|common_name Hong Kong |image_flag Flag of Hong Kong.svg |alt_flag A flag with a white 5-petalled flower design on solid red background |image_coat Hong Kong SAR Regional Emblem.svg |alt_coat A red circular emblem, with a white 5-petalled flower design in the centre, and surrounded by the words "Hong Kong" and "中華人民共和國香港特別行政區" |symbol_type Emblem |national_anthem [[March of the Volunteers]]
《義勇軍進行曲》 |image_map Hong Kong Skyline Restitch - Dec 2007.jpg |map_caption View at night from Victoria Peak |alt_map A panorama overlooking the skyscrapers of Hong Kong at night, with Victoria Harbour in the background |image_map2 Hong Kong Location.svg |map2_width 250px |alt_map2 Hong Kong is situated on a peninsula and series of islands on the south coast of China, to the east of the Pearl River Delta and bordered to the north by Guangdong province |official_languages Chinese, English |languages_type Languages of Hong Kong |languages |Cantonese |English }} |demonym Hong Kong people |leader_title1 Chief Executive of Hong Kong |leader_name1 Donald Tsang |leader_title2 Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal (Hong Kong) |leader_name2 Andrew Li |leader_title3 President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong |leader_name3 Jasper Tsang |legislature Legislative Council of Hong Kong |government_type Non-sovereign partial democracy with unelected executive |sovereignty_type History of Hong Kong |established_event1 Treaty of Nanking |established_date1 29 August 1842 |established_event2 Japanese occupation of Hong Kong |established_date2 25 December 1941 –
15 August 1945 |established_event3 Transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong |established_date3 1 July 1997 |latd 22 | latm 16.7 | latNS N |longd 114 |longm 9.533 |longEW E |area_magnitude 1 E9 |area_km2 1,104 |area_rank 179th |area_sq_mi 426 |percent_water About 60% |population_estimate 7,055,071 |population_estimate_year 2009 |population_estimate_rank 99th |population_census 7,026,400 |population_census_year 2009 |population_density_km2 6460 |population_density_sq_mi 15737.9 |population_density_rank 4th |GDP_PPP $293.311 billionlt;/ref> |GDP_PPP_rank 38th |GDP_PPP_year 2008 |GDP_PPP_per_capita $44,413 |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank 10th |GDP_nominal US$223.764 billion |GDP_nominal_rank 37th |GDP_nominal_year 2008 |GDP_nominal_per_capita US$31,849 |GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank 27th |HDI 0.944lt;/ref> |HDI_rank 24th |HDI_year 2007 |HDI_category very high |Gini 43.4lt;/ref> |Gini_year 2007 |currency Hong Kong dollar |currency_code HKD |time_zone Hong Kong Time |utc_offset +8 |date_format yyyy年m月d日 (Chinese)
dd-mm-yyyy (English) |drives_on left |cctld .hk |calling_code +852 |nicknames HK, The 852 }} Hong Kong #tag:ref|The name was often written as Hongkonguntil the Hong Kong Government adopted the current form in 1926 (Hongkong Government Gazette, Notification 479, 3 September 1926). Nevertheless, some century-old organisations still use the name, such as the Hongkong Post Hongkong Electric and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation While the names of most cities in the Peoples Republic of China are romanisation into English using Pinyin the official English name is Hong Kongrather than the pinyin Xianggang|groupnote}} ( is one of two special administrative region (People's Republic of China) of the Peoples Republic of China; the other is Macau Situated on Chinas south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea lt;/ref> it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour. With a land mass of and a population of seven million people, Hong Kong is one of the most List of countries and dependencies by population density in the world.lt;/ref> Hong Kongs population is 95% ethnic Chinese and 5% from other groups.lt;/ref> Hong Kongs Han Chinese majority originate mainly from the cities of Guangzhou and Taishan in the neighbouring Guangdong province.lt;/ref> Under the principle of "one country, two systems , Hong Kongs economic and political systems differ from those of mainland China lt;/ref> Hong Kong is one of the worlds leading international financial centre , with a major capitalism service economy characterised by low taxation and free trade. Under colonial rule, it espoused minimum government intervention under the ethos of positive non-interventionism lt;/ref> The Hong Kong dollar is the 9th most traded currency in the world.http://www.bis.org/publ/rpfx07.pdf Triennial Central Bank Survey] (April 2007), Bank for International Settlements. Hong Kongs independent judiciary functions under the common law framework.lt;/ref> Its Politics of Hong Kong is governed by the Basic Law of Hong Kong its constitutional document, which stipulates that Hong Kong shall have a "high degree of autonomy" in all matters except foreign relations and military defence. Although it has a burgeoning multi-party system, half of its Legislative Council of Hong Kong is controlled by a small-circle electorate. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong the head of government, is selected by an 800-person Election Committee Hong Kong became a colony of the British Empire after the First Opium War (1839–42). Originally confined to Hong Kong Island the colonys boundaries were extended in stages to the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories by 1898. It was Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during the Pacific War after which the British resumed control until 1997, when Transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong lt;/ref>lt;/ref>

Etymology

The name "Hong Kong" is an approximate romanisation of the pronunciation of the spoken Cantonese or Hakka name "香港", meaning "fragrant harbour" in English.lt;/ref> Before 1842, the name referred to a small inlet – now Aberdeen Harbour Little Hong Kong – between the island of Ap Lei Chau and the south side of Hong Kong Island which was one of the first points of contact between British sailors and local fishermen.lt;/ref> The reference to fragrance may refer to the harbour waters sweetened by the fresh water estuarine influx of the Pearl River (China) or to the incense from factories lining the coast to the north of Kowloon, which was stored around Aberdeen Harbour for export before the development of Victoria Harbour In 1842, the Treaty of Nanking was signed, and the name Hong Kong was first recorded on official documents to encompass the entirety of the island.Fairbank, John King. Trade and Diplomacy on the China Coast: The Opening of the Treaty Ports, 1842–1854 2 vols. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press 1953.

