Hong Kong

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China[note 1] 中華人民共和國 香港特別行政區 Flag Anthem: March of the Volunteers 《義勇軍進行曲》 View at night from Victoria Peak Official language(s) Chinese, English[note 2] Spoken languages   Cantonese English Demonym Hongkonger Government Non-sovereign partial democracy with unelected executive  -  Chief Executive Donald Tsang  -  Chief Justice Andrew Li  -  President of the Legislative Council Jasper Tsang Legislature Legislative Council Establishment  -  Treaty of Nanking 29 August 1842   -  Japanese occupation of Hong Kong 25 December 1941 – 15 August 1945   -  Transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong 1 July 1997  Area  -  Total 1,104 km2 (179th) 426 sq mi   -  Water (%) About 60% Population  -  2009 estimate 7,055,071[1] (99th)  -  2009 census 7,026,400   -  Density 6460/km2 (4th) 15,737.9/sq mi GDP (PPP) 2008 estimate  -  Total $293.311 billion[2] (38th)  -  Per capita $44,413[2] (10th) GDP (nominal) 2008 estimate  -  Total US$223.764 billion[2] (37th)  -  Per capita US$31,849[2] (27th) Gini (2007) 43.4[3]  HDI (2007) 0.944[4] ( very high) (24th) Currency Hong Kong dollar (HKD) Time zone HKT (UTC+8) Date formats yyyy年m月d日 (Chinese) dd-mm-yyyy (English) Drives on the left Internet TLD .hk Calling code +852

Hong Kong^{[note 3]} (Chinese: 香港) is one of two special administrative regions (SAR) of the People's Republic of China; the other is Macau. Situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea,^[5] it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour. With a land mass of 1,104 km² (426 sq mi) and a population of seven million people, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.^[6] Hong Kong's population is 95% ethnic Chinese and 5% from other groups.^[7] Hong Kong's Han Chinese majority originate mainly from the cities of Guangzhou and Taishan in the neighbouring Guangdong province.^[8]

Under the principle of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong's economic and political systems differ from those of mainland China.^[9] Hong Kong is one of the world's leading international financial centres, with a major capitalist service economy characterised by low taxation and free trade. Under colonial rule, it espoused minimum government intervention under the ethos of positive non-interventionism.^[10] The Hong Kong dollar is the 9th most traded currency in the world.^[11]

Hong Kong's independent judiciary functions under the common law framework.^[12] Its political system 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.^[13] Although it has a burgeoning multi-party system, half of its legislature 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.^[14]

Hong Kong became a colony of the British Empire after the First Opium War (1839–42). Originally confined to Hong Kong Island, the colony's boundaries were extended in stages to the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories by 1898. It was occupied by Japan during the Pacific War, after which the British resumed control until 1997, when China regained sovereignty.^[15][16]

Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 2.1 Pre-colonial 2.2 Colonial 2.3 Japanese occupation 2.4 Post-war 2.5 Modern times 3 Governance 3.1 Legal system and judiciary 3.2 Administrative districts 3.3 Military 4 Geography and climate 5 Economy 6 Demographics 7 Education 8 Culture 9 Architecture 10 Transport 11 See also 12 Notes 12.1 Footnotes 12.2 References 13 Further reading 14 External links

Etymology

The name "Hong Kong" is an approximate phonetic rendering of the pronunciation of the spoken Cantonese or Hakka name "香港", meaning "fragrant harbour" in English.^[17] 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.^[18]

The reference to fragrance may refer to the harbour waters sweetened by the fresh water estuarine influx of the Pearl River, 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.^[17] 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.^[19]

History

Pre-colonial

The Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum located in northwest Kowloon was built in 1969 after the tomb's discovery in 1955.

