With the full support of the central government in Beijing, the principle of "one country, two systems" has enabled Hong Kong to capture economic opportunities from the Chinese mainland's development, while retaining a system that provides autonomy over trade and economic policies, said Clement Leung, Hong Kong commissioner to the United States.

"This has given businesses the trust, confidence and predictability to thrive in the region," Leung said in remarks on Wednesday in New York. He spoke at an event organized by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the special administrative region.

Since Hong Kong's return from British rule, not only have Hong Kong emigrants returned from Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, but it now has a strong inflow of expatriates, Leung said. The US community there has nearly doubled and the French population has tripled since 1997.