History

Pre-colonial

Archaeology of China studies support a human presence in the Chek Lap Kok area from 35,000 to 39,000 years ago, and in Sai Kung Peninsula from 6,000 years ago.lt;/ref>lt;/ref>lt;/ref> Wong Tei Tung and Three Fathoms Cove are the two earliest sites of human habitation in the Palaeolithic period. It is believed the Three Fathom Cove was a river valley settlement and Wong Tei Tung was a stone tool manufacturing site. Excavated Neolithic artefacts suggest cultural differences from the Longshan culture in northern China and settlement by the Che people prior to the migration of the Yue people lt;/ref>lt;/ref> Eight petroglyph were discovered on surrounding islands dating back to Bronze Age during the Shang Dynasty time period, which are believed to have been used to pacify bad weather.lt;/ref> In 214 BC, Qin Shi Huang the first emperor of China conquered the Hundred Yue tribes in Jiaozhi (modern Guangdong and Guangxi and incorporated the territory into imperial China for this first time. Modern Hong Kong is located in Nanhai commandery (modern Nanhai District and near the capital city Pun Yue lt;/ref>lt;/ref>lt;/ref> The area was consolidated under the kingdom of Nanyue founded by general Zhao Tuo in 204 BC after the Qin Dynasty collapsed.lt;/ref> When the kingdom was conquered by Emperor Wu of Han in 111 BC, the land was assigned to the Jiaozhi commandery under the Han Dynasty Archaeological evidence indicates the population increased and early salt production florished in this time period. Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum in the Kowloon Peninsula is believed to have been built during the Han Dynasty lt;/ref> During the Tang Dynasty period, the Guangdong region flourished as a regional trading center. In 736, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang established a military town in Tuen Mun to defend the coastal area in the region.lt;/ref> The first village school Li Ying College was established around 1075 in the New Territories under the Northern Song Dynasty Sweeting, Anthony. 1990] (1990). Education in Hong Kong, pre-1841 to 1941. HK University Press. ISBN 9622092586 During the Mongol invasion in 1276, the Southern Song Dynasty court moved to Fujian then to Lantau Island and later to Sung Wong Toi (modern Kowloon City , but the child Emperor Huaizong of Song committed suicide by drowning with his officials after being defeated in the Battle of Yamen Hau Wong an official of the emperor is still worshipped in Hong Kong today.lt;/ref> The earliest recorded European visitor was Jorge Álvares a Portuguese explorer arrived in 1513.lt;/ref>lt;/ref> After his settlement, Portuguese merchants began trading in Southern China At the same time, they invaded and built up military fortifications in Tuen Mun Military clashes between China and Portugal ensued resulting in the Portuguese expelled. In the mid-16th century, the Haijin order banned maritime activities and prevented contact with foreigners, it also restricted local sea activity.. In 1661–69, the territory was affected by the Great Clearance ordered by Emperor Kangxi which required the evacuation of the coastal areas of Guangdong. It is recorded that about 16,000 persons from Xin'an County (Bao'an) were driven inland and 1,648 of those who left are said to have returned when the evacuation was rescinded in 1669.lt;/ref> What is now the territory of Hong Kong became largely wasteland during the ban.lt;/ref> In 1685, Kangxi became the first emperor to open limited trading on a regular basis starting with the Guangzhou territory. He imposed strict terms for trades such as requiring foreign traders to live in restricted areas, staying only for the trading seasons, banning firearms, and trading with silver only.lt;/ref> The East India Company made the first sea venture to China in 1699 and British merchants grew rapidly in the region. In 1711, the company established their first trading post in Canton. By 1773, the British reached a landmark 1,000 chests of opium in Canton with Chinas consuming 2,000 chests annually by 1799.

Colonial

In 1839, the refusal by Qing Dynasty authorities to import opium resulted in the First Opium War between China and Britain. Hong Kong Island became occupied by British forces on 20 January 1841 and was initially ceded under the Convention of Chuenpee as part of a ceasefire agreement between Captain Charles Elliot and Governor Qishan (Qing Dynasty) but the agreement was never ratified due to a dispute between high ranking officials in both governments.lt;/ref> It was not until 29 August 1842 that the island was formally ceded to the United Kingdom under the Treaty of Nanking The British established a crown colony with the founding of Victoria, Hong Kong the following year.lt;/ref> In 1860, after Chinas defeat in the Second Opium War the Kowloon Peninsula and Stonecutter's Island were ceded to Britain under the Convention of Peking In 1898, under the terms of the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory Britain obtained a 99-year lease of Lantau Island and the adjacent northern lands, which became known as the New Territories lt;/ref> Hong Kongs territory has remained unchanged to the present.lt;/ref>lt;/ref> During the first half of the 20th century, Hong Kong was a free port serving as an entrepôt of the British Empire The British introduced an education system based on their own model, while the local Chinese population had little contact with the European community of wealthy [[tai-pan]]ssettled near Victoria Peak

Japanese occupation

In conjunction with its Pacific War the Empire of Japan invaded Hong Kong on 8 December 1941. The Battle of Hong Kong ended with British and Canadian defenders surrendering control of the colony to Japan on 25 December. During the Japanese occupation, civilians suffered widespread food shortage , rationing and hyper-inflation due to forced exchange of currency for military notes. Through a policy of enforced repatriation of the unemployed to the mainland throughout the period, because of the scarcity of food, the population of Hong Kong had dwindled from 1.6 million in 1941 to 600,000 in 1945, when the United Kingdom resumed control of the colony.lt;/ref>

