Under the One country, two systems principle, the two SARs continue to possess their own governments, multi-party legislatures, legal systems, police forces, monetary systems, separate customs territory, immigration policies, national sports teams, official languages, postal systems, academic and educational systems, and substantial competence in external relations that are different or independent from the People's Republic of China.
Baixo o principio Un país, dous sistemas, as dúas RAE continúan posuíndo os seus propios gobernos, as lexislaturas multipartidistas, sistema legal, forzas policiais, sistemas monetarios, territorio aduaneiro propio, políticas de inmigración, equipo deportivo nacional, lingua oficial, sistema postal, académico e educativos e unha competencia substancial en relacións exteriores que son diferentes ou independentes da República Popular da China.