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{{Short description|Special administrative region of China}}
<!--Note: Commonwealth spelling is used in this article-->{{featured article}}
{{Redirect|HK||Hong Kong (disambiguation)|and|HK (disambiguation)}}
{{otheruses4}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{Infobox Country or territory
{{pp-move}}
|native_name = 香港特別行政區
{{Good article}}
|conventional_long_name = Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
{{Use Hong Kong English|date = April 2022}}
|common_name = Hong Kong
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
|image_flag = Flag_of_Hong_Kong.svg
{{Infobox political division
|image_coat = Hong Kong SAR Regional Emblem.svg
| name = Hong Kong
|symbol_type = Emblem
| native_name = 香港
|symbol_type_article = Emblem
| native_name_lang = zh-Hant-HK
|image_map = Hong Kong Location.png
| settlement_type = ]
|national_anthem = '']''<ref>Since the transfer of sovereignty in 1997, Hong Kong has used the national anthem of the ].</ref>
| official_name = {{raise|0.2em|Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China}}{{collapsible list
|capital = None<ref>Historically, the capital of Hong Kong territory was ]; government headquarters are located in the ] ({{coor dm|22|17|N|114|08|E}}). <!--http://maps.google.com/maps?q=&t=k&ll=22.27907,114.15885&spn=0.002978,0.005922--></ref>
| titlestyle = background:transparent; text-align:center; line-height:normal; font-size:90%;
|largest_settlement_type = district (population)
| title = {{resize|1.0 em|Other official names}}
|largest_settlement = ]
| {{Infobox|subbox=yes|bodystyle=font-size:90%;font-weight:normal;
|official_languages = ], ]<ref>The ] states that the official languages are "Chinese and English." It does not explicitly specify the standard for "Chinese". While ] and ]s are used as the spoken and written standards in ], ] and ]s are the long-established '']'' standards in Hong Kong. See ]</ref>
| rowclass1 = mergedrow | label1=]:|data1={{lang|zh-hant|中華人民共和國香港特別行政區}}
|government_type =
| rowclass2 = mergedrow | label2=] ]: |data2=''Jūng'wàh Yàhnmàhn Guhng'wòhgwok Hēunggóng Dahkbiht Hàhngjingkēui''
|leader_title1 = ]
| rowclass3 = mergedrow | label3=] ]: |data3=''zung1 waa4 jan4 man4 gung6 wo4 gwok3 hoeng1 gong2 dak6 bit6 hang4 zing3 keoi1''
|leader_name1 = ]
}}
|area_rank = not ranked
}}
|area_magnitude = 1 E9
| image_flag = Flag of Hong Kong.svg
|area = 1,104
| flag_size = 125px
|areami² = 426.4 <!--Do not remove per ]-->
| flag_alt = A flag with a white 5-petalled flower design on solid red background
|percent_water = 4.6
| flag_link = Flag of Hong Kong
|population_estimate = 6,921,700
| image_seal = Regional Emblem of Hong Kong.svg
|population_estimate_rank = 96th
| seal_size = 85px
|population_estimate_year = 2007
| seal_alt = A red circular emblem, with a white 5-petalled flower design in the centre, and surrounded by the words "Hong Kong" and "{{lang|zh-hant|中華人民共和國香港特別行政區}}"
|population_census = 6,708,389
| seal_type = Emblem
|population_census_year = 2001
| seal_link = Emblem of Hong Kong
|population_density = 6,352
| image_map = Hong Kong in China (zoomed) (+all claims hatched).svg
|population_densitymi² = 16,469.6 <!--Do not remove per ]-->
| map_alt = Location of Hong Kong
|population_density_rank = 3rd
| map_caption = Location of Hong Kong within China
|population_blank1_title = Demonym
| mapsize = 250px
|population_blank1 = Chinese / Hong Konger
| subdivision_type = ]
|GDP_PPP = US$263.1 billion
| subdivision_name = ]
|GDP_PPP_rank = 38th
| established_title = ]
|GDP_PPP_year = 2006
| established_date = 26 January 1841
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = US$38,127
| established_title1 = ]
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 6th
| established_date1 = 29 August 1842
|GDP_nominal = US$189.5 billion
| established_title2 = ]
|GDP_nominal_rank = 36th
| established_date2 = 24 October 1860
|GDP_nominal_year = 2006
| established_title3 = ]
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = US$27,466
| established_date3 = 9 June 1898
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 28th
|sovereignty_type = ] | established_title4 = ]
| established_date4 = 25 December 1941 to 30 August 1945
|established_event1 = ]
| established_title5 = Re-designated as a ]
|established_date1 = ] ]
| established_date5 = 1 January 1981
|established_event2 = ]
| established_title6= ]
|established_date2 = ] ]
| established_date6 = 19 December 1984
|established_event3 = ]
| established_title7 = ]
|established_date3 = ] ] &ndash; ] ]
| established_date7 = 1 July 1997
|established_event4 = ]
| official_languages = {{hlist|Chinese{{efn|name=chinese-varieties|No specific variety of Chinese is official in the territory. Residents predominantly speak ], the ''de facto'' regional standard.<ref>{{harvnb|Leung|2016}}.</ref><ref name="OfficialLanguagesOrd">{{harvnb|Official Languages Ordinance}}.</ref><ref name="2021By-CensusLanguages">{{harvnb|Population By-Census|2021|pp=31, 51–52}}</ref>}}|]{{efn|name=language-status|For all government use, documents written using ] are authoritative over ones inscribed with ].<ref>{{harvnb|Legislative Council Disclaimer and Copyright Notice}}</ref> English shares equal status with Chinese in all official proceedings.<ref name="ChineseInCourt">{{harvnb|Use of Chinese in Court Proceedings|2011}}</ref>}}}}
|established_date4 = ] ]
| capital_type = ]
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.927
| capital = ]
|HDI_rank = 22nd
| largest_settlement_type = ] <br />{{nobold|by population}}
|HDI_year = 2004
| largest_settlement = ]
|HDI_category = <font color="#009900">high</font>
| languages_type = ]
|Gini = 0.533
| languages_sub = yes
|Gini_year = 2006
| languages = ]{{efn|name=chinese-varieties}}
|Gini_category = <font color="#ff0000">high</font>
| languages2_type = ]s
|currency = ]
| languages2_sub = yes
|currency_code = HKD
| languages2 = ]{{efn|name=language-status}} <br />]
|country_code = HKG
| demonym = {{hlist|]|Hongkongese}}
|time_zone = ]
| ethnic_groups = 91.6% ] <br />2.7% ] <br />1.9% ] <br />0.8% ] <br />0.6% ] <br />0.4% ] <br />2% other<ref name="demographics">{{harvnb|Population By-Census|2021|p=46}}.</ref>
|utc_offset = +8
| ethnic_groups_year = 2021
|cctld = ]
| government_type = ] ] government within a unitary one-party state<ref>{{cite web|title=China (People's Republic of) 1982 (rev. 2004)|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/China_2004?lang=en|publisher=Constitute project|access-date=25 August 2019|archive-date=17 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717104412/https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/China_2004?lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref>
|calling_code = 852
| leader_title1 = ]<!--- DO NOT insert Head of State of PRC here; HK is not a sovereign state and the Hong Kong Government's website (http://www.gov.hk) indicates there is no such position as Head of State of Hong Kong.
|calling_code_note = <small>(01 from ])</small>
--->
|footnotes = <!--integrated into main body-->
| leader_name1 = ]
|
| leader_title2 = ]
| leader_name2 = ]
| leader_title3 = ]
| leader_name3 = ]
| leader_title4 = ]
| leader_name4 = ]
| legislature = ]
| national_representation_type1 = ]
| national_representation1 = ]
| national_representation_type2 = ]
| national_representation2 = 203 delegates<ref name="NationalReps">{{harvnb|Cheung|2017}}.</ref>
| area_km2 = 2,754.97<ref name="landsd area">{{cite web | title=Survey and Mapping Office – Circulars and Publications | url=https://www.landsd.gov.hk/en/resources/mapping-information/hk-geographic-data.html | publisher=Survey and Mapping Office | access-date=20 October 2020 | archive-date=31 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331083925/https://www.landsd.gov.hk/en/resources/mapping-information/hk-geographic-data.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
| area_sq_mi = 1,063.7 <!-- Do not remove as per WP:MOSNUM -->
| area_rank = 168th
| area_label2 = Land
| area_data2 = 1,114.35 km{{smallsup|2}} <br />(430.25 sq mi)<ref name="landsd area"/> <!-- Do not remove as per WP:MOSNUM -->
| percent_water = 59.70% <br />(1,640.62 km{{smallsup|2}}; <br />633.45 sq mi)<ref name="landsd area"/>
| elevation_max_m = 957
| elevation_max_point = ]
| elevation_min_m = 0
| elevation_min_point = ]
| population_estimate = {{increaseNeutral}} 7,498,100<ref>{{cite press release |title=Mid-year population for 2023 |date=15 August 2023 |publisher=] |url=https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/press_release_detail.html?id=5265 |access-date=15 November 2023 |archive-date=15 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115122540/https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/press_release_detail.html?id=5265 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| population_estimate_year = 2023
| population_estimate_rank =
| population_census = {{increaseNeutral}} 7,413,070<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census2021.gov.hk/doc/media/Table(EN).pdf |title=Key statistics of the 2021 and 2011 Population Census |publisher=census2021.gov.hk |access-date=15 March 2022 |archive-date=13 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313082407/https://www.census2021.gov.hk/doc/media/Table%28EN%29.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
| population_census_year = 2021
| population_density_km2 = 6,801<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census2021.gov.hk/en/main_tables.html |title=Main Tables – 2021 Population Census |publisher=census2021.gov.hk |access-date=15 March 2022 |archive-date=14 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114005052/https://www.census2021.gov.hk/en/main_tables.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| population_density_sq_mi = 17,614 <!-- Do not remove as per WP:MOSNUM -->
| population_density_rank = 4th
| GDP_PPP = {{increase}} $569.828 billion<ref name="IMFWEO.HK">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2024/October/weo-report?c=532,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2021&ey=2029&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2024 Edition. (HK) |publisher=] |website=IMF.org |date=22 October 2024 |access-date=11 November 2024 |archive-date=2 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502221906/https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2024/October/weo-report?c=532,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2021&ey=2029&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_year = 2024
| GDP_PPP_rank = 50th
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = {{increase}} $75,407<ref name="IMFWEO.HK" />
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 17th
| GDP_nominal = {{increase}} $401.751 billion<ref name="IMFWEO.HK" />
| GDP_nominal_year = 2024
| GDP_nominal_rank = 41st
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{decrease}} $53,165<ref name="IMFWEO.HK" />
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 20th
| Gini = 39.7 <!-- number only --><!--- DO NOT USE CIA World Factbook. The Gini index is a parameter in calculating the HDI so the Gini index and the HDI should be from the same source, i.e. Human Development Report 2009. --->
| Gini_year = 2021
| Gini_change = decrease <!-- increase/decrease/steady -->
| Gini_ref ={{efn|After adjustment for taxes and social transfers}}<ref name="GiniRef">{{harvnb|Household Income Distribution|2021|p=5}}</ref>
| HDI = 0.956 <!-- number only -->
| HDI_year = 2022<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year-->
| HDI_change = decrease<!-- increase/decrease/steady -->
| HDI_ref = <ref name="HDI">{{Cite web |date=13 March 2024 |title=Human Development Report 2023/2024 |url=https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313164319/https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf |archive-date=13 March 2024 |access-date=13 March 2024 |publisher=] |language=en}}</ref>
| HDI_rank = 4th
| currency = ] (HK$)
| currency_code = HKD
| timezone = ]
| utc_offset = +08:00
| date_format = dd/mm/yyyy <br />yyyy年mm月dd日
| electricity = 220 V–50 Hz
| drives_on = Left{{efn|Except for the ], which drives on the right.<ref>{{harvnb|Technical Legislative Amendments on Traffic Arrangements for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge|2017}}</ref>}}
| calling_code = ]
| blank_name_sec1 = ]
| blank_info_sec1 = None for local vehicles, {{lang|zh-cn|粤Z}} for cross-boundary vehicles
| iso_code = {{hlist|]|]}}
| cctld = {{hlist|]|]}}
}} }}
{{ChineseText}}
{{coor title dms|22|11|00|N|114|08|00|E|}}
The '''Hong Kong Special Administrative Region''' <small><nowiki>]<nowiki>]</nowiki></small>, commonly known as '''Hong Kong'''<ref>The name is often written as ''Hongkong'' in older English texts. The ] officially adopted the current form on ] ] (Hongkong Government Gazette, Notification 479, 3 September 1926). While the names of most cities in the People's Republic of China are ] into English using ], the official English name is ''Hong Kong'' rather than ''Xiānggǎng'' (See ]).</ref> ({{zh-c|c=]]}}), is one of the two ] of the ] (PRC), along with ]. The territory lies on the eastern side of the ], bordering Guangdong province in the north and facing the ] in the east, west and south. Beginning as a trading port in the 19th century, Hong Kong has developed into one of the world's leading financial centres.


'''Hong Kong'''{{efn|{{bulleted list|{{IPAc-en|US|'|h|Q|N|k|Q|N}} or {{IPAc-en|UK|h|Q|N|'|k|Q|N}}; {{zh|t={{linktext|香港}}|j=Hoeng1 gong2|cy=Hēunggóng}}, {{small|]:}} {{IPA-yue|hœ́ːŋ.kɔ̌ːŋ||Yue-heung1gong2.ogg}}|Officially the '''Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China''' (] '''Hong Kong SAR''' or '''HKSAR'''; {{zh|t=中華人民共和國香港特別行政區|cy=Hēunggóng Dahkbiht Hàhngjingkēui}}).|Legally '''Hong Kong, China''' in international treaties and organizations.}}}} is a ] of ]. With 7.4 million residents of various nationalities{{efn|]s can be of any nationality. A person without Chinese nationality who has entered Hong Kong with a valid travel document, has ordinarily resided there for a continuous period not less than seven years, and is permanently domiciled in the territory would be legally recognised as a ].<ref name="BasicLawA24">{{harvnb|Basic Law Chapter III}} Article 24.</ref>}} in a {{convert|1104|km2|adj=on}} territory, Hong Kong is the ] in the world.
Hong Kong was a ] of the ] from 1842 until the ] to the People's Republic of China in 1997. The ] and the ] stipulate that Hong Kong operate with a high degree of ] until at least 2047, fifty years after the transfer. Under the policy of "]", the ] is responsible for the territory's defence and foreign affairs, while Hong Kong maintains its own ], ], ], ], ], and ]s to international organisations and events.


Hong Kong was established as a ] after the ] ceded ] in 1841–1842 as a consequence of losing the ]. The colony expanded to the ] in 1860 and was further extended when the United Kingdom obtained a ] of the ] in 1898. Hong Kong was ] by ] from ] to ] during ]. The territory was ] in 1997. Hong Kong maintains separate governing and economic systems from that of ] under the principle of ].{{Efn|However, decisions made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress override any territorial judicial process. Furthermore, the State Council may enforce national law in the region under specific circumstances.|name=|group=}}
==History==
{{main|History of Hong Kong}}
Human settlement in the location now known as Hong Kong dates back to the ] era. The region was first incorporated into ] in the ], and served as a trading post and naval base during the ] and the ]. The area's earliest recorded European visitor was ], a ] mariner who arrived in ].<ref>Porter, Jonathan. (1996). Macau, the Imaginary City: Culture and Society, 1557 to the Present. Westview Press. ISBN 0813337496</ref><ref>Edmonds. (2002) China and Europe ThSince 1978: A European Perspective. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521524032</ref> Contact with the ] was established after the ] founded a trading post in the nearby city of ].


Originally a sparsely populated area of farming and fishing villages,<ref name="CarrollEarlyHistory">{{harvnb|Carroll|2007|pp=15–21}}.</ref>{{sfn|Ren|2010|p=221}} the territory is now one of the world's most significant ]s and commercial ports. Hong Kong is the world's ] (behind ] and ]), ninth-largest exporter, and eighth-largest importer. Its currency, the ], is the ] in the world. Home to the ] of any city in the world, Hong Kong has the largest number of ]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/10-cities-globally-most-high-net-worth-wealthy-people-2023-9 |title=The top 10 cities around the world with the most ultra-wealthy people |last=Kirschner |first=Kylie |date=10 September 2023 |website=Business Insider |access-date=15 November 2023 |archive-date=15 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115120539/https://www.businessinsider.com/10-cities-globally-most-high-net-worth-wealthy-people-2023-9 |url-status=live }}</ref> Although the city has one of the highest ] in the world, severe ] exists among the population. Despite being ], ] is consistently in high ].
In 1839, the refusal by ] authorities to import ] resulted in the ] between China and Britain.<ref name="Wiltshire">Wiltshire, Trea. (republished & reduced 2003). Old Hong Kong. Central, Hong Kong: Text Form Asia books Ltd. Page 12. ISBN Volume 962-7283-61-4</ref> ] was first occupied by British forces in 1841, and then formally ceded from China under the ] at the end of the war. The British established a ] with the founding of ] the following year. In 1860, after China's defeat in the ], the ] south of ] and ] were ceded to Britain in perpetuity under the ]. In 1898, Britain obtained a 99-year lease of the adjacent northern lands and ], which became known as the ].


Hong Kong is a ] and has a ] (HDI) of 0.956, ] and currently the only place in Asia to be in the top 5. The city has the ], and a ] usage exceeding 90 per cent.
] was a major trading post of the ].]]
{{TOC limit|limit=3}}
]ese troops march along ] following the British surrender in 1941.]]


== Etymology ==
Hong Kong was declared a ] to serve as an ] of the ]. The ] opened in 1910 with a southern terminus in ]. An education system based on the British model was introduced. The local Chinese population had little contact with the European community of wealthy ]s settled near ].<ref name="Wiltshire" />
{{Infobox Chinese
| title = Hong Kong
| c = 香港
| l = "Fragrant Harbour"<ref name="HerbariumName">{{cite web |url=http://www.herbarium.gov.hk/SpecialTopicsDetails.aspx?oneId=10&SectionId=1 |title=Aquilaria sinensis and origin of the name of Hong Kong |publisher=] |access-date=21 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040456/http://www.herbarium.gov.hk/SpecialTopicsDetails.aspx?oneId=10&SectionId=1 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="CarrollHKName">{{harvnb|Carroll|2007|p=1}}</ref>
| ci = {{unbulleted list|{{IPA-yue|hœ́ːŋ.kɔ̌ːŋ|}}|''or''|{{IPA-yue|hœ̂ːŋ.kɔ̌ːŋ|}}}}
| y = {{unbulleted list|{{Audio|Yue-heung1gong2.ogg|Hēunggóng|help=no}}|''or''|Hèunggóng}}
| j = hoeng1 gong2
| gd = {{tone superscript|Hêng1gong2}}
| h = {{tone superscript|Hiong1gong3}}
| p = Xiānggǎng
| w = {{tone superscript|Hsiang1-kang3}}
| bpmf = ㄒㄧㄤ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄍㄤˇ
| gr = Shianggaang
| myr = Syānggǎng
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|x|iang|1|.|g|ang|3}}
| wuu = shian<sup>平</sup>kaon<sup>上</sup>
| poj = Hiong-káng
| pic2 = Hong Kong in Chinese 2.svg
| piccap2 = "Hong Kong" in Chinese characters
| picupright2 = 0.45
| picsize2 = 100px
| altname = Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| t2 = {{unbulleted list|香港特別行政區|(香港特區)}}
| s2 = {{unbulleted list|香港特别行政区|(香港特区)}}
| y2 = {{unbulleted list|Hēunggóng Dahkbiht Hàhngjingkēui|(Hēunggóng Dahkkēui)|''or''|Hèunggóng Dahkbiht Hàhngjingkēui|(Hèunggóng Dahkkēui)}}
| j2 = {{unbulleted list|hoeng1 gong2 dak6 bit6 hang4 zing3 keoi1|(hoeng1 gong2 dak6 keoi1)}}
| gd2 = {{unbulleted list|{{tone superscript|Hêng1gong2 Deg6⁠bid6 Heng4⁠jing3⁠kêu1|(Hêng1gong2 Deg6kêu1)}}}}
| ci2 = {{unbulleted list|{{IPA-yue|hœ́ːŋ.kɔ̌ːŋ tɐ̀k̚.pìːt̚ hɐ̏ŋ.tsēŋ.kʰɵ́y|}}|({{IPA-yue|hœ́ːŋ.kɔ̌ːŋ tɐ̀k̚.kʰɵ́y|}})|''or''|{{IPA-yue|hœ̂ːŋ.kɔ̌ːŋ tɐ̀k̚.pìːt̚ hɐ̏ŋ.tsēŋ.kʰɵ́y|}}|({{IPA-yue|hœ̂ːŋ.kɔ̌ːŋ tɐ̀k̚.kʰɵ́y|}})}}
| h2 = {{unbulleted list|{{tone superscript|Hiong1gong3 Tet6⁠piet6 Hang2⁠zin4⁠ki1|(Hiong1gong3 Tet6ki1)}}}}
| w2 = {{unbulleted list|{{tone superscript|Hsiang1-kang3 T}}{{wg-apos}}{{tone superscript|e4-⁠pieh2 Hsing2-⁠cheng4-⁠ch}}{{wg-apos}}{{tone superscript|ü1}}|{{tone superscript|(Hsiang1-kang3 T}}{{wg-apos}}{{tone superscript|e4-ch}}{{wg-apos}}{{tone superscript|ü1)}}}}
| p2 = {{unbulleted list|Xiānggǎng Tèbié Xíngzhèngqū|(Xiānggǎng Tèqū)}}
| gr2 = {{unbulleted list|Shianggaang Tehbye Shyngjenqchiu|(Shianggaang Tehchiu)}}
| bpmf2 = {{unbulleted list|ㄒㄧㄤ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄍㄤˇ|ㄊㄜˋ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄅㄧㄝˊ|ㄒㄧㄥˊ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄓㄥˋ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄑㄩ|(ㄒㄧㄤ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄍㄤˇ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄊㄜˋ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄑㄩ)}}
| myr2 = {{unbulleted list|Syāngggǎng Tèbyé Syíngjèngchyū|(Syānggǎng Tèchyū)}}
| mi2 = {{unbulleted list|{{IPAc-cmn|x|iang|1|.|g|ang|3|-|t|e|4|.|b|ie|2|-|x|ing|2|.|zh|eng|4|.|qu|1|}}|({{IPAc-cmn|x|iang|1|.|g|ang|3|-|t|e|4|.|q|u|1|}})}}
| wuu2 = {{unbulleted list|shian<sup>平</sup>kaon<sup>上</sup> deh<sup>入</sup>⁠bih<sup>入</sup>|ghan<sup>平</sup>⁠tsen<sup>去</sup>⁠chiu<sup>平</sup>|(shian<sup>平</sup>kaon<sup>上</sup> deh<sup>入</sup>chiu<sup>平</sup>)}}
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}}{{Unreliable sources|date=November 2024}}<!-- ] redirects here -->


The name of the territory, first ] as "He-Ong-Kong" in 1780,<ref>{{harvnb|Empson|1992|p=94}}.</ref> 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Bishop|Roberts|1997|p=218}}.</ref> Although the source of the romanised name is unknown, it is generally believed to be an early phonetic rendering of the ] (or ]) phrase ''hēung góng''. The name translates as "fragrant harbour" or "incense harbour".<ref name="HerbariumName" /><ref name="CarrollHKName" /><ref name="etym">{{harvnb|Room|2005|p=168}}.</ref> "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 ]. The incense was stored near Aberdeen Harbour for export before ] was developed.<ref name="etym" /> ] (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.<ref>{{harvnb|Davis|1841|p=6}}.</ref>
As part of its military campaign in ], the ] invaded Hong Kong on ], ]. The ] ended with British and Canadian defenders surrendering control of the colony to Japan on ]. During the ], civilians suffered from widespread ]s caused by imposed rations, and ] due to forced exchange of currency for military notes. Hong Kong's population declined from 1.6 million before the invasion to about 600,000 in 1945,<ref>New York Times. "." ''Thousands March in Anti-Japan Protest in Hong Kong by Keith Bradsher.'' Retrieved on ].</ref> when the United Kingdom resumed control of the colony following Japan's defeat in the war.