Post-war

Hong Kongs population recovered quickly as a wave of migrants from China arrived for refuge from the ongoing Chinese Civil War When the Peoples Republic of China was proclaimed in 1949, more migrants fled to Hong Kong for fear of persecution by the Communist Party of China Many corporations in Shanghai and Guangzhou shifted their operations to Hong Kong. In the 1950s, Hong Kongs rapid industrialisation was driven by exports: Textile and other manufacturing industries expanded as the population grew and labour costs remained low; living standards rose steadily.lt;/ref> The construction of Shek Kip Mei Estate in 1953 followed a massive slum fire, and marked the beginning of the Public housing in Hong Kong programme designed to cope with the huge influx of immigrants. Trade in Hong Kong accelerated even further when Shenzhen immediately north of Hong Kong, became a Special Economic Zone of the PRC, and Hong Kong was established as the main source of foreign investment to China.lt;/ref> With the development of the manufacturing industry in southern China beginning in the early 1980s, Hong Kongs competitiveness in manufacturing declined and its economy began shifting toward a reliance on the service industry, which enjoyed high rates of growth in the 1980s and 1990s, and absorbed workers released from the manufacturing industry.lt;/ref> File:HK010.jpg in 1986|altA sky view of Hong Kong Island]] In 1983, when Britain reclassified Hong Kong from a British crown colony to a British overseas territories the governments of Britain and China were already discussing the issue of Hong Kongs sovereignty due to the impending expiry (within two decades) of the lease of the New Territories. In 1984, the Sino-British Joint Declaration – an agreement to transfer sovereignty to the Peoples Republic of China in 1997 – was signed. It stipulated that Hong Kong would be governed as a special administrative region, retaining its laws and a high degree of autonomy for at least fifty years after the transfer. The Hong Kong Basic Law which would serve as the constitutional document after the transfer, was ratified in 1990.

Modern times

On 1 July 1997, the transfer of sovereignty from United Kingdom to the Peoples Republic of China occurred, officially ending 156 years of British colonial rule. Hong Kong became Chinas first special administrative region, and Tung Chee Hwa took office as the first Chief Executive of Hong Kong That same year, Hong Kong suffered an economic double blow from the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis and the Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 In 2003, Hong Kong was severely affected by the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome lt;/ref> The World Health Organization reported 1,755 infected and 299 deaths in Hong Kong. An estimated of 380 million Hong Kong dollars (US$48.9 million) in contracts were lost as a result of the epidemic.lt;/ref> Today, Hong Kong continues to serve as an important global financial centre, but faces uncertainty over its future due to the growing Economy of the People's Republic of China and its relationship with the PRC government in areas such as democratic reform and universal suffrage.lt;/ref>

Governance

File:Hong Kong Legislative Council Building.jpg in Central, Hong Kong became the home to Legislative Council of Hong Kong in 1985.|altThe grey dome and front gable of a granite neo-classical building, with a skyscraper in the background against a clear blue sky]] In accordance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration, and the underlying principle of one country, two systems Hong Kong has a "high degree of autonomy as a special administrative region in all areas except defence and foreign affairs."The declaration stipulates that the region maintain its capitalist economic system and guarantees the rights and freedoms of its people for at least 50 years beyond the 1997 handover.The guarantees over the territorys autonomy and the individual rights and freedoms are enshrined in a constitution, the Hong Kong Basic Law which outlines the system of governance of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, but which is subject to the interpretation of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC).lt;/ref> File:Government House rightview.jpg is the official residence of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong |altA two-storey neo-classical building showing Japanese architectural influences, with a central two-storey tower. In the foreground is a garden and tennis court and in the background are skyscrapers.]] The primary Separation of powers are: *The executive The Executive Council of Hong Kong is headed by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong who is elected by the Election Committee and then appointed by the Central People's Government lt;/ref>lt;/ref> **[[Hong Kong Civil Service|The civil service]] This is a politically neutral body that implements policies and provides government services, where public servants are appointed based on meritocracy lt;/ref> *The legislature The Legislative Council of Hong Kong has 60 members, half of which are directly elected by universal suffrage by permanent residents of Hong Kong according to five geographical constituencies The other half, known as functional constituencies are directly elected by a smaller electorate, which consists of corporate bodies and persons from various stipulated functional sectors. It is headed by the President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong who serves as the speaker (politics) lt;/ref> *The judiciary The Judiciary of Hong Kong is comprised of the magistrates courts, the District Court (Hong Kong) the High Court (Hong Kong) (which includes the Court of Appeal (Hong Kong) and the Court of First Instance (Hong Kong) and the Court of Final Appeal (Hong Kong) lt;/ref> Judges are appointed by the Chief Executive on the recommendation of an independent commission. The implementation of the Basic Law, including how and when the universal suffrage promised therein is to be achieved, has been a major issue of political debate since the transfer of sovereignty. In 2002, the governments proposed anti-subversion bill pursuant to Article 23 of the Basic Law which required the enactment of laws prohibiting acts of treason and subversion against the Chinese government, was met with fierce opposition, and eventually shelved.lt;/ref>lt;/ref> Debate between pro-Beijing groups, which tend to support the Executive branch, and the Pan-democracy camp characterises Hong Kongs political scene, with the latter supporting a faster Democratic development in Hong Kong and the principle of one man, one vote Cohen, Warren I. Kirby, William. (1997). Hong Kong Under Chinese Rule: The Economic and Political Implications of Reversion Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-62761-3 In 2004, the government failed to gain pan-democrat support to pass its so-called district council model blueprint for political reform.Yeung, Chris (21 December 2005) OpEd: "Crunch time", South China Morning Postlt;/ref> In 2009, the government reissued the proposals as the "[[Consultation Document on the Methods for Selecting the Chief Executive and for Forming the LegCo in 2012]]. The document proposed the enlargement of the Election Committee from 800 members to 1,200 in 2012 and to expand the legislature from 60 to 70 seats. The ten new legislative seats would consist of five geographical constituency seats and five functional constituency seats, to be elected by elected district council members from among themselves.http://www.cmab-cd2012.gov.hk/doc/consultation_document_en.pdf "Public Consultation on the Methods for Selecting the Chief Executive and for Forming the Legislative Council in 2012], Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, Hong Kong Government, 18 November 2009 Destined to be voted down once again by pan-democrats, a significant breakthrough came when the proposals were revised at the eleventh hour, by making the new functional seats subject to direct election – the Democratic Party then broke ranks with the other pan-democrats and voted in favour of this first change in the annexes of the Basic Law since the handover.Balfour, Frederik & Lui, Marco (25 June 2010). http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-25/hong-kong-lawmakers-approve-tsang-s-election-plan-update1-.html "Hong Kong Lawmakers Approve Tsang’s Election Plan" (Update1)], BusinessWeeklt;/ref>

