The theory of nation building....

"You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer."
Frank Zappa


I guess we need to test the theory.....

The Philippines: beer - check; airline - check; football team - check; nuclear weapons - no

England: beer - check; airline - check; football team - allegedly; nuclear weapons - check (shared with rest of the UK)

Jordan: beer - no; airline - check; football team - check; nuclear weapons - mercifully, no

Hong Kong: beer - check; airline - check; football team - check; nuclear weapons - no

Iraq: beer - no; airline - check; football team - check ; nuclear weapons - depends on who you are talking to!!!

In conclusion, Hong Kong is obviously a country in it's own right...and not just an SAR! And...against all the odds - Iraq is still a real country.....