Hong Kong: Difference between revisions

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	\|largest_city = ]		\|largest_city = ]
	\|government_type = ]\|leader_titles =]		\|government_type = ]\|leader_titles =]
	\|leader_names =]		\|leader_names =]
	\|area_rank =169th		\|area_rank =169th
	\|area_magnitude = 1 E10		\|area_magnitude = 1 E10
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	Geographically, Hong Kong is located at the eastern side of the ] on the southeastern coast of ], facing the ] in the south, and bordering the ] in the north. It has one of the world's most ] and is a major international centre of ] and ].		Geographically, Hong Kong is located at the eastern side of the ] on the southeastern coast of ], facing the ] in the south, and bordering the ] in the north. It has one of the world's most ] and is a major international centre of ] and ].

	Hong Kong was formerly a ], and was ] in 1997. As a special administrative region, Hong Kong is guaranteed by the ] to have a relatively high degree of ] for at least 50 years (until 2047) under the policy of "'']''". For instance, Hong Kong retains its own ], ], ], and ] laws. Furthermore, Hong Kong also maintains its own delegation in most international organizations, such as the ], and international sport events, such as the ], under the designation "''']'''". Also, while the ] in ] ], Hong Kong still maintains its own ], with traffic continuing to ]. Only the ]<!-- NOTE: "Defence" is commonwealth spelling. --> ~~and the ] of Hong Kong are the responsibilities of the ] in ].~~		Hong Kong was formerly a ], and was ] in 1997. As a special administrative region, Hong Kong is guaranteed by the ] to have a relatively high degree of ] for at least 50 years (until 2047) under the policy of "'']''". For instance, Hong Kong retains its own ], ], ], and ] laws. Furthermore, Hong Kong also maintains its own delegation in most international organizations, such as the ], and international sport events, such as the ], under the designation "''']'''". Also, while the ] in ] ], Hong Kong still maintains its own ], with traffic continuing to ]. Only the ]<!-- NOTE: "Defence" is commonwealth spelling-->

	It should be noted that, while the names of most cities of the PRC are ] into English by the ] ] scheme, the official English name of Hong Kong remains ''Hong Kong'', rather than'' Xiānggǎng''. See ] for details.

	==History==
	{{main\|History of Hong Kong}}

	Though Hong Kong has been inhabited since the ], the area now known as Hong Kong was an important trading region, and also a significant strategic location for the Chinese mainland during the ] and ] ] and the subsequent ] invasion. After that, the prominence of Hong Kong fell, and only began to attract the attention of China again and the rest of the world in the 19th century when it was ceded to ] after the ]. Hong Kong was first visited by a European in 1513, the ] ] ]. Álvares began trading with the Chinese, and the Portuguese continued to make periodic trade stops at various locations up and down the coast.
	], ], and other Asian ]s were introduced in Europe by the Portuguese, and by the mid-18th century, these items were in high demand, particularly tea. The British, challenging China's near monopoly on the tea industry, invaded China, winning the ] in 1841. During the war, ] was first occupied by the British, and was formally ceded by the ] of China in 1842 under the ].

	Hong Kong became a ] in 1843. ] south of ] and ] were ceded to the British in 1860 under the ] after the ]. Various adjacent lands, known as the ] (including ] and ]), were then ] by Britain for 99 years, beginning on ] ] and ending on ] ]. For the first twenty years there was little contact between the European and Chinese communities. The first specially recruited Hong Kong civil servants to be taught ] were recruited in 1862, markedly improving relations.

	] in ] with the raising of the ] and the ].]]

	Hong Kong entered a dark age during the ] of ], which lasted for three years and eight months. Many Hong Kong people were executed by the Japanese army during the war. The Japanese subsequently surrendered on ] ]. The port was quickly re-opened and welcomed a mass migration of Chinese ]s in 1949 from the ] and the new ] government in China.

	Hong Kong had been a trade port ever since the British occupation, but its position as an ] declined greatly after the ] ordered a trade embargo against the People's Republic of China as a result of the ]. In response, a ] industry was established, taking advantage of the new pool of workers from China who were willing to work for almost any wage. During this period, the economy grew extremely rapidly. Towards the 1970s, Hong Kong began to move away from the textile industry and develop its financial and banking economy. This led to even greater growth, and Hong Kong quickly became one of the wealthiest territories in the world. Its position as an entrepot was restrengthened since the ] was adopted in the PRC in the late 1970s under ].

