Honestly, nobody really cares on who found the first medical residency programs and who discovered the insulin nowadays. They have become very little relevant in today's economy and society.
As per the success of Hong Kong, the people of Hong Kong is the one who made the success story because they work super super hard. The success of Hong Kong did not come from their former British colonial masters but came from the people of Hong Kong themselves.
If people want to say that British Empire made a success in Hong Kong, what about another hundreds of countries in Africa, Asia, Caribbean, middle east and Pacific Island countries? Are those countries success like Hong Kong because of their former British colonial master? I don't think so... Looking at many countries in Africa, Caribbean, middle east and some Asian countries who were the colony of British Empire, hundred of those countries are nothing like Hong Kong even they were all colony of British Empire.
As of 2018, Hong Kong's GDP was only 2.7% of China. So Hong Kong's GDP is very small and has very little or no significant comparing to China.
Hong Kong's GDP vs China in 2018