This principle was first proposed by Deng Xiaoping, the former leader of the People's Republic of China, as a framework to govern the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.

As a non-governmental public policy think tank, the OCTS focused its efforts on conducting research and analysis to address major social, economic, and governance issues in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

[citation needed] Public perception of the One Country Two Systems Research Institute (OCTS) may vary depending on individuals' political orientations and viewpoints.

The institute is associated with the pro-Beijing camp and has faced criticism from pro-democracy activists and scholars who perceive it as biased and supportive of the Chinese government's policies regarding Hong Kong.

But there are also people that view the institute as a credible and influential source of policy research and advice, particularly among those who are sympathetic to or benefit from the "One Country Two Systems" principle.

[citation needed] After the 2019-2020 Hong Kong Protests, some individuals who supported the pro-Democracy movements raised skepticism and criticised the OCTS for potentially aligning with the Chinese Government.

Conversely, those who aligned with the Chinese government's stance or held a favorable view of the "One Country Two Systems" principle continued to regard the OCTS as a valuable source of research and policy insights.