「中央」外，享有高度自治權，現行的社會、經濟、財政、法律… … 等制度，及生活方式將維持五十年不變。