Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, shortened to Hong Kong (香港, pinyin: xiang1 gang3, Cantonese: heung1 gong2, meaning Fragrant Harbour), is a special administrative region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China, consisting of a small peninsula and hundreds of islands in the South China Sea, of which Hong Kong Island is the second largest and Lantau (the site of Hong Kong's international airport) the largest.

Under the policy of the 'One Country, Two Systems', Hong Kong enjoys a considerable degree of autonomy from the Mainland, continuing to have its own currency, customs and immigration, legal system, and even its own rule of the road, with traffic continuing to drive on the left.

中華人民共和國香港特別行政區
Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region of the People's Republic of China

Flag of Hong Kong (In Detail) (Full size)
National motto: None
Official languages	Chinese (Cantonese and English
Chief Executive	Tung Chee-hwa
Area  - Total  - % water	(Not ranked) 1,092 km² 4.6%
Population  - Total (2002)  - Density	(Not ranked) 7,303,334 6,688/km²
Establishment  - Date	Handover to the PRC July 1, 1997
Currency	Hong Kong dollar (HKD)
Time zone	UTC +8 (AWST)
Internet TLD	.HK
Calling Code	852

Main article: History of Hong Kong

Although it was occupied since at least as long ago as the Neolithic Age, the territory of today's Hong Kong remained distant from the major events unfolding in imperial China for most of its history. It did not begin attracting worldwide attention until the 19th century.

Occupied by the United Kingdom during the First Opium War in 1841, Hong Kong Island was formally ceded by China the following year under the Treaty of Nanking. Parts of the adjacent Kowloon Peninsula were ceded to Britain in 1860 by the Convention of Peking after the Second Opium War. Various adjacent lands, known as the New Territories were then leased to Britain for 99 years from July 1, 1898, the lease expiring on June 30 1997.

Pursuant to an agreement signed by the PRC and the UK on December 19, 1984, the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the whole territory of Hong Kong under British colonial rule became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC on July 1, 1997.

In the Joint Declaration, the PRC promised that, under the "One Country, Two Systems" policy proposed by Deng Xiaoping, China's socialist economic system would not be practised in Hong Kong and that Hong Kong would enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters, except foreign affairs and defence, for 50 years, until 2047.

Main article: Politics of Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is headed by Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa as head of government. Mr. Tung assumed office on July 1, 1997, following his election by a 400-member committee appointed by the People's Republic of China, whose president serves as head of state for the Hong Kong SAR. Legislative Council elections were held in May 1998 and again in September 2000. According to the Basic Law, Hong Kong's "Mini-constitution," the Legislative Council has 24 directly elected members; 30 members elected by functional (occupational) constituencies and 6 elected by an Election Committee.

The 1998 and 2000 Legislative Council elections were seen as free, open, and widely contested, despite discontent among mainly pro-democracy politicians that the functional constituencies and Election Committee elections are essentially undemocratic because so few voters are eligible to vote. The Civil Service maintains its quality and neutrality, operating without discernible direction from Beijing.

The Right of abode issue sparked debates in 1999, while the controversy over Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23 was the focus of politics in Hong Kong between 2002-2003.

Main article: Districts of Hong Kong

Hong Kong consists of 18 districts:

• Central and Western
• Eastern
• Islands
• Kowloon City
• Kwai Tsing
• Kwun Tong
• North District
• Sai Kung
• Sham Shui Po
• Sha Tin
• Southern
• Tai Po
• Tsuen Wan
• Tuen Mun
• Wan Chai
• Wong Tai Sin
• Yau Tsim Mong
• Yuen Long

Main article: Geography of Hong Kong

The name "Hong Kong" is derived from Hong Kong Island in the South China Sea, at the mouth of the Xi Jiang or Pearl River of southern China. Other territories that were later added include the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories, which include over 200 surrounding islands. The landscape is fairly hilly to mountainous with steep slopes, with the highest point being the Tai Mo Shan at 958 m, though lowlands exist in the north.

Of the total of 1,092 km² of Hong Kong, only 25% are developed. The remaining 75% are set aside as a countryside and preservation area.