Legal system and judiciary

File:HK Court of Final Appeal.jpg in Central, Hong Kong is the supreme court of Hong Kong.|altA red brick building viewed from a low angle]] Hong Kongs legal system is completely independent from the legal system of China In contrast to mainland Chinas civil law (legal system) system, she continues to follow the English Common Law tradition established under British rule.lt;/ref> Hong Kongs courts may refer to decisions rendered by courts of other common law jurisdictions as precedents and judges from other common law jurisdictions are allowed to sit as non-permanent judges of the Court of Final Appeal (Hong Kong) Structurally, the court system consists of the Court of Final Appeal, the High Court, which is made up of the Court of Appeal and the Court of First Instance, and the District Court, which includes the Family Court of Hong Kong Other adjudicative bodies include the Lands Tribunal, the Magistrates Courts, the Juvenile Court, the Coroners Court, the Labour Tribunal, the Small Claims Tribunal, and the Obscene Articles Tribunal. Justices of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal are appointed by Hong Kongs Chief Executive. The Department of Justice (Hong Kong) is responsible for handling legal matters for the government. Its responsibilities include providing legal advice, criminal prosecution, civil representation, legal and policy drafting and reform, and international legal cooperation between different jurisdictions. Apart from prosecuting criminal cases, lawyers of the Department of Justice act on behalf of the government in all civil and administrative lawsuits against the government. As protector of the public interest the department may apply for judicial review and may intervene in any cases involving the greater public interest.lt;/ref> The Basic Law protects the Department of Justice from any interference by the government when exercising its control over criminal prosecution.lt;/ref>

Administrative districts

Hong Kong has a unitary authority system of government; no local government has existed since the two municipal councils were abolished in 2000. As such there is no formal definition for its List of cities and towns in Hong Kong Administratively, Hong Kong is subdivided into 18 geographic districts, each represented by a District Council of Hong Kong which advises the government on local matters such as public facilities, community programmes, cultural activities, and environmental improvements.lt;/ref> There are a total of 534 district council seats, 405 of which are elected; the rest are appointed by the Chief Executive and 27 [[ex officio]]chairmen of rural committees. The Home Affairs Department communicates government policies and plans to the public through the district offices.lt;/ref>

Military

As a British Colony and later as a British overseas territories defence was provided by the British Armed Forces under the command of the Governor of Hong Kong who was ex officioCommander-in-chief lt;/ref> When the Peoples Republic of China assumed sovereignty in 1997, the British barracks were replaced by a PLA Hong Kong Garrison comprising ground, naval, and air forces, and under the command of the Chinese Central Military Commission (People's Republic of China) The Basic Law protects local civil affairs against interference by the garrison, and members of the garrison are subject to Hong Kong laws. The Hong Kong Government remains responsible for the maintenance of public order; however, it may ask the PRC government for help from the garrison in maintaining public order and in disaster relief. The PRC government is responsible for the costs of maintaining the garrison.

Geography and climate

Hong Kong is located on Chinas south coast, east of Macau on the opposite side of the Pearl River Delta It is surrounded by the South China Sea on the east, south, and west, and borders the Guangdong city of Shenzhen to the north over the Shenzhen River. The territorys area consists of Hong Kong Island the Kowloon Peninsula the New Territories and over 200 offshore islands, of which the largest is Lantau Island Of the total area, is land and is inland water. Hong Kong claims territorial waters to a distance of Its land area makes Hong Kong the List of countries and outlying territories by total area in the world.lt;/ref> As much of Hong Kongs terrain is hilly to mountainous with steep slopes, less than 25% of the territorys landmass is developed, and about 40% of the remaining land area is reserved as Country parks and conservation in Hong Kong and nature reserves lt;/ref> Most of the territorys urban development exists on Kowloon peninsula, along the northern edge of Hong Kong Island, and in scattered settlements throughout the New Territories.lt;/ref> The highest elevation in the territory is at Tai Mo Shan above sea level.lt;/ref> Hong Kongs long and irregular coast line provides it with many bays, rivers and Beaches of Hong Kong lt;/ref> Despite Hong Kongs reputation of being intensely urbanisation the territory has tried to promote a green environment,lt;/ref> and recent growing public concern has prompted the severe restriction of further Land reclamation in Hong Kong from Victoria Harbour. Awareness of the environment is growing as Hong Kong suffers from increasing pollution compounded by its geography and tall buildings. Approximately 80% of the Air pollution in Hong Kong originates from other parts of the Pearl River Delta.lt;/ref> Situated just south of the Tropic of Cancer Hong Kongs climate is humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cwa. Summer is hot and humid with occasional showers and thunderstorms, and warm air coming from the southwest. Summer is when typhoons are most likely, sometimes resulting in flooding or landslides. Winter weather usually starts sunny and becomes cloudier towards February, with the occasional cold front bringing strong, cooling winds from the north. The most temperate seasons are spring, which can be changeable, and autumn, which is generally sunny and dry.lt;/ref> Hong Kong averages 1,948 hours of sunshine per year,lt;/ref> while the highest and lowest ever recorded temperatures at the Hong Kong Observatory are and respectively.lt;/ref>