	] with the colony's coat of arms.]]
	In the 1980s, with the lease on the New Territories running out, the British government of ] decided to negotiate the ]. Although the British would have been legally required to transfer only the New Territories to the PRC, Whitehall decided that maintaining a rump colony would not be worthwhile - the majority of Hong Kong's land was in the New Territories, and failure to return the entire colony would doubtless have generated political friction between the UK and PRC.

	]
	Pursuant to an agreement known as the ], signed by the ] and the ] on ] ], the whole territory of Hong Kong under British ] rule became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC on ] ]. In the Joint Declaration, the PRC promised that under the "]" policy proposed by ], the ] ] would not be practised in Hong Kong, and Hong Kong's previous ] and life-style would remain unchanged for at least 50 years, or until 2047. Hong Kong would enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except diplomatic affairs and national defence<!--defence is commonwealth spelling-->. Hong Kong was transferred to the PRC at the stroke of midnight on ] ], with the last governor, ] leaving on the ]. Soon after the handover in July, land values in Hong Kong collapsed substantially and expedited the burst of the ], as part of the ]. This was exacerbated by ]'s unsubstantiated pledge to supply 85,000 new flats annually; which essentially manipulated the region's real estate prices. In some areas, land values fell by over half; and the ] fell by over 1,500 points on ], losing 22.8% of its value in a week. Exacerbating the region's economic problems, Hong Kong was hit badly by the ] virus beginning in mid-March through the summer of 2003, especially in the effect that it had on travel to and from Hong Kong.

	On ] the same year, half a million people marched in the largest protest rally ever aimed at the government of Hong Kong, voicing concerns about a proposed anti-subversion bill that would have eroded freedom of the press, of religion and of association arising from ] of the Hong Kong Basic Law, as well as dissatisfaction with the poor state of the economy. ], then ], and ], then ], were forced to leave office in 2003 under public pressure (though Antony Leung left office for reason unrelated to the SARS and Article 23 crisis, he gave in to public pressure after his involvement in the ']' scandal).

	On ] ], Tung Chee Hwa submitted his ] as chief executive of Hong Kong. ], the ], served as Acting Chief Executive until ], when he, too, resigned from his post to take part in the campaign for the new Chief Executive election. Following an interim government headed by ], Tsang was eventually elected as Chief Executive.

	==Politics and government==
	<!-- Unsourced image removed: ] on the ].]] -->
	<!-- Unsourced image removed: ] in ].]] -->
	<!-- Unsourced image removed: ] -->
	], ] of Hong Kong]]
	{{main articles\|] and ]}}

	The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is headed by its ], the ]. This office is currently held by ], who was elected <ref></ref> on ] ]. Tsang had held the post of ] prior. Donald Tsang assumed his post on ] 2005 in ], China; he will finish the remaining portion of ]'s last term which ends on ] ], according to the interpretation of ] and ] by the ].

	The election of a new Chief Executive by the 800-member ] was expected to be held on ] ]. On ] ], ] was acclaimed the winner, as the only candidate securing the required 100 nominations from members of the election committee. Tung Chee Hwa, the first Chief Executive, assumed office on ] ], following his election by a 400-member ]. For the second five-year term of the Chief Executive which began in July 2002, Tung was the only nominated candidate and therefore acclaimed.
	] in ]]]
	The PRC set up a Provisional Legislative Council (PLC) just before the handover, and moved to Hong Kong to have its meetings after the handover. It reverted some laws passed by the original Legislative Council, which was formed by means of universal suffrage. The PLC passed some of its own laws, such as the Public Order Ordinance <ref></ref>, which required permission from police to hold a demonstration where the number of people who participates exceeds 30. ] ] were held on ] ], ] ], and again on ] ], with the next election scheduled for 2008. According to the ], Hong Kong's "mini-]", the present third term of the Legislative Council has 30 seats directly elected from geographical constituencies, and 30 seats elected from ]. The 1998, 2000 and ] Legislative Council elections were seen as free, open, and widely contested, despite discontent among mainly 'pro-democratic' politicians, who contended that the functional constituency elections and the Election Committee elections (for 1998 and 2000) were undemocratic, as they consider that the electorate for these seats is too narrow.

	The civil service of Hong Kong maintains its quality and neutrality, operating without discernible direction from ]. Many government and administrative operations are located in Central on Hong Kong Island near the historical location of ], the site of the original British settlements.

