Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of
China, shortened to Hong Kong (??, pinyin xiang1 gang3, Cantonese: heung1
gong2, meaning Fragrant Harbour), is a special administrative region (SAR)
of the People's Republic of China, consisting of several islands (in the
South China Sea) and a peninsula.

                                       National motto:   None
                                       Official          Mandarin and
                                       languages         English
                                       President of the
                                       PRC               Hu Jintao
                                       Chief Executive   Tung Chee-hwa
History                                Area              (Not ranked)
                                       Ê- Total          1,092 km²
                                       Ê- % water        4.6%
Occupied by the United Kingdom during  Population        (Not ranked)
the First Opium War in 1841, Hong Kong Ê- Total (2002)   7,303,334
was formally ceded by China the        Ê- Density        6,688/km²
following year by the Treaty of
Nanking. Various adjacent lands, known Establishment     Handover to the
as the New Territories were added      Ê- Date           PRC
                                                         on July 1, 1997
later in the 19th century. Pursuant to
an agreement signed by the PRC and the Currency          Hong Kong dollar
                                                         (HKD)
UK on December 19, 1984 (the
Sino-British Joint Declaration), Hong  Time zone         UTC +8 (AWST)
Kong became the Hong Kong Special      Internet TLD      .HK
Administrative Region of the PRC on
July 1, 1997.                          Calling Code      852

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

Politics

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 selection 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 elections were seen as free, open, and widely contested,
despite discontent among mainly prodemocracy politicians that the functional
constituency 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.

Controversy over Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23 was the focus of politics in
Hong Kong between 2002-2003.

Districts

Hong Kong consists of 18 districts:

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

Geography

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. Other territories that
were later added include the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories,
which include 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.

The local climate is that of a tropical monsoon clime. It is cool and humid
in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, and warm and sunny in
fall. Hong Kong is visited by occasional typhoons.

Economy

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.

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 is estimated to be 0% in 2001. Private
sector analysts project 2002 GDP growth to be 1.8%.

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.

Demographics

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 square kilometre.

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%.

Culture

                              General Holidays
     Date              English Name           Remarks
 Every Sunday                               
 January 1     The first day of January     
 January 1                                  Usually in late Jan
 (Lunar)       Lunar New Year's Day         or early Feb
 January 2     The second day of the Lunar
 (Lunar)       New Year
 January 3     The third day of the Lunar
 (Lunar)       New Year
                                            Usually in April.
               Ching Ming Festival          About 15 days after Vernal Equinox
                                            Day for paying respect to the
                                            deceased
               Good Friday
               The day following Good
               Friday
               Easter Monday
 May 1         Labour Day                   
 April 8
 (Lunar)       The Buddha's Birthday        Usually in May
 May 5 (Lunar) Tuen Ng Festival             Usually in June
               Hong Kong Special
 July 1        Administrative Region
               Establishment Day
 August 16     The day following Chinese    Usually in
 (Lunar)       Mid-Autumn Festival          September
 October 1     National Day
 September 9
 (Lunar)       Chung Yeung Festival         Usually in October
 December 25   Christmas Day

 December 26   The first weekday after Christmas Day

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