Economy

File:2ifc at twilight.jpg in Central, Hong Kong altA brightly lit tall skyscraper at night.]] Hong Kong was described by Milton Friedman as the world’s greatest experiment in laissez-faire capitalism.http://www.economist.com/node/16591088 End of an experiment], The Economist 15 July 2010 It maintains a highly developed capitalist economy ranked the freest in the world by the Index of Economic Freedom for 15 consecutive years.lt;/ref>lt;/ref>lt;/ref> It is an important centre for international finance and trade, with one of the greatest concentration of corporate headquarters in the Asia-Pacific region, and is known as one of the Four Asian Tigers for its high growth rates and rapid development between the 1960s and 1990s. Between 1961 and 1997 Hong Kongs gross domestic product grew by 180 times while per-capita GDP rose by 87 times.lt;/ref>lt;/ref>lt;/ref> The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is the seventh largest in the world, with a market capitalisation of US$2.3 trillion as of December 2009.lt;/ref> In that year, Hong Kong raised 22 percent of worldwide initial public offering (IPO) capital, making it the largest centre of IPOs in the world.lt;/ref> Hong Kongs currency is the Hong Kong dollar which has been currency board to the U.S. dollar since 1983.lt;/ref> The Hong Kong Government has traditionally played a mostly passive role in the economy, with little by way of industrial policy and almost no Trade restriction Market forces and the private sector were allowed to determine practical development. Under the official policy of "positive non-interventionism , Hong Kong is often cited as an example of laissez-faire capitalism. Following the Second World War, Hong Kong industrialised rapidly as a manufacturing centre driven by exports, and then underwent a rapid transition to a service-based economy in the 1980s.lt;/ref> Hong Kong matured to become a financial centre in the 1990s, but was greatly affected by the Asian financial crisis in 1998, and again in 2003 by the SARS outbreak. A revival of external and domestic demand has led to a strong recovery, as cost decreases strengthened the competitiveness of Hong Kong exports and a long deflationary period ended.lt;/ref>lt;/ref> Government intervention, initiated by the later colonial governments and continued since 1997, has steadily increased, with the introduction of Export credit agency guarantees, a Mandatory Provident Fund a minimum wage anti-discrimination law , and a state mortgage backer. The territory has little arable land and few natural resources, so it imports most of its food and raw materials. Hong Kong is the worlds eleventh largest trading entity,lt;/ref> with the total value of imports and exports exceeding its gross domestic product. It is the worlds largest re-export centre.lt;/ref> Much of Hong Kongs exports consist of re-exports, which are products made outside of the territory, especially in mainland China, and distributed via Hong Kong. Even before the transfer of sovereignty, Hong Kong had established extensive trade and investment ties with the mainland, which now enable it to serve as a point of entry for investment flowing into the mainland. At the end of 2007, there were 3.46 million people employed full-time, with the unemployment rate averaging 4.1% for the fourth straight year of decline.Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics Hong Kong Government, March 2008 Hong Kongs economy is dominated by the service sector, which accounts for over 90% of its GDP, while industry constitutes 9%. Inflation was at 2% in 2007. Hong Kongs largest export markets are mainland China, the United States, and Japan.lt;/ref> As of 2009, Hong Kong is the fifth List of most expensive cities for expatriate employees behind Tokyo, Osaka Moscow, and Geneva In 2008, Hong Kong was ranked sixth, and in 2007, it was ranked fifth.lt;/ref> In 2009, Hong Kong was ranked third in the Ease of Doing Business Index lt;/ref>