The simplified name ''Hong Kong'' was frequently used by 1810.<ref>{{harvnb|Empson|1992|p=96}}.</ref> The name was also commonly written as the single word ''Hongkong'' until 1926, when the government officially adopted the two-word name.<ref>{{harvnb|Hong Kong Government Gazette|1926}}, No. 479.</ref> Some corporations founded during the early colonial era still keep this name, including ], ], ] and ] (HSBC).<ref>{{harvnb|HSH Annual Report|2017|p=6}}.</ref><ref name="HSBC">{{harvnb|HSBC Annual Report|2011|p=2}}.</ref>
Hong Kong's population recovered quickly after the war, as a wave of mainland migrants arrived for refuge from the ongoing ]. With the proclamation of the ] in 1949, more migrants fled to Hong Kong from the fear of persecution by the ].<ref name="Wiltshire" /> Many corporations in ] and ] also shifted their operations to Hong Kong.<ref name="Wiltshire" /> The colony became the sole place of contact between mainland China and the Western world, as the communist government increasingly isolated the country from outside influence. Trade with the mainland was interrupted during the ], when the ] ordered a ] against the communist government.<ref>Wang Yong-hua, '''', Journal of Yanan University Social Science Edition, 2006.</ref>


== History ==
The textile and manufacturing industries grew with the help of population growth and low cost of labour. As Hong Kong rapidly industrialised, its economy became driven by exports to international markets. Living standards rose steadily with the industrial growth. The construction of ] in 1953 marked the beginning of the ] program. Hong Kong was disrupted by chaos during the ].<ref name="Wiltshire" /> Pro-communist ], inspired by the ] in the mainland, turned a labour dispute into a violent uprising against the colonial government lasting until the end of the year.
{{Main|History of Hong Kong}}
{{For timeline|Timeline of Hong Kong history}}


=== Prehistory and Imperial China ===
], based on the British ] ]]
Earliest known human traces in what is now Hong Kong are dated by some to 35,000 and 39,000 years ago during the ] period. The claim is based on an archaeological investigation in ], ] in 2003. The archaeological works revealed ] ]s from deposits that were dated using optical ].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Davis|first1=Vin|last2=Ixer|first2=Rob|date=2009|title=The Petrology of the Wong Tei Tung Stone Tool Manufacturing Site, Sham Chung, Hong Kong Sar, China|url=http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue26/davisixer_index.html|journal=Internet Archaeology|issue=26|doi=10.11141/ia.26.8|access-date=8 June 2020|archive-date=26 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326063250/https://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue26/davisixer_index.html|url-status=live| issn = 1363-5387}}</ref>
] on the night of ],].]]
Established in 1974, the ] dramatically reduced corruption in the government. When the People's Republic of China initiated a ] in 1978, Hong Kong became the main source of foreign investments to the mainland. A ] was established the following year in the Chinese city of ], located immediately north of the mainland's border with Hong Kong. The economy of Hong Kong gradually displaced textiles and manufacturing with services, as the financial and banking sectors became increasingly dominant. After the ] ended in 1975, the Hong Kong government spent 25 years dealing with the entry and repatriation of ] refugees.


During the ] period, about 6,000 years ago, the region had been widely occupied by humans.<ref name="Meacham2">{{harvnb|Meacham|1999|p=2}}.</ref> Neolithic to ] Hong Kong settlers were semi-coastal people. Early inhabitants are believed to be ] in the Middle Neolithic period and later the ] people.<ref name="Meacham2" /> As hinted by the archaeological works in Sha Ha, Sai Kung, rice cultivation had been introduced since ] period.<ref name="Li38">{{harvnb|Li|2012|p=38}}.</ref> Bronze Age Hong Kong featured coarse pottery, hard pottery, quartz and stone jewelry, as well as small bronze implements.<ref name="Meacham2" />
With the lease of the New Territories due to expire within two decades, the governments of the United Kingdom and the People's Republic of China discussed the issue of Hong Kong's sovereignty in the ]. In 1984, the two countries signed the ], agreeing to transfer the sovereignty of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China in 1997.<ref name="Wiltshire" /> The declaration stipulated that Hong Kong would be governed as a ], retaining its laws and high degree of autonomy for at least fifty years after the transfer. Lacking confidence in the arrangement, some residents chose to ] from Hong Kong, particularly after the ].


]]]
The ], which would serve as the constitutional document after the transfer, was ratified in 1990. Over strong objections from Beijing, ] ] introduced democratic reforms to the election process for the ]. The ] occurred at midnight on ], ], marked by a ] at the ].<ref name="Wiltshire" /> ] assumed office as the first ].
The ] incorporated the Hong Kong area into China for the first time in 214 BCE, after ].<ref>{{harvnb|Ban|Ban|Ban|111}}.</ref> The region was consolidated under the ] kingdom (a predecessor state of ]) after the Qin collapse<ref name="KeatGinOoi">{{harvnb|Keat|2004|p=932}}.</ref> and recaptured by China after the ].<ref>{{harvnb|Carroll|2007|p=9}}.</ref> 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 Yuan Dynasty.<ref name="Barber">{{harvnb|Barber|2004|p=48}}.</ref> 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 ].<ref>{{harvnb|Carroll|2007|p=10}}.</ref>


The earliest European visitor was ] explorer ], who arrived in 1513.<ref>{{harvnb|Porter|1996|p=63}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Edmonds|2002|p=1}}.</ref> 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,<ref>{{harvnb|von Glahn|1996|p=116}}.</ref> Portuguese-Chinese trade relations were ]. Portugal acquired a ] for ] in 1887.<ref>{{harvnb|Wills|1998|pp=342–344}}.</ref>
Hong Kong's economy was affected by the ] of 1997 that hit many East Asian markets. The ] ] also surfaced in Hong Kong that year. Implementation of the ] led to the opening of the new ] in 1998, after six years of construction. The project was part of the ambitious ] that was drafted in the early 1980s.


After the ], maritime trade was banned under the '']'' policies. From 1661 to 1683, the population of most of the area forming present day Hong Kong was cleared under the ], turning the region into a wasteland.<ref name="HK story">{{Cite web|url=http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/History/download/the_hk_story_exhibition_materials_e.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418213756/http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/History/download/the_hk_story_exhibition_materials_e.pdf|url-status=dead|title=Hong Kong Museum of History: "The Hong Kong Story" Exhibition Materials|archivedate=18 April 2009}}</ref> The ] lifted the maritime trade prohibition, allowing foreigners to enter Chinese ports in 1684.<ref>{{harvnb|Zhihong|2006|pp=8–9}}.</ref> Qing authorities established the ] in 1757 to regulate trade more strictly, restricting non-Russian ships to the port of ].<ref>{{harvnb|Schottenhammer|2007|p=33}}.</ref> 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Chen|2011}}.</ref>
The outbreak of ] took hold of Hong Kong in the first half of 2003.<ref>People's Daily. "." ''Links between SARS human genes.'' Retrieved on ].</ref> That year, half a million people participated in a march to voice disapproval of the Tung administration and the proposal to implement ], which had raised concerns over infringements on rights and freedoms. The proposal was later abandoned by the administration. In 2005, Tung submitted his resignation as chief executive. ], the ], was selected as chief executive to complete the term.


=== British colony ===
==Geography==
{{Main|British Hong Kong}}
]
]]] ]]]
{{main|Geography of Hong Kong|Ecology of Hong Kong}}
Hong Kong consists primarily of ], ], ] and the ] as well as some 260 other islands. The Kowloon Peninsula is attached to the New Territories to the north, and the New Territories spans northwards eventually connecting with ] across the ] (Shenzhen River).


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,<ref>{{harvnb|Hoe|Roebuck|1999|pp=82, 87}}.</ref> triggering a British military response and the ]. The Qing surrendered early in the war and ceded Hong Kong Island in the ]. British forces began controlling Hong Kong shortly after the signing of the convention, from 26 January 1841.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yearbook.gov.hk/2003/english/chapter21/21_02.html|title=Hong Kong 2003 – History|website=www.yearbook.gov.hk|access-date=26 June 2021|archive-date=25 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025152631/https://www.yearbook.gov.hk/2003/english/chapter21/21_02.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, both countries were dissatisfied and did not ratify the agreement.<ref>{{harvnb|Tsang|2007|p=12}}.</ref> After more than a year of further hostilities, Hong Kong Island was formally ceded to the ] in the 1842 ].<ref name="Courtauld">{{harvnb|Courtauld|Holdsworth|Vickers|1997|pp=38–58}}</ref>
In total, Hong Kong encompasses a collection of ] in the ]. While ] is the largest island, Hong Kong Island is the second largest and the most populated. ] is the most densely populated island in the world.


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.<ref name="CarrollEarlyHistory" /> 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 ].<ref name="SecondOpiumWar">{{harvnb|Carroll|2007|pp=21–24}}.</ref> 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Carroll|2007|p=30}}.</ref>
The name "Hong Kong", which literally translates to mean "fragrant harbour", is derived from the area around present-day ] on Hong Kong Island. This is an area where fragrant wood products and fragrant incense were once traded.<ref>, University of Hong Kong English Centre. Retrieved on ]</ref> The narrow body of water which separates Hong Kong Island from the Kowloon Peninsula is known as ] and is one of the deepest natural maritime ]s in the world.


The colony was further expanded in 1898 when the United Kingdom obtained a 99-year lease of the New Territories.<ref name="NTLease">{{harvnb|Scott|1989|p=6}}.</ref> The ] was established in 1911 as the territory's first institution of higher education.<ref>{{harvnb|Chu|2005|p=90}}.</ref> ] began operation in 1924, and the colony avoided a prolonged economic downturn after the 1925–26 ].<ref name="KaiTak">{{harvnb|Wordie|2007|p=243}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Carroll|2007|p=103}}.</ref> At the start of the ] in 1937, Governor ] declared Hong Kong a neutral zone to safeguard its status as a free port.<ref>{{harvnb|Yanne|Heller|2009|p=71}}.</ref> The colonial government prepared for a possible attack, evacuating all British women and children in 1940.<ref>{{harvnb|Snow|2003|p=43}}.</ref> The ] ], the same morning as its ].<ref>{{harvnb|Snow|2003|pp=53–73}}.</ref> Hong Kong was ] for almost four years before the British resumed control on 30 August 1945.<ref>{{harvnb|Kwong|2015}}.</ref>
Despite Hong Kong's reputation of being intensely urbanised, the territory has made much effort to promote a green environment.<ref>"", Hong Kong Trader, November 2001. Retrieved on ].</ref> Much of the territory remains undeveloped as the terrain is mostly hilly to mountainous with steep slopes. Of the territory's 1,104 ]s ({{convert|426|sqmi|sqkm|0}}),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/FileManager/EN/Content_810/geog.pdf|title=Geography and Climate, Hong Kong |accessdate=2007-01-10 |publisher=Census and Statistics Department, The Government of Hong Kong SAR|language=English}}</ref> less than 25% is developed. The remaining land is remarkably green with about 40% of the landmass reserved as ]s and ]s.<ref>"", The Hong Kong Tourism Board's Hiking page. Retrieved on ].</ref> Most of the territory's urban development exists on the Kowloon peninsula, along the northern shores of Hong Kong Island and in scattered settlements throughout the New Territories.


] from 1959 to 1997]]
Hong Kong's long, irregular and curvaceous ]line also affords the territory with many bays, rivers and ]es. Despite the territory's extensive wooded and ocean setting, environmental awareness is growing as Hong Kong's air ranks as one of the most polluted. Approximately 80% of the city's smog originates from other parts of the ].<ref>New York Times. "." ''Dirty Air Becomes Divisive Issue in Hong Kong Vote.'' Retrieved on ].</ref>
] in Tsim Sha Tsui in 1971]]
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.<ref name="Wiltshire">{{harvnb|Wiltshire|1997|p=148}}.</ref> Hong Kong became the first of the ] economies to industrialise during the 1950s.<ref>{{harvnb|Buckley|1997|pp=64, 92}}.</ref> With a rapidly increasing population, the colonial government attempted reforms to improve infrastructure and public services. The ], ], and ] were all established during the post-war decades to provide safer housing, integrity in the civil service, and more reliable transportation.<ref>{{harvnb|Carroll|2007|pp=145, 174–175}}.</ref><ref>{{cite AV media | people=Forsyth, Neil (Director) |year=1990 | title=Underground Pride | medium=Motion picture | location=Hong Kong | publisher=]}}</ref>


Nevertheless, widespread public discontent resulted in multiple protests from the 1950s to 1980s, including pro-] and pro-] protests. In the ], pro-] protestors clashed with the British colonial government. As many as 51 were killed and 802 were injured in the violence, including dozens killed by the ] via beatings and shootings.<ref>Chu, Yingchi (2003). Hong Kong Cinema: Coloniser, Motherland and Self! Routledge Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7007-1746-3}}.</ref>
Hong Kong is 60 ]s (37 miles) east of ] on the opposite side of the Pearl River Delta. It borders the ] of ] in ] to the north. The highest elevation in the territory is at ], at a height of 958 ]s (3,142 ]) above sea level. Lowlands exist in the northwestern part of the New Territories.


Although the territory's competitiveness in manufacturing gradually declined because of rising labour and property costs, it transitioned to a service-based economy. By the early 1990s, Hong Kong had established itself as a global ] and shipping hub.<ref>{{harvnb|Dodsworth|Mihaljek|1997|p=54}}.</ref>
==Climate==
] is the government department responsible for providing meteorological forecasts, weather-related hazard warnings and geophysical surveys for the city.]]
{{main|Climate of Hong Kong}}
] is ] and, for nearly half the year, tends toward ]. The region is cloudy in January and February, meeting with the occasional ]s. In March and April, it is pleasant, with occasional high humidity. From May to August, the region is hot and humid, occasionally confronted with showers and thunderstorms. During November and December, there are pleasant breezes, with plenty of sunshine and comfortable temperatures.<ref name="HKClimate">{{cite web|url=http://www.hko.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/climahk.htm|title=Climate of Hong Kong|publisher=Hong Kong Observatory|date=]|accessdate=2007-08-02}}</ref>


=== Chinese special administrative region ===
Hong Kong is most likely to be affected by ]s from July to September, although they are not unusual any time between May and November. An average of about 31 tropical cyclones form in the western ] or ] yearly, half of them reaching ] strength. Winds increase and rain becomes heavy and widespread when the centre of a cyclone comes close to the city; the heavy rain may last for a few days, the subsequent ]s and flooding may cause more damage than the winds.<ref name="HKClimate" />
{{Further|Handover of Hong Kong}}
] and ], 2007]]


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.<ref>{{harvnb|Carroll|2007|pp=176–178}}.</ref> Diplomatic negotiations with China resulted in the 1984 ], in which the United Kingdom agreed to the handover of the colony in 1997 and China would guarantee Hong Kong's economic and political systems for 50 years after the handover.<ref name="Carroll181">{{harvnb|Carroll|2007|p=181}}.</ref> The impending handover triggered a ] as residents feared an erosion of civil rights, the rule of law, and quality of life.<ref>{{harvnb|Wong|1992|p=9}}.</ref> Over half a million people left the territory during the peak migration period, from 1987 to 1996.<ref name="2002Pop">{{harvnb|Population Policy Report|2002|pp=27–28}}</ref> The Legislative Council became a ] for the first time in 1995 and extensively expanded its functions and organisations throughout the last years of the colonial rule.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gargan |first1=Edward A. |title=Pro-China Party Appears Big Loser in Hong Kong Election |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/18/world/pro-china-party-appears-big-loser-in-hong-kong-election.html |work=The New York Times |date=18 September 1995 |access-date=20 November 2020 |archive-date=8 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508195434/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/18/world/pro-china-party-appears-big-loser-in-hong-kong-election.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The handover of Hong Kong to China was at midnight on 1 July 1997, after 156 years of British rule.<ref name="NYTHandover">{{harvnb|Gargan|1997}}.</ref>
The highest recorded temperature<ref>"", Hong Kong Observatory. Retrieved on ].</ref> in Hong Kong is 38 °] (100.0 °]) while the lowest recorded temperature is -4 °C (25.0 °F). Meanwhile, the highest and lowest temperatures ever recorded by the ] are respectively 36.1 °C (97.0 °F) on ] ] and ] ], and 0.0 °C (32.0 °F) on ] ]. The average temperature<ref name="met_norms">"", Hong Kong Observatory. Retrieved on ].</ref> in the coldest month, January, is 16.1 °C (61.0 °F) while the average temperature in the hottest month, July, is 28.7 °C (83.7 °F).
The territory is situated just south of the ], a similar ] to that of ]. In winter, strong and cold winds generate from the north cool the city; in the summer, the wind's prevailing direction changes and brings the warm and humid air in from the southwest. This climate can support a ].