Archaeological 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.^[20][21][22] 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 lithic 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.^[23][24] Eight petroglyphs 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.^[25]

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.^[26][27][28] The area was consolidated under the kingdom of Nanyue founded by general Zhao Tuo in 204 BC after the Qin Dynasty collapsed.^[29] 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 in the Kowloon Peninsula is believed to have been built during the Han Dynasty.^[30]

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.^[31] The first village school Li Ying College was established around 1075 in the New Territories under the Northern Song Dynasty.^[32] 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.^[33]

The earliest recorded European visitor was Jorge Álvares, a Portuguese explorer arrived in 1513.^[34][35] 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.^[33]. In 1661–69, the territory was affected by the Great Clearance ordered by Kangxi Emperor, which required the evacuation of the coastal areas of Guangdong. It is recorded that about 16,000 persons from Xin'an County were driven inland and 1,648 of those who left are said to have returned when the evacuation was rescinded in 1669.^[36] What is now the territory of Hong Kong became largely wasteland during the ban.^[37] In 1685, Kangxi became the first emperor to open limited trading on a regular basis starting with the Canton 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.^[38] 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 China's consuming 2,000 chests annually by 1799.^[38]

Colonial

A view of Hong Kong Island from Kowloon in 1840

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, but the agreement was never ratified due to a dispute between high ranking officials in both governments.^[39] 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 City the following year.^[40]

In 1860, after China's 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.^[41] Hong Kong's territory has remained unchanged to the present.^[42][43]

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-pans settled near Victoria Peak.^[41]

Japanese occupation

In conjunction with its military campaign, 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 shortages, 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.^[44]

Post-war

Hong Kong's population recovered quickly as a wave of migrants from China arrived for refuge from the ongoing Chinese Civil War. When the People's Republic of China was proclaimed in 1949, more migrants fled to Hong Kong for fear of persecution by the Communist Party.^[41] Many corporations in Shanghai and Guangzhou shifted their operations to Hong Kong.^[41]

In the 1950s, Hong Kong's 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.^[45] The construction of Shek Kip Mei Estate in 1953 followed a massive slum fire, and marked the beginning of the public housing estate 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.^[46] With the development of the manufacturing industry in southern China beginning in the early 1980s, Hong Kong's 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.^[47]

In 1983, when Britain reclassified Hong Kong from a British crown colony to a dependent territory, the governments of Britain and China were already discussing the issue of Hong Kong's 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 People's Republic of China in 1997 – was signed.^[41] 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.^[41]

Modern times

On 1 July 1997, the transfer of sovereignty from United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China occurred, officially ending 156 years of British colonial rule. Hong Kong became China's 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 Asian financial crisis and the H5N1 avian influenza.^[41]

In 2003, Hong Kong was severely affected by the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).^[48] 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.^[49]

Today, Hong Kong continues to serve as an important global financial centre, but faces uncertainty over its future due to the growing mainland China economy, and its relationship with the PRC government in areas such as democratic reform and universal suffrage.^[50]

Governance

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."^{[note 4]} 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.^{[note 5]} The guarantees over the territory's 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).^[51]

The primary institutions of government are:

• The executive: The Executive Council is headed by the Chief Executive who is elected by the Election Committee and then appointed by the Central People's Government.^[52][53]
  • The civil service: This is a politically neutral body that implements policies and provides government services, where public servants are appointed based on meritocracy.^[14]
• The legislature: The Legislative Council 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 who serves as the speaker.^[54]
• The judiciary: The Judiciary of Hong Kong is comprised of the magistrate's courts, the District Court, the High Court (which includes the Court of Appeal and the Court of First Instance) and the Court of Final Appeal.^[55] Judges are appointed by the Chief Executive on the recommendation of an independent commission.^[12]

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 government's 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.^[13][56][57] Debate between pro-Beijing groups, which tend to support the Executive branch, and the Pan-democracy camp characterises Hong Kong's political scene, with the latter supporting a faster pace of democratisation, and the principle of one man, one vote.^[58]

In 2004, the government failed to gain pan-democrat support to pass its so-called 'district council model' blueprint for political reform.^[59] 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.^[60] 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.^[61]

Legal system and judiciary

Hong Kong's legal system is completely independent from the legal system of China. In contrast to mainland China's civil law system, she continues to follow the English Common Law tradition established under British rule.^[62] Hong Kong's courts may refer to decisions rendered by courts of other common law jurisdictions as precedents,^[12] and judges from other common law jurisdictions are allowed to sit as non-permanent judges of the Court of Final Appeal.^[12]