Demographics

File:Hksycss.jpg at 6,200 people per km².|altBusy street scene at night with lit advertising panels.]] File:Buddha lantau.jpg on Lantau Island altLarge bronze statue of Buddha with right hand raised.]] The territorys population is 7.03 million. In 2009, Hong Kong had a birth rate of 11.7 per 1,000 population and a fertility rate of 1,032 children per 1,000 women.lt;/ref> Residents from mainland China do not have the right of abode in Hong Kong nor are they allowed to enter the territory freely.lt;/ref> However, the influx of immigrants from mainland China, approximating 45,000 per year, is a significant contributor to its population growth – a daily quota of 150 Mainland Chinese with family ties in Hong Kong are granted a one way permit.lt;/ref> Life expectancy in Hong Kong is 79.16 years for males and 84.79 years for females as of 2009, among the fifth in the world. About 95% of the people of Hong Kong are of Chinese descent,lt;/ref> the majority of whom are Taishanese people in Hong Kong Teochew people other Cantonese people and Hakka people Hong Kongs Han majority originate mainly from the Guangzhou and Taishan regions in Guangdong province. The remaining 5% of the population is composed of non-ethnic Chinese forming a highly visible group despite their smaller numbers. There is a South Asians in Hong Kong population of Indians, Pakistan s and Nepal se; some Boat people#Vietnamese boat people have become permanent residents of Hong Kong. There are also a number of Europeans (mostly Britons in Hong Kong , Americans in Hong Kong Canadians in Hong Kong Japanese in Hong Kong and Koreans in Hong Kong working in the citys commercial and financial sector.lt;/ref>|groupnote}} In 2008, there were an estimate of 252,500 foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong from Indonesia and the Philippines working in Hong Kong.lt;/ref> Hong Kongs de factoofficial language is Cantonese a Chinese language originating from Guangdong Province to the north of Hong Kong.lt;/ref> English is also an official language, and according to a 1996 by-census is spoken by 3.1% of the population as an everyday language and by 34.9% of the population as a second language.lt;/ref> Signs displaying both Chinese and English are common throughout the territory. Since the 1997 handover, an increase in immigrants from mainland China and greater integration with the mainland economy have brought an increasing number of Standard Mandarin speakers to Hong Kong.lt;/ref> Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of religious freedom, guaranteed by the Basic Law. 90% of Hong Kongs population practises a Religion in Hong Kong most prominently Buddhism (mainly Chinese Buddhism , Confucianism and Taoism http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/travelneeds/faith/mk_fait_budd.jhtml Buddhist and Taoist Communities], Hong Kong Tourism Board.lt;/ref> A Christian community of around 600,000 forms about 8% of the total population;lt;/ref>lt;/ref> it is nearly equally divided between Catholicism and Protestant , although smaller Christian communities exist, including the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lt;ref>lt;/ref> and Jehovah's Witnesses lt;/ref> The Sheng Kung Hui and Roman Catholic churches each freely appoint their own bishops, unlike in mainland China. There are also Sikhism Islam Jewish, Hinduism and Bahá'í Faith communities. The practice of Falun Gong is tolerated.lt;/ref> Statistically Hong Kongs income gap is the worst in Asia Pacific. According to a report by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme in 2008, Hong Kongs Gini coefficient at 0.53, was the highest in Asia and "relatively high by international standards".lt;/ref>lt;/ref> However, the government has stressed that income disparity does not equate to worsening of the poverty situation, and that the Gini coefficient is not strictly comparable between regions. The government has named economic restructuring, changes in household sizes, and the increase of high-income jobs as factors that have skewed the Gini coefficient.lt;/ref>lt;/ref>lt;/ref>

Education

File:The University of Hong Kong.jpg alt3-storey red brick building with gabled roof adjacent to 7-storey modern building with flat roof.]] Hong Kongs education system roughly follows the Education in England lt;/ref> although international systems exist. The government maintains a policy in which the medium of instruction is Cantonese (,lt;/ref> with written Chinese and English. In secondary schools, biliterate and trilingual proficiency is emphasised, and Mandarin Chinese language education has been increasing.lt;/ref> The Programme for International Student Assessment ranked Hong Kongs education system as the second best in the world.lt;/ref> File:HKUST Sundial.JPG with the red Sundial altA white medium-rise building with a red sundial in the courtyard.]] Hong Kongs public school (government funded) are operated by the Education Bureau The system features a non-compulsory three-year kindergarten followed by a compulsory six-year primary education a three-year junior secondary education a non-compulsory two-year senior secondary education leading to the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination and a two-year matriculation course leading to the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination .lt;/ref> Starting with Form 1 students of 2006, all students receive three years of compulsory junior and three years of compulsory senior secondary education.lt;/ref> Most comprehensive schools in Hong Kong fall under three categories: the rarer public schools; the more common subsidised schools, including government aids and grant schools; and private school , often run by Christian organisations and having admissions based on academic merit rather than on financial resources. Outside this system are the schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme and private international school . There are nine public universities in Hong Kong, and a number of Higher Education in Hong Kong#Institutes offering various bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees, other higher diplomas, and associate degree courses. The University of Hong Kong the oldest institution of tertiary education in the territory, was described by Quacquarelli Symonds as a "world-class comprehensive research university"lt;/ref> and was ranked 24th on the 2009 THES - QS World University Rankings lt;/ref> making it first in Asia.lt;/ref> The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology was ranked 35th in the world in 2009 and ranked second in Asia for 2010. The Chinese University of Hong Kong was ranked 46th in the world in 2009 and ranked fourth in Asia for 2010.