Immediately after the handover, Hong Kong was severely affected by several crises. The Hong Kong government was forced to use substantial ] to maintain the Hong Kong dollar's currency peg during the ],<ref name="Wiltshire" /> and the recovery from this was muted by an ] outbreak<ref>{{harvnb|Carroll|2007|p=218}}</ref> and a housing surplus.<ref>{{harvnb|Cheung|Ho|2013}}.</ref> This was followed by the ], during which the territory experienced its most serious economic downturn.<ref>{{harvnb|Lee|2006|pp=63–70}}.</ref>
<center><!--Infobox begins-->{{Infobox Weather
|metric_first= Yes
|location = Hong Kong
|Jan_Hi_°F = 65.5 |Jan_Hi_°C = 18.6
|Feb_Hi_°F = 65.5 |Feb_Hi_°C = 18.6
|Mar_Hi_°F = 70.7 |Mar_Hi_°C = 21.5
|Apr_Hi_°F = 77.2 |Apr_Hi_°C = 25.1
|May_Hi_°F = 83.1 |May_Hi_°C = 28.4
|Jun_Hi_°F = 86.7 |Jun_Hi_°C = 30.4
|Jul_Hi_°F = 88.3 |Jul_Hi_°C = 31.3
|Aug_Hi_°F = 88.0 |Aug_Hi_°C = 31.1
|Sep_Hi_°F = 86.4 |Sep_Hi_°C = 30.2
|Oct_Hi_°F = 81.9 |Oct_Hi_°C = 27.7
|Nov_Hi_°F = 75.2 |Nov_Hi_°C = 24.0
|Dec_Hi_°F = 68.5 |Dec_Hi_°C = 20.3
|Year_Hi_°F = 78.1 |Year_Hi_°C = 25.6
|Jan_Lo_°F = 57.4 |Jan_Lo_°C = 14.1
|Feb_Lo_°F = 57.9 |Feb_Lo_°C = 14.4
|Mar_Lo_°F = 62.4 |Mar_Lo_°C = 16.9
|Apr_Lo_°F = 69.1 |Apr_Lo_°C = 20.6
|May_Lo_°F = 75.0 |May_Lo_°C = 23.9
|Jun_Lo_°F = 79.0 |Jun_Lo_°C = 26.1
|Jul_Lo_°F = 80.1 |Jul_Lo_°C = 26.7
|Aug_Lo_°F = 79.5 |Aug_Lo_°C = 26.4
|Sep_Lo_°F = 78.1 |Sep_Lo_°C = 25.6
|Oct_Lo_°F = 74.1 |Oct_Lo_°C = 23.4
|Nov_Lo_°F = 66.9 |Nov_Lo_°C = 19.4
|Dec_Lo_°F = 60.3 |Dec_Lo_°C = 15.7
|Year_Lo_°F = 70.0 |Year_Lo_°C = 21.1
|Jan_Precip_inch = 0.98 |Jan_Precip_mm = 24.9
|Feb_Precip_inch = 2.06 |Feb_Precip_mm = 52.3
|Mar_Precip_inch = 2.81 |Mar_Precip_mm = 71.4
|Apr_Precip_inch = 7.42 |Apr_Precip_mm = 188.5
|May_Precip_inch = 12.97 |May_Precip_mm = 329.5
|Jun_Precip_inch = 15.28 |Jun_Precip_mm = 388.1
|Jul_Precip_inch = 14.74 |Jul_Precip_mm = 374.4
|Aug_Precip_inch = 17.50 |Aug_Precip_mm = 444.6
|Sep_Precip_inch = 11.32 |Sep_Precip_mm = 287.5
|Oct_Precip_inch = 5.98 |Oct_Precip_mm = 151.9
|Nov_Precip_inch = 1.39 |Nov_Precip_mm = 35.4
|Dec_Precip_inch = 1.36 |Dec_Precip_mm = 34.5
|Year_Precip_inch = 93.81 |Year_Precip_mm = 2382.70
|source =HKO<ref name="met_norms" /> | accessdate = Jan 20, 2006 }}<!--Infobox ends--></center>


Chinese communists portrayed the return of Hong Kong as key moment in the PRC's rise to ] status.<ref name=":172">{{Cite book |last=Crean |first=Jeffrey |title=The Fear of Chinese Power: an International History |date=2024 |publisher=] |isbn=978-1-350-23394-2 |edition= |series=New Approaches to International History series |location=London, UK}}</ref>{{Rp|page=51}}
==Politics and government==
{{main|Politics of Hong Kong}}
Pursuant to the ], Hong Kong's constitutional document, the local Hong Kong government retains sovereignty over the territory except in areas of national defence and foreign relations. The ], the head of territory and head of government, is selected by the Chief Executive Election Committee composed of 800 members. Members of the Election Committee are evenly composed of four major sectors of Hong Kong society:<ref name="BasicLaw">{{cite web|url=http://www.info.gov.hk/basic_law/fulltext/|title=The Basic Law|publisher=Hong Kong Special Administrative Region|accessdate=2007-08-07}}</ref>
*The industrial, commercial and financial sectors
*The professions
*Labour, social services, religious and other sectors
*Members of the ], representatives of district-based organisations, Hong Kong deputies to the ], and representatives of Hong Kong members of the ]


], August 2019]]
Other functionaries of the government, including members the executive and legislative bodies, are either appointed by the Chief Executive or elected by voters.
Political debates after the handover 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,<ref>{{harvnb|Carroll|2007|p=200}}.</ref> the regional government unsuccessfully attempted to enact ] pursuant to ].<ref>{{harvnb|Carroll|2007|pp=226, 233}}.</ref> The central government decision to implement ] before allowing ] triggered a series of ] which became known as the Umbrella Revolution.<ref>{{harvnb|Kaiman|2014}}.</ref> Discrepancies in the electoral registry and disqualification of elected legislators after the ]<ref>{{harvnb|Bland|2016}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Haas|2017}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Huang|2016}}.</ref> and enforcement of national law in the ] raised further concerns about the region's autonomy.<ref>{{harvnb|Siu|Chung|2017}}.</ref> In June 2019, ] in response to a ] permitting the extradition of fugitives to mainland China. The protests are the largest in Hong Kong's history,<ref name="EconomistRestoreCalm">{{harvnb|"To restore calm in Hong Kong, try democracy", ''The Economist''}}</ref> with organisers claiming to have attracted more than three million Hong Kong residents.


The Hong Kong regional government and Chinese central government responded to the protests with a number of administrative measures to quell dissent. In June 2020, the Legislative Council passed the ], which criminalised "insults to the national anthem of China".<ref>{{cite web |title=CE signs National Anthem Ordinance (with photos) |url=https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202006/11/P2020061100793.htm |website=HKSAR Government Press Releases |access-date=12 June 2020 |archive-date=12 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612041953/https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202006/11/P2020061100793.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The Chinese central government meanwhile enacted the ] to help quell protests in the region.<ref name="cnn20200630">{{cite web|last=Regan|first=Helen|date=29 June 2020|title=China passes sweeping Hong Kong national security law: report|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/29/china/hong-kong-national-security-law-passed-intl-hnk/index.html|access-date=29 June 2020|publisher=]|archive-date=1 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701113134/https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/29/china/hong-kong-national-security-law-passed-intl-hnk/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Nine months later, in March 2021, the Chinese central government introduced ], which included the reduction of directly elected seats in the Legislative Council and the requirement that all candidates be vetted and approved by a Beijing-appointed ].<ref name="france2420210311">{{cite news |date=11 March 2021 |title=China approves plan to veto Hong Kong election candidates |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210311-china-approves-plan-to-veto-hong-kong-election-candidates |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312063804/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210311-china-approves-plan-to-veto-hong-kong-election-candidates |archive-date=12 March 2021 |access-date=6 September 2022 |work=]}}</ref>
]
] in Central where the ] resides.]]


In May 2023, the Legislative Council also introduced legislation to reduce the number of directly elected seats in the district councils, and a ] was similarly established to vet candidates.<ref name="dc2023_freepress01">{{cite news|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2023/07/06/hong-kong-cuts-directly-elected-district-council-seats-as-overhaul-unanimously-approved/|title=Hong Kong cuts directly elected District Council seats as overhaul unanimously approved|publisher=Hong Kong Free Press|date=6 July 2023}}</ref><ref name="dc2023_gld01">{{cite web|url=https://www.gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/20232745e/egn2023274569.pdf|title=Ordinance passed and promulgated|publisher=Hong Kong Government Gazette|date=10 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710090226/https://www.gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/20232745e/egn2023274569.pdf|archive-date=10 July 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="dc2023_gld02">{{cite web|url=https://www.gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/20232745e/es12023274519.pdf|title=District Councils (Amendment) Ordinance 2023—Ordinance No. 19 of 2023|publisher=Hong Kong Government Gazette|date=10 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710090315/https://www.gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/20232745e/es12023274519.pdf|archive-date=10 July 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
Laws in Hong Kong are enacted only by approval of the Chief Executive and majority consent from the 60 seat ], or LegCo. Despite the often said undemocratic nature of Hong Kong's government, half of LegCo's seats are elected under ] with the other half selected by ] consisting of special interests and trade unions. The Basic Law guarantees that all seats will eventually be elected under universal suffrage.


== Government and politics ==
] currently holds the office of the ] after his election on ] ] by the Election Committee.<ref>"", BBC News, ]. Retrieved ].</ref> Before the 1997 handover, Tsang had held the post of ] under British rule. He was elevated to the post of ] on 1st May 2001 when ] resigned her post. Donald Tsang assumed his current post on ] 2005 and as scheduled, completed the remaining portion of ]'s last term which ended on ] ] in accordance to the interpretation of Annex I and ] by the ]. He was re-elected as ] for another five years - his new term started on 1st July 2007.
{{Main|Government of Hong Kong|Politics of Hong Kong|Elections in Hong Kong|Separation of powers in Hong Kong}}
] ].]]


Hong Kong is a ], with executive, legislative, and judicial powers ] from the ].<ref>{{harvnb|Tam|Chan|Choi Kwan|Leung|2012|p=80}}</ref> The Sino-British Joint Declaration provided for economic and administrative continuity through the handover,<ref name="Carroll181" /> resulting in an ] governing system largely inherited from the territory's history as a British colony.<ref name="BasicLaw15">{{harvnb|Tam|Chan|Choi Kwan|Leung|2012|pp=66, 80–81}}</ref> Under these terms and the "one country, two systems" principle, the ] is the regional constitution.<ref>{{harvnb|''Ng Ka Ling and Another v the Director of Immigration''}}</ref> The regional government is composed of three branches:
The election of the Chief Executive in 2005 was by the 852-member ] was 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.
* ''Executive:'' The ] is responsible for enforcing regional law,<ref name="BasicLaw15" /> can force reconsideration of legislation,<ref>{{harvnb|Tam|Chan|Choi Kwan|Leung|2012|p=77}}</ref> and appoints ] members and ].<ref>{{harvnb|Young|Cullen|2010|p=39}}.</ref> Acting with the Executive Council, the ] can propose new bills, issue ], and has authority to ] the legislature.<ref>{{harvnb|Adaptation of Laws Guidelines|1998|p=7}}</ref> In ] or public danger, the Chief Executive-in-Council is further empowered to enact any regulation necessary to restore public order.<ref>{{harvnb|Emergency Regulations Ordinance}}.</ref>
* ''Legislature:'' The unicameral ] enacts regional law, approves budgets, and has the power to ] a sitting chief executive.<ref>{{harvnb|Tam|Chan|Choi Kwan|Leung|2012|p=73}}</ref>
* '']:'' The ] and lower courts interpret laws and overturn those inconsistent with the Basic Law.<ref name="Gittings150">{{harvnb|Gittings|2009|p=150}}.</ref> Judges are appointed by the chief executive on the advice of a recommendation commission.<ref>{{harvnb|Gittings|2009|p=153}}.</ref>


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 1500 business, community, and government leaders.<ref>{{harvnb|Young|Cullen|2010|pp=13–16}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Basic Law Chapter IV}} Article 45.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Amendment to the Basic Law Annex I}}</ref>
The PRC set up a ] in 1996 just before the handover, where it moved to Hong Kong to have its meetings after the handover. It reverted some laws passed by the colonial Legislative Council, which was formed by means of ] since 1995. The PLC passed some new laws, such as the Public Order Ordinance,<ref>, World Corporal Punishment Research, February 2000. Retrieved ] ].</ref> which required permission from police to hold a demonstration where the number of people who participates exceeds 30. ] ] were held on ] ], 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 25 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 Legislative Council has 90 members, each serving a four-year term. Twenty are directly elected from ], thirty-five represent ] (FC), and forty are chosen by an ] consisting of representatives appointed by the Chinese central government.<ref name="overhaul_HK">{{cite news|title=China moves to overhaul Hong Kong politics, squeezing democratic opposition|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-parliament-hongkong/chinas-parliament-moves-to-overhaul-hong-kongs-electoral-system-idUSKBN2B30RC|date=11 March 2021|work=Reuters|access-date=6 September 2022|archive-date=12 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312063854/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-parliament-hongkong/chinas-parliament-moves-to-overhaul-hong-kongs-electoral-system-idUSKBN2B30RC|url-status=live}}</ref> Thirty FC councillors are selected from limited electorates representing sectors of the economy or special interest groups,<ref name="LegCoVoting">{{harvnb|Guidelines on the Legislative Council Election|2016|pp=3–4}}</ref> and the remaining five members are nominated from sitting ] members and selected in region-wide ]s.<ref>{{harvnb|Guidelines on the Legislative Council Election|2016|pp=3, 52–53}}</ref> All popularly elected members are chosen by ]. The 30 limited electorate functional constituencies fill their seats using ] or ] voting.<ref name="LegCoVoting" />
] on ] ]]
]
The civil service of Hong Kong maintains its quality and neutrality following its tradition in the colonial times, 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.


Twenty-two political parties had representatives elected to the Legislative Council in the ].<ref>{{harvnb|LegCo and DC Member Political Affiliations|2017}}</ref> These parties have aligned themselves into three ideological groups: the ] (the current government), the ], and ].<ref>{{harvnb|Bush|Whelan-Wuest|2017}}.</ref> The Chinese Communist Party does not have an official political presence in Hong Kong, and its members do not run in local elections.<ref>{{harvnb|Sala|2016}}.</ref> Hong Kong is represented in the ] by 36 deputies chosen through an electoral college and 203 delegates in the ] appointed by the central government.<ref name="NationalReps" />
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>, Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor, ]. Retrieved ].</ref> the drafted law<ref>"", The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region — Immigration Department, last revision: ] ]. Retrieved ] ].</ref> brought forth by Article 23. The focus of controversies shifted to the issue of ] towards the end of 2003 and in 2004, which was the slogan of another ] on ] ].<ref>"", T-Salon, ] ]. Retrieved ] ].</ref><ref>, ]. Retrieved ].</ref>


] formerly housed the ] and the ].]]
On ] ], 25 Hong Kong pro-democracy LegCo members, some of whom were previously labelled as traitors by Beijing after the 1989 ] 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.
] does not generally apply in the region, and Hong Kong is treated as a separate jurisdiction.<ref name="Gittings150" /> Its judicial system is based on ], continuing the legal tradition established during British rule.<ref>{{harvnb|Tam|Chan|Choi Kwan|Leung|2012|pp=80–81}}</ref> Local courts may refer to precedents set in ] and overseas jurisprudence.<ref>{{harvnb|Gittings|2009|p=148}}.</ref> However, ] applies to cases investigated by the ].<ref name="NPC Observer">{{cite web |title=Legislation Summary: Hong Kong National Security Law |url=https://npcobserver.com/2020/06/30/legislation-summary-hong-kong-national-security-law/ |website=NPC Observer |date=30 June 2020 |access-date=2 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702162405/https://npcobserver.com/2020/06/30/legislation-summary-hong-kong-national-security-law/ |archive-date=2 July 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Jordan|1997|p=335}}.</ref> Decisions made by the ] override any territorial judicial process.<ref name="HCAL185/2016">{{harvnb|''Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Another v the President of the Legislative Council''}}</ref> 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.<ref name="BasicLawA18">{{harvnb|Basic Law Chapter II}} Article 18.</ref>


The territory's jurisdictional independence is most apparent in its ] and taxation policies. The ] issues ] which differ from those of the mainland or Macau,<ref>{{harvnb|Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passports Ordinance}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/contactus/control_points.html |title=Control Point Locations |publisher=] |access-date=18 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122092430/http://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/contactus/control_points.html |archive-date=22 November 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Mainland Chinese citizens do not have ] and are subject to immigration controls.<ref>{{harvnb|Basic Law Chapter II}} Article 22.</ref> Public finances are handled separately from the national government; taxes levied in Hong Kong do not fund the central authority.<ref>{{harvnb|Basic Law Chapter V}} Article 106.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Public Finance Facts|2018}}.</ref>
On ] ], a ] was organised by the Civil Human Rights Front and ] lawmakers to demand a timetable for universal suffrage to be included in political reform proposals for the 2007 and 2008 elections for the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council respectively. The turnout was reported to be 63,000 by the police, and at least 250,000 by the organisers. The proposals would have doubled the size of the election committee (from 800 members to 1,600) and added ten seats to the Legislative Council (5 geographic and 5 functional seats for district councillors). On ] ], the reforms, proposed by the ] of Hong Kong, Donald Tsang, were defeated by the ] after they failed to reach the necessary two-third threshold with 34 votes in favour and 24 opposed. In the wake of the defeat, China and the Chief Executive have indicated that reforms will not be possible until the 2012 elections. The defeat also did little to blunt Tsang's popularity, with his approval ratings only dropping from 82 to 79% in the wake of the vote.


The ] of the ] is responsible for the region's defence.<ref>{{harvnb|Lendon|2017}}.</ref> Although the ] is ] of the armed forces,<ref>{{harvnb|Constitution of the People's Republic of China}} Chapter 3 §&nbsp;4 (93).</ref> the regional government may request assistance from the garrison.<ref>{{harvnb|Basic Law Chapter II}} Article 14.</ref> 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Mok|Lee|2015}}.</ref>
While Hong Kong is not an independent country, it retains its own delegation in international organisations such as the ] and the ], although it changed its official name in these functions from "Hong Kong" to "Hong Kong, China" after 1997. Hong Kong also participates in international events by including a delegate with the PRC's representative group.


The central government and ] handle diplomatic matters, but Hong Kong retains the ability to maintain separate economic and cultural ].<ref>{{harvnb|Basic Law Chapter VII}} Article 152.</ref> The territory actively participates in the ], the ] forum, the ], and many ] agencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.unicef.org.hk/en/ |title=Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF |publisher=] |access-date=27 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228171638/https://www.unicef.org.hk/en/ |archive-date=28 December 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unhcr.org/hk/en/ |title=UNHCR Hong Kong |publisher=] |access-date=27 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228054213/http://www.unhcr.org/hk/en/ |archive-date=28 December 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.doj.gov.hk/eng/laws/interlaw.html |title=List of Treaties in Force and Applicable to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region |publisher=] |date=25 October 2017 |access-date=27 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228054117/http://www.doj.gov.hk/eng/laws/interlaw.html |archive-date=28 December 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> The regional government maintains ] in ] and other nations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.hk/en/about/govdirectory/oohk.htm |title=Offices Outside Hong Kong |publisher=Hong Kong Government |access-date=18 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614040108/https://www.gov.hk/en/about/govdirectory/oohk.htm |archive-date=14 June 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Legal system and judiciary==
] in ]]]
]s]]
{{main|Legal system of Hong Kong|Judiciary of Hong Kong}}
In contrast to ]'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 other common law jurisdictions. Articles 82 and 92 allow judges from other common law jurisdictions to participate in proceedings of Hong Kong's ] and sit as Hong Kong judges.


The imposition of the ] by the ] in June 2020 resulted in the suspension of bilateral extradition treaties by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, and Ireland.<ref name=rgmsus/> The United States ended its preferential economic and trade treatment of Hong Kong in July 2020 because it was no longer able to distinguish Hong Kong as a separate entity from the People's Republic of China.<ref name="rgmsus">{{cite news |title=Ireland suspends its extradition treaty with Hong Kong |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-ireland-suspends-its-extradition-treaty-with-hong-kong/ |agency=Reuters |publisher=The Globe and Mail Inc |date=23 October 2020 |access-date=23 October 2020 |archive-date=23 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023235610/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-ireland-suspends-its-extradition-treaty-with-hong-kong/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="bbcpref">{{cite news |title=Trump ends preferential economic treatment for Hong Kong |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53412598 |publisher=BBC |date=15 July 2020 |access-date=23 October 2020 |archive-date=17 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117140801/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53412598 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2024, the ] was passed by the Legislative Council to grant officials "even more powers to crack down on opposition to ] and the Hong Kong government" and includes penalties such as life imprisonment for political crimes such as ] and ]. Critics state that this expansion "will strike a lasting blow to the partial autonomy the city had been promised by China ]]."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-20 |title=Hong Kong Adopts Sweeping Security Laws, Bowing to Beijing – The New York Times |website=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/19/world/asia/hong-kong-security-law-article-23.html |access-date=2024-03-21 |archive-date=20 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320033023/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/19/world/asia/hong-kong-security-law-article-23.html |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
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 ] (NPC:SC) 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.


=== Administrative divisions ===
As in ], ]s in Hong Kong are classified as either ]s or ]s, where one can choose to practice as either one but not both (but it is possible to switch from one to another.) 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 ].
{{Main|Areas of Hong Kong|Districts of Hong Kong|List of towns in Hong Kong}}
According to the Article 63 of the ], the ] controls criminal ]s, free from any interference. It is the largest legal institution in Hong Kong, and its responsibilities involve ], judicial administration, prosecution, civil representation, legal and policy drafting and reform, and the legal profession. Aside from prosecuting criminal cases in Hong Kong, officials of the Department of Justice also appear in court on behalf of the government in all civil and administrative lawsuits against the government. As the protector of ]s, it may apply for ]s and assign legal representation on behalf of public interest to take part in the trial of cases that involve material public interests.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doj.gov.hk/|title=Department of Justice|publisher=Department of Justice of HKSAR|accessdate=2007-03-17}}</ref>


Hong Kong's administrative divisions are divided into three levels: ] (區域), ] (地區), and Sub-districts (分區).<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |title=各區域及地區 AREAS AND DISTRICTS |url=https://www.rvd.gov.hk/doc/tc/hkpr15/06.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220424161628/https://www.rvd.gov.hk/doc/tc/hkpr15/06.pdf |archive-date=2022-04-24 |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Rating and Valuation Department, Government of Hong Kong}}</ref> Hong Kong is administratively divided into three areas: ], ], and the ]. They are further divided into 18 districts. The area of Hong Kong Island has four districts, the area of Kowloon has five districts, and the area of the New Territories has nine districts.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":02">{{Cite web |title=Home Affairs Department - My Districts |url=https://www.had.gov.hk/en/18_districts/my_map.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901161227/https://www.had.gov.hk/en/18_districts/my_map.htm |archive-date=2024-09-01 |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Home Affairs Department, Government of Hong Kong}}</ref> Each district is represented by a ]. The district councils advise the government on local issues such as public facility provisioning, community programme maintenance, cultural promotion, and environmental policy.<ref name="district">{{harvnb|District Administration Facts|2016}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{harvnb|District Councils Ordinance}}.</ref><ref name="dc2023_gld01" />
==Administrative districts==
]; 2. ]; 3. ]; 4. ]; 5. ]; 6. ]; 7. ]; 8. ]; 9. ]; 10. ]; 11. ]; 12. ]; 13. ]; 14. ]; 15. ]; 16. ]; 17. ]; 18. ] ]]


{{As of|2024|post=,}} there are a total of 470 district council seats, 88 of which are directly elected.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 District Council Ordinary Election - Election Brief |url=https://www.elections.gov.hk/dc2023/eng/ebrief.html#6 |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=www.elections.gov.hk}}</ref> In May 2023, the government proposed ] which further cut the number of directly elected seats from 452 to 88, and total seats from 479 to 470. A requirement that district council candidates be vetted and approved by the ] was also proposed. The Legislative Council approved the reforms in July 2023.<ref name="dc2023_freepress01" /><ref name="dc2023_gld01" /><ref name="dc2023_gld02" />
{{main|Districts of Hong Kong}}

Hong Kong is subdivided into 18 geographic districts for administrative purposes:
{{Hong Kong districts imagemap}}
{{col-begin|width=300px}}

=== Political reforms and sociopolitical issues ===
{{Main|Democratic development in Hong Kong|Human rights in Hong Kong}}
] during the ]]]

Hong Kong is governed by a ] that is not fully ] of the population. ] members elected by functional constituencies composed of professional and special interest groups are accountable to these narrow corporate electorates and not the general public. This electoral arrangement has guaranteed a ] majority in the legislature since the handover. Similarly, the chief executive is selected by establishment politicians and corporate members of the Election Committee rather than directly elected.<ref name="hybridregime">{{harvnb|Cheng|2016|p=387}}.</ref> Despite ] being established as ultimate goals for the election of the chief executive and all members of the Legislative Council in ] and 68 of the basic law,<ref>{{harvnb|Basic Law Chapter IV}} Articles 45, 68.</ref> the legislature is only partially directly elected, and the executive continues to be nominated by an unrepresentative body.<ref name="hybridregime" /> The government has been repeatedly petitioned to introduce direct elections for these positions, but has not introduced these direct elections as of 2024.<ref>{{harvnb|Wong|Lim|2017}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Ming|2006}}.</ref>

Ethnic minorities (except those of European ancestry) have marginal representation in government and often experience discrimination in housing, education, and employment.<ref>{{harvnb|Ngo|Cheung|2016}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Zhao|2015}}.</ref> 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Chao|2013}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Lhatoo|2015}}.</ref> ], mostly women from the Philippines and Indonesia, have little protection under regional law.<ref>{{cite web |last=Raquel Carvalho and Peace Chiu |date=25 February 2018 |title=Fed up with human trafficking, Hong Kong migrant workers hold vigil demanding justice |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2134591/fed-human-trafficking-hong-kong-migrant-workers-hold-vigil |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428161445/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2134591/fed-human-trafficking-hong-kong-migrant-workers-hold-vigil |archive-date=28 April 2023 |access-date=24 June 2020 |website=]}}</ref> Although they live and work in Hong Kong, these workers are not treated as ordinary residents and do not have the right of abode in the territory.<ref>{{harvnb|"Meanings of Right of Abode and Other Terms", Immigration Department}}</ref> ] is also an issue,<ref>{{cite web |last=Tony Read |date=8 July 2016 |title=Hong Kong must lead the fight against human trafficking, rather than just do the bare minimum |url=https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1986535/hong-kong-must-lead-fight-against-human-trafficking-rather |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428161532/https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1986535/hong-kong-must-lead-fight-against-human-trafficking-rather |archive-date=28 April 2023 |access-date=24 June 2020 |website=South China Morning Post}}</ref> local, mainland Chinese, and foreign women have been trafficked for sex in ], homes, and businesses in the city.<ref>{{cite web |last=Astrid Zweynert |date=22 October 2015 |title=New ways to help Hong Kong's human trafficking victims |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/Change-Agent/2015/1022/New-ways-to-help-Hong-Kong-s-human-trafficking-victims |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428161341/https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/Change-Agent/2015/1022/New-ways-to-help-Hong-Kong-s-human-trafficking-victims |archive-date=28 April 2023 |access-date=24 June 2020 |website=] |publisher=] |quote=The US State Department's 2014 Trafficking in Persons report said people from mainland China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, Cambodia, and other Southeast Asian countries as well as Colombia, Chad, and Uganda had become victims of sex trafficking and forced labor in Hong Kong.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Jason Wordie |date=16 January 2016 |title=Human trafficking in Hong Kong: hidden in plain sight |url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/1901109/human-trafficking-hong-kong-hidden-plain-sight |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428161241/https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/1901109/human-trafficking-hong-kong-hidden-plain-sight |archive-date=28 April 2023 |access-date=24 June 2020 |website=] |quote=Likewise, legions of mainland prostitutes form a highly visible yet officially clandestine workforce in certain parts of Hong Kong. Many of these women, according to informed sources within the sex-worker sorority, have been trafficked.}}</ref>

The Joint Declaration guarantees the ] for 50 years after the handover.<ref name="Carroll181" /> 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 integrated with China's at that time, or the territory may continue to be administered separately.<ref>{{harvnb|Cheung|2016}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Cheung|2015}}.</ref> However, in response to ], the ] passed the controversial ].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hernández |first1=Javier C. |title=Harsh Penalties, Vaguely Defined Crimes: Hong Kong's Security Law Explained |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/30/world/asia/hong-kong-security-law-explain.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701032003/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/30/world/asia/hong-kong-security-law-explain.html |archive-date=1 July 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=The New York Times |access-date=2 July 2020 |date=30 June 2020}}</ref> The law criminalises secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign elements 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. Some of the aforementioned acts were previously considered protected speech under Hong Kong law.<ref name="NPC Observer" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Hong Kong National Security Law Promulgated, Came into Effect June 30, 2020 |url=https://www.mofo.com/resources/insights/200701-hong-kong-national-security-law.html |website=] |access-date=2 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702163941/https://www.mofo.com/resources/insights/200701-hong-kong-national-security-law.html |archive-date=2 July 2020 |date=1 July 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> The United Kingdom considers the law to be a serious violation of the Joint Declaration.<ref>{{cite web |last1=James |first1=William |title=UK says China's security law is serious violation of Hong Kong treaty |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests-britain/uk-says-chinas-security-law-is-serious-violation-of-hong-kong-treaty-idUSKBN2425LL |website=Reuters |access-date=2 July 2020 |date=1 July 2020 |archive-date=2 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702015311/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests-britain/uk-says-chinas-security-law-is-serious-violation-of-hong-kong-treaty-idUSKBN2425LL |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2020, the Hong Kong Police arrested seven pro-] politicians over tussles with pro-Beijing politicians in the Legislative Council in May. They were charged with contempt and interfering with members of the council, while none of the pro-Beijing lawmakers were detained.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-54768209|title=Hong Kong pro-democracy politicians arrested|work=BBC News|date=November 2020|access-date=1 November 2020|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101110236/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-54768209|url-status=live}}</ref> Annual commemorations of the ] were also cancelled amidst fears of violating the national security law.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hong Kong churches drop Tiananmen tributes after 33 years amid arrest fears |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/30/hong-kong-churches-drop-tiananmen-tributes-after-33-years-amid-arrest-fears |access-date=31 May 2022 |work=Agence France-Presse |via=The Guardian |date=30 May 2022 |language=en |archive-date=30 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530185147/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/30/hong-kong-churches-drop-tiananmen-tributes-after-33-years-amid-arrest-fears |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2021, the Chinese central government unilaterally ] and established the ], which would be tasked with screening and evaluating political candidates for their "patriotism", effectively crushing the remainder of the ].<ref name="france2420210311"/>

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Hong Kong|Environment of Hong Kong}}
]

Hong Kong is on China's southern coast, {{convert|60|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of Macau, 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 {{convert|1110.18|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Survey and Mapping Office – Circulars and Publications|url=https://www.landsd.gov.hk/mapping/en/publications/total.htm|access-date=9 March 2021|website=www.landsd.gov.hk|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308210534/https://www.landsd.gov.hk/mapping/en/publications/total.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> area (2,754.97&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup><ref name=":0" /> if the maritime area is included) consists of ], the ], the ], ], and over 200 other islands. Of the total area, {{convert|1073|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} is land and {{convert|35|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} is water.<ref name="cia">{{cite web |title=Hong Kong |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/hong-kong/ |access-date=2 October 2018 |work=] |publisher=] |archive-date=10 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610100924/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/hong-kong/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The territory's highest point is ], {{convert|957|m|ft}} above sea level.<ref>{{harvnb|Owen|Shaw|2007|p=13}}.</ref> Urban development is concentrated on the Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong Island, and in ] throughout the New Territories.<ref>{{harvnb|Population By-Census|2021|pp=34–35}}</ref> Much of this is built on ]; {{convert|70|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} (6% of the total land or about 25% of developed space in the territory) is reclaimed from the sea.<ref name="reclamation">{{harvnb|Land Policy Report|2017|p=1}}.</ref>

Undeveloped terrain is hilly to mountainous, with very little flat land, and consists mostly of grassland, woodland, shrubland, or farmland.<ref>{{harvnb|Owen|Shaw|2007|p=2}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|"Land Use in Hong Kong 2017", Planning Department}}</ref> About 40% of the remaining land area is ] and nature reserves.<ref>{{harvnb|Morton|Harper|1995|p=9}}.</ref> The territory has a diverse ecosystem; over 3,000 species of ]s occur in the region (300 of which are native to Hong Kong), and thousands of insect, avian, and marine species.<ref>{{harvnb|Hu|2003}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.hk/en/residents/environment/conservation/naturalenvplantsanimals.htm |title=The Natural Environment, Plants & Animals in Hong Kong |publisher=Hong Kong Government |access-date=15 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115215525/https://www.gov.hk/en/residents/environment/conservation/naturalenvplantsanimals.htm |archive-date=15 November 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Climate ===
Hong Kong has a ] (] ''Cwa''), characteristic of southern China, despite being located south of the ], although closely bordering on a ]. Summers are long, hot and humid, with occasional showers and thunderstorms and warm air from the southwest. The humid nature of Hong Kong exacerbates the warmth of summer. ]s occur most often then, sometimes resulting in floods or landslides. Also rarely occurring are ]s and ]es, which occurred at Hong Kong International Airport on 26 September 2020 and at Victoria Harbour on 28 September 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-26 |title=Small tornado spotted at Hong Kong airport, but no damage reported |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3103172/small-tornado-spotted-hong-kong-airport-rare |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-28 |title=Waterspout spotted over Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour for first time |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3280343/waterspout-spotted-over-hong-kongs-victoria-harbour-weather-forecaster |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> Winters are short, mild and usually sunny at the beginning, becoming cloudy towards February. Frequent cold fronts bring strong, cooling winds from the north and occasionally result in chilly weather. Autumn is the sunniest season, whilst spring is generally cloudy.<ref name="HKClimate">{{cite web |url=http://www.hko.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/climahk.htm |title=Climate of Hong Kong |publisher=] |access-date=5 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602080336/http://www.hko.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/climahk.htm |archive-date=2 June 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Snowfall has been extremely rare in Hong Kong; the last reported instance was on ] in 1975.<ref>{{cite web |title=Last time it snowed in Hong Kong |url=https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/education/climate/general-climatology/00247-last-time-it-snowed-in-hong-kong.html |website=www.hko.gov.hk |language=en |access-date=12 December 2023 |archive-date=12 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212060956/https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/education/climate/general-climatology/00247-last-time-it-snowed-in-hong-kong.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Hong Kong averages 1,709 hours of sunshine per year.<ref>{{harvnb|Geography and Climate|2010}}.</ref> Historic temperature extremes at the ] are {{convert|36.6|°C|°F|sigfig=3}} on 22 August 2017 and {{convert|0.0|°C|°F|sigfig=3}} on 18 January 1893.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hko.gov.hk/cis/extreme/mon_extreme_e.htm |title=Extreme Values and Dates of Occurrence of Extremes of Meteorological Elements between 1884 and 1939 and 1947–2017 for Hong Kong |publisher=] |access-date=25 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324065716/http://www.hko.gov.hk/cis/extreme/mon_extreme_e.htm |archive-date=24 March 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The highest and lowest recorded temperatures in all of Hong Kong are {{convert|39.0|°C|°F|sigfig=3}} at ] on 22 August 2017,<ref>{{harvnb|"HK records hottest day before typhoon", ''EJ Insight''}}</ref> and {{convert|−6.0|°C|°F|sigfig=3}} at ] ].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Automatic Weather Observations yearly Extract|url=https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/cis/awsYearlyExtract.htm|access-date=17 January 2021|website=Hong Kong Observatory|language=en|archive-date=10 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310193538/https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/cis/awsYearlyExtract.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Hong Kong (]), normals 1991–2020,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data in Hong Kong from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1884–1939 and 1947–present
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|collapsed = Y
|Jan record high C = 26.9
|Feb record high C = 28.3
|Mar record high C = 31.5
|Apr record high C = 33.4
|May record high C = 36.1
|Jun record high C = 35.6
|Jul record high C = 36.1
|Aug record high C = 36.6
|Sep record high C = 35.9
|Oct record high C = 34.6
|Nov record high C = 31.8
|Dec record high C = 28.7
|year record high C = 36.6
|Jan avg record high C = 24.0
|Feb avg record high C = 25.1
|Mar avg record high C = 27.5
|Apr avg record high C = 30.2
|May avg record high C = 32.3
|Jun avg record high C = 33.6
|Jul avg record high C = 34.1
|Aug avg record high C = 34.2
|Sep avg record high C = 33.4
|Oct avg record high C = 31.3
|Nov avg record high C = 28.4
|Dec avg record high C = 25.1
|year avg record high C = 34.7
|Jan high C = 18.7
|Feb high C = 19.4
|Mar high C = 21.9
|Apr high C = 25.6
|May high C = 28.8
|Jun high C = 30.7
|Jul high C = 31.6
|Aug high C = 31.3
|Sep high C = 30.5
|Oct high C = 28.1
|Nov high C = 24.5
|Dec high C = 20.4
|year high C = 26.0
|Jan mean C = 16.5
|Feb mean C = 17.1
|Mar mean C = 19.5
|Apr mean C = 23.0
|May mean C = 26.3
|Jun mean C = 28.3
|Jul mean C = 28.9
|Aug mean C = 28.7
|Sep mean C = 27.9
|Oct mean C = 25.7
|Nov mean C = 22.2
|Dec mean C = 18.2
|year mean C = 23.5
|Jan low C = 14.6
|Feb low C = 15.3
|Mar low C = 17.6
|Apr low C = 21.1
|May low C = 24.5
|Jun low C = 26.5
|Jul low C = 26.9
|Aug low C = 26.7
|Sep low C = 26.1
|Oct low C = 23.9
|Nov low C = 20.3
|Dec low C = 16.2
|year low C = 21.6
|Jan avg record low C = 9.1
|Feb avg record low C = 10.2
|Mar avg record low C = 12.2
|Apr avg record low C = 16.3
|May avg record low C = 20.7
|Jun avg record low C = 23.6
|Jul avg record low C = 24.2
|Aug avg record low C = 24.3
|Sep avg record low C = 23.5
|Oct avg record low C = 20.1
|Nov avg record low C = 15.3
|Dec avg record low C = 10.1
|year avg record low C = 7.8
|Jan record low C = 0.0
|Feb record low C = 2.4
|Mar record low C = 4.8
|Apr record low C = 9.9
|May record low C = 15.4
|Jun record low C = 19.2
|Jul record low C = 21.7
|Aug record low C = 21.6
|Sep record low C = 18.4
|Oct record low C = 13.5
|Nov record low C = 6.5
|Dec record low C = 4.3
|year record low C = 0.0
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 33.2
|Feb rain mm = 38.9
|Mar rain mm = 75.3
|Apr rain mm = 153.0
|May rain mm = 290.6
|Jun rain mm = 491.5
|Jul rain mm = 385.8
|Aug rain mm = 453.2
|Sep rain mm = 321.4
|Oct rain mm = 120.3
|Nov rain mm = 39.3
|Dec rain mm = 28.8
|year rain mm = 2431.2
|unit rain days = 0.1 mm
|Jan rain days = 5.70
|Feb rain days = 7.97
|Mar rain days = 10.50
|Apr rain days = 11.37
|May rain days = 15.37
|Jun rain days = 19.33
|Jul rain days = 18.43
|Aug rain days = 17.50
|Sep rain days = 14.90
|Oct rain days = 7.83
|Nov rain days = 5.70
|Dec rain days = 5.30
|year rain days = 139.90
|Jan humidity = 74
|Feb humidity = 79
|Mar humidity = 82
|Apr humidity = 83
|May humidity = 83
|Jun humidity = 82
|Jul humidity = 81
|Aug humidity = 81
|Sep humidity = 78
|Oct humidity = 73
|Nov humidity = 72
|Dec humidity = 70
|year humidity = 78
| Jan dew point C = 11.7
| Feb dew point C = 13.2
| Mar dew point C = 16.1
| Apr dew point C = 19.7
| May dew point C = 23.0
| Jun dew point C = 24.9
| Jul dew point C = 25.2
| Aug dew point C = 25.1
| Sep dew point C = 23.6
| Oct dew point C = 20.2
| Nov dew point C = 16.7
| Dec dew point C = 12.4
| year dew point C = 19.3
|Jan sun = 145.8
|Feb sun = 101.7
|Mar sun = 100.0
|Apr sun = 113.2
|May sun = 138.8
|Jun sun = 144.3
|Jul sun = 197.3
|Aug sun = 182.1
|Sep sun = 174.4
|Oct sun = 197.8
|Nov sun = 172.3
|Dec sun = 161.6
|year sun = 1829.3
|Jan percentsun = 43
|Feb percentsun = 32
|Mar percentsun = 27
|Apr percentsun = 30
|May percentsun = 34
|Jun percentsun = 36
|Jul percentsun = 48
|Aug percentsun = 46
|Sep percentsun = 47
|Oct percentsun = 55
|Nov percentsun = 52
|Dec percentsun = 48
|year percentsun = 41
|source 1 = ]<ref name="met_norms">{{cite web |url=https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/cis/normal/1991_2020/normals.htm |title=Monthly Meteorological Normals for Hong Kong (1991–2020) |publisher=Hong Kong Observatory |access-date=7 February 2021 |archive-date=8 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208043254/https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/cis/normal/1991_2020/normals.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="extremeshko">{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.gov.hk/en/cis/extreme/mon_extreme.htm |title=Extreme Values and Dates of Occurrence of Extremes of Meteorological Elements between 1884–1939 and 1947–2020 for Hong Kong) |publisher=Hong Kong Observatory |access-date=7 February 2021 |archive-date=8 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208053745/http://www.weather.gov.hk/en/cis/extreme/mon_extreme.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="meanmaxmin">{{cite web |url=https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/cis/monthlyElement.htm |title=Monthly Data for Single Element |publisher=Hong Kong Observatory |access-date=16 February 2022 |archive-date=9 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209091006/https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/cis/monthlyElement.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

=== Architecture ===
{{Main|Architecture of Hong Kong}}
], a famous group of residential buildings in ]]]

Hong Kong has the world's ], with 554 towers taller than {{convert|150|m|ft}},<ref name="SkyscraperCenter">{{cite web |title=Hong Kong |url=https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/city/hong-kong |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111114955/http://www.skyscrapercenter.com/city/hong-kong |archive-date=11 November 2017 |access-date=15 January 2018 |website=The Skyscraper Center |publisher=]}}</ref> and the third-largest number of high-rise buildings in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.emporis.com/statistics/skyline-ranking |title=Skyline Ranking |publisher=] |access-date=24 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623034606/https://www.emporis.com/statistics/skyline-ranking |archive-date=23 June 2018 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> The lack of available space restricted development to high-density residential ]s and commercial complexes packed closely together on buildable land.<ref>{{harvnb|Tong|Wong|1997}}.</ref> ]s are uncommon and generally only found in outlying areas.<ref>{{harvnb|Forrest|La Grange|Yip|2004|pp=215, 222}}</ref> The ] and ] are the ] and are among the tallest in the Asia-Pacific region.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.emporis.com/statistics/worlds-tallest-buildings |title=The World's Tallest Buildings |publisher=] |access-date=24 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624121309/https://www.emporis.com/statistics/worlds-tallest-buildings |archive-date=24 June 2018 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> Other distinctive buildings lining the Hong Kong Island skyline include the ], the ]-topped triangular ], the circular ], and the sharp-edged ].<ref name="FengShui">{{harvnb|Kohlstedt|2016}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Hollingsworth|Zheng|2017}}.</ref>

Demand for new construction has contributed to frequent demolition of older buildings, freeing space for modern high-rises.<ref>{{harvnb|Zheng|2017}}.</ref> 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 ], is the oldest Western-style building in Hong Kong.<ref>{{harvnb|McKercher|Ho|du Cros|2004}}.</ref> Some buildings, such as the ] and the ] retain their original functions, and others have been ]; the ] was redeveloped into a commercial and retail complex,<ref name="TourismFacts">{{harvnb|Tourism Facts|2016}}.</ref> and ] (built in 1875 as a ]) houses the ].<ref>{{harvnb|Béthanie|2015|p=3}}.</ref> The ], dedicated to the sea goddess ] (originally built in 1012 and rebuilt in 1266), is the territory's oldest existing structure.<ref>{{harvnb|Ingham|2007|p=225}}.</ref> The ] has architectural examples of several imperial Chinese dynasties, including the ] (Hong Kong's only remaining pagoda).<ref>{{harvnb|Declared Monuments|2007|pp=5–6}}.</ref>

'']'', 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Xue|2016|p=99}}.</ref> Examples include ], the ] in ], and the ] in ]. Mass-produced ], built since the 1960s, are mainly constructed in ].<ref>{{harvnb|Xue|2016|p=41}}.</ref>

{{wide image|Hong Kong at night.jpg|1150px|align-cap=center|alt=Skyline at night, with building lights reflected in water|The Hong Kong Island skyline, viewed from the ] waterfront}}
{{wide image|Kowloon Panorama by Ryan Cheng 2010.jpg|1600px|align-cap=center|City view of Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, and the Hong Kong skyline}}

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Hong Kong|Hong Kong people}}
{| class="wikitable sortable floatright"
|+ style="text-align: right;" | Death rates (No. of Deaths per 100,000 Population) by leading causes of death, based on ICD 10th Revision.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/statistics/data/10/27/117.html | title=Death Rates by Leading Causes of Death, 2001 – 2021 | access-date=8 April 2023 | archive-date=8 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408181119/https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/statistics/data/10/27/117.html | url-status=live }}</ref> <span style="color:crimson">Red</span>: increased compared with 2001. Deaths from ] increased more than 5 times from 2001 to 2021.
! Cause of Death !! 2001 !! 2011 !! 2021
|-
| 1. Malignant neoplasms || 169.9 || 187.2 || <span style="color:crimson">203.8</span>
|-
| 2. Pneumonia || 45.1 || 87.8 || <span style="color:crimson">'''132.6'''</span>
|-
| 3. Diseases of heart || 70 || 89.6 || <span style="color:crimson">89</span>
|-
| 4. Cerebrovascular || 46.6 || 47.2 || 42.2
|-
| 5. External causes of <br />morbidity and mortality || 27.5 || 22.2 || 26.7
|-
| 6. Nephritis, nephrotic <br />syndrome and nephrosis || 15.7 || 21.8 || <span style="color:crimson">24</span>
|-
| 7. '''Dementia''' || 3.8 || 10.6 || <span style="color:crimson">'''20.2'''</span>
|-
| 8. Septicaemia || 6.3 || 10.8 || <span style="color:crimson">16.8</span>
|-
| 9. Chronic lower <br />respiratory diseases || 31.5 || 27.8 || 14.3
|-
| 10. Diabetes mellitus || 10.1 || 6.5 || 7.4
|-
| All other causes || 69.7 || 85 || <span style="color:crimson">118.1</span>
|- |-
| All causes || 496 || 596.6 ||<span style="color:crimson" >695.2</span>
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Each district is represented by a ] that advises the Government of Hong Kong on local matters such as public facilities, community programmes, cultural activities and environmental improvements. The ] is the governmental body responsible for coordinating services and communicating government policies and plans to the public. It interacts with the public at the local level through corresponding district offices.


The ] estimated Hong Kong's population at 7,413,070 in 2021. The overwhelming majority (91.6%) is ],<ref name="demographics" /> most of whom are ], ], ], and other ]s.<ref>{{harvnb|Fan|1974}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Carroll|2007|pp=144–147}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Yu|2013}}.</ref> The remaining 8.4% are non-ethnic Chinese minorities, primarily ], ], and ].<ref name="demographics" /><ref>{{harvnb|Erni|Leung|2014|pp=18, 22}}.</ref> However, most Filipinos and Indonesians in Hong Kong are short-term workers. According to a 2021 thematic report by the Hong Kong government, after excluding foreign domestic helpers, the real number of non-Chinese ethnic minorities in the city was 301,344, or 4% of Hong Kong's population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Statistical Product|url=https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1120100&scode=459|access-date=28 November 2021|website=www.censtatd.gov.hk|archive-date=7 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407171137/https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1120100&scode=459|url-status=live}}</ref> About half the population have ], a legacy of colonial rule; 3.4&nbsp;million residents have ] status, and 260,000 British citizens live in the territory.<ref>{{harvnb|FCO Written Evidence|2014}}.</ref> The vast majority also hold ], automatically granted to all ethnic Chinese residents at the handover.<ref>{{harvnb|Standing Committee Interpretation Concerning Implementation of Chinese Nationality Law in Hong Kong}}</ref> Headline ] exceeds 7,060 people/km<sup>2</sup>, and is the ] in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.POP.DNST?locations=HK|title=Population density (people per sq km of land area) – Hong Kong SAR, China|work=]|access-date=6 August 2022|archive-date=16 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516120537/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.POP.DNST?locations=HK|url-status=live}}</ref>
There are no formal definitions for ]. The historic boundaries of ], ] and ] are stated in law, but these entities no longer possess any legal or administrative status.


The predominant language is ], a ] originating in Guangdong. It is spoken by 93.7% of the population, 88.2% as a first language and 5.5% as a second language.<ref name="2021By-CensusLanguages"/> Slightly over half the population (58.7%) speaks ], the other official language;<ref name="OfficialLanguagesOrd" /> 4.6% are native speakers, and 54.1% speak English as a second language.<ref name="2021By-CensusLanguages" /> ], mixing English and Cantonese in informal conversation, is common among the bilingual population.<ref>{{harvnb|Lee|2012}}.</ref> Post-handover governments have promoted ], which is currently about as prevalent as English; 54.2% of the population speak Mandarin, with 2.3% native speakers and 51.9% as a second language.<ref name="2021By-CensusLanguages" /> ] are used in writing, rather than the ] used in the ].<ref>{{harvnb|Developing a Supplementary Guide to the Chinese Language Curriculum for Non-Chinese Speaking Students|2008|p=9}}</ref>
==Economy==
], the tallest building in Hong Kong]]
{{main article|Economy of Hong Kong}}
Hong Kong maintains a highly ] built on a policy of ], low ] and ]. It is an important centre for international finance and trade, with the greatest concentration of corporate headquarters in the ] region. In terms of ] per capita and ], Hong Kong is the wealthiest urban centre in the People's Republic of China. The ] of Hong Kong even exceeded the four big economies in Western Europe (UK, France, Germany, Italy) and Japan in Asia.


] is dedicated to the ] deity ].]]
Continuing the practice established under the British administration, the Government of Hong Kong mostly leaves the direction of the economy to market forces and the private sector. Since 1980, the government has generally played a passive role under the official policy of ]. Hong Kong has often been cited as a prime example of ] in practice, most notably by economist ]. It has ranked as the world's freest economy in the ] for 13 consecutive years, since the inception of the index in 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/|title=2007 Index of Economic Freedom |publisher=Heritage Foundation}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fraserinstitute.ca/admin/books/chapterfiles/1EFW2006ch1Rev.pdf#|title=Summary Economic Freedom Rating 2004 (Economic Freedom of the World - Annual report 2006 on page 13 or 9 of 23) |accessdate=2007-01-08 |publisher=The Fraser Institute, Canada |language=English}}</ref> It also places first in the Economic Freedom of the World Report.<ref name="FraserInst">{{cite web|url=http://www.fraserinstitute.ca/admin/books/chapterfiles/1EFW2006ch1Rev.pdf|title=Economic Freedom of the World: 2006 Annual Report|publisher=The Fraser Institute|year=2006|accessdate=2007-06-06|format=PDF}}</ref>
Among the religious population, the traditional "]" of China, ], ], and ], have the most adherents (20%), followed by ] (12%) and ] (4%).<ref name="religionFacts">{{harvnb|Religion and Custom Facts|2016}}.</ref> Followers of other religions, including ], ], and ], generally originate from regions where their religion predominates.<ref name="religionFacts" />


Life expectancy in Hong Kong was 81.3 years for males and 87.2 years for females in 2022, one of the highest in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/statistics/data/10/27/111.html |title=Life Expectancy at Birth (Male and Female), 1971 – 2022 |publisher=Hong Kong Government Centrer of Health Protection |access-date=16 August 2023 |archive-date=16 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816122342/https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/statistics/data/10/27/111.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ], ], ], ], and accidents are the territory's five leading causes of death.<ref name="2017HealthFacts">{{harvnb|Health Facts|2017}}.</ref> The ] is funded by general-tax revenue, and treatment is highly subsidised; on average, 95% of healthcare costs are covered by the government.<ref>{{harvnb|Wong|Yeoh|Chau|Yam|2015|p=262}}.</ref>
Hong Kong has little arable land and few natural resources within its borders, and must therefore import most of its ] and raw materials. Hong Kong is the world's eleventh largest trading entity,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.info.gov.hk/info/hkbrief/eng/ahk.htm|title=About Hong Kong|publisher=Hong Kong SAR Government Information Centre|month=April|year=2006|accessdate=2007-04-12}}</ref> with the total value of ]s and ]s exceeding its ]. ], there are ] that maintain ]s in Hong Kong, more than any other city in the world. Much of Hong Kong's exports consists of re-exports, which are products made outside of the territory, especially in ], and distributed through Hong Kong. Even before the ] to the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong has established extensive trade and investment ties with mainland China. The territory's autonomous status enables it to serve as a point of entry for investments and resources flowing into the mainland. It is also a connecting point for flights from the ] on ] destined for the mainland.


The city has a severe amount of income inequality,<ref>{{cite web |title=Country Comparison: GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2001rank.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604195034/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2001rank.html |archive-date=4 June 2011 |access-date=15 January 2018 |work=] |publisher=]}}</ref> which has risen since the handover, as the region's ageing population has gradually added to the number of nonworking people.<ref>{{harvnb|Household Income Distribution|2021|p=3}}</ref> Although median household income steadily increased during the decade to 2021, the wage gap remained high;<ref name="IncomeDistribution">{{harvnb|Household Income Distribution|2021|p=50}}</ref> the 90th percentile of earners receive 41% of all income.<ref name="IncomeDistribution" /> The city has the most billionaires per capita, with one billionaire per 109,657 people,<ref>{{harvnb|Desjardins|2018}}.</ref> as well as the ] of any city in the world,<ref>{{cite web |author=Grosser |first=Annika |date=30 April 2024 |title=The Cities With The Most Billionaires 2024 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/annikagrosser/2024/04/26/the-cities-with-the-most-billionaires-2024/ |access-date=8 June 2024 |work=Forbes}}</ref> the highest number of billionaires of any city in Asia, and the largest concentration of ]s of any city in the world.<ref>{{harvnb|Liu|2018}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Frank|2018}}.</ref> Despite government efforts to reduce the growing disparity,<ref>{{harvnb|Household Income Distribution|2021|p=4}}</ref> median income for the top 10% of earners is 57 times that of the bottom 10%.<ref>{{harvnb|Hung|Ma|2023}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Household Income Distribution|2021|p=40}}</ref>
]
]


== Economy ==
The currency used in Hong Kong is the ]. Since 1983, it has been pegged at a ] to the ]. The currency is allowed to trade within a range between 7.75 and 7.85 Hong Kong dollars to one United States dollar. The ] is the ] in the world, with a ] of about ]1.69 trillion as of February 2007. In ], the value of ]s conducted in Hong Kong was second highest in the world after ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/25/business/borse.php|title=Hong Kong surpasses New York in IPOs|publisher=International Herald Tribune|date=]|accessdate=2007-04-12}}</ref> The City of London Corporation's Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI) 2007, which evaluates the competitiveness of 46 financial centres worldwide, ranks Hong Kong as the third-best financial centre globally and the strongest centre in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zyen.com/Knowledge/Research/GFCI%201%20March%202007%20Executive%20Summary.pdf|title=The Global Financial Centres Index 1 Executive Summary|publisher=City of London|month=March|year=2007|accessdate=2007-04-12|format=PDF}}</ref>
{{Main|Economy of Hong Kong|Tourism in Hong Kong}}
] is one of the world's ].]]


One of the world's most significant financial centres and commercial ports,<ref>{{harvnb|Global Financial Centres Index|2017}}</ref> Hong Kong has a ] focused on ], characterised by ], minimal government market intervention, and an established international financial market.<ref>{{harvnb|Jiang|Tang|Law|Sze|2003}}.</ref> It is the world's ], with a ] of approximately US$407&nbsp;billion.<ref name="IMFWEO.HK" /> Hong Kong's economy ranked at the top of ]'s ] index between 1995 and 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201201/12/P201201120303.htm |title=Hong Kong ranked world's freest economy for 18th consecutive year |publisher=Hong Kong Government |date=12 January 2012 |access-date=28 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028215314/http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201201/12/P201201120303.htm |archive-date=28 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Top 10 Countries |publisher=The Heritage Foundation |url=http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/topten.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124041217/http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/topten.cfm|archive-date=24 January 2008|access-date=1 February 2008}}</ref> However, Hong Kong was removed from the index by the Heritage Foundation in 2021, with the Foundation citing a "loss of political freedom and autonomy{{nbsp}}... almost indistinguishable in many respects from other major Chinese commercial centers like Shanghai and Beijing".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Feulner |first1=Edwin |title=Hong Kong Is No Longer What It Was |url=https://www.heritage.org/asia/commentary/hong-kong-no-longer-what-it-was |website=The Heritage Foundation |access-date=13 September 2022 |language=en |archive-date=12 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912185725/https://www.heritage.org/asia/commentary/hong-kong-no-longer-what-it-was |url-status=live }}</ref> Hong Kong is highly developed, and ranks fourth on the ].<ref name="cia" /> The ] is the ], with a market capitalisation of HK$30.4&nbsp;trillion (US$3.87&nbsp;trillion) {{As of|2018|12|lc=y}}.<ref>{{harvnb|HKSE Market Statistics|2018|p=2}}.</ref> Hong Kong is ranked as the 18th most innovative territory in the ] in 2024,<ref>{{Cite book |author=] |year=2024 |title=Global Innovation Index 2024: Unlocking the Promise of Social Entrepreneurship |url=https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2024/en/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=www.wipo.int |page=18 |publisher=World Intellectual Property Organization |language=en |doi=10.34667/tind.50062 |isbn=978-92-805-3681-2}}</ref> and 3rd in the ].<ref name="GFCI">{{cite web |date=March 2022 |title=The Global Financial Centres Index 31 |url=https://www.longfinance.net/media/documents/GFCI_31_Report_2022.03.24_v1.0.pdf |access-date=24 March 2022 |publisher=Long Finance |archive-date=24 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324124055/https://www.longfinance.net/media/documents/GFCI_31_Report_2022.03.24_v1.0.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The city is sometimes referred to as "Silicon Harbor",<ref name="Tech Monitor 1999">{{cite web | title=US Bank Leads Development of Hong Kong's "Silicon Harbor" | website=Tech Monitor | date=8 July 1999 | url=https://techmonitor.ai/technology/us_bank_leads_development_of_hong_kongs_silicon_harbor | access-date=6 July 2022 | archive-date=1 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001231008/https://techmonitor.ai/technology/us_bank_leads_development_of_hong_kongs_silicon_harbor | url-status=live }}</ref> a nickname derived from ] in ]. Hong Kong hosts several ] and ] companies,<ref name="Rohwer 2001 p. 168">{{cite book | last=Rohwer | first=J. | title=Remade in America: How Asia Will Change Because America Boomed | publisher=Crown | year=2001 | isbn=978-0-609-50412-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_IyjcoJ1BtMC&pg=PT168 | access-date=6 July 2022 | page=168 | archive-date=10 February 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210235434/https://books.google.com/books?id=_IyjcoJ1BtMC&pg=PT168#v=onepage&q&f=false | url-status=live }}</ref> including several multinational companies.<ref name="Bloomberg 1991">{{cite web | author=Pete Engardio | title=How Motorola Took Asia By The Tail | website=Bloomberg | date=12 April 1989 | url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1989/0412/fhong.html | access-date= | archive-date=6 July 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706071811/https://www.csmonitor.com/1989/0412/fhong.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Cragg 1993 p. 85">{{cite book | last=Cragg | first=C. | title=Hunting with the Tigers: Doing Business with Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam | publisher=Pfeiffer | year=1993 | isbn=978-0-89384-204-8 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QhVWl7-NcY8C&pg=PA85 | access-date=6 July 2022 | page=85 | archive-date=10 February 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210235517/https://books.google.com/books?id=QhVWl7-NcY8C&pg=PA85#v=onepage&q&f=false | url-status=live }}</ref>
Hong Kong's economy is dominated by services, which accounts for over 90 percent of its gross domestic product. In the past, manufacturing had been the most important sector of the economy, as Hong Kong industrialised following the Second World War. Driven by exports, the economy grew at an average annual rate of 8.9 percent in the 1970s. Hong Kong underwent a rapid transition to a service-based economy in the 1980s, when growth averaged 7.2 percent annually. Much of the manufacturing operations moved to mainland China during this period, and industry now constitutes just 9 percent of the economy. As Hong Kong matured to become a financial centre, growth slowed to an average of 2.7 percent annually in the 1990s. Together with ], ], and ], Hong Kong is known as one of the ], or Dragons for its high growth rates and rapid industrialisation between the 1960s and the 1990s.<ref>Wallace, Peter. (2002). Contemporary China: The Dynamics of Change at the Start of the New Millennium. Routledge. ISBN 0700716378</ref>


Hong Kong is the ninth largest trading entity in ] and eighth largest in ] (2021),<ref name="CIAExports">{{cite web |title=Country Comparison: Exports |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2078rank.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427111612/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2078rank.html |archive-date=27 April 2019 |access-date=16 June 2019 |work=] |publisher=]}}</ref><ref name="CIAImports">{{cite web |title=Country Comparison: Imports |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/Publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2087rank.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004070323/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook//rankorder/2087rank.html |archive-date=4 October 2008 |access-date=16 June 2019 |work=] |publisher=]}}</ref> trading more goods in value than its gross domestic product.<ref name="CIAExports" /><ref name="CIAImports" /> Over half of its cargo throughput consists of ]s (goods travelling through Hong Kong). Products from mainland China account for about 40% of that traffic.<ref name="LegcoEconomy">{{harvnb|Economic Statistical Highlights|2017}}</ref> The city's location allowed it to establish a transportation and logistics infrastructure which includes the world's seventh-busiest container port<ref>{{harvnb|Park|2019}}.</ref> and the busiest airport for international cargo.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aci.aero/Data-Centre/Annual-Traffic-Data/Cargo/2016-final-summary |title=Cargo Traffic 2016 |publisher=] |date=1 January 2018 |access-date=7 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141937/http://www.aci.aero/Data-Centre/Annual-Traffic-Data/Cargo/2016-final-summary |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The territory's largest export markets are mainland China and the United States.<ref name="cia" /> Hong Kong is a key part of the ].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Lam|first1=Jasmine Siu Lee|last2=Cullinane|first2=Kevin Patrick Brendan|last3=Lee|first3=Paul Tae-Woo|title=The 21st-century Maritime Silk Road: challenges and opportunities for transport management and practice|volume=38|issue=4|pages=413–415|date=3 May 2018|doi=10.1080/01441647.2018.1453562|journal=Transport Reviews|publisher=]|s2cid=158856945 |doi-access=free}}</ref> It has little arable land and few natural resources, importing most of its food and raw materials. More than 90% of Hong Kong's food is imported, including nearly all of its meat and rice.<ref>{{harvnb|Kong|2013}}.</ref> Agricultural activity is 0.1% of GDP and consists of growing premium food and flower varieties.<ref>{{harvnb|Agriculture and Fisheries Facts|2017}}</ref>


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% of economic output, with the public sector accounting for about 10%.<ref>{{harvnb|Economy Facts|2016}}.</ref> 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Preston|Haacke|2003}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Yeung|2008|p=16}}.</ref> The territory's GDP relative to mainland China's peaked at 27% in 1993; it fell to less than 3% in 2017, as the mainland developed and liberalised its economy.<ref>{{harvnb|"HK vs China GDP: A sobering reality", ''EJ Insight''}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Lung|Sung|2010|p=5}}.</ref><ref name="HZMBridge">{{harvnb|Griffiths|Lazarus|2018}}.</ref> 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.<ref name="MainlandCEPA">{{cite web |url=https://www.tid.gov.hk/english/cepa/legaltext/cepa_legaltext.html |title=Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) |publisher=] |date=31 October 2017 |access-date=26 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226131207/https://www.tid.gov.hk/english/cepa/legaltext/cepa_legaltext.html |archive-date=26 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> A similar economic partnership with Macau details the liberalisation of trade between the special administrative regions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tid.gov.hk/english/ita/fta/hkmacao/index.html |title=Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (HK-Macao CEPA) |publisher=] |date=17 November 2017 |access-date=28 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229113132/https://www.tid.gov.hk/english/ita/fta/hkmacao/index.html |archive-date=29 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Chinese companies have expanded their economic presence in the territory since the handover. Mainland firms represent over half of the ] value, up from 5% in 1997.<ref>{{harvnb|Baldwin|Lee|Jim|2014}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Lam|Qiu|2017}}.</ref>
The economy suffered a 5.3 percent decline during 1998, in the aftermath of the ]. A period of recovery followed, with growth rate reaching 10 percent in 2000, although ] persisted. In 2003, the economy was greatly affected by the outbreak of ] (SARS), which reduced economic growth to 2.3 percent that year. A revival of external and domestic demand led to a strong recovery the following year, as cost declines strengthened Hong Kong export competitiveness. The 68-month-long deflationary period ended in mid-2004, with consumer price ] hovering at near zero levels.<ref>, ].</ref> Beginning in 2003, the ] has allowed travellers from some cities in mainland China to visit Hong Kong without an accompanying tour group. As a result, the ] has benefitted from an increase in mainland visitors, further aided by the opening of ] in 2005. The economy continues to grow strongly with the return of consumer confidence and rising trade. Hong Kong has set low rates in both personal and corporate taxation.


