Hong Kong

Situated on the south of the Chinese Guangdong (formerly Canton) province, the formerly British Dependent Territory of Hong Kong comprises of Victoria (commonly known as Hong Kong Island), the Kowloon Peninsula, the "New Territories", and 235 outlying islands.

Occupied by the UK in 1841, Hong Kong was formally ceded by China the following year; various adjacent lands were added later in the 19th century. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and the UK on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997.
In this agreement, China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system will not be imposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.

related countries: China, United Kingdom

Official Name:
Hong Kong
in Chinese: 香港
conventional long form:
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
conventional short form: Hong Kong
local short form: Xianggang
local long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu

Dependency status: special administrative region of China (SAR)

ISO Country Code: hk

Local Time = UTC +8h

Country Calling Code: +852

Government:
Type: since 1 July 1997 a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, with its own constitution (the Basic Law).

Geography:
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Area: 1,100 sq. km.; Hong Kong comprises Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories, and numerous small islands. Terrain: Hilly to mountainous, with steep slopes and natural harbor.

Climate: Tropical monsoon. Cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall.

People:
Population: (2001 Population Census - Hong Kong) 6,708,389
(6,8 - 7,3 million (mid-2002, various estimations)
Ethnic groups: Chinese 95%; other 5%.
Religions: eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10% .
Languages: Yue (Cantonese Chinese) and English are official.
Literacy: 92%

Natural resources: Outstanding deepwater harbor.
Agriculture products: Fresh vegetables, poultry, fish, pork.

Industries: Textiles, clothing, tourism, banking, shipping, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks.

Exports partners: USA 30.7%, China 30.1%, UK 6.5%, Germany 4.0%, Taiwan 3.7, Singapore 2.5%, Japan 2.2% (2004)
(Source: HK Trade and Industry Department)

Imports partners: China 43.5%, Japan 12.1%, Taiwan 7.3%, USA 5.3%, Singapore 5.3%, South Korea 4.8% (2004)

Currency: Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)