Hong Kong

"HK" redirects here. For other uses, see and .Hong Kong 香港Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China:中華人民共和國香港特別行政區 :Jūng'wàh Yàhnmàhn Guhng'wòhgwok Hēunggóng Dahkbiht Hàhngjingkēui

Location of Hong Kong29 August 18429 June 189819 December 19841 July 1997Largest by populationOfficial languages (2016)92.0% 2.5% 2.1% 0.8% 0.5% 0.3% 1.6% other Hong Kongese system within a • • • • LegislatureNational representation••203 delegates• Total2,755km2 (1,064 sq mi) ()• Water (%) 59.8 (1648 km2; 636 sq mi)Highest elevation ()957 m (3,140 ft)Lowest elevation ()0 m (0 ft)• 2018 estimate7,482,500 ()• Density 6,777/km2 (17,552.3/sq mi) ()()2019 estimate• Total $490.880 billion ()• Per capita $64,928 ()(nominal)2019 estimate• Total $372.989 billion ()• Per capita $49,334 ()(2016)53.9 high(2018)0.939 very high·Currency (HK$) () ()Date formatdd-mm-yyyy yyyy年mm月dd日220 V–50 HzleftNone for local vehicles, 粤Z for cross-boundary vehiclesAbbreviationHK / 港Hong Kong ( (); : 香港, : ()), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (HKSAR), is a metropolitan area and of in the eastern by the . With over 7.4 million people of various nationalities in a 1,104-square-kilometre (426 sq mi) territory, Hong Kong is one of the in the world.

Hong Kong became a after the ceded at the end of the in 1842. The colony expanded to the in 1860 after the , and was further extended when Britain obtained a of the in 1898. The whole territory was in 1997. As a special administrative region, Hong Kong maintains separate governing and economic systems from that of under a principle of "".

Originally a sparsely populated area of farming and fishing villages, the territory has become one of the world's most significant financial centres and commercial ports. It is the world's tenth-largest exporter and ninth-largest importer. Hong Kong has a major capitalist service economy characterised by low taxation and free trade, and the currency, , is the eighth most traded currency in the world. Hong Kong hosts the largest concentration of of any city in the world. Although the city has one of the highest in the world, there is severe among its residents.

Hong Kong is a and ranks fourth on the . The city also has of any city in the world and its residents have some of the in the world. The dense space also led to a developed transportation network with public transport rates exceeding 90 percent. Hong Kong is ranked sixth in the . As of the 2019 annual ranking of the , Hong Kong has come out on top 25 years in a row, according to the , a U.S. conservative libertarian think tank.

Contents Etymology Hong Kong"Hong Kong" in Chinese characters香港 or HèunggóngLiteral meaning"Fragrant Harbour" TranscriptionsXiānggǎngㄒㄧㄤㄍㄤˇShianggaangHsiang1-kang3SyānggǎngRomanizationshian平kaon上Hiong1gong3 or HèunggóngHoeng1gong2Hêng1gong2 or Hiong-kangHong Kong Special Administrative Region香港特別行政區 (香港特區)香港特别行政区 (香港特区) Hēunggóng Dahkbiht Hàhngjingkēui (Hēunggóng Dahkkēui) or Hèunggóng Dahkbiht Hàhngjingkēui (Hèunggóng Dahkkēui)TranscriptionsXiānggǎng Tèbié Xíngzhèngqū (Xiānggǎng Tèqū)ㄒㄧㄤㄍㄤˇ ㄊㄜˋ ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄑㄩ (ㄒㄧㄤㄍㄤˇ ㄊㄜˋ ㄑㄩ)Shianggaang Tehbye Shyngjenqchiu (Shianggaang Tehchiu)Hsiang1-kang3 Tʻê4-⁠pieh2 Hsing2-⁠chêng4-⁠chʻü1 (Hsiang1-kang3 Tʻê4-chʻü1)Syāngggǎng Tèbyé Syíngjèngchyū (Syānggǎng Tèchyū) ()Romanizationshian平kaon上 deh入⁠bih入 ghan平⁠tsen去⁠chiu平 (shian平kaon上 deh入chiu平)Hiong1gong3 Tet6⁠piet6 Hang2⁠zin4⁠ki1 (Hiong1gong3 Tet6ki1)Hēunggóng Dahkbiht Hàhngjingkēui (Hēunggóng Dahkkēui) or Hèunggóng Dahkbiht Hàhngjingkēui (Hèunggóng Dahkkēui)Hoeng1gong2 Dak6bit6 Hang4zing3keoi1 (Hoeng1gong2 Dak6keoi1)Hêng1gong2 Deg6⁠bid6 Heng4⁠jing3⁠kêu1 (Hêng1gong2 Deg6kêu1) () or

() Hiong-kang Te̍k-⁠pia̍t Hêng-⁠chèng-⁠khu (Hiong-kang Te̍k-khu)The name of the territory, first romanised as "He-Ong-Kong" in 1780, originally referred to a small inlet located between and the southern coast of Hong Kong Island. was an initial point of contact between British sailors and local fishermen. Although the source of the romanised name is unknown, it is generally believed to be an early phonetic rendering of the pronunciation hēung góng. The name translates as "fragrant harbour" or "incense harbour". "Fragrant" may refer to the sweet taste of the harbour's freshwater influx from the or to the odour from incense factories lining the coast of northern . The incense was stored near Aberdeen Harbour for export before Victoria Harbour developed. (the second colonial governor) offered an alternative origin; Davis said that the name derived from "Hoong-keang" ("red torrent"), reflecting the colour of soil over which a waterfall on the island flowed.

