Why do people think Hong Kong is a country?

They have their own law, own passport, own flag, speak cantonese( a form of chinese), drives on the left while China drive on the right. HONG KONG BASIC LAW 1 : NO FORM OF SOCIALISM IS ALLOWED IN HONG KONG. WHILE CHINA IS COMMUNIST>

One country two system does not exist in Hong Kong. That is Chinese Communist Party want Hong Kong people to think. CCP controls government in Hong Kong. Hong Kong people lose democracy in 1997 when it back to China.

The border is still guarded.

The main reason is because people do not read enough. Many schools do not cover Asian history, culture, politics, etc so students only (think they) know what other people tell them or what they find on line which most often is not factual. Hong Gong is governed by an appointed governor by the Chinese government in Beijing. They have a mainly economic, financial freedom which in actuality is not free as again Beijing rules.

In the common usage of the word country H.K has never been a country since it is and was not a sovereign state,but the term is often used in conjunction with dependent territories,or regions with there own political system and economy, This is not a question about CCP involvement or British Rule but it has always been Chinese, it seem,s to be far less of a fopar than many Americans who visit Scotland England(implying Scotland is in England) here even before partial political devolution they remain Historically separate despite having the same central government and head of state today ,since this was not always the case. Hong Kong could be referred to as a country in the sense it is a region and has a independent political system (how ever superficial you may or may not think it is) but is NOT a STATE And it is a very different place as is Macao culturally DZ HK under Brit was not considered a country, but"COLONY"the question is referring to present day assumptions made by individuals and Apple,the 100 year lease was applicable to the new territories and certain out lying islands not the over all" colony" Passports issued were British overseas(UK government get out to prevent right of abode in the UK) ,now Chinese passports The main document fot h.k residents been the ID card

Both Hong Kong and Macao are SAR and are very different from the mainland. If you travel to all three you will feel as if you are in fact in a different country.

It doesn't make any different to mainland china because china doesn't interfere in Hong Kong affairs and gave totally freedom to Hong Kong

I don't exactly see how a territory on lease by the british for 100 yrs was considered a country.