Culture

File:Avenue of Stars Statue crop.jpg a tribute to Cinema of Hong Kong |altA bronze statue on a pedestal, with the city skyline in the background. The pedestal is designed in the image of four clapperboards forming a box. The statue is of a woman wrapped in photographic film, looking straight up, with her left hand stretched upwards and holding a glass sphere containing a light.]] Hong Kong is frequently described as a place where "East meets West", reflecting the cultures mix of the territorys Chinese roots with influences from its time as a British colony.lt;/ref> Hong Kong balances a modernised way of life with traditional Chinese practices. Concepts like [[feng shui]]are taken very seriously, with expensive construction projects often hiring expert consultants, and are often believed to make or break a business.lt;/ref> Other objects like Ba gua mirrors are still regularly used to deflect evil spirits, and buildings often lack any floor Numbers in Chinese culture in it, due to its similarity to the word for "die" in Cantonese. The fusion of east and west also characterises Hong Kongs cuisine, where dim sum hot pot and fast food restaurants coexist with haute cuisine lt;/ref> Hong Kong is a recognised global centre of trade, and calls itself an entertainment hub.lt;/ref> Its martial arts film genre gained a high level of popularity in the late 1960s and 1970s. Several Hollywood performers and martial artists have originated from Cinema of Hong Kong notably Bruce Lee Jackie Chan Chow Yun-fat and Yuen Woo-ping A number of Hong Kong film-makers have achieved widespread fame in Hollywood, such as John Woo Wong Kar-wai and Stephen Chow Homegrown films such as [[Chungking Express]] [[Infernal Affairs]] [[Shaolin Soccer]] [[Rumble in the Bronx]] and [[In the Mood for Love]]have gained international recognition. Hong Kong is the centre for Cantopop music, which draws its influence from other forms of Chinese music and Western genres, and has a multinational fanbase.lt;/ref> The Hong Kong government supports cultural institutions such as the Hong Kong Heritage Museum the Hong Kong Museum of Art the The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra The governments Leisure and Cultural Services Department subsidises and sponsors international performers brought to Hong Kong. Many international cultural activities are organised by the government, consulates, and privately.lt;/ref>lt;/ref> Hong Kong has two licensed free television services (Hong Kong) – Asia Television Limited and Television Broadcasts Limited There are three local and a number of foreign suppliers of Pay television services (Hong Kong) lt;/ref> The production of Hong Kongs soap dramas, comedy series, and variety shows reach audiences throughout the Chinese-speaking world. Magazine and newspaper publishers in Hong Kong distribute and print in both Chinese and English, with a focus on sensationalism and celebrity gossip. Media in Hong Kong is relatively free from official interference Censorship in the People's Republic of China although the [[Far Eastern Economic Review]]points to signs of self-censorship by journals whose owners have close ties to or business interests in the PRC and states that even Western media outlets are not immune to growing Chinese economic power.lt;/ref> Hong Kong offers wide recreational and competitive sport opportunities despite its limited land area. It sends delegates to international competitions such as the Olympic Games and Asian Games and played host to the equestrian events during the 2008 Summer Olympics lt;/ref> There are major multipurpose venues like Hong Kong Coliseum and MacPherson Stadium. Hong Kongs steep terrain and extensive trail network with expansive views attracts hikers, and its rugged coastline provides Beaches of Hong Kong for swimming.lt;/ref>

Architecture

According to Emporis there are 7,650 skyscraper in Hong Kong, which puts the city at the top of world rankings.lt;/ref> The high urban density and tall skyline of Hong Kongs urban area is due to a lack of available urban sprawl space, with the average distance from the harbour front to the steep hills of Hong Kong Island at lt;/ref> much of it land reclamation in Hong Kong This lack of space causes demand for dense, high-rise offices and housing. Thirty-six of the worlds 100 tallest residential buildings are in Hong Kong.lt;/ref> More people in Hong Kong live or work above the 14th floor than anywhere else on Earth, making it the worlds most vertical city.lt;/ref>lt;/ref> As a result of the lack of space and demand for construction, few older buildings remain, and the city is becoming a centre for modern architecture The International Commerce Centre (ICC), at high, is the tallest building in Hong Kong and the third tallest in the world, by height to roof measurement. lt;/ref> The tallest building prior to the ICC is Two International Finance Centre at high.lt;/ref> Other recognisable skyline features include the HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building the triangular-topped Central Plaza, Hong Kong with its pyramid-shaped spire, The Center with its night-time multi-coloured neon light show, and I. M. Pei s Bank of China Tower, Hong Kong with its sharp, angular façade According to the Emporis website, the city skyline has the biggest visual impact of all world cities.lt;/ref> The oldest remaining historic structures including the Clock Tower, Hong Kong the Central Police Station and the remains of Kowloon Walled City were constructed during the 1800s and early 1900s.lt;/ref>lt;/ref>lt;/ref> There are many development plans in place, including the construction of Tamar site lt;/ref> waterfront redevelopment in Central,lt;/ref> and a series of projects in West Kowloon lt;/ref> More high-rise development is set to take place on the other side of Victoria Harbour in Kowloon, as the 1998 closure of the nearby Kai Tak Airport lifted strict height restrictions.lt;/ref>

Transport

File:SP1900 E227.jpg of the MTR East Rail Line altA SP1900 model train based on technology of East Japan Railway Companys E231 series.]] Hong Kongs transportation network is highly developed. Over 90% of daily travels (11 million) are on public transport,lt;/ref> the highest such percentage in the world.lt;/ref> Payment can be made using the Octopus card a stored value system introduced by the MTR which is widely accepted on railways, buses and ferries, and accepted like cash at other outlets.lt;/ref>lt;/ref> The citys main railway company was merged with the urban mass transit operator in 2007, creating a comprehensive rail network for the whole territory.lt;/ref> This rapid transit system has 150 stations, which serve 3.4 million people a day.lt;/ref> Hong Kong Tramways which has served the territory since 1904, covers the northern parts of Hong Kong Island.lt;/ref> File:K310UD.jpg double-decker bus in Hong Kong|altA dark tan double-decker bus with advertising-banner promoting clean environment.]] Hong Kongs bus service is franchised and run by private operators. Five privately companies provide franchised bus service across the territory, together operating more than 700 routes. The two largest, Kowloon Motor Bus provides 402 routes in Kowloon and New Territories; Citybus (Hong Kong) operates 154 routes on Hong Kong Island; both run cross-harbour services. Double-decker bus s were introduced to Hong Kong in 1949, and are now almost exclusively used; single-decker buses remain in use for routes with lower demand or roads with lower load capacity. Public light bus s serve most parts of Hong Kong, particularly areas where standard bus lines cannot reach or do not reach as frequently, quickly, or directly.lt;/ref> The Star Ferry service, founded in 1888, operates four lines across Victoria Harbour and provides scenic views of Hong Kongs skyline for its 53,000 daily passengers.lt;/ref> It acquired iconic status following its use as a setting on [[The World of Suzie Wong]] Travel writer Ryan Levitt considered the main Tsim Sha Tsui to Central crossing one of the most picturesque in the world.lt;/ref> Other ferry services are provided by operators serving Islands of Hong Kong new towns, Macau, and cities in mainland China. Hong Kong is famous for its junk (ship) traversing the harbour, and small kai-to ferries that serve remote coastal settlements.lt;/ref>lt;/ref> Hong Kong Islands steep, hilly terrain was initially served by sedan chair .lt;/ref> The Peak Tram the first public transport system in Hong Kong, has provided vertical rail transport between Central and Victoria Peak since 1888.lt;/ref> In Central and Western district there is an extensive system of escalators and moving pavement , including the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world, the Central-Mid-Levels escalator lt;/ref> Hong Kong International Airport is a leading air passenger gateway and logistics hub in Asia and one of the worlds busiest airports in terms of international passenger and cargo movement, serving more than 47 million passengers and handling 3.74 million tonnes of cargo in 2007.lt;/ref> It replaced the overcrowded Kai Tak Airport in Kowloon in 1998, and has been rated as the worlds best airport in a number of surveys.lt;/ref> Over 85 airlines operate at the two-terminal airport and it is the primary hub of Cathay Pacific Dragonair (airline) Air Hong Kong Hong Kong Airlines and Hong Kong Express Airways lt;/ref>

