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Hong Kong, 香港

Hong Kong's Central and Western District skyline at dawn
Hong Kong's Central and Western District skyline at dawn, viewed from Tsim Sha Tsui, on the opposite side of Victoria Harbour, with the skyscraper of the International Finance Centre, Hong Kong's second-highest building in the center.
Image: Timon Studler


 
Location map of Hong Kong. Where in the world is Hong Kong?
Location map of Hong Kong


Flag of Hong Kong
Hong Kong's Regional Flag


Hong Kong in brief


Destination Hong Kong, a Nations Online profile of the territory, also known as Xianggang, the "Fragrant Harbor."
For more than 150 years, Hong Kong was a colony of the British Crown. In 1997 the British returned the city. Since then, it has been a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, a type of provincial administrative unit.

Hong Kong is located on the Pearl River Delta south of the Chinese province of Guangdong and the Chinese city of Shenzhen, surrounded by the South China Sea.

Hong Kong's major areas are the Kowloon Peninsula, which is connected with the mainland, the outlying mountainous Lantau Island, the smaller Lamma island, densely populated Hong Kong Island, plus more than 200 smaller islands. The territory is a major port city with an outstanding deepwater harbor.

Hong Kong covers an area of 1,106 km² (427 sq mi), compared it is 1.5 times the size of Singapore or six times the size of Washington, DC. Hong Kong has a population of more than 7.5 million people (in 2020). Official languages are Chinese (Cantonese) and English. The city is regarded as a cosmopolitan center where 'East meets West' (like Chinese food and Disney Land), it has become one of the world's major financial and manufacturing centers.



Civil unrest
In 2014 and again in 2019, civil unrest erupted in the streets of the city. The 2019 protests have started as peaceful demonstrations against a planned extradition bill that would have subjected Hong Kong even closer to the influence of mainland China. The demonstrations for democratic reforms with up to a million people have failed to pressurize the government, and the protests became more aggressive and the government's reactions more violent. -- Since months now, the world is fed with spectacular images of apocalyptic scenes in a seemingly paralyzed high-tech city.

 
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (HKSAR)



Background:
Hong Kong is situated to the south of the Chinese province of Guangdong (formerly known as Canton). The former British Dependent Territory of Hong Kong includes Victoria (commonly known as Hong Kong Island), the Kowloon Peninsula, which forms together with Lantau Island, the "New Territories," and 235 outlying islands.

Occupied by the UK in 1841, Hong Kong was formally ceded by China the following year; various adjacent lands were added later in the 19th century.

Under an agreement signed by China and the UK on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997.

In this agreement, China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, the Chinese socialist economic system will not be imposed on Hong Kong. Hong Kong will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters, except foreign and defense affairs, for the next 50 years (at least until 2047).

related countries: China, United Kingdom

 

 

Country Profile



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

Dependency status: special administrative region of China (SAR)

ISO Country Code: HK, HKG

Actual Time: Mon-Mar-18  04:21
Local Time = UTC +8h

Country Calling Code: +852

...show more



Official Sites of Hong Kong


Office Block of the Central Government Complex of Hong Kong
Office Block of the Central Government Complex of Hong Kong.
Image: Wing1990hk


Political system
Since 1997, Hong Kong is an autonomous Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China with the status that provides constitutional guarantees for implementing the policy of "one country, two systems" for at least 50 years. Its government system is a kind of limited democracy. Chief of State is the President of P.R. China, the territory's Chief Executive is the head of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the head of the government. He/she is elected by a representative election committee (comprising about 0.16 % of the Hong Kong population) and is appointed by the Central People's Government (China's State Council).


Government

Note: External links will open in a new browser window.

GovHK
The official site of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government.

Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETO)
The Permanent Representatives of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) in the United States.

Consular Posts and Officially Recognized Representatives
Address list of consulates and representative offices in Hong Kong.


Statistics
Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong
Hong Kong in statistical figures.

Weather
Hong Kong Observatory
The Official Authority for Hong Kong Weather.


 

 


 


Maps of Hong Kong



Hong Kong Map
Map of Hong Kong


Maps


Map of Hong Kong
Political map of Hong Kong.
Google Earth Google Earth Hong Kong
Searchable map and satellite view of Hong Kong.
Administrative Map of China
Political Map of China's Administrative Divisions.

