You reminded me of the difference between a taxidermist and a tax collector - at least the taxidermist saves the hide.

The problem in the HK scenario is the more the centralized, top down Chinese communist government interferes with the HK political and economic systems starting with the leadership and market forces, the fewer golden eggs this goose will lay and so the more interference the central government will then impose until HK loses its impressive advantages and economic performance.

This is part of the inherent contradiction between having centralized, closed, top down political control of a jurisdiction while at the same time trying to encourage an open, innovative, productive, market driven economy.

This contradiction is starting to cause cracks in the great economic wall of China and the economy is slowing down and becoming less competitive with other major economies.  Thus it is that India is now passing China as the global superpower of the future.