The local climate is that of a tropical monsoon clime. It is cool and humid in winter (Jan-Mar), hot and rainy from spring through summer (Apr-Sep), and warm,sunny and dry in the autumn (Oct - Dec). Hong Kong is visited by occasional typhoons.

See also: Ecology of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Country Parks & Special Areas

Main article: Economy of Hong Kong

Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy highly dependent on international trade. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Indeed, imports and exports, including re-exports, each exceed GDP in dollar value. Even before Hong Kong reverted to Chinese administration on July 1, 1997 it had extensive trade and investment ties with the People's Republic of China. The service industry represented 86.5% of the GDP in 2001, and the territory, with a highly sophisticated banking sector, has housed the Asian headquarters of many multinational corporations in the last decades.

Per capita GDP compares with the level in the four big economies of Western Europe. GDP growth averaged a strong 5% in 1989-1997. The widespread Asian economic difficulties in 1998 hit this trade-dependent economy quite hard, with GDP down 5%. The economy, with growth of 10% in 2000, recovered rapidly from the Asian financial crisis. The recent global downturn has badly hurt Hong Kong's exports and GDP growth was 2.3% in 2002.

The main airport, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), is located on a partly artificial island connected to Lantau Island. The airport is often called Chek Lap Kok Airport, after one of the islands it was built on. HKIA is the replacement for the older Kai Tak Airport, which was known for its spectacular urban approach. Kai Tak was retired after Chek Lap Kok was built and now serves as an recreational venue and has been earmarked for housing development.

In early 2003, the local economy was hit hard by the outbreak of Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). On June 29, 2003, the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) was signed. CEPA allows Hong Kong service providers in 18 areas to enter the mainland market at least one year ahead of their foreign competitors. The arrangement provides a platform for Hong Kong professionals to practice on the mainland and also allows Hong Kong permanent residents to set up individually owned retail stores in Guangdong Province. Experts suggest the administrations of the mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan should join hands to capitalize on the opportunities provided by CEPA.

On July 28, 2003, the Individual Visit Scheme was started to allow travellers from some cities in mainland China to visit Hong Kong on an individual basis. As a result, the tourism industry in Hong Kong is booming once again.

See also: Hang Seng Index, List of Chinese companies

Main article: Demographics of Hong Kong

Hong Kong is by population the fourth largest metropolitan area of the PRC (see List of cities in China). Considered as a "dependency", Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated countries/dependencies in the world, with an overall density of nearly 6,700 people per km².

Despite the population density, Hong Kong was reported to be one of the greenest cities in Asia. The majority of people live in flats in high-rise buildings. The rest of the open spaces are often covered with parks, woods and shrubs. The vertical placement of the population explains why densely populated, green city is not an oxymoronic phrase.

Cantonese, the Chinese dialect used in Hong Kong government matters, is spoken by most of the population. English, also an official language, is widely understood; it is spoken by more than one-third of the population. Every major religion is practiced in Hong Kong; ancestor worship is predominant due to the strong Confucian influence, whereas Christianity is practised by a minority of 10%.

Main article: Culture of Hong Kong

• Cantonese cuisine
• Cinema of China
• Chinese mythology
• Hong Kong tea culture
• Hong Kong Jockey Club
• Hong Kong Disneyland
• Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
• Hong Kong Sevens

Reference: General Holidays Ordinance

• Media in Hong Kong
• Communications in Hong Kong
• Transportation in Hong Kong
• Military of Hong Kong
• Foreign relations of Hong Kong
• Education in Hong Kong
• Museums in Hong Kong
• List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong Kong
• Beaches of Hong Kong
• Hong Kong in films
• List of China-related topics
• Hong Kong Stock Exchange

Major landmarks include:

• Victoria Peak
• Bank of China Tower
• International Finance Centre
• The Center
• Central Plaza
• Hopewell Centre
• Tsing Ma Bridge

• Online Information Centre - Official site of the Government of Hong Kong
• World-wide press freedom index - Rank 18 out of 139 countries
• CountryGuide:: Hong Kong --editor-maintained directory focused on travel and vacation planning and research.

View of the central district of Hong Kong, from Victoria Peak

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