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Background Note: Hong Kong
PROFILE
OFFICIAL NAME:
Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region
Geography
Area: 1,104 sq. km.; Hong Kong comprises Hong Kong Island,
Kowloon, the New Territories, and numerous small islands.
Terrain: Hilly to mountainous, with steep slopes and natural
harbor.
Climate: Tropical monsoon. Cool and humid in winter, hot and
rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall.
People
Population (2006): 6.9 million.
Population growth rate (2006): 0.9%.
Ethnic groups: Chinese 95%; other 5%.
Religions: About 43% participate in some form of religious
practice. Christian, about 9.6%.
Languages: Cantonese (a dialect of Chinese) and English are
official.
Education: Literacy--92% (95% male, 88% female).
Health (2006): Infant mortality rate--1.8/1,000. Life
expectancy--82.6 yrs. (overall); 79.5 yrs. males, 85.6 yrs.
females.
Work force (2006): 3.6 million. Wholesale, retail, and
import/export trades and restaurants and hotels--28.9%;
finance, insurance, real estate, and business services--13.3%;
manufacturing--4.4%.
Government
Type: Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, with its own
constitution (the Basic Law).
Branches: Executive--Administration: Chief Executive
selected in March 2007; Executive Council, serving in an
advisory role for the Chief Executive. Legislative--Legislative
Council elected in September 2004. Judicial--Court of
Final Appeal is highest court, other lower courts.
Subdivisions: Hong Kong, Kowloon, New Territories.
Suffrage: Permanent residents, at 18 years or over, living in
Hong Kong for the past 7 years are eligible to vote.
Economy (2006)
GDP (2006): $188.8 billion.
GDP real growth rate (2006): 6.8%.
Per capita GDP (2006): $27,527.
Natural resources: Outstanding deepwater harbor.
Industry: Types--textiles, clothing, electronics,
plastics, toys, watches, clocks.
Trade: Exports--$315.5 billion: clothing, electronics,
textiles, watches and clocks, office machinery. Imports--$333.3
billion: consumer goods, raw materials and semi-manufactures,
capital goods, foodstuffs, fuels.
PEOPLE
Hong Kong's population has increased steadily over the past
decade, reaching about 6.9 million by 2006. Hong Kong is one of
the most densely populated areas in the world, with an overall
density of some 6,250 people per square kilometer. Cantonese,
the official Chinese language in Hong Kong, is spoken by most of
the population. English, also an official language, is widely
understood. It is spoken by more than one-third of the
population. Every major religion is practiced freely in Hong
Kong. All children are required by law to be in full-time
education between the ages of 6 and 15. Preschool education for
most children begins at age 3. Primary school begins normally at
the age of 6 and lasts for 6 years. At about age 12, children
progress to a 3-year course of junior secondary education. Most
stay on for a 2-year senior secondary course, while others join
full-time vocational training. More than 90% of children
complete upper secondary education or equivalent vocational
education.
HISTORY
On July 1, 1997, China resumed the exercise of
sovereignty over Hong Kong, ending more than 150 years of
British colonial rule. Hong Kong is a Special Administrative
Region of the People's Republic of China with a degree of
autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs.
According to the Sino-British Joint Declaration (1984) and the
Basic Law, Hong Kong will retain its political, economic, and
judicial systems and unique way of life for 50 years after
reversion and will continue to participate in international
agreements and organizations under the name, "Hong Kong, China."
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