	The ] sparked debates in 1999, while the controversy over ] was the focus of politics in Hong Kong between 2002 and 2003, culminating in a peaceful mass demonstration (over 500,000 demonstrators) on ] ], after which the government still tried to pass the law to the Legislative Council. But one of the major pro-government parties refused to vote for passing the bill. Thus the government found that the bill could not be passed. So it shelved <ref></ref> the drafted law <ref></ref> brought forth by Article 23. The focus of controversies <ref></ref> shifted <ref></ref> to the issue <ref></ref> of ] towards the end of 2003 and in 2004, which was the slogan of another peaceful mass demonstration on 1 July 2004. {{seealso\|July 1 marches}}

	On ] ], twenty-five Hong Kong pro-democracy Legco members, some of whom were previously labelled as traitors by Beijing after the 1989 ] crackdown and barred from entering the mainland, crossed the border into the southern province of ], following an unprecedented invitation by the PRC <ref> - ]. Retrieved ], ].</ref>. The invitation was generally regarded as one of the greatest goodwill gestures from the PRC to the Hong Kong democrats since the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989.

	On ] ], a ] was organised by the ] and ] lawmakers to express concerns about the lack of a working timetable that will allow for universal suffrage in the 2007 and 2008 elections for the Chief Executive and the Legistlative Council respectively. The turnout was reported to be 63,000 by the police, and at least 250,000 by the organisers.

	On ] ], the ] of Hong Kong, Donald Tsang, faced a political challenge. The electoral reform of members of the Legislative Council and the Chief Executive in the future were voted down by the ].

	==Legal system and judiciary==
	<!-- Unsourced image removed: ] building located in ].]] -->
	{{main articles\|] and ]}}

	In contrast to mainland China's ] system, Hong Kong continues to follow the ] tradition established by British colonial rule. Article 84 of the ] allows Hong Kong's courts to refer to decisions (]) rendered by courts of foreign jurisdictions and to invite foreign judges to participate in proceedings of Hong Kong's ].

	Structurally, Hong Kong's court system consists of the ] which replaced the ], the ], which is made up of the ] and the ], and the ], which includes the ]. 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, which is responsible for classifying non-video pornography to be circulated in Hong Kong. Justices of the ] are appointed by Hong Kong's Chief Executive. The ] is subject to interpretation by the ] and this power has been invoked three times: the ], an interpretation regarding post-2008 election procedures, and an interpretation regarding the length of the term of the Chief Executive.

	As in ], ]s in Hong Kong are classified as ]s and ]s, where one can choose to practice as either one but not both (but it is possible to switch from one to the other). The vast majority of ]s are ]s who are licensed and regulated by ]. ], on the other hand, are licensed and regulated by the ]. Only ] are allowed to appear in the ] and the ]. Just as the ] is maintained, so are British courtroom customs such as the wearing of robes and wigs by both ] and ].

	==Geography==
	] (circa 2000). ()]]
	]{{main articles\|] and ]}}

	Hong Kong consists of ], ], and the ]. The ] is attached to the New Territories in the north, and the New Territories are in turn connected to ] across the ] (Shenzhen River). In total, Hong Kong has ] in the ], of which ] is the largest. Hong Kong Island itself is the second largest and also the most populated. ] is the most densely populated island in the world.

	The name "Hong Kong", literally meaning "fragrant harbour", is derived from the area around present-day ] and ] on Hong Kong Island, where fragrant trees were once abundant and widely exported. The body of water between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula is ], one of the deepest natural maritime ]s in the world. The landscape of Hong Kong is fairly hilly to mountainous with steep slopes. The highest point in the territory is ], at a height of 958 ]s (3,142 ]). Lowlands exist in the northwestern part of the New Territories.

	Hong Kong is 60 ]s (37 ]) east of ], on the opposite side of the ] and borders the ] of ] in ]. Of the territory's 1,102 ]s (425 ]) and nearly 7 million residents, less than 25% is developed; the remaining land is remarkably green and significant portions are reserved as ]s and ]s. This is because most live and work in high-rise buildings in the city and surrounding new towns.

	==Climate==
	] is ] and prone to ]s. It is cool and dry in the ]time which lasts from around January to March, and is hot, humid and ]y from ] through ]. It is warm, ]ny, and dry in ]. Hong Kong occasionally has ]s. The ecology of Hong Kong is mostly affected by the results of climatic changes. Hong Kong's climate is seasonal due to alternating wind direction between winter and summer. Hong Kong has been geologically stable for millions of years. However, flora and fauna in Hong Kong are altered by climatic change, sea level alternation and human impact. The highest recorded temperature<ref></ref> in Hong Kong is 40 degrees ] (104°]) while the lowest recorded temperature is 0°C (32°F). The average temperature in the coldest month, February, is 16°C (61°F) while the average temperature in the hottest month, July, is 28°C (82°F).

