New patron? They're legally part of China, and honestly have no secession rights, no defensive position, and no allies willing to fight the PRC.

Someone earlier on HN made a comment that the HK-Macau-Zhuhai bridge newly built was expressly designed to put Chinese tanks into HK in under 30m, which would easily stomp any resistance. That projection of power is also likely to deter any possible allies, as it's an indefensible position.

This article has a nice picture: https://www.vox.com/world/2018/10/22/18010254/chain-bridge-h...