See also

* Index of Hong Kong-related articles * Outline of Hong Kong

Notes

Footnotes

References

Further reading

*} * * * * * * *

External links

* http://www.gov.hk/en/ GovHK – Official government site] * http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/ Hong Kong Government – Census and Statistics Department] * http://www.info.gov.hk/hkfacts/facts_e.htm Hong Kong Government – Fact Sheets] * http://www.legco.gov.hk/english/ Hong Kong Legislative Council] – Official site of the legislative body * http://www.britannica.com/nations/Hong-Kong Hong Kong] at Encyclopædia Britannica * * http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/hongkong.htm HongKong] at UCB Libraries GovPubs * * * http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/index.jsp DiscoverHongKong] – Official site of the Hong Kong Tourism Board * * http://www.wikimapia.org/#y22339914&x114066925&z10&l0&ma WikiSatellite view of Hong Kong at WikiMapia] }} }} }} }} Category:1997 establishments Category:Chinese-speaking countries and territories Category:Populated coastal places in Hong Kong Category:English-speaking countries and territories Category:Former British colonies Category:Hong Kong Category:Independent cities Category:Metropolitan areas of China Category:Pearl River Delta Category:Port cities and towns in China Category:Populated places established in 1842 Category:South China Sea Category:Special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China ace:Hong Kong af:Hongkong ar:هونغ كونغ an:Hong Kong ast:Hong Kong az:Honq Konq bn:হংকং zh-min-nan:Hiong-káng be:Горад Ганконг be-x-old:Ганконг bo:ཞང་ཀང་། bs:Hong Kong br:Hong Kong bg:Хонконг ca:Hong Kong ceb:Hong Kong cs:Hongkong cy:Hong Kong da:Hongkong de:Hongkong dv:ހޮންކޮންގު et:Hongkong el:Χονγκ Κονγκ es:Hong Kong eo:Honkongo ext:Hong Kong eu:Hong Kong ee:Hong Kong fa:هنگ کنگ hif:Hong Kong fr:Hong Kong fy:Hongkong ga:Hong Cong gd:Hong Cong gl:Hong Kong - 香港 gan:香港 gu:હોંગકોંગ hak:Hiông-kóng ko:홍콩 hi:हांग कांग hr:Hong Kong io:Hong Kong ig:Hong Kong ilo:Hong Kong bpy:হংকং id:Hong Kong ia:Hong Kong os:Гонконг is:Hong Kong it:Hong Kong he:הונג קונג jv:Hong Kong kn:ಹಾಂಗ್ ಕಾಂಗ್ pam:Hong Kong ka:ჰონგკონგი kk:Шәңғаң kw:Hong Kong sw:Hong Kong ku:Hong Kong la:Hongcongum lv:Honkonga lb:Hong Kong lt:Honkongas lij:Hong Kong li:Hong Kong ln:Hong Kong lmo:Hong Kong hu:Hongkong mk:Хонг Конг ml:ഹോങ്കോങ് mi:Hongipua mr:हाँग काँग arz:هونج كونج mzn:هونگ کونگ ms:Hong Kong mn:Хонг Конг my:ဟောင်ကောင် nah:Hong Kong fj:Hong Kong nl:Hongkong ja:香港 no:Hongkong nn:Hongkong nov:Hong Kong oc:Hong Kong pa:ਹਾਂਗ ਕਾਂਗ pnb:ہانگ کانگ nds:Hongkong pl:Hongkong pt:Hong Kong ro:Hong Kong ru:Гонконг sah:Хоҥ Коҥ sq:Hong Kong scn:Hong Kong simple:Hong Kong sk:Hongkong sl:Hong Kong szl:Hůngkůng sr:Хонгконг sh:Hong Kong su:Hong Kong fi:Hongkong sv:Hongkong tl:Hongkong ta:ஹொங்கொங் tt:Гонконг te:హాంగ్‌కాంగ్ th:เขตบริหารพิเศษฮ่องกง tr:Hong Kong tk:Gonkong uk:Гонконг ur:ہانگ کانگ ug:شياڭگاڭ za:Yanghgangj vec:Hong Kong vi:Hồng Kông zh-classical:香港 war:Hong Kong wo:Ooŋ Koŋ wuu:香港 yi:האנג קאנג yo:Hong Kong zh-yue:香港 diq:Hong Kong bat-smg:Huonkuongs zh:香港