Map of the South China Sea
Map of the South China Sea region.
Map of Southeast Asia
Map of the Southeast Asia region.
profile Map of Asia
Political Map of Asia.
 

 


News of Hong Kong



Hong Kong Newsstand newspaper
Image: Faye Lei Yahowelim


News from Hong Kong

According to Paris based Reporters Without Borders, the media are finding it more and more challenging to cover sensitive stories about the Hong Kong government and Mainland China, and the need to protect their editorial positions from Beijing’s influence is increasingly noticeable.


Hong Kong News in English
The Standard
Formerly known as the Hong Kong Standard, a daily free newspaper with regional and international news.

South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's leading English Language newspaper.

Hong Kong Free Press
Independent journalists founded HKFP in response to concerns over declining press freedom in the territory.

News.gov.hk
HK government press releases.


Hong Kong News in Chinese
Apple Daily
Regional and international news.
Ming Pao
Chinese-language broadsheet with regional and international news.
Singtao Daily
Sister paper of The Standard, with regional and international news.
Ta Kung Pao
Regional and international news.


Radio
RTHK on Internet - The Cyber Station

 

 


Arts & Culture of Hong Kong


Airport sit-in rally on August 11, 2019, Hong Kong
Chek Lap Kok airport, sit-in rally in August 2019.
Image: AINH


Arts & Culture


Hong Kong Arts Festival
Annual art events ranging from Chinese Opera to World Music.

DiscoverHongKong - Culture and Heritage
Scratch the surface of Hong Kong's rich culture and heritage, a guide to art and culture of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Museum of Art
Hong Kong's main art museum.

Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre
vA! is an open, multi-directional art space.

Hong Kong Museum of History
The museum preserves the cultural heritage of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
HKPhil is Hong Kong's big symphony orchestra.

Hong Kong Movie DataBase
Ryan LAW's site about Hong Kong Movies.

Sports
Stockholm Challenge Award Asian Traditional Archery Research Network (ATARN)
Hong Kong-based information site about traditional archery cultures of Asia.

 

 


 


Business & Economy of Hong Kong


Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge
The Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macau Bridge, a 55-km (34 mi) long bridge-tunnel system connects Hong Kong, Macau, and Zhuhai, three major cities on the Pearl River Delta.
Image: N509FZ


Hong Kong's economy
Hong Kong has a free market economy, characterized by low taxation and almost free port trade. It is ranked as the world's most open economy in the Index of Economic Freedom of The Heritage Foundation, but it is highly dependent on international trade and finance. Hong Kong's currency, the Hong Kong Dollar (HKD), is closely linked to the US dollar. The territory's main trading goods are gold, diamonds, jewelry, telephones, and broadcasting equipment. [1]


HKEX
Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Hong Kong Monetary Authority
Responsible for maintaining monetary and banking stability.


Trade and Industry Department
Department for the development of Hong Kong trade and industry.
Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre
Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce
Hong Kong Trade Development Council
Promoting Hong Kong's external trade in goods and services.
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETO)
The Permanent Representatives of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) in the United States.

BrandHK
Government initiative to promote Hong Kong as "Asia's world city".

Hong Kong Yellow Pages
Hong Kong version of the Yellow Pages.


Business News
Hong Kong Economic Journal
Chinese language daily newspaper.
EJ Insight
HKEJ Editorial Hong Kong Economic Journal (in English) 


Transportation
The "Star" Ferry
Hong Kong's passenger ferry service.

Airlines
Cathay Pacific Airways
Hong Kong's major airline was founded in 1946.

Airport
Hong Kong International Airport
Chek Lap Kok Airport is Hong Kong's international airport.

 

 


 



Tourism in Hong Kong



Hong Kong panorama at night
Panorama of Hong Kong's residential buildings at night.
Image: Joseph ChanTiago Fioreze


Destination Hong Kong - Travel and Tour Guides




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Discover Hong Kong:
Victoria Harbour (natural harbor between the Central Business District of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon), Star Ferry (passenger ferry and a major tourist attraction); Victoria Peak (observation peak for the unrivaled panorama view of Hong Kong); Temple Street Night Market (hawkers, ladies of the night, fortune-tellers and Chinese opera); Peninsula Hotel (flagship property of The Peninsula Hotels group; oldest hotel in Hong Kong, opened in 1928)

Find accommodation, attractions, festivals, events, tours, and much more.