The simplified name Hong Kong was frequently used by 1810. The name was also commonly written as the single word Hongkong until 1926, when the government officially adopted the two-word name. Some corporations founded during the early colonial era still keep this name, including , , and (HSBC).

History Main articles: and The region is first known to have been occupied by humans during the period, about 6,000 years ago. Early Hong Kong settlers were a semi-coastal people who migrated from inland and brought knowledge of rice cultivation. The incorporated the Hong Kong area into China for the first time in 214 BCE, after . The region was consolidated under the kingdom (a predecessor state of Vietnam) after the Qin collapse, and recaptured by China after the . During the in the 13th century, the court was briefly located in modern-day (the site) before its final defeat in the 1279 . By the end of the , seven large families had settled in the region and owned most of the land. Settlers from nearby provinces migrated to Kowloon throughout the .

The earliest European visitor was explorer , who arrived in 1513. Portuguese merchants established a trading post called in Hong Kong waters, and began regular trade with southern China. Although the traders were expelled after in the 1520s, Portuguese-Chinese trade relations were by 1549. Portugal acquired a permanent lease for in 1557.

After the , maritime trade was banned under the policies. The lifted the prohibition, allowing foreigners to enter Chinese ports in 1684. Qing authorities established the in 1757 to regulate trade more strictly, restricting non-Russian ships to the port of . Although European demand for Chinese commodities like tea, silk, and porcelain was high, Chinese interest in European manufactured goods was insignificant, so that Chinese goods could only be bought with precious metals. To reduce the trade imbalance, the British sold large amounts of Indian to China. Faced with a drug crisis, Qing officials pursued ever more aggressive actions to halt the opium trade.

In 1839, the rejected proposals to legalise and tax opium and ordered imperial commissioner to eradicate the opium trade. The commissioner destroyed opium stockpiles and halted all foreign trade, triggering a British military response and the . The Qing surrendered early in the war and ceded in the . However, both countries were dissatisfied and did not ratify the agreement. After more than a year of further hostilities, Hong Kong Island was formally ceded to the in the 1842 .

Administrative infrastructure was quickly built by early 1842, but piracy, disease, and hostile Qing policies initially prevented the government from attracting commerce. Conditions on the island improved during the in the 1850s, when many Chinese refugees, including wealthy merchants, fled mainland turbulence and settled in the colony. Further tensions between the British and Qing over the opium trade escalated into the . The Qing were again defeated, and forced to give up and in the . By the end of this war, Hong Kong had evolved from a transient colonial outpost into a major . Rapid economic improvement during the 1850s attracted foreign investment, as potential stakeholders became more confident in Hong Kong's future.

flag from 1959 to 1997The colony was further expanded in 1898, when Britain obtained a of the . The was established in 1911 as the territory's first institution of higher education. began operation in 1924, and the colony avoided a prolonged economic downturn after the 1925–26 . At the start of the in 1937, Governor declared Hong Kong a neutral zone to safeguard its status as a free port. The colonial government prepared for a possible attack, evacuating all British women and children in 1940. The Hong Kong on 8 December 1941, the same morning as its . Hong Kong was for almost four years before Britain resumed control on 30 August 1945.

Its population rebounded quickly after the war, as skilled Chinese migrants fled from the , and more refugees crossed the border when the took control of mainland China in 1949. Hong Kong became the first of the economies to industrialise during the 1950s. With a rapidly increasing population, the colonial government began reforms to improve infrastructure and public services. The , (ICAC), and were all established during the post-war decades to provide safer housing, integrity in the civil service, and more-reliable transportation. Although the territory's competitiveness in manufacturing gradually declined due to rising labour and property costs, it transitioned to a service-based economy. By the early 1990s, Hong Kong had established itself as a global financial centre and shipping hub.The colony faced an uncertain future as the end of the New Territories lease approached, and raised the question of Hong Kong's status with in 1979. Diplomatic negotiations with China resulted in the 1984 , in which the United Kingdom agreed to transfer the colony in 1997 and China would guarantee Hong Kong's economic and political systems for 50 years after the transfer. The impending transfer triggered a as residents feared an erosion of civil rights, the rule of law, and quality of life. Over half a million people left the territory during the peak migration period, from 1987 to 1996. on 1 July 1997, after 156 years of British rule.

Immediately after the transfer, Hong Kong was severely affected by several crises. The government was forced to use substantial to maintain the Hong Kong dollar's currency peg during the , and the recovery from this was muted by an outbreak and a housing surplus. This was followed by the , during which the territory experienced its most serious economic downturn.

Political debates after the transfer of sovereignty have centred around the region's and the 's adherence to the "one country, two systems" principle. After reversal of the last colonial era Legislative Council following the handover, the regional government unsuccessfully attempted to enact pursuant to . The central government decision to implement before allowing triggered a series of which became known as the Umbrella Revolution. Discrepancies in the electoral registry and disqualification of elected legislators after the and enforcement of national law in the raised further concerns about the region's autonomy. In June 2019, in response to a permitting extradition of fugitives to mainland China. The protests have continued into December, possibly becoming the largest-scale political protest movement in Hong Kong history, with organisers claiming to have attracted more than one million Hong Kong residents.

Government and politics Main articles: , , and The legislature meets in the in .Hong Kong is a , with executive, legislative, and judicial powers from the . The provided for economic and administrative continuity through , resulting in an governing system largely inherited from the territory's history as a British colony. Under these terms and the "one country, two systems" principle, the is the regional constitution.

The regional government is composed of three branches:

The Chief Executive is the and serves for a maximum of two five-year terms. The (led by the ) appoints the Chief Executive after nomination by the , which is composed of 1,200 business, community, and government leaders.

The Legislative Council has 70 members, each serving a four-year term. 35 are directly elected from and 35 represent (FC). Thirty FC councillors are selected from limited electorates representing sectors of the economy or special interest groups, and the remaining five members are nominated from sitting members and selected in region-wide . All popularly elected members are chosen by . The 30 limited electorate functional constituencies fill their seats using or voting.

Twenty-two political parties had representatives elected to the Legislative Council in the . These parties have aligned themselves into three ideological groups: the (the current government), the , and . The does not have an official political presence in Hong Kong, and its members do not run in local elections. Hong Kong is represented in the by chosen through an electoral college, and 203 delegates in the appointed by the central government.

The formerly housed the and the . does not generally apply in the region and Hong Kong is treated as a separate jurisdiction. Its judicial system is based on , continuing the legal tradition established during British rule. Local courts may refer to precedents set in and overseas jurisprudence. However, interpretative and amending power over the Basic Law and jurisdiction over acts of state lie with the central authority, making regional courts ultimately subordinate to the mainland's system. Decisions made by the override any territorial judicial process. Furthermore, in circumstances where the Standing Committee declares a state of emergency in Hong Kong, the State Council may enforce national law in the region.

The territory's jurisdictional independence is most apparent in its and taxation policies. The issues which differ from those of the mainland or Macau, and the region maintains a with the rest of the country. All travellers between Hong Kong and China and Macau must pass through border controls, regardless of nationality. Mainland Chinese citizens do not have and are subject to immigration controls. Public finances are handled separately from the national government; taxes levied in Hong Kong do not fund the central authority.

The of the is responsible for the region's defence. Although the is of the armed forces, the regional government may request assistance from the garrison. Hong Kong residents are not required to perform military service and current law has no provision for local enlistment, so its defence is composed entirely of non-Hongkongers.

The central government and handle diplomatic matters, but Hong Kong retains the ability to maintain separate economic and cultural . The territory actively participates in the , the forum, the , and many United Nations agencies. The regional government maintains in and other nations.

Administrative divisions Main articles: and The territory is divided into 18 districts, each represented by a . These advise the government on local issues such as public facility provisioning, community programme maintenance, cultural promotion, and environmental policy. There are a total of 479 district council seats, 452 of which are directly elected. chairmen, representing outlying villages and towns, fill the 27 non-elected seats.

Political reforms and sociopolitical issues Main articles: and Hong Kong is governed by a that is not fully of the population. Legislative Council members elected by composed of professional and special interest groups are accountable to those narrow corporate electorates and not the general public. This electoral arrangement has guaranteed a majority in the legislature since the transfer of sovereignty. Similarly, the Chief Executive is selected by establishment politicians and corporate members of the rather than directly elected. Although for Chief Executive and all Legislative Council elections are defined goals of Basic Law and 68, the legislature is only partially directly elected and the executive continues to be nominated by an unrepresentative body. The government has been repeatedly petitioned to introduce direct elections for these positions.

Ethnic minorities (except those of European ancestry) have marginal representation in government, and often experience discrimination in housing, education, and employment. Employment vacancies and public service appointments frequently have language requirements which minority job seekers do not meet, and language education resources remain inadequate for Chinese learners. , predominantly women from the Philippines and Indonesia, have little protection under regional law. Although they live and work in Hong Kong, these workers are not treated as ordinary residents and are ineligible for right of abode in the territory.

The Joint Declaration guarantees the Basic Law for 50 years after the transfer of sovereignty. It does not specify how Hong Kong will be governed after 2047, and the central government's role in determining the territory's future system of government is the subject of political debate and speculation. Hong Kong's political and judicial systems may be reintegrated with China's at that time, or the territory may continue to be administered separately.

Geography Main articles: and Areas of urban development and vegetation are visible in this satellite image.Hong Kong is on China's southern coast, 60 km (37 mi) east of , on the east side of the mouth of the . It is surrounded by the on all sides except the north, which neighbours the city of along the . The territory's 2,755 km2 (1,064 sq mi) area consists of Hong Kong Island, the , the , Lantau Island, and over 200 other islands. Of the total area, 1,073 km2 (414 sq mi) is land and 35 km2 (14 sq mi) is water. The territory's highest point is , 957 metres (3,140 ft) above sea level. Urban development is concentrated on the Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong Island, and in throughout the New Territories. Much of this is built on , due to the lack of developable flat land; 70 km2 (27 sq mi) (six per cent of the total land or about 25 per cent of developed space in the territory) is reclaimed from the sea.

Undeveloped terrain is hilly to mountainous, with very little flat land, and consists mostly of grassland, woodland, shrubland, or farmland. About 40 per cent of the remaining land area are and nature reserves. The territory has a diverse ecosystem; over 3,000 species of occur in the region (300 of which are native to Hong Kong), and thousands of insect, avian, and marine species.

Climate Hong Kong has a ( Cwa), characteristic of southern China. Summer is hot and humid, with occasional showers and thunderstorms and warm air from the southwest. occur most often then, sometimes resulting in floods or landslides. Winters are mild and usually sunny at the beginning, becoming cloudy towards February; an occasional cold front brings strong, cooling winds from the north. The most temperate seasons are spring (which can be changeable) and autumn, which is generally sunny and dry. When there is snowfall, which is extremely rare, it is usually at high elevations. Hong Kong averages 1,709 hours of sunshine per year; the highest and lowest recorded temperatures at the are 36.6 °C (97.9 °F) on 22 August 2017 and 0.0 °C (32.0 °F) on 18 January 1893. The highest and lowest recorded temperatures in all of Hong Kong are 39.0 °C (102 °F) at on 22 August 2017, and −6.0 °C (21.2 °F) at .

Climate data for Hong Kong (), normals 1981–2010, extremes 1884–1939 and 1947–presentMonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear Record high °C (°F)26.9 (80.4)28.3 (82.9)30.1 (86.2)33.4 (92.1)35.5 (95.9)35.6 (96.1)35.7 (96.3)36.6 (97.9)35.2 (95.4)34.3 (93.7)31.8 (89.2)28.7 (83.7)36.6 (97.9)Mean maximum °C (°F)23.7 (74.7)24.5 (76.1)27.1 (80.8)29.8 (85.6)31.8 (89.2)33.1 (91.6)33.8 (92.8)33.8 (92.8)33.8 (92.8)30.8 (87.4)28.0 (82.4)25.1 (77.2)34.3 (93.7)Average high °C (°F)18.6 (65.5)18.9 (66.0)21.4 (70.5)25.0 (77.0)28.4 (83.1)30.2 (86.4)31.4 (88.5)31.1 (88.0)30.1 (86.2)27.8 (82.0)24.1 (75.4)20.2 (68.4)25.6 (78.1)Daily mean °C (°F)16.3 (61.3)16.8 (62.2)19.1 (66.4)22.6 (72.7)25.9 (78.6)27.9 (82.2)28.8 (83.8)28.6 (83.5)27.7 (81.9)25.5 (77.9)21.8 (71.2)17.9 (64.2)23.2 (73.8)Average low °C (°F)14.5 (58.1)15.0 (59.0)17.2 (63.0)20.8 (69.4)24.1 (75.4)26.2 (79.2)26.8 (80.2)26.6 (79.9)25.8 (78.4)23.7 (74.7)19.8 (67.6)15.9 (60.6)21.4 (70.5)Mean minimum °C (°F)9.1 (48.4)9.9 (49.8)11.5 (52.7)15.9 (60.6)20.5 (68.9)23.2 (73.8)23.9 (75.0)24.2 (75.6)23.2 (73.8)19.6 (67.3)14.4 (57.9)10.0 (50.0)7.7 (45.9)Record low °C (°F)0.0 (32.0)2.4 (36.3)4.8 (40.6)9.9 (49.8)15.4 (59.7)19.2 (66.6)21.7 (71.1)21.6 (70.9)18.4 (65.1)13.5 (56.3)6.5 (43.7)4.3 (39.7)0.0 (32.0)Average rainfall mm (inches)24.7 (0.97)54.4 (2.14)82.2 (3.24)174.7 (6.88)304.7 (12.00)456.1 (17.96)376.5 (14.82)432.2 (17.02)327.6 (12.90)100.9 (3.97)37.6 (1.48)26.8 (1.06)2,398.4 (94.44)Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm)5.379.0710.9012.0014.6719.0717.6016.9314.677.435.474.47137.65Average (%)7480828383828181787371 6978.0Mean monthly143.094.290.8101.7140.4146.1212.0188.9172.3193.9180.1172.21,835.6Percent42292427343651474754545142Source: Hong Kong ObservatoryArchitecture Main article: See also: A residential building in Hong Kong in 1978Hong Kong has the world's , with 317 towers taller than 150 metres (490 ft), and the third-largest number of high-rise buildings in the world. The lack of available space restricted development to high-density residential tenements and commercial complexes packed closely together on buildable land. are extremely rare, and generally only found in outlying areas.

The and are the and among the tallest in the Asia-Pacific region. Other distinctive buildings lining the Hong Kong Island skyline include the , the -topped triangular , the circular , and the sharp-edged .

Demand for new construction has contributed to frequent demolition of older buildings, freeing space for modern high-rises. However, many examples of European and are still found throughout the territory. Older government buildings are examples of colonial architecture. The 1846 , the former residence of the commanding British military officer, is the oldest Western-style building in Hong Kong. Some (including the and the ) retain their original function, and others have been ; the was redeveloped into a commercial and retail complex, and (built in 1875 as a ) houses the . The , dedicated to the sea goddess (originally built in 1012 and rebuilt in 1266), is the territory's oldest existing structure. The has architectural examples of several imperial Chinese dynasties, including the (Hong Kong's only remaining pagoda).

, mixed-use tenement buildings constructed during the colonial era, blended southern Chinese architectural styles with European influences. These were especially prolific during the immediate post-war period, when many were rapidly built to house large numbers of Chinese migrants. Examples include , the in , and the in . Mass-produced , built since the 1960s, are mainly constructed in .

The Hong Kong Island skyline, viewed from the waterfrontCity view of Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, and the Hong Kong skyline Demographics Main articles: and 2016 The estimated Hong Kong's population at 7,482,500 in mid-2019. The overwhelming majority (92 per cent) is , most of whom are , , , and a number of other . The remaining eight per cent are non-ethnic Chinese minorities, primarily , , and . About half the population have , a legacy of colonial rule; 3.4 million residents have status, and 260,000 British citizens live in the territory. The vast majority also hold , automatically granted to all ethnic Chinese residents at the transfer of sovereignty. Headline population density of about 6,800 people/km2 does not reflect true densities since only 6.9% of land is residential, the residential average population density calculates closer to a highly cramped 100,000/km2.

The predominant language is , a originating in . It is spoken by 94.6 per cent of the population, 88.9 per cent as a first language and 5.7 per cent as a second language. Slightly over half the population (53.2 per cent) speaks English, the other official language; 4.3 per cent are native speakers, and 48.9 per cent speak English as a second language. , mixing English and Cantonese in informal conversation, is common among the bilingual population. Post-handover governments have promoted , which is currently about as prevalent as English; 48.6 per cent of the population speaks Mandarin, with 1.9 per cent native speakers and 46.7 per cent speaking it as a second language. are used in writing, rather than the used on the mainland.

Among the religious population, the traditional "" of China, , , and , have the most adherents (20 per cent), and are followed by (12 per cent) and (four per cent). Followers of other religions, including , , , and the , generally originate from regions where their religion predominates.

Life expectancy in Hong Kong was 82.2 years for males and 87.6 years for females in 2018, the sixth-highest in the world. , , , , and accidents are the territory's five leading causes of death. The is funded by general-tax revenue, and treatment is highly subsidised; on average, 95 per cent of healthcare costs are covered by the government.

Income inequality has risen since the transfer of sovereignty, as the region's ageing population has gradually added to the number of nonworking people. Although median household income steadily increased during the decade to 2016, the wage gap remained high; the 90th percentile of earners receive 41 per cent of all income. The city has the most billionaires per capita, with one billionaire per 109,657 people. Despite government efforts to reduce the growing disparity, median income for the top 10 per cent of earners is 44 times that of the bottom 10 per cent.

Economy Main articles: and is one of the world's .Hong Kong has a , characterised by , minimal government market intervention, and an established international financial market. It is the world's , with a of approximately US$373 billion. Although Hong Kong's economy has ranked at the top of 's index since 1995, the territory has a relatively high level of . The is the , with a market capitalisation of HK$30.4 trillion (US$3.87 trillion) as of December 2018.

Hong Kong is the tenth-largest trading entity in and (2017), trading more goods in value than its gross domestic product. Over half of its cargo throughput consists of (goods travelling through Hong Kong). Products from mainland China account for about 40 per cent of that traffic. The city's location allowed it to establish a transportation and logistics infrastructure which includes the world's seventh-busiest container port and the busiest airport for international cargo. The territory's largest export markets are mainland China and the United States.

It has little arable land and few natural resources, importing most of its food and raw materials. More than 90 per cent of Hong Kong's food is imported, including nearly all its meat and rice. Agricultural activity is 0.1% of GDP, and consists of growing premium food and flower varieties.

Although the territory had one of Asia's largest manufacturing economies during the latter half of the colonial era, Hong Kong's economy is now dominated by the service sector. The sector generates 92.7 per cent of economic output, with the public sector accounting for about 10 per cent. Between 1961 and 1997 Hong Kong's gross domestic product increased by a factor of 180, and per capita GDP increased by a factor of 87. The territory's GDP relative to mainland China's peaked at 27 per cent in 1993; it fell to less than three per cent in 2017, as the mainland developed and liberalised its economy.Economic and infrastructure integration with China has increased significantly since the 1978 start of on the mainland. Since resumption of in 1979, many rail and road links have been improved and constructed (facilitating trade between regions). The formalised a policy of free trade between the two areas, with each jurisdiction pledging to remove remaining obstacles to trade and cross-boundary investment. A similar economic partnership with Macau details the liberalisation of trade between the special administrative regions. Chinese companies have expanded their economic presence in the territory since the transfer of sovereignty. Mainland firms represent over half of the value, up from five per cent in 1997.

Former trading floor of the As the mainland liberalised its economy, Hong Kong's shipping industry faced intense competition from other Chinese ports. Fifty per cent of China's trade goods were routed through Hong Kong in 1997, dropping to about 13 per cent by 2015. The territory's minimal taxation, common law system, and civil service attract overseas corporations wishing to establish a presence in Asia. The city has the second-highest number of corporate headquarters in the Asia-Pacific region. Hong Kong is a gateway for in China, giving investors open access to mainland Chinese markets through direct links with and . The territory was the first market outside mainland China for , and is one of the largest hubs for offshore trading.

The government has had a passive role in the economy. Colonial governments had little , and implemented almost no . Under the doctrine of "", post-war administrations deliberately avoided the direct allocation of resources; active intervention was considered detrimental to economic growth. While the economy transitioned to a service basis during the 1980s, late colonial governments introduced interventionist policies. Post-handover administrations continued and expanded these programmes, including guarantees, a , a minimum wage, , and a state mortgage backer.

Tourism is a major part of the economy, accounting for five per cent of GDP. In 2016, 26.6 million visitors contributed HK$258 billion (US$32.9 billion) to the territory, making Hong Kong the . It is the most popular Chinese city for tourists, receiving over 70 per cent more visitors than its closest competitor (Macau). The city is ranked as one of the .

Infrastructure Transport Main article: Entrance to the in , Hong Kong has a highly developed, sophisticated transport network. Over 90 per cent of daily trips are made on public transport, the highest percentage in the world. The , a card, is widely accepted on railways, buses and ferries, and can be used for payment in most retail stores.

The (MTR) is an extensive passenger rail network, connecting 93 stations throughout the territory. With a daily ridership of over five million, the system serves 41 per cent of all public transit passengers in the city and has an on-time rate of 99.9 per cent. Cross-boundary train service to is offered by the , and longer-distance , , and are operated from . to the is provided at .

Although public transport systems handle most passenger traffic, there are over 500,000 private vehicles registered in Hong Kong. Automobiles drive (unlike in mainland China), due to historical influence of the . Vehicle traffic is extremely congested in urban areas, exacerbated by limited space to expand roads and an increasing number of vehicles. More than 18,000 , easily identifiable by their bright colour, are licensed to carry riders in the territory. operate more than 700 routes across the territory, with smaller (also known as minibuses) serving areas standard buses do not reach as frequently or directly. Highways, organised with the , connect all major areas of the territory. The provides a direct route to the western side of the Pearl River estuary.

MTR train on the is the territory's primary airport. Over 100 airlines operate flights from the airport, including locally based (), , regional carrier , low-cost airline and cargo airline . It is the , and handles . Most private recreational aviation traffic flies through , under the supervision of the .

The operates two lines across for its 53,000 daily passengers. Ferries also serve inaccessible by other means. Smaller boats serve the most remote coastal settlements. Ferry travel to Macau and mainland China is also available. , once common in Hong Kong waters, are no longer widely available and are used privately and for tourism.

The , Hong Kong's first public transport system, has provided rail transport between and since 1888. The has an extensive system of escalators and , including the (the world's longest outdoor covered escalator system). covers a portion of Hong Kong Island. The operates its system, serving the northwestern New Territories.

Utilities Main articles: , , and Hong Kong generates most of its electricity locally. The vast majority of this energy comes from fossil fuels, with 46 per cent from coal and 47 per cent from petroleum. The rest is from other imports, including nuclear energy generated on the mainland. Renewable sources account for a negligible amount of energy generated for the territory. Small-scale wind-power sources have been developed, and a small number of private homes have installed solar panels.

With few natural lakes and rivers, high population density, inaccessible groundwater sources, and extremely seasonal rainfall, the territory does not have a reliable source of fresh water. The in Guangdong supplies 70 per cent of the city's water, and the remaining demand is filled by harvesting rainwater. Toilets flush with seawater, greatly reducing freshwater use.

Broadband Internet access is widely available, with 92.6 per cent of households connected. Connections over are increasingly prevalent, contributing to the high regional average connection speed of 21.9 Mbit/s (the world's fourth-fastest). Mobile-phone use is ubiquitous; there are more than 18 million , more than double the territory's population.

Culture Main article: See also: Hong Kong is characterised as a hybrid of and . Traditional Chinese values emphasising family and education blend with Western ideals, including economic liberty and the rule of law. Although the vast majority of the population is ethnically Chinese, Hong Kong has developed a distinct identity. The territory diverged from the mainland due to its long period of colonial administration and a different pace of economic, social, and cultural development. Mainstream culture is derived from immigrants originating from various parts of China. This was influenced by British-style education, a separate political system, and the territory's rapid development during the late 20th century. Most migrants of that era fled poverty and war, reflected in the prevailing attitude toward wealth; Hongkongers tend to link self-image and decision-making to material benefits. Residents' sense of local identity has markedly increased post-handover: 53 per cent of the population identify as "Hongkongers", while 11 per cent describe themselves as "Chinese". The remaining population purport mixed identities, 23 per cent as "Hongkonger in China" and 12 per cent as "Chinese in Hong Kong".

Traditional Chinese family values, including , , and a , are prevalent. are the most common households, although multi-generational and extended families are not unusual. Spiritual concepts such as are observed; large-scale construction projects often hire consultants to ensure proper building positioning and layout. The degree of its adherence to feng shui is believed to determine the success of a business. mirrors are regularly used to deflect evil spirits, and buildings often lack ; the number has a similar sound to the word for "die" in Cantonese.

Cuisine Main article: (left) Typical fare at a dim sum restaurant; (right) breakfast food with Food in Hong Kong is based on , despite the territory's exposure to foreign influences and its residents' varied origins. Rice is the staple food, and is usually served plain with other dishes. Freshness of ingredients is emphasised. Poultry and seafood are commonly sold live at , and ingredients are used as quickly as possible. There are five daily meals: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and . , as part of (brunch), is a dining-out tradition with family and friends. Dishes include , , , , and . Local versions of Western food are served at (fast, casual restaurants). Common cha chaan teng menu items include macaroni in soup, deep-fried French toast, and .

Cinema Main article: Statue of Bruce Lee on the , a tribute to the city's film industryHong Kong developed into a filmmaking hub during the late 1940s as a wave of Shanghai filmmakers migrated to the territory, and these movie veterans helped rebuild the colony's entertainment industry over the next decade. By the 1960s, the city was well known to overseas audiences through films such as . When 's was released in 1972, local productions became popular outside Hong Kong. During the 1980s, films such as , , and expanded global interest beyond ; locally made gangster films, romantic dramas, and supernatural fantasies became popular. Hong Kong cinema continued to be internationally successful over the following decade with critically acclaimed dramas such as , , and . The city's martial arts film roots are evident in the roles of the most prolific Hong Kong actors. , , , , and frequently play action-oriented roles in foreign films. At the height of the local movie industry in the early 1990s, over 400 films were produced each year; since then, industry momentum shifted to mainland China. The number of films produced annually has declined to about 60 in 2017.

Music Main article: Leslie Cheung (left) is considered a pioneering Cantopop artist, and Andy Lau has been an icon of Hong Kong music and film for several decades as a member of the Four Heavenly Kings. is a genre of Cantonese popular music which emerged in Hong Kong during the 1970s. Evolving from Shanghai-style , it is also influenced by and Western pop. Local media featured songs by artists such as , , , and ; during the 1980s, exported films and shows exposed Cantopop to a global audience. The genre's popularity peaked in the 1990s, when the dominated Asian record charts. Despite a general decline since late in the decade, Cantopop remains dominant in Hong Kong; contemporary artists such as , , and are popular in and beyond the territory.

Western classical music has historically had a strong presence in Hong Kong, and remains a large part of local musical education. The publicly funded , the territory's oldest professional symphony orchestra, frequently host musicians and conductors from overseas. The , composed of , is the leading Chinese ensemble and plays a significant role in promoting traditional music in the community.

Sport and recreation Main article: The , considered the premier tournament of the , is played each spring.Despite its small area, the territory is home to a variety of sports and recreational facilities. The city has hosted a number of major sporting events, including the , the , and the . The territory regularly hosts the , , and , and hosted the inaugural and the .

Hong Kong represents itself separately from mainland China, with its own sports teams in international competitions. The territory has participated in almost every Summer Olympics since 1952, and has earned . won the territory's first and only Olympic gold medal at the . Hong Kong athletes have won and . No longer part of the , the city's last appearance in the latter was in .

races originated as a religious ceremony conducted during the annual . The race was revived as a modern sport as part of the 's efforts to promote Hong Kong's image abroad. The first modern competition was organised in 1976, and overseas teams began competing in the first international race in 1993.

The , the territory's largest taxpayer, has a monopoly on gambling and provides over seven per cent of government revenue. Three forms of gambling are legal in Hong Kong: lotteries and betting on horse racing and football.

Education Main article: Old campus of , the first school established in the colonial eraEducation in Hong Kong is largely modelled after , particularly the . Children are required to attend school from the age of six until completion of secondary education, generally at age 18. At the end of secondary schooling, all students take a public examination and awarded the on successful completion. Of residents aged 15 and older, 81.3 per cent completed lower-secondary education, 66.4 per cent graduated from an upper secondary school, 31.6 per cent attended a non-degree tertiary program, and 24 per cent earned a bachelor's degree or higher. Mandatory education has contributed to an adult literacy rate of 95.7 per cent. Lower than that of other developed economies, the rate is due to the influx of refugees from mainland China during the post-war colonial era. Much of the elderly population were not formally educated due to war and poverty.

Comprehensive schools fall under three categories: public schools, which are government-run; subsidised schools, including government aid-and-grant schools; and private schools, often those run by religious organisations and that base admissions on academic merit. These schools are subject to the curriculum guidelines as provided by the Education Bureau. Private schools subsidised under the and international schools fall outside of this system and may elect to use differing curricula and teach using other languages.

main buildingThe government maintains a policy of "mother tongue instruction"; most schools use Cantonese as the , with written education in both Chinese and English. Secondary schools emphasise "bi-literacy and tri-lingualism", which has encouraged the proliferation of spoken Mandarin language education.

Hong Kong has eleven universities. The was founded as the city's first institute of higher education during the early colonial period in 1911. The was established in 1963 to fill the need for a university that taught using Chinese as its primary language of instruction. Along with the and , these universities are ranked among the best in Asia. The , , , , ,, and The were all established in subsequent years.

Media Main article: , headquarters of Hong Kong's first over-the-air television stationHong Kong's major English-language newspaper is the , with serving as a business-oriented alternative. A variety of Chinese-language newspapers are published daily; the most prominent are , , and . Local publications are often politically affiliated, with pro-Beijing or pro-democracy sympathies. The central government has a print-media presence in the territory through the state-owned and . Several international publications have regional operations in Hong Kong, including , , , , , and .

Three television broadcasters operate in the territory; , , and air three and eight channels. TVB, Hong Kong's dominant television network, has an 80 per cent viewer share. operated by and offer hundreds of additional channels and cater to a variety of audiences. is the public broadcaster, providing seven radio channels and three television channels. Ten non-domestic broadcasters air programming for the territory's foreign population. Access to media and information over the Internet is not subject to mainland Chinese regulations, including the .

See also Notes and references Notes References Bibliography Print Legislation and case law Academic publications Institutional reports News and magazine articles Websites External links Hong Kongat Wikipedia's GovernmentTradeMapsSociety OtherNote: is but administered by the (see ).Links to related articles of and AustraliaChinaUnited Kingdom Metropolitan Region ()NationsSummitsOtherSystemIssuesAgreementsPeopleMembers Largest cities or municipalities in the People's Republic of China China Urban Construction Statistical Yearbook 2017 Urban Population and Urban Temporary Population

124,183,300116,426,800

218,766,000126,378,200312,528,300136,370,700411,849,900145,320,30058,684,800155,119,10068,650,600164,938,60078,469,000174,925,7008 7,667,200184,458,30097,448,900194,041,200106,499,000204,040,000:

[//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1]Retrieved from "": Hidden categories: Hong Kong's not so special status as China's financial centre ...

Hong Kong's not so special status as China's financial centre ...

