Policy Advocacy

In commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, POD proudly presents the inaugural 1C2S Index, a comprehensive assessment of the current state of "One Country, Two Systems" (1C2S). This Index is designed for anyone interested in understanding the progress of 1C2S.

The 1C2S Index is grounded in a public opinion survey conducted in Hong Kong, focusing on 1C2S, and is complemented by international benchmarks that compare Hong Kong's human rights, freedoms, and democratic measures with those of other countries and territories.

To further enrich our analysis, we have also launched the 1C2S Mass Media Index (MMI). Utilizing big data, the MMI tracks the sentiment of Hong Kong newspapers regarding 1C2S since 1998, recognizing the significant impact that media sentiment has on public opinion.

It is important to note that public opinion, international perceptions, and the MMI are shaped by subjective views and may not always reflect reality. Nevertheless, shifts in the perceptions of 1C2S among the people of Hong Kong, international think tanks, and the local press are essential indicators. We will delve into the factors driving these changes, as they play a crucial role in the ongoing implementation of 1C2S.

To support evidence-based governance, POD has opened the 'One Country, Two Systems' Index database for academic research. For data purchase inquiries, please contact us (Phone: 852 - 2509 3131 / Email: info@podresearch.hk).

Summary (2025 H2)

Index score

The performance of 1C2S implementation stands at: 6.11(-0.5%)

Public Opinion

The survey reveals a downward trend across all three core pillars of local public opinion compared to the previous half-year. Besides "High Degree of Autonomy" which saw its first decline of 2.3% from the previous period, "Human Rights and Freedom" and " Hong Kong -Mainland Relations" continued to fall, by 0.2% to 5.23 and 0.9% to 5.50 respectively. All 12 sub-pillars experienced fluctuations in this round. "Resolving via dialogue and negotiation" saw the largest drop (-5.3%), followed by "Self-conduct of administrative affairs" (-4.6%) and "Independent judiciary" (-2.8%).

International Perspective
In terms of international evaluation, the overall score for the second half of 2025 slightly decreased from 6.96 to 6.94 compared to the previous survey round. "Economic Openness" dropped from 9.47 to 9.42; "Civil Liberty" slightly decreased from 6.29 to 6.27; while "Democratic Development" remained stable at 5.12. Among the sub-pillars, "Security and safety" saw the largest increase, rising by 0.1% from 8.18 to 8.19. The sub-pillar with the largest decline was "Expression, association, and assembly," which fell by 2% from 2.99 to 2.93.

1C2S Mass Media Index (MMI)

In the second half of 2025, Hong Kong's MMI showed a steady recovery. Boosted by the deepening development of the Greater Bay Area, the implementation of policies facilitating Hongkongers' cross-border development and business (such as expanded financial connectivity and mutual recognition of professional qualifications), and the successful hosting of international summits and cultural events, Hong Kong's role in national development and its international appeal received extensive positive media coverage. The MMI continued its slight growth, reflecting stable market confidence and social sentiment. With the 35^th anniversary of the Basic Law, the central government reaffirmed its support for ‘One Country Two Systems.’ This, coupled with the recovery of airport passenger traffic, a rebound in tourism and retail, and local technological innovations, helped maintain a foundation of positive public opinion despite geopolitical uncertainties, ultimately reaching 157.1 points by the end of 2025 Q4.

Methodological Notes

• 1C2S Index is the average of public opinion and international perception.
• The three pillars on public opinion, namely ‘high degree of autonomy’, ‘human rights and freedom’ and ‘Hong Kong-Mainland relationship’ are the evaluation by Hong Kong public on different dimensions of 1C2S.
• The three pillars on international perception, namely ‘economic openness’, ‘civil liberty’ and ‘democratic development’, are the evaluation by international think tanks on various aspects of freedom and democracy in Hong Kong.
• 1C2S MMI measures daily net sentiment of media reports from television and radio stations, daily newspapers and online-only media that were published since 1998.