Conflict between Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong (1997-2024): factors, interests and resolution

Hong Kong is undoubtedly an inseparable part of China, and the "One Country, Two Systems" policy has yielded positive outcomes during the initial years following Hong Kong's return. However, in the post-handover period, a series of social conflicts have emerged, with their scale gradually escalating. From the education reforms at the beginning of the 21st century to the Occupy Central movement in 2014 and the widespread opposition to the "One Country, Two Systems" framework in 2019, these events have significantly intensified tensions between Hong Kong and the mainland. As a result, the implementation of the "One Country, Two Systems" principle now faces substantial challenges. Given the framework of "One Country, Two Systems" and Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy, why does it continue to experience frequent confrontations with the Central Government, while Macao, also a returned territory, rarely encounters similar conflicts? What underlying factors contribute to these divergent trajectories? What are the respective interests of the parties involved? And what strategies have been adopted in response? The purpose of this study is to address these critical questions. This research conducts interviews with residents from both regions and performs a systematic comparison of the collected data to derive meaningful conclusions. Based on the findings, recommendations for conflict resolution and improved governance are proposed. This research uses qualitative analysis to analyze the differences between the two places and their interactions from the perspectives of politics, economy, culture, education, and their impact on conflicts. It combines primary and secondary data to draw relevant conclusions, and the reliability of the primary data is further verified through triangulation with secondary sources. This study conducts in-depth research on Functionalism, Conflict Theory, Conflict Triangle, Interactionism, Exchange Theory, and other theories within the broader conflict theory framework, and identifies key factors, issues, and potential resolutions. It also provides guidance for future research directions in conflict studies. The main reason for the conflict between the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong lies in their nearly one hundred years of colonial history. This colonial history has created significant political, social, and cultural differences between the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong