[155][156] About 40 per cent of the remaining land area are country parks and nature reserves. [176] The Ping Shan Heritage Trail has architectural examples of several imperial Chinese dynasties, including the Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda (Hong Kong's only remaining pagoda). [208][209] 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. [167] Single-family detached homes are extremely rare and generally only found in outlying areas. The largest ethnic minority groups are Filipinos (4%), Indonesians (2.4%), and White people (2.4%). [146][147], In 2020, in a period of large-scale protests, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress passed the controversial Hong Kong national security law. The protests are the largest in Hong Kong history,[88] with organisers claiming to have attracted more than one million Hong Kong residents. [188], 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. Following the Second World War, Christmas Island came under the jurisdiction of the new British Colony of Singapore. [68] Hong Kong became the first of the Four Asian Tiger economies to industrialise during the 1950s. [312] Pay TV services operated by Cable TV Hong Kong and PCCW offer hundreds of additional channels and cater to a variety of audiences. Portugal acquired a permanent lease for Macau in 1557. [125][126][127] The regional government maintains trade offices in Greater China and other nations. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. [74] The impending transfer triggered a wave of mass emigration as residents feared an erosion of civil rights, the rule of law, and quality of life. Hong Kong wealth gap hits record high", "Veterans who fled mainland for Hong Kong in 1970s tell their stories", "Hong Kong's heritage sites face continued threat despite government grading system", "Another Hong Kong election, another pro-Beijing leader—why it matters", "These 25 countries have the most billionaires", "Asian Cup: Know Your History – Part One (1956–1988)", "Hong Kong Activists Stare Down 'Great Firewall of China, "Here Be Dragons: How Feng Shui Shapes the Skyline of Hong Kong", "Hong Kong during World War II: A Transnational Battlefield", "Hong Kong's Stock Market Tells the Story of China's Growing Dominance", "Meanings of Right of Abode and Other Terms", World Bank Summary Trade Statistics Hong Kong, claimed by the People's Republic of China, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, Special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China, Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hong_Kong&oldid=992999459, Chinese-speaking countries and territories, English-speaking countries and territories, States and territories established in 1997, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages, All Wikipedia articles written in Hong Kong English, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Chinese-language text, All articles with links needing disambiguation, Articles with links needing disambiguation from December 2020, Articles containing potentially dated statements from December 2018, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Pages using multiple image with manual scaled images, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz area identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Officially the Republic of China, participates as ", This page was last edited on 8 December 2020, at 06:52. By the early 1990s, Hong Kong had established itself as a global financial centre and shipping hub. With limited tourists due to the closure of borders, now is the time to visit this beast of wisdom and inspiration. [201], Hong Kong is the tenth-largest trading entity in exports and imports (2017), trading more goods in value than its gross domestic product. Although the traders were expelled after military clashes in the 1520s,[52] Portuguese-Chinese trade relations were re-established by 1549. [235] Highways, organised with the Hong Kong Strategic Route and Exit Number System, connect all major areas of the territory. [22][23] Over half of its cargo throughput consists of transshipments (goods travelling through Hong Kong). [43] As hinted by the archaeological works in Sha Ha, Sai Kung, rice cultivation had been introduced since Late Neolithic period. Hong Kong Island is connected to the Kowloon Peninsula on the mainland by two road-only tunnels (the Cross-Harbour Tunnel and the Western Harbour Crossing), two MTR railway tunnels (Tsuen Wan line and Tung Chung line/Airport Express) and one combined road and MTR rail link tunnel (Eastern Harbour Tunnel, containing the Tseung Kwan O line and road traffic in separate parallel conduits). [83] Discrepancies in the electoral registry and disqualification of elected legislators after the 2016 Legislative Council elections[84][85][86] and enforcement of national law in the West Kowloon high-speed railway station raised further concerns about the region's autonomy. Bigger than Hong Kong Island, Lantau Island has some of Hong Kong’s biggest and best sights. Post-handover administrations continued and expanded these programmes, including export-credit guarantees, a compulsory pension scheme, a minimum wage, anti-discrimination laws, and a state mortgage backer. This electoral arrangement has guaranteed a pro-establishment majority in the legislature since the transfer of sovereignty. [180][181][182] The remaining eight per cent are non-ethnic Chinese minorities, primarily Filipinos, Indonesians, and South Asians. In the 1930s, the British anticipated a Japanese attack on Hong Kong. The State Council (led by the Premier of China) appoints the Chief Executive after nomination by the Election Committee, which is composed of 1,200 business, community, and government leaders. The Governor of Hong Kong, Mark Young, surrendered in person at the temporary Japanese headquarters, on the third floor of the Peninsula Hotel, thus beginning the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong. Rice is the staple food, and is usually served plain with other dishes. [205] Agricultural activity is 0.1% of GDP, and consists of growing premium food and flower varieties. [269] Freshness of ingredients is emphasised. Meanwhile, the population of Canada is ~37.7 million people (30.4 million fewer people live in Hong Kong). Local publications are often politically affiliated, with pro-Beijing or pro-democracy sympathies. Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of Hong Kong. [56], In 1839, the Daoguang Emperor rejected proposals to legalise and tax opium and ordered imperial commissioner Lin Zexu to eradicate the opium trade. [47] During the Mongol conquest of China in the 13th century, the Southern Song court was briefly located in modern-day Kowloon City (the Sung Wong Toi site) before its final defeat in the 1279 Battle of Yamen. [289], Education in Hong Kong is largely modelled after that of the United Kingdom, particularly the English system. Travelling by train to Tung Chung, and with the cable car out of service for maintenance just 24 hrs before my trip, I changed transportation to a coach service at Tung Chung station to reach the Po Lin Monastery and then Big Buddha. Dishes include congee, cha siu bao, siu yuk, egg tarts, and mango pudding. [122] 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. [225], The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is an extensive passenger rail network, connecting 93 metro stations throughout the territory. Hong Kong has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa), characteristic of southern China, despite being located south of the Tropic of Cancer. China-side and Kowloon Walled City-side), the sole remnant of which is "Kowloon side" when indicating the two sides of the harbour. [40][41], Earliest known human traces in Hong Kong are dated by some to 35,000 and 39,000 years ago during the Paleolithic period. It is estimated that at during the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the island already had commercial activity. It makes up approximately 7% of the total territory. [6], 80.2% of Hong Kong Island's residents use Cantonese as their usual language, while 8% use English and 1.9% use Mandarin.[6]. British, Canadian, Indian armies and the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Forces resisted the Japanese invasion commanded by Sakai Takashi, which began eight hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Visiting The Big Buddha in Hong Kong is a real bucket list adventure for kids and families. [218] Hong Kong is a gateway for foreign direct investment in China, giving investors open access to mainland Chinese markets through direct links with the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges. [114], The territory's jurisdictional independence is most apparent in its immigration and taxation policies. Hong Kong's political and judicial systems may be integrated with China's at that time, or the territory may continue to be administered separately. [19], Immediately after the transfer, Hong Kong was severely affected by several crises. [244], The Peak Tram, Hong Kong's first public transport system, has provided funicular rail transport between Central and Victoria Peak since 1888. [290] Three forms of gambling are legal in Hong Kong: lotteries and betting on horse racing and football. The name translates as "fragrant harbour" or "incense harbour". [124] The territory actively participates in the World Trade Organization, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, the International Olympic Committee, and many United Nations agencies. [154], Undeveloped terrain is hilly to mountainous, with very little flat land, and consists mostly of grassland, woodland, shrubland, or farmland. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km2,[1] as of 2008[update]. [59], Administrative infrastructure was quickly built by early 1842, but piracy, disease, and hostile Qing policies initially prevented the government from attracting commerce. English and Scottish forces and the Canadian Winnipeg Grenadiers vigorously defended the crucial point of Wong Nai Chung Gap, and for a while successfully secured the passage between Central and the secluded southern parts of the island. Hong Kong Island is the second-largest island of the territory, the largest being Lantau Island. [21] It is the world's tenth-largest exporter and ninth-largest importer. Hong Kong Island comprises the following suburbs/localities of Hong Kong: Hong Kong Island is not part of the Islands District. [80], Political debates after the transfer of sovereignty have centred around the region's democratic development and the central government's adherence to the "one country, two systems" principle. The Central area on the island is the historical, political and economic centre of Hong Kong. Hong Kong averages 1,709 hours of sunshine per year;[161] the highest and lowest recorded temperatures at the Hong Kong Observatory are 36.6 °C (97.9 °F) on 22 August 2017 and 0.0 °C (32.0 °F) on 18 January 1893. [198] It is the world's 35th-largest economy, with a nominal GDP of approximately US$373 billion. [44] Bronze Age Hong Kong was featured with coarse pottery, hard pottery, quartz and stone jewelry, as well as small bronze implements. [172] However, many examples of European and Lingnan architecture are still found throughout the territory. The sector generates 92.7 per cent of economic output, with the public sector accounting for about 10 per cent. [301] Along with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and City University of Hong Kong, these universities are ranked among the best in Asia. As Wan Chai Gap had also fallen that same day, the British had no choice but to surrender. [36] Sir John Davis (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 Island line and South Island line run exclusively on Hong Kong Island, with the Island line serving the north shore at 17 stations, and the South Island line connecting four stations on Ap Lei Chau and in Wong Chuk Hang to the north shore at Admiralty station. The mountain ranges across the island are also famous for hiking. The original Chinese settlement on this harbour was named Hong Kong, and when British seafarers landed here in the 19th century they mistook the name of the village for the name of the entire island. After the sixth year of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD 331), it belonged to Baoan County (寶安縣)). [67], Its population rebounded quickly after the war, as skilled Chinese migrants fled from the Chinese Civil War, and more refugees crossed the border when the Communist Party took control of mainland China in 1949. The claim is based on an archaeological investigation in Wong Tei Tung, Sai Kung in 2003. [311] Access to media and information over the Internet is not subject to mainland Chinese regulations, including the Great Firewall. Rapid economic improvement during the 1850s attracted foreign investment, as potential stakeholders became more confident in Hong Kong's future. From country estates to city apartments, your ideal property is just a click away. Hong Kong has a total area of 1,108 km 2 (428 sq mi), of which 3.16% is water. [185] 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. It covers about a fifth of the whole island. [32][33][36] "Fragrant" may refer to the sweet taste of the harbour's freshwater influx from the Pearl River or to the odour from incense factories lining the coast of northern Kowloon. [211][212] The Closer Partnership Economic Arrangement formalised a policy of free trade between the two areas, with each jurisdiction pledging to remove remaining obstacles to trade and cross-boundary investment. [148] The law criminalises acts that were previously considered protected speech under Hong Kong law and establishes the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the CPG in the HKSAR, an investigative office under Central People's Government authority immune from HKSAR jurisdiction. [43] Neolithic to Bronze Age Hong Kong settlers were semi-coastal people. The New Territories account for the rest of the area—more than 90 percent of the total. [297][298], 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. Hong Kong Island and its adjacent islets have an area of only about 31 square miles (81 square km), while urban Kowloon, which includes the Kowloon Peninsula south of Boundary Street, and Stonecutters Island measure about 18 square miles (47 square km). After reversal of the last colonial era Legislative Council democratic reforms following the handover,[81] the regional government unsuccessfully attempted to enact national security legislation pursuant to Article 23 of the Basic Law. [104], Twenty-two political parties had representatives elected to the Legislative Council in the 2016 election. 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