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.^[55] Other adjudicative bodies include the Lands Tribunal, the Magistrates' Courts, the Juvenile Court, the Coroner's Court, the Labour Tribunal, the Small Claims Tribunal, and the Obscene Articles Tribunal.^[55] Justices of the Court of Final Appeal are appointed by Hong Kong's Chief Executive.^[12]

The Department of Justice 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.^[62] 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.^[62] As protector of the public interest, the department may apply for judicial reviews and may intervene in any cases involving the greater public interest.^[63] The Basic Law protects the Department of Justice from any interference by the government when exercising its control over criminal prosecution.^[64]

Administrative districts

Hong Kong has a unitary 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 cities and towns. Administratively, Hong Kong is subdivided into 18 geographic districts, each represented by a district council which advises the government on local matters such as public facilities, community programmes, cultural activities, and environmental improvements.^[67]

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.^[67] The Home Affairs Department communicates government policies and plans to the public through the district offices.^[68]

Military

As a British Colony and later as a territory, defence was provided by the British military under the command of the Governor of Hong Kong who was ex officio Commander-in-chief.^[69] When the People's Republic of China assumed sovereignty in 1997, the British barracks were replaced by a garrison of the People's Liberation Army, comprising ground, naval, and air forces, and under the command of the Chinese Central Military Commission.^[16]

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.^[13]

Geography and climate

Areas of urban development and vegetation are visible in this false-colour satellite image.

Hong Kong is located on China's south coast, 60 km (37 mi) 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 territory's 1,104 km² (426 sq mi) 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, 1,054 km² (407 sq mi) is land and 50 km² (19 sq mi) is inland water. Hong Kong claims territorial waters to a distance of 3 nautical miles (5.6 km). Its land area makes Hong Kong the 179th largest inhabited territory in the world.^[1][5]

As much of Hong Kong's terrain is hilly to mountainous with steep slopes, less than 25% of the territory's landmass is developed, and about 40% of the remaining land area is reserved as country parks and nature reserves.^[70] Most of the territory's urban development exists on Kowloon peninsula, along the northern edge of Hong Kong Island, and in scattered settlements throughout the New Territories.^[71] The highest elevation in the territory is at Tai Mo Shan, 957 metres (3,140 ft) above sea level.^[72] Hong Kong's long and irregular coast line provides it with many bays, rivers and beaches.^[73]

Despite Hong Kong's reputation of being intensely urbanised, the territory has tried to promote a green environment,^[74] and recent growing public concern has prompted the severe restriction of further land reclamation 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 city's smog originates from other parts of the Pearl River Delta.^[75]

Situated just south of the Tropic of Cancer, Hong Kong's climate is humid subtropical climate (Köppen 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.^[76] Hong Kong averages 1,948 hours of sunshine per year,^[77] while the highest and lowest ever recorded temperatures at the Hong Kong Observatory are 36.1 °C (97.0 °F) and 0.0 °C (32.0 °F), respectively.^[78]

Climate data for Hong Kong
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	18.6 (65.5)	18.6 (65.5)	21.5 (70.7)	25.1 (77.2)	28.4 (83.1)	30.4 (86.7)	31.3 (88.3)	31.1 (88)	30.2 (86.4)	27.7 (81.9)	24.0 (75.2)	20.3 (68.5)	25.6 (78.1)
Daily mean °C (°F)	16.1 (61)	16.3 (61.3)	18.9 (66)	22.5 (72.5)	25.8 (78.4)	27.9 (82.2)	28.7 (83.7)	28.4 (83.1)	27.6 (81.7)	25.3 (77.5)	21.4 (70.5)	17.8 (64)	23.1 (73.6)
Average low °C (°F)	14.1 (57.4)	14.4 (57.9)	16.9 (62.4)	20.6 (69.1)	23.9 (75)	26.1 (79)	26.7 (80.1)	26.4 (79.5)	25.6 (78.1)	23.4 (74.1)	19.4 (66.9)	15.7 (60.3)	21.1 (70)
Rainfall mm (inches)	24.9 (0.98)	52.3 (2.059)	71.4 (2.811)	188.5 (7.421)	329.5 (12.972)	388.1 (15.28)	374.4 (14.74)	444.6 (17.504)	287.5 (11.319)	151.9 (5.98)	35.1 (1.382)	34.5 (1.358)	2,382.7 (93.807)
% Humidity	73	78	82	83	84	82	81	82	79	74	70	69	78.1
Avg. rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm)	5.60	9.47	10.47	11.67	15.47	18.77	17.77	17.43	14.80	8.10	5.67	4.27	139.49
Sunshine hours	141.7	93.8	89.6	101.8	138.6	158.3	214.9	189.7	171.8	191.1	178.2	173.3	1,842.9
Source: Hong Kong Observatory [79]

