"One Country, Two Systems" is a principle that allows for the coexistence of different political and economic systems within a single country. It was originally proposed by Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s to facilitate the reunification of Hong Kong and Macau with China while preserving their existing legal and economic frameworks. Under this framework, Hong Kong and Macau maintain a high degree of autonomy, including their own legal systems and rights, while being part of the People's Republic of China. This arrangement aims to balance the central government's authority with the unique characteristics of these regions.