Which government body has granted the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region high degrees of autonomy?

The National People's Congress (NPC) plays a crucial role in granting the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) a high degree of autonomy. This is anchored in the Basic Law, which serves as the constitutional document for the SAR. The NPC enacted the Basic Law in 1990 and explicitly defined the relationship between Hong Kong and the central government, allowing for a substantial level of self-governance in various areas, such as the legal system, economy, and social policies.

The NPC's decision to implement the "one country, two systems" principle underlies this high degree of autonomy, which is fundamental to Hong Kong's governance framework. Therefore, the NPC's influence is foundational in establishing both the nature and limits of that autonomy within the context of national sovereignty.

The other bodies mentioned, while integral to the governance of Hong Kong, do not have the same constitutional authority or primary role in setting the level of autonomy as the NPC does. The Executive Council, State Council, and Legislative Council have specific functions within the governance structure, but they operate within the framework and parameters established by the NPC through the Basic Law, rather than having the power to set those parameters themselves.