The
special administrative regions (
SAR; ) are
autonomous territories that fall within the
sovereignty of the
People's Republic of China, yet do not form part of
Mainland China. The legal basis for the establishment of SARs, unlike the
administrative divisions of Mainland China, is provided for by Article 31, rather than Article 30, of the
Constitution of the People's Republic of China of 1982. Article 31 reads: "The state may establish special administrative regions when necessary. The systems to be instituted in special administrative regions shall be prescribed by law enacted by the National People's Congress in the light of the specific conditions".