]]]
In 2006, Hong Kong's per-capita GDP ranked as the 6<sup>th</sup> highest in the world at US$38,127, ahead of countries such as ], ], and ].<ref>], Misplaced Pages. Retrieved on ].</ref> Its ] ranked as the 40<sup>th</sup> highest at ]253.1 billion.
As the mainland liberalised its economy, Hong Kong's shipping industry faced intense competition from other Chinese ports. Half of China's trade goods were routed through Hong Kong in 1997, dropping to about 13% by 2015.<ref name="Commons5R18">{{harvnb|House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee Tenth Report|2015|p=18}}</ref> The territory's minimal taxation, common law system, and civil service attract overseas corporations wishing to establish a presence in Asia.<ref name="Commons5R18" /> The city has the second-highest number of corporate headquarters in the Asia-Pacific region.<ref>{{harvnb|Cushman & Wakefield RHQ Report|2016|p=8}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{harvnb|House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee Tenth Report|2015|pp=18–19}}</ref> In November 2020, Hong Kong's Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau proposed a new law that will restrict cryptocurrency trading to professional investors only, leaving amateur traders (93% of Hong Kong's trading population) out of the market.<ref>{{Cite web|last=MUIR|first=PAUL|date=17 February 2021|title=Crypto body warns new HK law will backfire|url=https://asiatimes.com/2021/02/hk-crypto-body-warns-new-law-will-backfire/|access-date=24 February 2021|archive-date=22 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222034554/https://asiatimes.com/2021/02/hk-crypto-body-warns-new-law-will-backfire/|url-status=live}}</ref> The ], the local currency, is the eighth most traded currency in the world.<ref>{{harvnb|Triennial Central Bank Survey|2016|p=10}}</ref> Due to extremely compact house sizes and the extremely high ], the city has the ] market in the world.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 November 2021 |title=Hong Kong conundrum: sky-high prices and flats the size of parking spaces |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e4fb2779-44c0-466f-a3e7-0ff61d5e61f9 |url-access=subscription |access-date=3 September 2022 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/e4fb2779-44c0-466f-a3e7-0ff61d5e61f9 |archive-date=10 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Saiidi |first=Uptin |date=10 April 2017 |title=Here's why Hong Kong housing is so expensive |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/09/heres-why-hong-kong-housing-is-so-expensive.html |access-date=3 September 2022 |website=CNBC |language=en |archive-date=3 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220903092809/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/09/heres-why-hong-kong-housing-is-so-expensive.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Chan |first1=Vanesse |last2=Molloy |first2=Claire |date=22 July 2021 |title=Why rent in Hong Kong is so high, even though there's undeveloped land |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/hong-kong-most-expensive-housing-market-in-the-world-2021-7 |access-date=3 September 2022 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=3 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220903092811/https://www.businessinsider.com/hong-kong-most-expensive-housing-market-in-the-world-2021-7 |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{seealso|Employment in Hong Kong}}


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.<ref name="ceo">{{cite press release |url=https://www.ceo.gov.hk/archive/2012/eng/press/oped.htm |title=Big Market, Small Government |first=Donald |last=Tsang |date=18 September 2006 |publisher=Hong Kong Government |access-date=8 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612235339/https://www.ceo.gov.hk/archive/2012/eng/press/oped.htm |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> While the economy transitioned to a service basis during the 1980s,<ref name="ceo" /> late colonial governments introduced interventionist policies. Post-handover administrations continued and expanded these programmes, including ] guarantees, a ], a ], ]s, and a state mortgage backer<!--Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation-->.<ref name="EconomistEnd">{{harvnb|"End of an experiment", ''The Economist''}}</ref>
==Demographics==
] South, the most crowded street in ]]]
{{main|Demographics of Hong Kong|Languages of Hong Kong|Bilingualism in Hong Kong}}
Hong Kong's population increased sharply throughout the 1990s, reaching 6.99 million in 2006.<ref>"", Census and Statistics Department. Retrieved ]</ref> About 95% of Hong Kong's population is of ], the majority of which are ] or from ethnic groups such as ] and ]. ], a Chinese language originating from Guangdong province to the north of Hong Kong, is Hong Kong's official dialect. ] is also an official language widely spoken by more than 38% of the population. According to the 1996 Hong Kong Government by-census, some 3.1% regard English as their 'usual' language with 34.9% claiming to speak English as 'another' language.<ref>UCL.AC.UK. "." ''ICE Hong Kong.'' Retrieved on ].</ref> Signs displaying both Chinese and English are extremely common throughout the territory. Since the 1997 handover, new groups of ] immigrants have arrived. The usage of ] (putonghua), the official dialect of mainland China, has also increased. The integration with mainland economy led to a demand in Mandarin speakers.


Tourism is a major part of the economy, accounting for 5% of GDP.<ref name="TourismFacts" /> In 2016, 26.6&nbsp;million visitors contributed HK$258&nbsp;billion (US$32.9&nbsp;billion) to the territory, making Hong Kong the ]. It is the most popular Chinese city for tourists, receiving over 70% more visitors than its closest competitor (Macau).<ref>{{harvnb|WTO|2017|p=6}}.</ref> The city is ranked as one of the ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mercer.com/newsroom/cost-of-living-2017.html |title=Despite worldwide changes, multinationals focus on mobile workforces to support career growth and ensure competitiveness |publisher=] |location=New York |date=21 June 2017 |access-date=26 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113110140/https://www.mercer.com/newsroom/cost-of-living-2017.html |archive-date=13 January 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mercer.com/costoflivingpr#Top_50 |title=Worldwide Cost of Living survey 2009 |date=29 June 2010 |publisher=] |access-date=25 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725215323/http://www.mercer.com/costoflivingpr |archive-date=25 July 2011 }}</ref> However, since 2020, there has been a sharp decline in incoming visitors due to tight COVID-19 travel restrictions. Additionally, due to the closure of the Russian airspace in 2022, multiple airlines decided to cease their operations in Hong Kong.<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 October 2022 |title=Virgin Atlantic drops Hong Kong route after nearly 30 years |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/virgin-atlantic-drops-hong-kong-route-after-nearly-30-years-2022-10-05/ |access-date=10 October 2022 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326033254/https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/virgin-atlantic-drops-hong-kong-route-after-nearly-30-years-2022-10-05/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In an attempt to attract tourists back to Hong Kong, the Hong Kong government announced plans to give away 500,000 free airline tickets in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Goh Chiew Tong |author2=Vivian Kam |title=Hong Kong will give away half a million plane tickets. Here's who can get them first |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/03/hong-kong-to-give-away-half-a-million-air-tickets-to-boost-tourism.html |access-date=22 February 2023 |website=CNBC |date=3 February 2023 |language=en |archive-date=3 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203103636/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/03/hong-kong-to-give-away-half-a-million-air-tickets-to-boost-tourism.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Hong Kong was ] in the Asia-Pacific in 2023, with over 2 million more international visitors than its closest competitor, ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-13 |title=Euromonitor International's report reveals world's Top 100… |url=https://www.euromonitor.com/press/press-releases/dec-2023/euromonitor-internationals-report-reveals-worlds-top-100-city-destinations-for-2023 |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=Euromonitor |archive-date=1 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301091019/https://www.euromonitor.com/press/press-releases/dec-2023/euromonitor-internationals-report-reveals-worlds-top-100-city-destinations-for-2023 |url-status=live }}</ref>
The remaining 5% of the population is composed of non-ethnic Chinese forming a highly visible group despite their smaller numbers. A ] population comprised of ]ns, ]is and ]ese are found. ] ]s have become permanent residents. Approximately 140,000 ] work in Hong Kong as ]. An increasing number of domestic workers also originate from ]. There are also a number of ], ], ]ns, ], ], and ] working in Hong Kong's commercial and financial sector.


{{wide image|Hong Kong Skyline view from the peak 2017.jpg|800px|] is a major tourist attraction that offers views of ] and ].}}
Considered as a dependency, Hong Kong is one of the ], with an overall density of more than 6,200 people per&nbsp;km². Hong Kong has a ] of 0.95 children per woman,<ref>"", Index Mundi. Retrieved ]</ref> one of the lowest in the world and far below the 2.1 children per woman required to sustain the current population. However, population in Hong Kong continues to grow due to the influx of immigrants from mainland China approximating 45,000 per year. ] in Hong Kong is 81.6 years as of 2006, 2nd highest in the world.


== Infrastructure ==
Hong Kong's population has an extremely dense urban core, consisting of ] and the north of ]. The rest is relatively sparsely populated, with millions of residents scattered irregularly throughout the ], south Hong Kong island and Lantau Island. An increasing number of citizens are living in ], and commuting from mainland China.
=== Transport ===
{{Main|Transport in Hong Kong}}
] in ], ]]]


Hong Kong has a highly developed, sophisticated transport network. Over 90% of the daily trips made by its residents are made with public transport, the highest percentage in the world.<ref name="pubtransport">{{harvnb|Public Transport Strategy Study|2017|p=1}}</ref> The ], a ] ] ] card made for Hong Kong, is widely accepted on railways, trams, buses and ferries, and can be used for payment in most retail stores.<ref>{{harvnb|Poon|Chau|2001|p=102}}.</ref> Alternative payments such as ], ], ] and ] have also been gradually introduced to public transports.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MTR > Ticket Purchase and Usage |url=https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/buy_tickets/payment_method.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716005653/https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/buy_tickets/payment_method.html |archive-date=2024-07-16 |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=www.mtr.com.hk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Hong Kong Tramways – Schedules and Fares |url=https://www.hktramways.com/en/schedules-fares |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240616021916/https://www.hktramways.com/en/schedules-fares |archive-date=16 June 2024 |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=www.hktramways.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Schedule & Fares {{!}} StarFerry |url=https://www.starferry.com.hk/en/Fares |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203123111/https://www.starferry.com.hk/en/Fares |archive-date=3 December 2023 |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=www.starferry.com.hk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=E-payment System |url=https://www.citybus.com.hk/en/uploadedFiles/app_promote/eps/EPS-ENG-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007133906/https://www.citybus.com.hk/en/uploadedFiles/app_promote/eps/EPS-ENG-1.html |archive-date=7 October 2023 |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=www.citybus.com.hk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Kowloon Motor Bus Co. (1933) Ltd 九龍巴士(一九三三) |url=https://www.kmb.hk/payment.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501021600/https://kmb.hk/payment.html |archive-date=1 May 2024 |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=www.kmb.hk}}</ref>
==Education==
]
]


The ], Hong Kong's first public transport system, has provided ] rail transport between ] and ] since 1888.<ref>{{harvnb|Mok|2018}}.</ref>
{{main|Education in Hong Kong}}


The ] has an extensive system of escalators and ], which being the ], the world's longest outdoor covered escalator system.<ref>{{harvnb|Gold|2001}}.</ref>
A former ], Hong Kong's ] system has roughly followed the system ], and in particular, the ]. At the higher education levels, both British and American systems exist. The ] (HKU), being the oldest institution of tertiary education in the territory, has traditionally been based on the British model but has incorporated some elements of the American model in recent years. Second to HKU in terms of history, the ] (CUHK) follows the American model with a characteristically British college system. The ] (HKUST) was established on the American model of higher education. There are ] in Hong Kong, and a number of ]. Lingnan University in Tuen Mun is a very good example; it is the only university in Hong Kong that provides Liberal Arts Education.


]’ tram network covers a portion of Hong Kong Island, covering from ] to ], with a branch to ]. It operates 6 routes and has had a rideship of 42,558 in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Public Transport {{!}} Annual transport digest 2023 |url=https://www.td.gov.hk/mini_site/atd/2023/en/section5-13.html |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=www.td.gov.hk |archive-date=30 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240730122832/https://www.td.gov.hk/mini_site/atd/2023/en/section5-13.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Hong Kong Tramways – Schedules and Fares |url=https://www.hktramways.com/en/schedules-fares |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=www.hktramways.com |language=en |archive-date=16 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240616021916/https://www.hktramways.com/en/schedules-fares |url-status=live }}</ref> It began servicing Hong Kong since 1904.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hong Kong Tramways: fun facts about the century-old Ding Ding {{!}} Hong Kong Tourism Board |url=https://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/explore/attractions/hong-kong-tramways.html |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=Discover Hong Kong |language=en}}</ref> Hong Kong Tramways currently holds the Guinness World Record as the "Largest double-decker tram fleet in service", certified on 30 July 2021, with a fleet of 165 double-decker trams.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 July 2021 |title=Largest double-decker tram fleet in service |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/593163-largest-double-decker-tram-fleet-in-operation |access-date=30 July 2024 |website=Guinness World Records |archive-date=30 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240730054734/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/593163-largest-double-decker-tram-fleet-in-operation |url-status=live }}</ref> The fleet of trams were mostly built by ].
Hong Kong's public schools are operated by the ].<ref>, Education and Manpower Bureau, Government of HKSAR.</ref>
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”curriculum, consisting of a three-year junior secondary, three-year senior secondary and four-year undergraduate academic system, will be implemented from 2009 (for senior secondary) and 2012 (for tertiary) onwards. There are also ] offering various Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees, other ]s, and ] courses.


The ] (MTR) is an extensive passenger rail network, connecting 99 ] stations and 68 ] stops throughout the territory.<ref name="RailwayFacts">{{harvnb|Railway Network Facts|2018}}.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Transport Department – Railways |url=https://www.td.gov.hk/en/transport_in_hong_kong/public_transport/railways/index.html |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=www.td.gov.hk |archive-date=26 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626124121/https://www.td.gov.hk/en/transport_in_hong_kong/public_transport/railways/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> With a daily ridership of almost five million, the system serves 41% of all public transit passengers in the city<ref name="LegcoTransport">{{harvnb|Transport Statistical Highlights|2016}}</ref> and has an on-time rate of 99.9%.<ref>{{harvnb|Report on Rail Service|2014|p=1}}.</ref> Cross-boundary train service to Shenzhen is offered by the ], and longer-distance ] ], ], and ] are operated from ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/services/cbs_introduction_tourist.html |title=Cross Boundary Train Services |publisher=] |access-date=20 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119030307/http://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/services/cbs_introduction_tourist.html |archive-date=19 November 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> This train service has however been suspended since the ], and officially closed by the ] on 31 July 2024, as announced by the ], citing that ] have effectively met the travel needs of passengers between the mainland and Hong Kong.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MTR > Intercity Passenger Services |url=https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/services/intercity_index.html |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=www.mtr.com.hk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-29 |title='End of an era' for Hong Kong's cross-border through-train services |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3175918/end-era-hong-kong-mtrs-cross-border-through-train |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en |archive-date=16 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316064243/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3175918/end-era-hong-kong-mtrs-cross-border-through-train |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=海關總署公告2024年第96號(關於關閉北京西站、上海站、廣州、東莞等4個鐵路口岸的公告) |url=http://gdfs.customs.gov.cn/customs/302249/2480148/6013329/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731135355/http://gdfs.customs.gov.cn/customs/302249/2480148/6013329/index.html |archive-date=31 July 2024 |access-date=31 July 2024 |website=General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China}}</ref> ] to the ] is provided at ].<ref>{{harvnb|Kwok|2018}}.</ref>
Most comprehensive schools in Hong Kong fall under three categories: Public schools, subsidised schools and private schools. Public schools are rare, and subsidised schools are the most common, which include government aids and grant schools, run by charitable organisations often with religious affiliations. The majority of such religious affiliations are ] and ], but there are also ], ] (]), ]ic and ] ones as well. Meanwhile, ]s, often run by Christian organisations, have admissions based on academic merit rather than on financial resources. Outside this system are the schools under the ] (DSS) and private ]s.


Although public transport systems handle most passenger traffic, there are over 500,000 private vehicles registered in Hong Kong.<ref>{{harvnb|Vehicle Registration and Licensing|2018}}</ref> Automobiles drive ] (unlike in mainland China), because of historical influence of the British Empire.<ref>{{harvnb|Labarre|2010}}.</ref> Vehicle traffic is extremely congested in urban areas, exacerbated by limited space to expand roads and an increasing number of vehicles.<ref>{{harvnb|Traffic Congestion Study|2014|pp=2–3}}</ref> More than 18,000 ], easily identifiable by their bright colours and taxi lights, are licensed to carry riders in the territory.<ref>{{harvnb|Transport Facts|2016}}.</ref> Unlicensed ride-hailing services such as ] also exists in Hong Kong, with some operating with licensed taxis to legitimise their business in ride-sharing. Unlicensed drivers have been targeted by the government and taxi drivers in the past, mainly due to the lack of ] on passengers and taxi drivers fearing the competition from drivers of these ride-hailing services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 May 2017 |title='Ridesharing should not be a crime': Uber criticises Hong Kong's outdated traffic laws following arrests |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2017/05/23/ridesharing-not-crime-uber-criticises-hong-kongs-outdated-traffic-laws-following-arrests/ |access-date=4 August 2024 |website=Hong Kong Free Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-21 |title=Uber vs Hong Kong taxis: why is the government allowing the quarrel to fester? |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3263415/uber-vs-hong-kong-taxis-why-government-allowing-quarrel-fester-and-let-customers-lose |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en |archive-date=18 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718142137/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3263415/uber-vs-hong-kong-taxis-why-government-allowing-quarrel-fester-and-let-customers-lose |url-status=live }}</ref> The government in 2024 has looked into legalising these services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-05 |title=Hong Kong to require permits for ride-hailing services including Uber |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3269375/hong-kong-require-private-hire-car-permits-ride-hailing-services-including-uber |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en |archive-date=16 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716100342/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3269375/hong-kong-require-private-hire-car-permits-ride-hailing-services-including-uber |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Culture==
], a tribute to H.K cinema.]]
] battles ] in '']''.]]
{{main|Culture of Hong Kong}}
Hong Kong is frequently described as a place where East meets West, a meeting reflected in its economic ], ] and street culture. On one street corner, there may be traditional Chinese shops selling ], ] paraphernalia or bowls of synthetic ]. But around the next, one may find theatres showing the latest ] blockbuster, an English-style pub, a ] or a ]. The region's official languages are Chinese and English; signs in both languages are omnipresent throughout Hong Kong. The government, police and most workplaces and stores conduct business bilingually. British rule may have ended in 1997 but Western culture is deeply ingrained in Hong Kong and coexists seamlessly with traditional philosophy and practices of the Orient.


] operate more than 700 routes across the territory,<ref name="LegcoTransport" /> with smaller ]es (also known as minibuses) serving areas standard buses do not reach as frequently or directly.<ref>{{harvnb|Cullinane|2002}}.</ref> Expressways and truck roads, organised with the ], connect all major areas of the territory.<ref>{{cite map |title=Hong Kong Strategic Route Map |url=http://www.td.gov.hk/mini_site/hksrens/2008/EN/images/diagram.pdf |publisher=] |access-date=29 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615112730/http://www.td.gov.hk/mini_site/hksrens/2008/EN/images/diagram.pdf |archive-date=15 June 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The ] provides a direct route to the western side of the Pearl River estuary.<ref name="HZMBridge" />
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 are also many European, American, Japanese, Korean, and other restaurants. Ethnic dishes served in ]'s and ]'s 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 discerning diners.


]]]
While Hong Kong is a global centre of trade, perhaps one of the city's most famous exports is its entertainment industry, particularly in the martial arts genre. Several Hollywood performers originate from Hong Kong cinema—], ], ] to name a few. Behind the camera, Hong Kong filmmakers have also struck fortune in Hollywood such as ], ], ] and martial arts choreographers who have designed fight scenes in the '']'', '']'' and '']''. Back in Hong Kong, several homegrown films have also gained international recognition such as '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''. Acclaimed filmmaker ] has said he's strongly influenced by ]. Hong Kong is also the world's main hub for ] music.<ref name="CBM">China Briefing Media. (2004) Business Guide to the Greater Pearl River Delta. China Briefing Media Ltd. ISBN 9889867311</ref> While the territory has been home to many stars, karaoke culture is also part of Hong Kong's nightlife.
] is the territory's primary airport, replacing ] that ended its operation in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-06 |title='Goodbye Kai Tak': 25 years since Hong Kong's old airport turned off its lights |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3226610/hong-kongs-old-kai-tak-airport-closes-well-miss-you-scmp-archive |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> Over 100 airlines operate flights from the airport, including locally based ] (]), ], low-cost airline ] and cargo airline ].<ref>{{harvnb|HKIA Annual Report|2017|p=152}}.</ref> It was the ]<ref>{{harvnb|NY/NJ Port Authority Airport Traffic|2017|p=32}}</ref> pre-COVID and handles ].<ref>{{harvnb|NY/NJ Port Authority Airport Traffic|2017|p=58}}</ref> Most private recreational aviation traffic flies through ], under the supervision of the ].<ref>{{harvnb|Wordie|2007|p=242}}.</ref>


The ] operates two lines across Victoria Harbour for its 53,000 daily passengers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.starferry.com.hk/en/operationalInfo |title=Operational Information |publisher=] |access-date=20 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130062543/http://www.starferry.com.hk/en/operationalInfo |archive-date=30 November 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Ferries also serve outlying islands inaccessible by other means. Smaller ] boats serve the most remote coastal settlements.<ref>{{harvnb|Cushman|1993|p=57}}.</ref> Ferry travel to Macau and mainland China is also available.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.hk/en/residents/transport/crossboundary/ferryservices.htm |title=Ferry Services to Macau and the Mainland Ports |publisher=Hong Kong Government |access-date=20 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119151136/https://www.gov.hk/en/residents/transport/crossboundary/ferryservices.htm |archive-date=19 November 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> ], once common in Hong Kong waters, are no longer widely available and are used privately and for tourism.<ref>{{harvnb|Tatlow|2017}}.</ref>
The Hong Kong government also supports cultural institutions such as the ], ], the ] and the ]. Furthermore, the government's ] also subsidise and sponsors international performers brought to Hong Kong.
The large size of the port gives Hong Kong the classification of Large-Port Metropolis.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Roberts |first1=Toby |last2=Williams |first2=Ian |last3=Preston |first3=John |date=19 May 2021 |title=The Southampton system: a new universal standard approach for port-city classification |journal=Maritime Policy & Management |volume=48 |issue=4 |pages=530–542 |doi=10.1080/03088839.2020.1802785 |s2cid=225502755 |issn=0308-8839|doi-access=free }}</ref>


==Religion== === Utilities ===
{{Main|Energy in Hong Kong|Electricity sector in Hong Kong|Water supply and sanitation in Hong Kong}}
] on ], Hong Kong, the tallest outdoor buddha statue in the world.]]
], October 2019]]
{{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, as in ], practice a folk version of ]. This majority includes approximately six million people, from a total population of less than seven million, or close to 90% (See ]). A sizable ] community of around 500,000 exists, forming about 7% of the total population; it is roughly equally divided between ]s and ]s. There are also around 200,000 followers each of authentic ] and ]. Apart from the major religions, there are also a significant number of followers of other religions, including an estimated 23,000 ], 3,000 ]s and a number of ]s, ]s, ]s and ]s. Apart from offering religious instructions, many major religious bodies have established schools and provided ] facilities.