	Hong Kong's climate is ] but half of the year is temperate. The territory is situated south of the ] which is equatable to ] in ]. In winter, strong and cold winds generate from the north and cool the city; in the summer, the wind's direction reverses and brings the warm and humid air in from the south. This climate can support a ].

	==Administrative divisions==
	]
	{{main\|Districts of Hong Kong}}
	Hong Kong consists of 18 administrative districts:
	<br clear-all>
	# ]
	# ] (] and ])
	# ]
	# ]
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	# ]
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	# ] (], ] and ])
	# ]
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	There are several ] within Hong Kong, the largest of which include ], Victoria (]), ], and ]. These entities, however, are not granted any formal administrative status and are either administered as parts of districts (e.g. Sha Tin New Town) or divided up amongst districts (e.g. Tsuen Wan New Town and Kowloon).

	==Economy==
	]
	<!-- Unsourced image removed: ] -->
	<!-- Unsourced image removed: ] -->
	{{main articles\|] and ]}}

	Hong Kong has one of the least restricted economies in the world and is basically ]. It is the world's 10th largest <ref></ref> trading entity and 11th largest <ref></ref> ]. The dominant presence of international trade is reflected in the number of ]s located in the territory: ], Hong Kong had 107 consulates and consulates-general, more than any other city in the world. Even ], host of the ], only has 93 consulates.

	The objective of Hong Kong's monetary policy is to maintain currency stability. Given the highly externally oriented nature of the economy, this objective was further defined as a stable external value for the ] in terms of a linked ] against the US dollar at the rate of HK$7.80 to one ] until 2005, when it was allowed to trade within a band of HK$7.75-$7.85.

	Hong Kong has limited ], and most ] and raw materials must be imported. In fact, ]s and ]s (including re-exports) exceed the ] of Hong Kong. Hong Kong has extensive trade and investment ties with the ] which existed even before the ] on ] ]. These ties and its autonomous status enable it to be the middleman between the ] on ] and the mainland. Flights, investment, and trade from Taiwan go through Hong Kong to get to the mainland. The ] represented 86.5 % <ref></ref> of the GDP in 2001. The territory, with a highly sophisticated banking sector and good communication links, hosts the ]n headquarters of many ]s.

	At ] 24,080 <ref></ref> in 2004, the nominal ] GDP of Hong Kong is somewhat lower than that of the four big economies of ]. However, it would be ] in terms of per capita GDP (]) in the world (USD 32,292), which is even higher than ] (USD 31,384), making Hong Kong one of the richest territorial regions in Asia.

	Growth averaged a strong 8.9% per annum in real terms in the 1970s and 7.2% p.a. in the 1980s. As the economy shifted to services (manufacturing currently accounts for just 4% of GDP), growth slowed to 2.7% p.a. in the 1990s, including a 5.3% decline in 1998, due to the ] impact on demand in the region. Growth since 2000 has averaged 5.2% p.a. amid strong deflation.

	The economy rebounded rapidly, growing by 10 % in 2000. A world-wide global downturn and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak reduced economic growth to 2.3 % in 2002. Thereafter, a boom in tourism from the mainland because of China's easing of travel restrictions, a return of consumer confidence, and a solid rise in exports resulted in the resumption of strong growth in late 2003 and 2004, with growth averaging 6.5% in the first half of 2005.

	To further increase economic co-operation between Hong Kong and the mainland, the ] was started on ] ], which allows travellers from some cities in mainland China to visit Hong Kong without an accompanying tour group. As a result, the ] is booming due to an exponential increase in the number of visitors from mainland China. The upsurge is also boosted by the recent opening of ].

	A revival in both external and domestic demand led to a strong upswing in growth in 2004, surging to 8.2 % for the year. The domestic sector completely shrugged off its earlier sluggishness, and the general weakness of the Hong Kong dollar, when included with the still modest cost and price pressures in Hong Kong, has resulted in a strengthening in Hong Kong's external price competitiveness. In addition, Hong Kong's 68-month-long ] spiral, the longest and highest deflation <ref></ref> according to ], ended in mid-2004, with consumer price ] hovering at near zero levels.

	Along with ], ] and ], Hong Kong's fast-paced industrialisation earned it a place as one of the four original ].