Economy

Hong Kong was described by Milton Friedman as the world’s greatest experiment in laissez-faire capitalism.^[80] It maintains a highly developed capitalist economy, ranked the freest in the world by the Index of Economic Freedom for 15 consecutive years.^[81][82][83] 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 Kong's gross domestic product grew by 180 times while per-capita GDP rose by 87 times.^[84][85][86]

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.^[87] 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.^[88] Hong Kong's currency is the Hong Kong dollar, which has been pegged to the U.S. dollar since 1983.^[89]

The Hong Kong Government has traditionally played a mostly passive role in the economy, with little by way of industrial policy and almost no import or export controls. 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.^[90]

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.^[91][92] Government intervention, initiated by the later colonial governments and continued since 1997, has steadily increased, with the introduction of export credit guarantees, a compulsory pension scheme, a minimum wage, anti-discrimination laws, and a state mortgage backer.^[80]

The territory has little arable land and few natural resources, so it imports most of its food and raw materials. Hong Kong is the world's eleventh largest trading entity,^[93] with the total value of imports and exports exceeding its gross domestic product. It is the world's largest re-export centre.^[94] Much of Hong Kong's 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.^[95] Hong Kong's 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 Kong's largest export markets are mainland China, the United States, and Japan.^[1][96]

As of 2009, Hong Kong is the fifth most expensive city for expatriates, behind Tokyo, Osaka, Moscow, and Geneva. In 2008, Hong Kong was ranked sixth, and in 2007, it was ranked fifth.^[97] In 2009, Hong Kong was ranked third in the Ease of Doing Business Index.^[98]

Demographics

The territory's 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.^[99] Residents from mainland China do not have the right of abode in Hong Kong, nor are they allowed to enter the territory freely.^[56] 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'.^[100] 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.^[1]

About 95% of the people of Hong Kong are of Chinese descent,^[101] the majority of whom are Taishanese, Chiu Chow, other Cantonese people, and Hakka. Hong Kong's Han majority originate mainly from the Guangzhou and Taishan regions in Guangdong province.^[8] The remaining 5% of the population is composed of non-ethnic Chinese forming a highly visible group despite their smaller numbers.^[101] There is a South Asian population of Indians, Pakistanis and Nepalese; some Vietnamese refugees have become permanent residents of Hong Kong. There are also a number of Europeans (mostly British), Americans, Canadians, Japanese, and Koreans working in the city's commercial and financial sector.^{[note 6]} In 2008, there were an estimate of 252,500 foreign domestic helpers from Indonesia and the Philippines working in Hong Kong.^[103]

Hong Kong's de facto official language is Cantonese, a Chinese language originating from Guangdong Province to the north of Hong Kong.^[104] 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.^[105] 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 Mandarin speakers to Hong Kong.^[106]

Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of religious freedom, guaranteed by the Basic Law. 90% of Hong Kong's population practises a mix of local religions,^[1] most prominently Buddhism (mainly Chinese Mahayana), Confucianism, and Taoism.^[107][108] A Christian community of around 600,000 forms about 8% of the total population;^[109][110] it is nearly equally divided between Catholics and Protestants, although smaller Christian communities exist, including the Latter-Day Saints^[111] and Jehovah's Witnesses.^[112] The Anglican and Roman Catholic churches each freely appoint their own bishops, unlike in mainland China. There are also Sikh, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Bahá'í communities.^[109] The practice of Falun Gong is tolerated.^[113]