Hong Kong generates most of its electricity locally.<ref name="energystats2016p1">{{harvnb|Energy Statistics Report|2017|p=1}}</ref> The vast majority of this energy comes from fossil fuels, with 46% from coal and 47% from petroleum.<ref>{{harvnb|Energy Statistics Report|2017|p=9}}</ref> The rest is from other imports, including nuclear energy generated in mainland China.<ref>{{harvnb|Energy Statistics Report|2017|p=29}}</ref> Renewable sources account for a negligible amount of energy generated for the territory.<ref>{{harvnb|Energy Statistics Report|2017|p=6}}</ref> Small-scale wind-power sources have been developed,<ref name="energystats2016p1" /> and a small number of private homes and public buildings have installed solar panels.<ref>{{harvnb|Chan|2017}}.</ref>
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 Kong residents, especially elder generations, visit Taoist or Buddhist temples to appease the deities and, usually, to request compassion, good health or good fortune. Gifts of ], and in particular ], are presented, and ] and ] offerings are burnt in respect.


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 freshwater. The ] in Guangdong supplies 70% of the city's water,<ref name="LeeWater">{{harvnb|Lee|2013}}.</ref> and the remaining demand is filled by harvesting rainwater locally.<ref>{{harvnb|Water Supply Facts|2016}}.</ref> Toilets in most built-up areas of the territory flush with seawater which reduces freshwater use.<ref name="LeeWater" />
With the transfer of Hong Kong to the PRC, there were 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 ] freely appoints its own bishops in Hong Kong, unlike on mainland China where the only approved 'Catholic' institution is the ] where 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 ].


Broadband Internet access is widely available, with 92.6% of households connected. Connections over ] are increasingly prevalent,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ofca.gov.hk/en/media_focus/data_statistics/key_stat/ |title=Key Communications Statistics |publisher=] |access-date=8 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620153354/https://www.ofca.gov.hk/en/media_focus/data_statistics/key_stat/ |archive-date=20 June 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> contributing to the high regional average connection speed of 21.9 Mbit/s (the world's fourth-fastest).<ref>{{harvnb|Akamai's State of the Internet|2017|p=54}}</ref> Mobile-phone use is ubiquitous;<ref>{{harvnb|IT and Internet Usage|2017|p=9}}.</ref> there are almost 22 million ] registered in Hong Kong,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hong Kong (China) mobile cellular subscriptions 2000-2022 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/498360/number-of-mobile-cellular-subscriptions-in-hong-kong-china/#:~:text=The%20number%20of%20mobile-cellular,in%202021,%20to%2021.9%20million. |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Statista |language=en}}</ref> which is almost triple the territory's population.
Hong Kong is the only place in the PRC where missionaries from ] (the Mormon Church) can serve. The Church has a temple in Hong Kong which was dedicated by President ] in 1996.


==Architecture== == Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Hong Kong}}
] at dusk.]]
{{See also|Cantonese culture}}
{{main|Architecture of Hong Kong}}
Due to the lack of available space, few historical buildings remain in Hong Kong. Instead the city has become a centre for ], especially in and around ]. Dense commercial skyscrapers between Central and Causeway Bay lining the coast of ] is one of Hong Kong's most famous tourist attractions and ranked the best skyline in the world. Four of the top 15 ] are in Hong Kong. In ], which once included the anarchistic settlement called the ], strict height restrictions on structures were in force until 1998 with the closure of nearby ]. With restrictions lifted, several new skyscrapers in Kowloon are under construction, including ] which, when completed in 2010, will become the world's fourth tallest.


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.<ref>{{harvnb|Carroll|2007|p=169}}.</ref> Although the vast majority of the population is ethnically Chinese, Hong Kong has developed a distinct identity. The territory diverged from the mainland through its long period of colonial administration and a different pace of economic, social, and cultural development. Mainstream culture was derived from immigrants originating from various parts of China; it was then influenced by British-style education, a separate political system, and the territory's rapid development during the late 20th century.<ref>{{harvnb|Carroll|2007|pp=167–172}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|He|2013}}.</ref> Most migrants of that era fled poverty and war, reflected in the prevailing attitude toward wealth; Hongkongers would tend to link self-image and decision-making to material benefits.<ref>{{harvnb|Tam|2017}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Lam|2015}}.</ref> Residents' sense of local identity has increased post-handover: polling in December 2022 had 32% of respondents identifying as "Hongkongers", 34.1% identifying as "Hongkongers in China" 45.9% purporting a "Mixed Identity", 20.5% identifying as "Chinese" and 11.9% identifying as "Chinese in Hong Kong".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-09 |title=Categorical Ethnic Identity – HKPORI – 香港民意研究所 |url=https://www.pori.hk/pop-poll/ethnic-identity-en/q001.html?lang=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240305222442/https://www.pori.hk/pop-poll/ethnic-identity-en/q001.html?lang=en |archive-date=2024-03-05 |website=] |language=en}}</ref>
One of the notable buildings in Hong Kong is ]'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. 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. Both banks' buildings are featured on many of ]s.


Traditional Chinese family values, including ], ], and a ], are prevalent.<ref>{{harvnb|Family Survey|2013|pp=12–13}}.</ref> ] are the most common households, although multi-generational and extended families are not unusual.<ref>{{harvnb|Population By-Census|2021|p=77}}.</ref> 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.<ref name="FengShui" /> '']'' mirrors are regularly used to deflect evil spirits,<ref>{{harvnb|Fowler|Fowler|2008|p=263}}.</ref> and buildings often lack ];<ref>{{harvnb|Xi|Ingham|2003|p=181}}.</ref> the number has a similar sound to the word for "die" in Cantonese.<ref>{{harvnb|Chan|Chow|2006|p=3}}.</ref>
The tallest building in Hong Kong is the ]. 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 four-span cable-stayed bridge.


=== Cuisine ===
Particularly notable about Hong Kong's skyline and streetscape is the omnipresence of public housing estates, which began as a squatter resettlement program in the 1950s, and now houses close to 50% of the population. These estates have evolved from seven-storey walk-up apartments with public toilets and minimal amenities, allocated on a basis of {{convert|24|sqft|sqm|0}} per adult, half of that for a child, to high-quality high-rises. The public rental program has been supplemented with a government-subsidised Home Ownership Scheme.
{{Main|Hong Kong cuisine}}
{{Multiple image
|direction=horizontal |align=right |caption_align=center |total_width=350
|image1=Dim Sum Breakfast.jpg |height1=600 |width1=800
|alt1=An assortment of items in a Dim Sum breakfast meal
|image2=Cha Chaan Teng.jpg |height2=1200 |width2=1600
|alt2=French Toast on left, Milk Tea on right
|footer=Typical fare at a dim sum restaurant (left); '']'' breakfast food with ] (right)
}}


Food in Hong Kong is primarily 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.<ref name="LongHKFood">{{harvnb|Long|2015|p=271}}.</ref> Freshness of ingredients is emphasised. Poultry and seafood are commonly sold live at ]s, and ingredients are used as quickly as possible when still fresh.<ref>{{harvnb|Curry|Hanstedt|2014|pp=9–12}}.</ref> There are up to five daily meals: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and '']''.<ref>{{harvnb|Long|2015|p=272}}.</ref> ], as part of '']'' (brunch), is a dining-out tradition with family and friends. Dishes include ], '']'', '']'', ]s, and ]. Local versions of Western food are served at '']'' (Hong Kong-style cafes). Common ''cha chaan teng'' menu items include macaroni in soup, deep-fried French toast, and ].<ref name="LongHKFood" />
{{wide image|Pauliyas Hongkong.jpg|1400px|A ] view of northern ] between ] in the east and ] in the west. }}


==Transport== === Cinema ===
{{main|Transport in Hong Kong}} {{Main|Cinema of Hong Kong}}
], a tribute to the city's film industry]]
]]]
] on one of its 9 minute voyages across the ].]]
]]]
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 ] (Radio Frequency Identification) to allow users to scan their card without taking it out of their wallet or bag. All ]s in Hong Kong accept payment by Octopus card only, and Octopus card payment can be made at various car parks.


Hong 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 build the colony's entertainment industry over the next decade.<ref>{{harvnb|Fu|2008|pp=381, 388–389}}.</ref> By the 1960s, the city was well known to overseas audiences through films such as '']''.<ref>{{harvnb|Carroll|2007|p=148}}.</ref> When ]'s '']'' was released in 1972, local productions became popular outside Hong Kong. During the 1980s, films such as '']'', '']'', and '']'' expanded global interest beyond ]s; locally made gangster films, romantic dramas, and supernatural fantasies became popular.<ref>{{harvnb|Carroll|2007|p=168}}.</ref>
Hong Kong is dominated by steep, hilly terrain, and some unusual methods of transport have been devised to ease movement up and down the slopes. For example, the ] has provided vertical rail transport between Central and ] since 1888 by steeply ascending the side of a mountain. In ] there is an extensive system of ]s and ]s, including the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world, the ].


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. Hong Kong films have also grown popular in oversea markets such as Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, earning the city the moniker "Hollywood of the East".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chu |first=Karen |date=16 February 2023 |title=Berlin Spotlight: How Hong Kong's Film Industry Made a Surprise Comeback |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/hong-kong-film-industry-comeback-berlin-1235326295/ |access-date=22 February 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Ge|2017}}.</ref>
Hong Kong has several different modes of public rail transport. The two ] systems for the city are the ] (Mass Transit Railway) and ] which acts as a link between Hong Kong and mainland China (KCR also operates a ] system in northwest New Territories). These 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 by ]s.
{{clear left}}


=== Music ===
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 the ]. However, single-decker buses remain in use for routes with lower demand or roads with lower carrying capacity. Such single-decker buses are mainly used on Lantau Island and for overnight services. Most normal franchised bus routes in Hong Kong operate until 1 am. ]es 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.
{{Main|Music of Hong Kong}}
{{Multiple image
|direction=horizontal |align=right |caption_align=center |total_width=280
|image1=Leslie Cheung in Madame Tussauds Hong Kong (cropped).jpg |width1=300|alt1=Leslie Cheung with a microphone
|image2=Andy Lau 刘德华, Beijing International Film Festival 北京电影节, 2013 (cropped).jpg |width2=420|alt2=A serious-looking Andy Lau, seated and wearing a suit
|footer=] (left) is considered a pioneering Cantopop artist, and ] 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Chu|2017|pp=1–9, 24–25}}.</ref> Local media featured songs by artists such as ], ], ], and ]; during the 1980s, exported films and shows exposed Cantopop to a global audience.<ref>{{harvnb|Chu|2017|pp=77–85}}.</ref> The genre's popularity peaked in the 1990s, when the ] dominated Asian record charts.<ref>{{harvnb|Chu|2017|pp=107–116}}.</ref> Despite a general decline since late in the decade,<ref>{{harvnb|Chu|2017|pp=9–10}}.</ref> Cantopop remains dominant in Hong Kong; contemporary artists such as ], ], and ] are popular in and beyond the territory.<ref>{{harvnb|Chu|2017|pp=159–164}}.</ref>
Most ferry services are provided by licensed ferry operators serving ], new towns, across ], ] and cities in mainland China. The oldest service, the legendary ], operates four lines between ] and Hong Kong Island and has provided cost-effective transport for over a century. Popular with tourists desiring a panoramic view of Hong Kong's skyline and harbour, many Hong Kong residents consider the Star Ferry as one of the city's most treasured cultural icons. Additionally, 78 "]" ferries are licensed to serve remote coastal settlements.


Western classical music has historically had a strong presence in Hong Kong and remains a large part of local musical education.<ref>{{harvnb|Smith|Moir|Brennan|Rambarran|2017|p=101}}</ref> The publicly funded ], the territory's oldest professional symphony orchestra, frequently hosts 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Ho|2011|p=147}}.</ref>
Hong Kong has one active ], known as ] located at ]. In 1998, this replaced the former Hong Kong International Airport — ] located at Kowloon City, which was simultaneously closed. After high-profile 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, and again in 2007. ] served more than 36 million passengers in the year 2004, and increased to over 40 million passengers in 2005.


Hong Kong has never had a separate national anthem to the country that controlled it; its current official national anthem is therefore that of the People's Republic of China, '']''. The song '']'' has been used by ] as an unofficial anthem of the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/1707883/glory-to-hong-kong-is-citys-new-unofficial-anthem/|title=Singing showdowns in Hong Kong pit the city's unofficial new anthem against China's|author=Vivienne Chow|date=12 September 2019|work=Quartz|access-date=15 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913230100/https://qz.com/1707883/glory-to-hong-kong-is-citys-new-unofficial-anthem/|archive-date=13 September 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Listen to the Song That Hong Kong's Youthful Protesters Are Calling Their 'National Anthem' |url=https://time.com/5672018/glory-to-hong-kong-protests-national-anthem/ |accessdate=16 November 2022 |magazine=TIME |date=12 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124103722/https://time.com/5672018/glory-to-hong-kong-protests-national-anthem/ |archive-date=24 January 2022}}</ref>
Access to the airport includes ']', '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. The recent opening of ] of the ] allows easy access to the ].


=== Sport and recreation ===
While the ] in ] ], Hong Kong still maintains its own ], with traffic continuing to ]. There are about 517,000 registered vehicles in Hong Kong, 64% of which are privately owned passenger cars. As a metropolis for luxury in Asia, Hong Kong is world famous for having the most Rolls-Royce cars per capita in the world.<ref>, InvestHK, 2003-7-30. Retrieved 2007-1-20.</ref>
{{Main|Sport in Hong Kong}}
Note that the Hong Kong highway code uses the same road sign system as ] whereas the Chinese system is different.
], 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 numerous major sporting events, including the ], the ], and the ].<ref name="ShenKee">{{harvnb|Shen|Kee|2017|p=247}}.</ref> The territory regularly hosts the ], ], ] and ], and hosted the inaugural ] and the ].<ref>{{harvnb|Ghoshal|2011}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Horne|Manzenreiter|2002|p=128}}.</ref>
==Military==
] ] (former ])]]
{{main|People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison}}
Hong Kong has never had its own ] forces because it has never been a ], except voluntary auxiliary force like ]. All defence matters have been dependent on the state which controls Hong Kong. Before the British handover to PRC sovereignty, defence was provided by the ], who stationed soldiers in barracks throughout Hong Kong, including the ]. Its finance was supported by the Hong Kong Government.


Hong Kong represents itself separately from mainland China, with its own sports teams in international competitions.<ref name="ShenKee"/> The territory has participated in almost every Summer Olympics since 1952 and has earned ]. ] won the territory's first Olympic gold medal at the ],<ref>{{harvnb|Lam|Chang|2005|p=141}}.</ref> and ] won the second one in ].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shum |first1=Michael |last2=Chow |first2=Carine |title=FENCE-TASTIC! Cheung Ka-long wins gold for HK |url=https://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news/section/11/232551/Fence-tastic! |access-date=27 July 2021 |work=] |date=27 July 2021}}</ref> Hong Kong athletes have won ] and ]. No longer part of the ], the city's last appearance in the latter was in ].<ref>{{harvnb|Lam|Chang|2005|p=99}}.</ref>
The ]'s ] assumed sovereignty over Hong Kong on ] ] and stationed a ] of the ] (PLA) to manage its defence affairs. Although the garrison has little practical military value, the stationing of the PLA troops in Hong Kong is a significant symbol of the PRC government's assumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong.


] 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Sofield|Sivan|2003}}.</ref>
According to Hong Kong's Basic Law, military forces stationed in Hong Kong shall not interfere with local civil affairs; the 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 its barracks on ] and ] to the public to promote understanding and trust between the troops and residents.


The ], the territory's largest taxpayer,<ref name="JockeyClub">{{harvnb|Littlewood|2010|pp=16–17}}.</ref> has a monopoly on gambling and provides over 7% of government revenue.<ref>{{harvnb|Inland Revenue Annual Report|2017|p=4}}</ref> Three forms of gambling are legal in Hong Kong: lotteries, horse racing, and football.<ref name="JockeyClub" />
==International rankings==
{| class="wikitable"
! Date !! Contest !! Host organisation !! Ranking !! Note
|-
! 2001–05
| || ] || 1/155 countries ||
|-
! rowspan="3" | 2005
| ] || || 2/50 ports by ] traffic || 7/50 ports by ] volume
|-
| || ] || 11/115 countries ||
|-
| || ] || 18/111 countries ||
|-
! rowspan="11" | 2006
| || Global e-Government || 20/198 countries ||
|-
| || ] || 59/168 countries ||
|-
| || ] || 15/163 countries ||
|-
| || ] || 2/61 economies || Economies include those of countries and regions
|-
| ]'s ]/] || || style="white-space:nowrap;" | 1/100 major cities || Cities ranked by the visual impact of their skylines
|-
| || ] || 11/125 countries ||
|-
| || ] || 2/165 countries ||
|-
| || ] || 10/121 countries ||
|-
| || ] || 22/177 countries ||
|-
| || ]: The Power of Access - 2006 Access Index || 1/75 countries ||
|-
| || Japan Center for Economic Research (JCER) || 1/50 countries ||
|-
! rowspan="8" | 2007
| || ] || 6/124 countries ||
|-
| ] || ]/'']'': || 1/157 countries || Ranked 1st for 13 years in a row
|-
| World's most expensive city for rental accommodation || || 1/92 countries ||
|-
| Leading Centers of Commerce || || 5/63 countries || rated 63 cities according to their legal and political framework, economic stability, ease of doing business, financial flow, business center status, and knowledge creation and information flow
|-
| World's most expensive cost-of-living || || 5/143 cities ||
|-
| || ] || 1/155 countries ||
|-
| || ] || 3/55 economies || The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2007 analyses and ranks the ability of nations to create and maintain an environment that sustains the competitiveness of enterprises.
|-
| ] || || 4/69 countries || e-Readiness is the ability to use ] (ICT) to develop one's economy and to foster one's welfare.


== Education ==
{{Main|Education in Hong Kong}}
], the first school established in the colonial era]]


Education in Hong Kong is largely modelled on ], particularly the ].<ref>{{harvnb|Chan|Leung|2003|p=24}}.</ref> Children are required to attend school from age 6 until completion of secondary education, generally at age 18.<ref name=nss>{{cite web |url=http://www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/secondary/highlights/index.html |title=Programme Highlights |publisher=Hong Kong Government |access-date=20 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824010442/http://www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/secondary/highlights/index.html |archive-date=24 August 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="HKEduLi">{{cite web |url=http://news.gov.hk/en/category/ontherecord/050518/html/050518en11001.htm |title=Creating a better education system |last=Li |first=Arthur |date=18 May 2005 |publisher=Hong Kong Government |access-date=17 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080303190339/http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/ontherecord/050518/html/050518en11001.htm |archive-date=3 March 2008}}</ref> At the end of secondary schooling, all students take a public examination and are awarded the ] upon successful completion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/en/hkdse/ |title=HKDSE |date=12 October 2010 |publisher=Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority |access-date=20 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101016060315/http://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/en/HkDSE |archive-date=16 October 2010 }}</ref>
|}


Of residents aged 15 and older, 81% completed lower-secondary education, 66% graduated from an upper secondary school, 32% attended a non-degree tertiary program, and 24% earned a bachelor's degree or higher.<ref>{{harvnb|Women and Men in Hong Kong Key Statistics|2017|p=66}}</ref>
==Footnotes==
{{Portal Hong Kong}}
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{{reflist|2}}


Mandatory education has contributed to an adult literacy rate of 95.7%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.socialindicators.org.hk/en/indicators/education/7.7 |title=Adult literacy rate |publisher=] |access-date=27 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228172415/https://www.socialindicators.org.hk/en/indicators/education/7.7 |archive-date=28 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The literacy rate is lower than that of other developed economies because of the influx of refugees from mainland China during the post-war colonial era; much of the elderly population were not formally educated because of war and poverty.<ref>{{harvnb|Cheng|Lum|Lam|Fung|2013}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|UNESCO Literacy Rates|2017|p=8}}.</ref>
==References==
*''A History of Hong Kong''(Third Edition). ]. HarperCollins. ] ]. 624 pages. ISBN 1-56836-002-9.
*''Mathematical Modelling of Hong Kong Political and Economical Development''. Derek Lam. Guangzhou Academic Press. ] ]. 23 pages.
*''Hong Kong's History: State and Society Under Colonial Rule (Asia's Transformations)''. Tak-Wing Ngo. Routledge. ] ]. 205 pages. ISBN 0-415-20868-8.
*''The Cinema of Hong Kong: History, Arts, Identity''. Poshek Fu, David Deser. ]. ] ]. 346 pages. ISBN 0-521-77602-3.
*''A Modern History of Hong Kong''. Steve Tsang. I.B. Tauris. ] ]. 356 pages. ISBN 1-86064-184-9.
*''An Outline History of Hong Kong''. Liu Shuyong. 291 pages. ISBN 7-119-01946-5.
*''Forts and Pirates - A History of Hong Kong''. Hong Kong History Society. Hyperion Books. December 1990. ISBN 962-7489-01-8.
* from the Antiquities and Monuments Office
* from the Antiquities and Monuments Office


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.<ref name="HKEduLi"/>
==External links==
{{sisterlinks|Hong Kong}}
{{Spoken Misplaced Pages|En-Hong Kong.ogg|2005-08-30}}
* - one-stop portal of the Hong Kong SAR Government
*
*{{wikitravel|Hong Kong}}
*
*
* - photos tagged with Hong Kong
*