	==Demographics==
	] where colourful ]s intersperse throughout the pavement.]]
	], where retail outlets are concentrated]]
	{{main\|Demographics of Hong Kong}}

	The population of Hong Kong increased markedly during the 1990s, reaching 6.86 million in 2005. About 96 % of Hong Kong's population is Chinese, the majority of which are ]. Groups such as the ] and ] are also substantial. Used in government matters, ] is spoken by most of the local Chinese population at home and in the office, although ] is also widely understood and spoken by more than one-third of the population. Since the Handover, a new group of immigrants from ] have increased the ethnic diversity of the Chinese population and enhanced the development of Mandarin in the territory.

	The remaining 4 % of the population is composed of non-Chinese, who form a highly visible group, despite their small numbers.

	Among these is a significant ] population, which includes some of Hong Kong's wealthiest families. Some ]is residing in Hong Kong are ]s, who chose to stay after their service to Britain, and their descendants. More than 15,000 ]ese, who came to Hong Kong as ]s, have become permanent residents, the majority of whom survive on casual work. Around 140,000 ] work in Hong Kong as domestic helpers and housekeepers, often known locally as '']s'', or ''feiyungs'', with other such workers coming from Thailand and Indonesia. On Sundays and public holidays, thousands of these workers, the majority of whom are women, gather in ] to socialise. There are also a number of ]ans, ]ns, ]ese, and ]ns, largely working in Hong Kong's financial sector.
	The top three sources of migration to Hong Kong are the ] (132,770), ] (95,460), and the ] (31,330).

	Hong Kong is the fifth largest ] of the ]. Considered as a dependency, Hong Kong is one of the ], with an overall density of more than 6,200 people per km². Hong Kong has a ] of .94 children per woman <ref></ref>, one of the lowest in the world, and far below the 2.1 children per woman required to maintain an even population level. However, population is continuously growing due to immigration of about 45,000 people per year from mainland China.

	Despite its population density, Hong Kong was reported <ref></ref> to be one of the greenest cities in Asia. The majority of people live in ] in ]. The rest of the open spaces are often covered with parks, woods and shrubs. About 60 % of the land <ref></ref> is designated as ]s and ]s. ] and ] are popular outdoor activities in Hong Kong's hilly country parks. The irregular and long ]line of Hong Kong also provides many bays and fine ]es for its inhabitants. Environmental concern and awareness is growing, however, as Hong Kong also ranks as one of the most (air-)polluted cities in the world. Estimates are that 70-80% of the city's air pollution comes from other parts of the ].

	==Education==
	<!-- Unsourced image removed: ] building located in ].]] -->
	] building located in ].]]
	{{main\|Education in Hong Kong}}, see also ]

	A former ] colony, Hong Kong's ] system is roughly based upon ], and in particular, the ].

	At the higher education levels, both British and American systems exist. In particular, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology was established on the American model of higher education. This ""Chinese University of Hong Kong"" follows more the American model with a characteristic British College system. There are eight public universities in Hong Kong, and a number of private higher institutions.

	Hong Kong's public schools are operated by the ].

	The system features a non-compulsory three-year ], followed by a compulsory six-year primary education, three-year junior ]; a non-compulsory two-year senior secondary education leading to the ]s and a two-year ] course leading to the ]s. A new “3+3+4” senior secondary curriculum, consisting of a three-year junior secondary, three-year senior secondary and four-year undergraduate academic system, will be implemented from 2009 onwards. There are also ] offering various Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees, other ]s, and ] courses.

	In general, three types of comprehensive schools exist in Hong Kong. There are government schools, which are relatively rare; and subsidised schools (government-aided schools, grant schools), run by charitable (often ], but ], ], ]ic and ] as well) organisations with government funding, to which most students go. Most ]s are run by Christian organisations as well; where admissions are based more on academic merit than on financial resources. Outside this system are the schools under the ] (DSS) and private ]s such as the internationally renowned ], which provide an alternative to the high-pressured mainstream education (such as ]) in exchange for much higher tuition fees.

	==Culture==
	] flower is a symbol of Hong Kong. This is the ] in the heart of highly-] ], with the skyscrapers in the background.]]
	] and jetty where one can catch a ] to the floating restaurant.]]
	]
	{{main\|Culture of Hong Kong}}

	Hong Kong is often described as a city where East meets West. This is reflected in all aspects of the culture, but especially in its ], ], and ].

	A popular destination for shoppers from around the world, Hong Kong has everything to offer from the latest European fashion to traditional Chinese wares. Malls, department stores, and designer boutiques offer an amazing contrast to the bustling open-air ] and ] shopping areas. Every district in Hong Kong has old-fashioned stores that sell ]. The largest concentration of these shops is along ] and ] in ], where all types of pills, plants, and dried animals are for sale.