Written byRory Boland is a guidebook author and travel writer who has lived and worked in Hong Kong and London.Updated 03/15/20

Fact-Checked byReviewed on 03/15/20Patrice J. Williams is a travel and style content creator and fact checker and author of thrift shopping book "." Yongyuan Dai / Getty Images Edited by .

Considering its prominence in the news headlines recently, it’s a fair question to ask: what country is Hong Kong actually in—in China, or not?

The answer isn't quite as simple as you might imagine—or as any commentators might like!

Hong Kong exists as a controlled by The People's Republic of China and enjoys its own limited autonomy as defined by the Basic Law. The principle of “one country, two systems” allows for the coexistence of socialism and capitalism under “one country,” which is mainland China.

Hong Kong retains its own money, passport and immigration channels, and legal system, but the chain of command leads straight back to Beijing.

TripSavvy / Catherine Song Hong Kong’s Distinct Institutions Hong Kong was never an independent country. Until 1997, and the , Hong Kong was a colony of the United Kingdom. It was ruled by a governor appointed by Parliament in London and answerable to the Queen.

Post-handover, the colony of Hong Kong became the (SAR) and for official purposes is a part of China. But, for all intents and purposes, it is allowed to operate as an independent country. Below are just some of the ways Hong Kong behaves like an independent country.

Distinct government infrastructure. Hong Kong’s Basic Law, as agreed between China and Britain, means Hong Kong will retain its own currency (the ), legal system, and parliamentary system for fifty years—a term that ends in 2047.

Limited self-government. Hong Kong’s parliament was engineered as a compromise between democrats and Beijing partisans. It’s partially elected by popular vote, and partially by Beijing-approved caucuses of prominent nominees from business and policy bodies.

The head of government is the Hong Kong Chief Executive, who is selected from a short list, then appointed by .

samxmeg/Getty ImagesSeparate legal system. Hong Kong's legal system is completely distinct from Beijing. It remains based on British common law and is considered free and impartial. Mainland Chinese authorities have no right to arrest people in Hong Kong. Like other countries, they must apply for an international arrest warrant. (An attempt to tweak this—the doomed extradition law—sparked the protests that continue to this day.)

Border crossing. Immigration and passport control is also separate from China. Hong Kongers have their own separate passports, the HKSAR passport.The China-Hong Kong border is treated as an international border by both sides.

Hong Kong tourists must apply for a visa if they don’t qualify for visa-free entry or a visa on arrival. Chinese nationals also require permits to visit Hong Kong.

The import and export of goods between Hong Kong and China are also restricted, although rules and regulations have been relaxed. Investment between both countries now flows relatively freely.

/ Staff / Getty Images Beijing’s Long Reach Beijing casts a long shadow over Hong Kong nonetheless. The buck stops, not at the Central Government Complex in Tamar, Hong Kong, but all the way in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.

Military: Hong Kong does not have its own standing army; Beijing is responsible for the area’s military defense.

A People’s Liberation Army (PLA) garrison consisting of some 5,000 soldiers, officers and support staff now occupy former British Army buildings in Hong Kong, including the Central Barracks in Admiralty; the Stonecutters Island Naval Base; and the Shek Kong Airfield.

The present situation in Hong Kong has made certain quarters nervous about the PLA’s presence in Hong Kong. Article 14 of the Garrison Law allows the local government to request the garrison to intervene “in the maintenance of public order and in disaster relief.” The government has emphasized its use only at the last resort, and has not invoked it yet.

Diplomacy: Hong Kong may not maintain separate diplomatic relations with foreign countries. China represents Hong Kong in the UN, and in embassies around the world.

Beijing allows the SAR to participate as an “associate member” in certain intergovernmental bodies like the Asian Development Bank and the World Health Organization; and in certain trade-related agreements as “Hong Kong, China”.

Anthony Kwan/Getty Images Hong Kong’s Distinct Identity The impasse between vigorous pro-democracy protesters and unmoving pro-Beijing partisans has created the current tension between Hong Kong and Beijing.

This divide stems from the fact that, culturally, Hong Kong is its own thing, proudly distinct from mainland China. While most Hong Kongers consider themselves Chinese, they do not consider themselves a part of China. They even have their own Olympic team, anthem, and flag.

The are (Cantonese) and English, not Mandarin. While the use of Mandarin has been growing, for the most part, Hong Kongers don't speak the language.

The Hong Kong economy is characterized by low tax rates, free trade, and less government interference. The mainland Chinese stock markets are more conservative and restrictive.

Culturally, Hong Kong is also somewhat distinct from China. While the two share a clear cultural affinity, fifty years of communist rule in the mainland and British and international influence in Hong Kong has seen them diverge.

Surprisingly, Hong Kong remains a bastion of Chinese tradition. Flamboyant festivals, and martial art groups long banned by Mao flourished in Hong Kong.

Thus we’re back to the original question: What country is Hong Kong actually in? Officially, the answer to this question is China. However, unofficially Hong Kong is by most practical measures something different entirely.

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Hong Kong is highly autonomous as one of two Special Admin Regions but its sovereignty is derived from PR China. It maintains all affairs like a country except for the two that matter most: defence and foreign affairs.

Hong Kong is also not a city. When most think of Hong Kong, they think this:

But that is only 26% of what the territory of Hong Kong looks like. Most of Hong Kong is not a city but rather mountains and forest. HK would be more accurately be described as a collection of cities or towns: [northern Hong Kong] Island, South [HK] Island, Kowloon metropolis, Shatin, Tai Po, Y...

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