Statistically Hong Kong's income gap is the worst in Asia Pacific. According to a report by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme in 2008, Hong Kong's Gini coefficient, at 0.53, was the highest in Asia and "relatively high by international standards".^[114][115] 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.^{[116][117][118]}

Education

Hong Kong's education system roughly follows the system in England,^[119] although international systems exist. The government maintains a policy in which the medium of instruction is Cantonese (Chinese: 母語教學),^[120] with written Chinese and English. In secondary schools, 'biliterate and trilingual' proficiency is emphasised, and Mandarin-language education has been increasing.^[121] The Programme for International Student Assessment ranked Hong Kong's education system as the second best in the world.^[122]

Hong Kong's public schools 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 Examinations and a two-year matriculation course leading to the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examinations.^[123] Starting with Form 1 students of 2006, all students receive three years of compulsory junior and three years of compulsory senior secondary education.^[124]

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 schools, 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 schools.^[124]

There are nine public universities in Hong Kong, and a number of private higher institutions, offering various bachelor's, master's, 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"^[125] and was ranked 24th on the 2009 THES - QS World University Rankings,^[126] making it first in Asia.^[127] 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.^[127]

Culture

Hong Kong is frequently described as a place where "East meets West", reflecting the culture's mix of the territory's Chinese roots with influences from its time as a British colony.^[128] 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.^[129] Other objects like Ba gua mirrors are still regularly used to deflect evil spirits, and buildings often lack any floor number that has a 4 in it, due to its similarity to the word for "die" in Cantonese. The fusion of east and west also characterises Hong Kong's cuisine, where dim sum, hot pot, and fast food restaurants coexist with haute cuisine.^[130]

Hong Kong is a recognised global centre of trade, and calls itself an 'entertainment hub'.^[131] 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 Hong Kong cinema, 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.^[131] 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.^[132]

The Hong Kong government supports cultural institutions such as the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. The government's 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.^[133][134]

Hong Kong has two licensed terrestrial broadcasters – ATV and TVB. There are three local and a number of foreign suppliers of cable and satellite services.^[135] The production of Hong Kong's 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. The media in Hong Kong is relatively free from official interference compared to mainland 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.^[136]

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.^[137] There are major multipurpose venues like Hong Kong Coliseum and MacPherson Stadium. Hong Kong's steep terrain and extensive trail network with expansive views attracts hikers, and its rugged coastline provides many beaches for swimming.^[138]

Architecture

According to Emporis, there are 7,650 skyscrapers in Hong Kong, which puts the city at the top of world rankings.^[139] The high density and tall skyline of Hong Kong's urban area is due to a lack of available sprawl space, with the average distance from the harbour front to the steep hills of Hong Kong Island at 1.3 km (0.81 mi),^[140] much of it reclaimed land. This lack of space causes demand for dense, high-rise offices and housing. Thirty-six of the world's 100 tallest residential buildings are in Hong Kong.^[141] More people in Hong Kong live or work above the 14th floor than anywhere else on Earth, making it the world's most vertical city.^[142][143]

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 484 m (1,588 ft) high, is the tallest building in Hong Kong and the third tallest in the world, by height to roof measurement. ^[144] The tallest building prior to the ICC is Two International Finance Centre, at 415 m (1,362 ft) high.^[145] Other recognisable skyline features include the HSBC Headquarters Building, the triangular-topped Central Plaza 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 with its sharp, angular façade. According to the Emporis website, the city skyline has the biggest visual impact of all world cities.^[146] The oldest remaining historic structures including the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower, the Central Police Station, and the remains of Kowloon Walled City were constructed during the 1800s and early 1900s.^{[147][148][149]}

There are many development plans in place, including the construction of new government buildings,^[150] waterfront redevelopment in Central,^[151] and a series of projects in West Kowloon.^[152] 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.^[153]