	Hong Kong has an active nightlife centred around two major entertainment districts, ] (Central) and ]. Both areas are frequented by expats and locals alike. For a more quiet evening, a trip to ] offers a spectacular view of the city. There is also a promenade along the ] waterfront, which is popular among young Chinese couples. Shopping, a form of entertainment for the people of Hong Kong, is even done at nightime as evident in the ].

	The city's cosmopolitan flavour can also be seen in the wide variety of cuisines available. While different varieties of Chinese selections, especially seafood, are most popular, there also many European, American, Japanese, Korean, and other restaurants. Ethnic dishes served in '']'' and '']'' are also popular. The people of Hong Kong take their food seriously and many top chefs make their way to the city to show off their talents to these discriminating diners.

	Entertainment and the performing arts also reflect Hong Kong's blend of the Chinese and the Western. The ] and the "]" music industry scramble together both influences and have long been enormously successful locally and internationally, with star performers as ubiquitous icons. Many of these come out of the dramatic and ] programs on local ], which has been a major presence since 1967. All three of these industries export entertainment to Chinese-speaking communities around the world. Western-style ] and various forms of traditional ] co-exist on local stages.

	The world famous ], now known as the Circus Capital Stanley Dragon Boat Championships, is a ] of community that is televised globally.

	==Religion==
	] in ]]]
	<!-- Unsourced image removed: ] in ]]] -->
	{{main\|Religion in Hong Kong}}
	Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of religious freedom, a right enshrined and protected through its constitutional document, the Basic Law. The majority of Hong Kong's population practices ] due to the strong ] influence. A sizable ] community of around 500,000 exists, forming about 10% of the total population; roughly equally divided between ]s and ]s. There are also followers of ] or ]. There are also estimated 70,000 ]s, between 2,000 and 3,000 ]s, and a few ]s; ]s and ]s are also represented. Apart from offering religious instructions, many major religious bodies have established schools and provided ] facilities.

	Hong Kong's religious beliefs are tied to the region's early role as a ] community. ], the protector of seafarers, has been honoured with several ] throughout Hong Kong for at least 300 years. ], another protector of seafarers, has also been honoured for centuries<!-- how many centuries? rather unclear... -->. Hong Kongers, especially elder generations, go to Taoist or Buddhist temples to appease the deities and, usually, to ask for compassion or good fortune. Gifts of ], and in particular ], are presented, and ] and ] offerings are burnt in respect.

	With the transfer of Hong Kong to the PRC, there was significant concerns over ] in Hong Kong. So far, this has proved mostly unfounded - despite the banning of the ] movement by ] in 1999, adherents are still free to practice in Hong Kong. Similarly, the ] is free to appoint its own bishops in Hong Kong, unlike on mainland China, where the only approved 'Catholic' institution is the ], which bishops and priests are appointed by Beijing (though there is also an unofficial and illegal part of the Catholic church that maintains contact with the Vatican). A significant issue in the normalisation of ties between the PRC and the ] is Beijing's insistence that the Vatican drops its diplomatic ties with the ].

	Although freedom of religion remains true in Hong Kong, it remains a volatile issue for many, as any threat will have lasting implications for the perceived freedoms in Hong Kong.

	]
	==Architecture==

	Due to the ] so endemic to Hong Kong over the past 50 years, few historical buildings remain in Hong Kong. Instead the city has become a centre for ], especially in and around ]. The tall business buildings of Central comprise the skyline along the coast of the ], which is one of Hong Kong's famous tourist attractions. In ], which once included the anarchistic settlement called the ], strict height restrictions were in force until ] closed in 1998, but these restrictions have now been lifted, and several new skyscrapers in Kowloon are being planned.

	Hong Kong's best-known building is arguably ]'s ], completed in 1990 and now Hong Kong's third tallest skyscraper. The building attracted heated controversy from the start, as its sharp angles were said to cast negative ] energy into the heart of Hong Kong. Predating the Bank of China Tower, another well-known structure is the ], finished in 1985. This building is featured on many of ]s. It was built on the site of Hong Kong's first skyscraper, which was finished in 1935 and was the subject of a bitter heritage ] struggle in the late 1970s. The tallest building in Hong Kong is ].

	One of the largest construction projects in Hong Kong and the world was the new ] on ] near ], a huge land reclamation project linked to the centre of Hong Kong by the ], which features three new major ]s: the world's ] ], ], the world's longest ] carrying both road and railway traffic, ], and the world's first major 4-span cable-stayed bridge, ].