Hong Kong Tourism Board

The official Hong Kong tour guide.

DiscoverHongKong - E-Ticketing
Get tickets for great Hong Kong Events.

Hong Kong Outdoors
A guide to Hong Kong and surroundings.

Hong Kong Picture Archive
Hong Kong Images.
 
Hong Kong Visas
Entry Permit Requirements for the Hong Kong SAR.

Advice to Travellers
Hong Kong customs organization advice for Travellers entering Hong Kong.




Chinese gate in Temple Street, Hong Kong (Jordan Road)
Chinese gate in Temple Street, Hong Kong (Jordan Road).
Image: SUMRAMWY lURE
 

 


Education in Hong Kong



Hong Kong University of Science and Technology campus
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology campus on Clear Water Bay Peninsula in Sai Kung District.
Image: HKUST


Stockholm Challenge Award Cyber Learning Centre Plus
A learning portal for government employees, provided by the Civil Service Training and Development Institute (CSTDI).

Chinese University of Hong Kong
The public research university in Shatin is the only collegiate university in the territory; the institution has nine colleges and eight faculties.

City University of Hong Kong
Internationally recognized as a leading university in the Asia-Pacific region.

Hong Kong Institute of Education
A leading university-level institution, its mission: optimizing each child's potential through the shared joy of learning and teaching.

Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Formerly known as the Hong Kong Polytechnic, the Institution assumed full university status in 1994.

Hong Kong Public Libraries
Enrich knowledge and support lifelong learning.

Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
A research university and the territory's youngest higher learning institution.
University Library, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology

University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong's First University, the oldest tertiary education institution in Hong Kong, founded in 1910.

 

 


Environment & Nature



WWF Hong Kong Marine Life Center at Hoi Ha Wan
WWF Hong Kong Marine Life Center at Hoi Ha Wan (Jone's Cove).
Image: Chong Fat


Hong Kong's ecology is mainly affected by the consequences of climatic changes. The environment, flora and fauna are being altered by climate change, sea level rise and human impacts such as air and water pollution.


Government
Environmental Protection Department
The government department was created in 1986 to co-ordinate and carry out pollution prevention and control activities.

Environment Bureau
The government agency is responsible for developing policies in environmental protection, nature conservation, and enforcing environmental legislation.

NGOs
Clean Air Network
CAN is focused on the issue of air pollution in Hong Kong.

Clear the Air
CTA aims to reduce air pollution in Hong Kong significantly.

Conservancy Association
The organization focuses on the protection of the environment and the conservation of natural and cultural heritage.

Friends of the Earth (Hong Kong)
FoE(HK) is one of Hong Kong's most prominent green groups.
 
 

 


Hong Kong History



Painting of Hong Kong Harbor and the City of Victoria, Hong Kong
Hong Kong Harbor and the city of Victoria, Hong Kong.
Painting: unknown



Chinese Dynasties
Timeline of Chinese Imperial and Modern Dynasties.

Wikipedia W History of Hong Kong
Wikipedia entry for the History of Hong Kong.


Opium Wars
Opium Wars
Emperor of China Declares War on Drugs.

The Chinese Opium Wars
Wikipedia article about one of the biggest disasters ever hits China.
 
 

 


Additional Information




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Sources and additional Information on Hong Kong


Amnesty International: Hong Kong
Amnesty International is a non-governmental organization focused on human rights.

BBC Country Profile: Hong Kong
Country profiles by the British public service broadcaster.

GlobalEDGE: Hong Kong
Global business knowledge portal - Global Insights by country Hong Kong.

The Heritage Foundation: Hong Kong
2020 Index of Economic Freedom by The Heritage Foundation, an American conservative think tank.

Human Rights Watch: Hong Kong
HRW conducts research and advocacy on human rights.

OEC: Hong Kong
The Observatory of Economic Complexity provides the latest international trade data.

Reporters Without Borders: Hong Kong
RSF (Reporters sans frontières) is an international NGO that defends and promotes media freedom.

Wikipedia: Hong Kong
Wikipedia's Hong Kong page in many languages.

The CIA World Factbook -- Hong Kong
CIA World Factbook intelligence Hong Kong.

 

 



 
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Special Administrative Regions of China: Hong Kong | Macau | Tibet