Transport

Hong Kong's transportation network is highly developed. Over 90% of daily travels (11 million) are on public transport,^[154] the highest such percentage in the world.^[155] Payment can be made using the Octopus card, a stored value system introduced by the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), which is widely accepted on railways, buses and ferries, and accepted like cash at other outlets.^[156][157]

The city's main railway company was merged with the urban mass transit operator in 2007, creating a comprehensive rail network for the whole territory.^[158] This rapid transit system has 150 stations, which serve 3.4 million people a day.^[159] Hong Kong Tramways, which has served the territory since 1904, covers the northern parts of Hong Kong Island.^[160]

Hong Kong's 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 operates 154 routes on Hong Kong Island; both run cross-harbour services. Double-decker buses 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 buses serve most parts of Hong Kong, particularly areas where standard bus lines cannot reach or do not reach as frequently, quickly, or directly.^[161]

The Star Ferry service, founded in 1888, operates four lines across Victoria Harbour and provides scenic views of Hong Kong's skyline for its 53,000 daily passengers.^[162] 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.^[163] Other ferry services are provided by operators serving outlying islands, new towns, Macau, and cities in mainland China. Hong Kong is famous for its junks traversing the harbour, and small kai-to ferries that serve remote coastal settlements.^[164][165]

Hong Kong Island's steep, hilly terrain was initially served by sedan chairs.^[166] The Peak Tram, the first public transport system in Hong Kong, has provided vertical rail transport between Central and Victoria Peak since 1888.^[167] In Central and Western district, there is an extensive system of escalators and moving pavements, including the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world, the Mid-Levels escalator.^[168]

Hong Kong International Airport is a leading air passenger gateway and logistics hub in Asia and one of the world's 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.^[169] It replaced the overcrowded Kai Tak Airport in Kowloon in 1998, and has been rated as the world's best airport in a number of surveys.^[170] Over 85 airlines operate at the two-terminal airport and it is the primary hub of Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, Air Hong Kong, Hong Kong Airlines, and Hong Kong Express.^[169][171]

See also

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

Notes

Footnotes

References

Further reading

• Endacott, G. B (1964). An Eastern Entrepot;: A Collection of Documents Illustrating the History of Hong Kong. Her Majesty's Stationary Office. pp. 293. ASIN B0007J07G6. 
• Fu, Poshek; Deser, David (2002). The Cinema of Hong Kong: History, Arts, Identity. Cambridge University Press. pp. 346. ISBN 9780521776028. 
• Liu, Shuyong; Wang, Wenjiong; Chang, Mingyu (1997). An Outline History of Hong Kong. Foreign Languages Press. pp. 291. ISBN 9787119019468. 
• Lui, Adam Yuen-chung (1990). Forts and Pirates – A History of Hong Kong. Hong Kong History Society. pp. 114. ISBN 9627489018. 
• Ngo, Tak-Wing (1 August 1999). Hong Kong's History: State and Society Under Colonial Rule. Routledge. pp. 205. ISBN 9780415208680. 
• Tsang, Steve (4 September 2007). A Modern History of Hong Kong. I. B. Tauris. ISBN 9781845114190. 
• Tsang, Steve (1995). Government and Politics: A Documentary History of Hong Kong. pp. 312. ISBN 9622093922. 
• Welsh, Frank (1993). A Borrowed place: the history of Hong Kong. Kodansha International. pp. 624. ISBN 9781568360027. 

External links

• GovHK – Official government site
• Hong Kong Government – Census and Statistics Department
• Hong Kong Government – Fact Sheets
• Hong Kong Legislative Council – Official site of the legislative body
• Hong Kong at Encyclopædia Britannica
• Hong Kong entry at The World Factbook
• HongKong at UCB Libraries GovPubs
• Hong Kong at the Open Directory Project
• Wikimedia Atlas of Hong Kong
• DiscoverHongKong – Official site of the Hong Kong Tourism Board
• Hong Kong travel guide from Wikitravel
• WikiSatellite view of Hong Kong at WikiMapia

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