	==Transport==
	].]]
	]
	{{main\|Transport in Hong Kong}}

	Hong Kong has a highly developed and sophisticated ] network, encompassing both ] and private transport. The ] stored value ] payment system can be used to pay for fares on almost all railways, buses and ferries in Hong Kong. The Octopus card uses RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) to allow users to scan their card without taking it out of their wallet or bag. All ]s in Hong Kong only accept payment by Octopus card, and Octopus card payment can be made at various carparks.

	Hong Kong Island is dominated by steep, hilly terrain, which required the development of unusual methods of transport up and down the slopes. In ] there is an extensive system of ]s and ]s, including the longest outdoor covered elevator system in the world, the ].

	Hong Kong has several different modes of public rail transport. The two ] systems for the city are the ] and ] (KCR also operates a ] system in northwest New Territories), which are operated by the ] and the ] respectively. The ] covers the northern parts of Hong Kong Island and is the only ] system in the world run exclusively with ]s.

	Five separate companies operate franchised public ] services in Hong Kong. Double-decker buses were introduced to Hong Kong in 1949. They are now used almost exclusively in Hong Kong just as in ] and ]. However, single-decker buses remain in use for routes with lower demand or roads with lower carrying capacity and are used exclusively in South Lantau. Most normal franchised bus routes in Hong Kong operate until 1am in the morning. ] run the length and breadth of Hong Kong, through areas where standard bus lines cannot reach or do not reach as frequently, quickly, or directly. ]s are also widely used throughout Hong Kong. 99% of taxis in Hong Kong run on liquefied petroleum gas; the rest are still diesel operated.

	Most ferry services are provided by licensed ferry operators, which serve ], new towns, and inner-]. The two routes operated by the ], operating for over 100 years, are franchised. Additionally, 78 "]" ferries are licensed to serve remote coastal settlements.

	Hong Kong has one active ], known as ] located at ]. This replaced the famous airport of ] located in Kai Tak, Kowloon in 1998. After dreadful delays in the cargo systems in the first few months, the airport now serves as a transport hub for ], and as the hub for ], ], ] and ]. Additionally, both Hong Kong International Airport and ] have been voted best in the world, in the airport and airline criteria respectively, by ] from 2001 to 2005. ] served more than 36 million passengers in the year ], and increased to over 40 million passengers in ].

	Access to the airport includes 'Airport Express', 'CityFlyers' and 'Airbuses', These services connect the airport to the rest of Hong Kong. The Airport Express zooms passengers to ] on Hong Kong Island in just 23 minutes. Recent opening of ] of the ] allows easy access to the Disneyland Resort.

	==Military==
	] of the ] entering Hong Kong for the first time in 1997.]]
	{{main\|Military of Hong Kong}}

	The PRC ] (CPG) assumed sovereignty over Hong Kong on ] ] and stationed a ] of the ] (PLA) to manage its defence affairs. Although the garrison has no military significance, the stationing of the PLA troops in the region is a significant symbol of the PRC government's resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong.

	According to the ], military forces stationed in Hong Kong shall not interfere with local affairs; Hong Kong government shall remain responsible for the maintenance of public order. The Hong Kong Garrison, composed of ], ], and ]s, is under the command of the Chinese ]. The garrison subsequently opened the barracks on ] and ] to the public to promote understanding and trust between the troops and residents.

	Under British rule, ethnic Chinese Hongkongers were allowed to join the ]. However, since the handover in 1997, they are no longer allowed to join the PLA.

	==International rankings==
	* ]/]: , not ranked out of 62 countries
	* ]/]: ], ranked 1st out of 155 countries, for 11 years in a row.
	* ]: , ranked 2nd out of 60 economies (countries and regions)
	* ]: , ranked 34th out of 167 countries
	* ]: , not ranked out of 110 countries
	* ]: , ranked 1st out of all cities of the world
	* ]: , ranked 18th out of 111 countries
	* ]: , ranked 16th out of 146 countries
	* ]: , ranked 21st out of 104 countries

	==References==
	* ''A Borrowed Place: The History of Hong Kong''. Frank Welsh. Kodansha America. ] ]. 624 pages. ISBN 1568360029.
	* ''Mathematical Modelling of Hong Kong Political and Economical Development''. Derek Lam. Guangzhou Academic Press. ] ]. 23 pages. ISBN 9384263349.
	* ''Hong Kong's History: State and Society Under Colonial Rule (Asia's Transformations)''. Tak-Wing Ngo. Routledge. ] ]. 205 pages. ISBN 0415208688.
	* ''The Cinema of Hong Kong: History, Arts, Identity''. Poshek Fu, David Deser. ]. ] ]. 346 pages. ISBN 0521776023.
	* ''A Modern History of Hong Kong''. Steve Tsang. ]. ] ]. 356 pages. ISBN 1860641849.
	* ''An Outline History of Hong Kong''. Liu Shuyong. 291 pages. ISBN 7119019465.
	* ''Forts and Pirates - A History of Hong Kong''. Hong Kong History Society. Hyperion Books. December 1990. ISBN 9627489018.

	==Footnotes==
	<references />

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	==External links==
	{{Spoken Misplaced Pages\|En-Hong Kong.ogg\|2005-08-30}}
	{{portal}}
	{{sisterlinks\|Hong Kong}}
	* {{wikicities\|hongkong\|Hong Kong}}
	* {{wikitravel\|Hong Kong}}

	===Government===
	<!-- Misplaced Pages is not a web directory. This is not the place for personal sites, commercial advertisements or communities requiring membership/subscriptions. -->
	* - official HKSARG site
	* - official district councils site
	* - quick facts about Hong Kong
	* - site of the legislative body
	* - official site of the Hong Kong Tourism Board

	===Newspapers and media===
	<!-- Misplaced Pages is not a web directory. This is not the place for personal sites, commercial advertisements or communities requiring membership/subscriptions. -->
	*
	* - public broadcaster
	* - English-language newspaper
	* - English-language business newspaper

	===Maps===
	<!-- Misplaced Pages is not a web directory. This is not the place for personal sites, commercial advertisements or communities requiring membership/subscriptions. -->
	*
	* - integrating CentaMap and Hong Kong Google map
	* - combining Google satellite maps with CentaMap

	===Photos===
	<!-- Misplaced Pages is not a web directory. This is not the place for personal sites, commercial advertisements or communities requiring membership/subscriptions. -->
	* - Photos from Hong Kong and Asia
	* - photos tagged with Hong Kong
	* - gallery of Hong Kong photos

	===Guides and directories===
	<!-- Misplaced Pages is not a web directory. This is not the place for personal sites, commercial advertisements or communities requiring membership/subscriptions. -->
	* - directory of banks
	* - guide to restaurants
	* - magazine for expats
	* - expat guide
	* - about Hong Kong's countryside
	* - search directory
	* - search directory for Hong Kong Shops
	* - about the classical music scene in Hong Kong

	{{Hong Kong Topics}}
	{{Provinces of China}}
	<br/ >
	{{East Asia}}
	<br/ >
	{{Asia}}

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Revision as of 13:39, 28 April 2006

中華人民共和國香港特別行政區 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
Flag Emblem
Motto: none
Anthem: March of the Volunteers

Capital	Central and Western District
Largest Most populated district	Sha Tin District
Official languages	Chinese and English
Government	Special Administrative Region
Establishment - occupied by the UK - as a crown colony of the UK - as an SAR of the PR China
• Water (%)	4.6
Population
• 2005 estimate	7,012,738 (97th)
GDP (PPP)	2005 estimate
• Total	$254.2 billion (38th)
• Per capita	$36,800 (8th)
HDI (2003)	0.916 very high (22nd)
Currency	Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
Time zone	UTC+8 (HKT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC- (-)
Calling code	852
ISO 3166 code	HK
Internet TLD	.hk
This is the national anthem of the PR China, which is used statewide. This is the district where Government Headquarters is located. Cantonese is primarily spoken, but Mandarin (Putonghua) is also used. 01 from Macau

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (Chinese: 中華人民共和國香港特別行政區 ) is one of the two special administrative regions (SAR) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), together with Macau. It is commonly known as Hong Kong (Chinese: 香港), which is often spelled as Hongkong in some older English-language texts.

Geographically, Hong Kong is located at the eastern side of the Pearl River Delta on the southeastern coast of China, facing the South China Sea in the south, and bordering the Guangdong Province in the north. It has one of the world's most liberal economies and is a major international centre of finance and trade.

Hong Kong was formerly a British colony, and was handed over to the PRC in 1997. As a special administrative region, Hong Kong is guaranteed by the Basic Law to have a relatively high degree of autonomy for at least 50 years (until 2047) under the policy of "One Country, Two Systems". For instance, Hong Kong retains its own legal system, currency, customs policy, and immigration laws. Furthermore, Hong Kong also maintains its own delegation in most international organizations, such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and international sport events, such as the Olympic Games, under the designation "Hong Kong, China". Also, while the traffic in mainland China drives on the right, Hong Kong still maintains its own road rules, with traffic continuing to drive on the left. Only the defence