=== Medium of instruction ===
{{Hong Kong Topics}}
At primary and secondary school levels, the government maintains a policy of "mother tongue instruction"; most schools use Cantonese as the ], with written education in both Chinese and English. Other languages being used as medium of instruction in non-international school education include English and ] (Standard Mandarin Chinese). Secondary schools emphasise "bi-literacy and tri-lingualism", which has encouraged the proliferation of spoken Mandarin language education.<ref>{{harvnb|Lee|Leung|2012}}.</ref>
{{Template group
|title = Geographic locale
|list =
{{Province-level divisions of PR China}}
{{Major cities of Greater China}}
{{Territories of Greater China}}
{{Dependent and other territories of Asia}}
{{Countries and territories of East Asia}}


English is the official medium of instruction and assessments for most university programmes in Hong Kong, although use of Cantonese is predominant in informal discussions among local students and professors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 April 2010 |title=Teaching and Learning {{!}} HKU Teaching and Learning |url=https://tl.hku.hk/tl/ |access-date=17 May 2023 |website=HKU Teaching and Learning {{!}} Teaching and Learning in The University of Hong Kong}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Proof of English as Medium of Instruction {{!}} HKUST – Academic Registry |url=https://registry.hkust.edu.hk/resource-library/proof-english-medium-instruction |access-date=17 May 2023 |website=registry.hkust.edu.hk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=University Language Policy {{!}} HKBU AR |url=https://ar.hkbu.edu.hk/quality-assurance/university-policy-and-guidelines/lang-policy |access-date=17 May 2023 |website=ar.hkbu.edu.hk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Languages of instruction |url=https://www.hkmu.edu.hk/admissions/taught-postgraduate/non-local/postgraduate-programmes-at-hkmu/languages-of-instruction/ |access-date=17 May 2023 |website=Hong Kong Metropolitan University |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Study@PolyU |url=https://www51.polyu.edu.hk/eprospectus/ug/international/programme-features |access-date=17 May 2023 |website=www51.polyu.edu.hk |archive-date=17 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517015558/https://www51.polyu.edu.hk/eprospectus/ug/international/programme-features |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Res – Frequently Asked Questions on Applications for Transcript/Letter of Certification/Report on Curriculum Details |url=http://www.res.cuhk.edu.hk/en-gb/applications/graduates-of-full-time-undergraduate-programmes/transcript-certifying-letter-report-on-curriculum-details/faq-transcript-certifyingletter-curriculum-details |access-date=17 May 2023 |website=www.res.cuhk.edu.hk}}</ref>
}}
{{Template group
|title = Language
|list =
{{Sino-Tibetan-speaking}}
{{Territories of Greater China}}
}}
{{APEC}}
{{WTO}}


=== Tertiary education ===
<!--Please retain as first category since this article is its main article; thank you.-->
{{Main|Higher education in Hong Kong}}
] main building]]

Hong Kong has twelve universities. The ] (HKU) was founded as the city's first institute of higher education during the early colonial period in 1911.<ref>{{harvnb|Carroll|2007|pp=84–86}}.</ref> The ] (CUHK) was established in 1963 to fill the need for a university that taught using Chinese as its primary language of instruction.<ref>{{harvnb|Fulton Commission|1963}}.</ref> Along with the ] (HKUST) established in 1991, these universities are consistently ranked among the top 50 or top 100 universities worldwide.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=4 October 2022 |title=World University Rankings |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2023/world-ranking |access-date=2 December 2022 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=QS World University Rankings 2023: Top Global Universities |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2023 |access-date=2 December 2022 |website=Top Universities |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=2022–2023 Best Global Universities Rankings |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/rankings}}</ref>

The ] (PolyU)<ref>{{harvnb|The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Ordinance}}</ref> and ] (CityU), both granted university status in 1994, are consistently ranked among the top 100 or top 200 universities worldwide.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> The ] (HKBU) was granted university status in 1994<ref>{{harvnb|Hong Kong Baptist University Ordinance}}</ref> and is a liberal arts institution. ] (formerly as Open University of Hong Kong prior to 2021) (attaining status in 1997),<ref>{{harvnb|The Open University of Hong Kong Ordinance}}</ref> ] (in 1999),<ref>{{harvnb|Lingnan University Ordinance}}.</ref> ] (in 2006),{{sfn|LegCo Grant to Shue Yan University|2007}} ] (in 2016), ] (in 2018) and ] (in 2024)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saint Francis University – Press Release – Caritas Institute of Higher Education granted the university title and renamed Saint Francis University 2024-01-9 |url=https://www.sfu.edu.hk/en/media/press-release/index_id_774.html |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=www.sfu.edu.hk}}</ref> all attained full university status in subsequent years.

== Media ==
{{Main|Media of Hong Kong}}
], headquarters of Hong Kong's first over-the-air television station]]

Most of the newspapers in Hong Kong are written in Chinese but there are also a few English-language newspapers. The major one being 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 '']''.<ref>{{harvnb|"Hong Kong media profile", ''BBC News''}}</ref> Several international publications have regional operations in Hong Kong, including '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''.<ref>{{harvnb|Media Facts|2017}}.</ref>

Four ] television broadcasters operate in the territory; ], ], ] and ] air eight ] channels.<ref name="broadcasterList">{{harvnb|Licensed Broadcasting Services|2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Frequency Table for Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Services in Hong Kong |url=https://www.ofca.gov.hk/filemanager/ofca/en/content_1087/tv_frequency_digital_en.pdf |access-date=26 July 2024}}</ref> TVB, Hong Kong's dominant television network, has an 80% viewer share.<ref>{{harvnb|Chow|2017}}.</ref> ] operated by ] offer hundreds of additional channels and cater to a variety of audiences.<ref>{{cite web|title=A List of Licensed Broadcasting Services in Hong Kong (As at 18 June 2024)|url=https://www.ofca.gov.hk/filemanager/ofca/en/content_108/channel_list_eng.pdf|website=Office of the Communications Authority|location=Hong Kong}}</ref> ] is the public broadcaster, providing seven radio channels and six ] television channels.<ref>{{harvnb|RTHK Budget|2018|pp=806, 809}}.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT 2021 – 2022 |url=https://www.rthk.hk/about/pdf/rthk_annual_report_202122_eng.pdf |access-date=26 July 2024 |website=rthk.hk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= 香港電台網站|url=https://www.rthk.hk/timetable/tv36}}</ref> Ten non-domestic broadcasters air programming for the territory's foreign population.<ref name="broadcasterList" /> Access to media and information over the Internet is not subject to mainland Chinese regulations, including the ], yet local control applies.<ref>{{harvnb|"Hong Kong Activists Stare Down 'Great Firewall of China'", ''NBC News''}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{portal bar|Hong Kong|China|}}
* ]
* ]
{{Clear}}

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==

=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===

==== Print ====
{{refbegin|35em}}
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* {{cite book |last1=Dodsworth |first1=John |last2=Mihaljek |first2=Dubravko |title=Hong Kong, China: Growth, Structural Change, and Economic Stability During the Transition |publisher=] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6csHC4xlmFAC |year=1997 |isbn=978-1-55775-672-5 }}
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* {{cite book |last=Gittings |first=Danny |chapter=Hong Kong Judiciary |pages=147–168 |editor1-last=Gaylord |editor1-first=Mark S. |editor2-last=Gittings |editor2-first=Danny |editor3-last=Traver |editor3-first=Harold |title=Introduction to Crime, Law and Justice in Hong Kong |year=2009 |publisher=] |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G12Umf-puSkC |isbn=978-962-209-978-4 }}
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* {{cite book |last1=Horne |first1=John |last2=Manzenreiter |first2=Wolfram |title=Japan, Korea and the 2002 World Cup |publisher=] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7YD7PWVCABAC |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-415-27563-7 }}
* {{cite book |last=Hu |first=Qi-ming |date=2003 |title=Rare and Precious Plants of Hong Kong |publisher=] |url=http://www.herbarium.gov.hk/PublicationsPreface.aspx?BookNameId=1&SectionId=1&ContentId=1 |chapter-url=http://www.herbarium.gov.hk/PublicationsPreface.aspx?BookNameId=1&SectionId=2&ContentId=2 |chapter=Preface |isbn=978-988-201-616-3 |oclc=491712858 }}
* {{cite book |last=Ingham |first=Michael |title=Hong Kong: A Cultural History |publisher=] |isbn=978-0-19-531496-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kwcSDAAAQBAJ |date=2007 }}
* {{cite book |last=Keat |first=Ooi Gin |title=Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopedia |publisher=] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QKgraWbb7yoC |isbn=978-1-57607-770-2 |year=2004 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Lam |first1=S.F. |last2=Chang |first2=Julian W. |date=2005 |title=The Quest for Gold: Fifty Years of Amateur Sports in Hong Kong, 1947–1997 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y45FBAAAQBAJ |publisher=] |isbn=978-962-209-765-0 }}
* {{cite book |last=Lam |first=Wai-man |title=Understanding the Political Culture of Hong Kong: The Paradox of Activism and Depoliticization: The Paradox of Activism and Depoliticization |year=2015 |publisher=Routledge |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YhXICQAAQBAJ |isbn=978-1-317-45301-7 }}
* {{cite book |last=Lee |first=S.H. |title=SARS in China and Hong Kong |publisher=Nova Science Publishers |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7YgpNtIL1VwC |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-59454-678-5 }}
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* {{cite book |last=Li |first=Guo |date=<!-- to stop citation bot from breaking referencing -->2012 |chapter=A Site Catchment Analysis of Hong Kong's Neolithic Subsistence |editor1-last=Cheng |editor1-first=Pei-kai |editor2-last=Fan |editor2-first=Ka Wai |title=New Perspectives on the Research of Chinese Culture |pages=17–43 |publisher=Springer |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hQ6lGvyMZMMC |isbn=978-981-4021-77-7 |doi=10.1007/978-981-4021-78-4_2 }}
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* {{cite book |last1=Morton |first1=Brian |last2=Harper |first2=Elizabeth |title=An Introduction to the Cape d'Aguilar Marine Reserve, Hong Kong |publisher=] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LNCYHVVcM8IC |isbn=978-962-209-388-1 |year=1995 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Owen |first1=Bernie |last2=Shaw |first2=Raynor |date=2007 |title=Hong Kong Landscapes: Shaping the Barren Rock |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4sO5vlJ7ETcC |publisher=] |isbn=978-962-209-847-3 }}
* {{cite book |last=Porter |first=Jonathan |title=Macau, the Imaginary City: Culture and Society, 1557 to the Present |publisher=] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gsC6AAAAIAAJ |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-8133-2836-2 }}
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* {{cite book |last=Xue |first=Charlie Q.L. |title=Hong Kong Architecture 1945–2015: From Colonial to Global |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-981-10-1003-3 |doi=10.1007/978-981-10-1004-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5xZkDAAAQBAJ |date=2016 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Yanne |first1=Andrew |last2=Heller |first2=Gillis |date=2009 |title=Signs of a Colonial Era |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DpOQrEVBcX4C |publisher=] |isbn=978-962-209-944-9 }}
* {{cite book |last=Yeung |first=Rikkie |title=Moving Millions: The Commercial Success and Political Controversies of Hong Kong's Railways |publisher=] |year=2008 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VUfqAQAAQBAJ |isbn=978-962-209-963-0 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Young |first1=Simon N.M. |last2=Cullen |first2=Richard |title=Electing Hong Kong's Chief Executive |publisher=] |year=2010 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Px1WflAKjwEC |isbn=978-988-8028-39-9 }}
* {{cite book |last=Zhihong |first=Shi |chapter=China's Overseas Trade Policy and Its Historical Results: 1522–1840 |pages=4–23 |editor1-last=Latham |editor1-first=A.J.H. |editor2-last=Kawakatsu |editor2-first=Heita |editor-link=Heita Kawakatsu |title=Intra-Asian Trade and the World Market |year=2006 |publisher=] |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mLBgaa8d4aMC |isbn=978-0-415-37207-7 }}
{{refend}}

===== Legislation and case law =====
{{refbegin|35em}}
* {{wikicite |reference=Amendment to the Basic Law Annex I () |ref={{sfnref|Amendment to the Basic Law Annex I}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference=Basic Law |ref={{sfnref|Basic Law Chapter II}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference=Basic Law |ref={{sfnref|Basic Law Chapter III}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference=Basic Law |ref={{sfnref|Basic Law Chapter IV}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference=Basic Law |ref={{sfnref|Basic Law Chapter V}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference=Basic Law |ref={{sfnref|Basic Law Chapter VII}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference={{Cite Hong Kong case |litigants=Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Another v the President of the Legislative Council |list=HCAL |number=185 |year=2016 |id=106799 |pinpoint=20}} |ref={{sfnref|''Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Another v the President of the Legislative Council''}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference=Constitution of the People's Republic of China () |ref={{sfnref|Constitution of the People's Republic of China}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference={{cite Hong Kong ordinance|name=District Councils Ordinance|547}} Schedule 3 |ref={{sfnref|District Councils Ordinance}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference={{cite Hong Kong ordinance|name=Emergency Regulations Ordinance|241}} |ref={{sfnref|Emergency Regulations Ordinance}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference={{cite Hong Kong ordinance |name=Hong Kong Baptist University Ordinance |1126}} |ref={{sfnref|Hong Kong Baptist University Ordinance}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference={{cite Hong Kong ordinance|name=Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passports Ordinance|539}} |ref={{sfnref|Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passports Ordinance}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference={{cite Hong Kong ordinance |name=Lingnan University Ordinance |1165}} |ref={{sfnref|Lingnan University Ordinance}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference={{Cite Hong Kong case |litigants=Ng Ka Ling and Another v the Director of Immigration |list=FACV |number=14 |year=1998 |id=34052 |pinpoint=63}} |ref={{sfnref|''Ng Ka Ling and Another v the Director of Immigration''}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference={{cite Hong Kong ordinance |name=Official Languages Ordinance |5|3|1}} |ref={{sfnref|Official Languages Ordinance}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference=Sino-British Joint Declaration () |ref={{sfnref|Sino-British Joint Declaration}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference=Standing Committee Interpretation Concerning Implementation of Chinese Nationality Law in Hong Kong () |ref={{sfnref|Standing Committee Interpretation Concerning Implementation of Chinese Nationality Law in Hong Kong}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference={{cite Hong Kong ordinance |name=The Education University of Hong Kong Ordinance |444}} |ref={{sfnref|The Education University of Hong Kong Ordinance}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference={{cite Hong Kong ordinance |name=The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Ordinance |1075}} |ref={{sfnref|The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Ordinance}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference={{cite Hong Kong ordinance |name=The Open University of Hong Kong Ordinance |1145}} |ref={{sfnref|The Open University of Hong Kong Ordinance}}}}
{{refend}}

==== Academic publications ====
{{refbegin|35em}}
* {{cite journal |last=Chen |first=Li |year=2011 |title=Universalism and Equal Sovereignty as Contested Myths of International Law in the Sino-Western Encounter |journal=Journal of the History of International Law |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=75–116 |doi=10.1163/157180511X552054 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Cheng |first=Edmund W. |title=Street Politics in a Hybrid Regime: The Diffusion of Political Activism in Post-colonial Hong Kong |journal=The China Quarterly |date=June 2016 |volume=226 |pages=383–406 |doi=10.1017/S0305741016000394 |doi-access=free }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Cheng |first1=Sheung-Tak |last2=Lum |first2=Terry |last3=Lam |first3=Linda C. W. |last4=Fung |first4=Helene H. |year=2013 |title=Hong Kong: Embracing a Fast Aging Society With Limited Welfare |journal=The Gerontologist |volume=53 |issue=4 |pages=527–533 |doi=10.1093/geront/gnt017 |pmid=23528290 |doi-access= }}
* {{cite journal |last=Cullinane |first=S. |title=The relationship between car ownership and public transport provision: a case study of Hong Kong |year=2002 |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=29–39 |journal=Transport Policy |doi=10.1016/S0967-070X(01)00028-2 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Fan |first=Shuh Ching |title=The Population of Hong Kong |year=1974 |journal=World Population Year |pages=1–2 |url=http://www.cicred.org/Eng/Publications/pdf/c-c21.pdf |oclc=438716102 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Forrest |first1=Ray |last2=La Grange |first2=Adrienne |last3=Yip |first3=Ngai-ming |title=Hong Kong as a Global City? Social Distance and Spatial Differentiation |journal=] |volume=41 |issue=1 |pages=207–227 |year=2004 |doi=10.1080/0042098032000155759 |bibcode=2004UrbSt..41..207F |citeseerx=10.1.1.1032.5974 |s2cid=154042413 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Fu |first=Poshek |title=Japanese Occupation, Shanghai Exiles, and Postwar Hong Kong Cinema |journal=The China Quarterly |year=2008 |volume=194 |issue=194 |pages=380–394 |doi=10.1017/S030574100800043X |jstor=20192203|s2cid=154730809 }}
* {{cite journal |author=Fulton Commission |title=Report of the Fulton Commission, 1963: Commission to Advise on the Creation of a Federal-Type Chinese University in Hong Kong |journal=Minerva |year=1963 |volume=1 |issue=4 |pages=493–507 |jstor=41821589 |doi=10.1007/bf01107190 |s2cid=189763965 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Jordan |first=Ann D. |title=Lost in the Translation: Two Legal Cultures, the Common Law Judiciary and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region |journal=] |url=https://scholarship.law.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1401&context=cilj |volume=30 |issue=2 |year=1997 |pages=335–380 }}
* {{cite book |last=Lee |first=John |title=2012 International Conference on Asian Language Processing |chapter=A Corpus-Based Analysis of Mixed Code in Hong Kong Speech |date=2012 |pages=165–168 |doi=10.1109/IALP.2012.10 |isbn=978-1-4673-6113-2|s2cid=16210378 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Lee |first1=Kwai Sang |last2=Leung |first2=Wai Mun |title=The status of Cantonese in the education policy of Hong Kong |journal=Multilingual Education |volume=2 |issue=2 |page=2 |year=2012 |doi=10.1186/2191-5059-2-2 |doi-access=free |hdl=10397/98877 |hdl-access=free }}
* {{cite journal |last=Lee |first=Nelson K. |title=The Changing Nature of Border, Scale and the Production of Hong Kong's Water Supply System since 1959 |journal=International Journal of Urban and Regional Research |volume=38 |issue=3 |pages=903–921 |year=2013 |doi=10.1111/1468-2427.12060 |doi-access=free }}
* {{cite journal |last1=McKercher |first1=Bob |last2=Ho |first2=Pamela S.Y. |last3=du Cros |first3=Hilary |title=Attributes of Popular Attractions in Hong Kong |journal=Annals of Tourism Research |volume=31 |issue=2 |year=2004 |pages=393–407 |doi=10.1016/j.annals.2003.12.008 |hdl=10397/29409 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Meacham |first=William |title=Neolithic to Historic in the Hong Kong Region |journal=Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association Bulletin |volume=18 |issue=2 |year=1999 |pages=121–128 |doi=10.7152/bippa.v18i0.11707 |doi-broken-date=1 November 2024 |eissn=0156-1316 |url=http://journals.lib.washington.edu/index.php/BIPPA/article/viewFile/11707/10336 |hdl=10722/208530 |hdl-access=free }}
* {{cite journal |last=Ming |first=Sing |title=The Legitimacy Problem and Democratic Reform in Hong Kong |journal=Journal of Contemporary China |volume=15 |issue=48 |year=2006 |pages=517–532 |doi=10.1080/10670560600736558 |s2cid=154949190 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Poon |first1=Simpson |last2=Chau |first2=Patrick |title=Octopus: The Growing E-payment System in Hong Kong |journal=Electronic Markets |volume=11 |issue=2 |year=2001 |pages=97–106 |url=https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/f800/672c1448f0233ae7982444a85cf6d806b774.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627034146/https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/f800/672c1448f0233ae7982444a85cf6d806b774.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 June 2018 |doi=10.1080/101967801300197016 |s2cid=18766585 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Sofield |first1=Trevor H.B. |last2=Sivan |first2=Atara |title= From Cultural Festival to International Sport – The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Races |journal=Journal of Sport & Tourism |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=9–20 |year=2003 |doi=10.1080/14775080306242 |s2cid=144106613 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Tong |first1=C. O.|last2=Wong |first2=S. C. |year=1997 |title=The advantages of a high density, mixed land use, linear urban development |journal=Transportation |volume=24 |issue=3 |pages=295–307 |doi=10.1023/A:1004987422746 |s2cid=152365622}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Wong |first1=Eliza L.Y. |last2=Yeoh |first2=Eng-kiong |last3=Chau |first3=Patsy Y.K. |last4=Yam |first4=Carrie H.K. |last5=Cheung |first5=Annie W.L. |last6=Fung |first6=Hong |title=How shall we examine and learn about public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the health sector? Realist evaluation of PPPs in Hong Kong |journal=] |volume=147 |year=2015 |pages=261–269 |doi=10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.11.012 |doi-access=free |pmid=26605970 }}
{{refend}}

==== Institutional reports ====
{{refbegin|35em}}
* {{cite report |title=A List of Licensed Broadcasting Services in Hong Kong |publisher=] |date=1 June 2018 |url=https://www.ofca.gov.hk/filemanager/ofca/en/content_108/channel_list_eng.pdf |ref={{harvid|Licensed Broadcasting Services|2018}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Adaptation of Laws Programme – Guiding Principles and Guideline Glossary of Terms |publisher=] |date=November 1998 |url=http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr98-99/english/bc/bc55/papers/p739e1.pdf |ref={{harvid|Adaptation of Laws Guidelines|1998}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Agriculture and Fisheries |work=Hong Kong: The Facts |publisher=Hong Kong Government |date=May 2017 |url=https://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/agriculture.pdf |ref={{harvid|Agriculture and Fisheries Facts|2017}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Airport Traffic Report |publisher=] |date=14 April 2017 |url=http://www.panynj.gov/airports/pdf-traffic/ATR2016.pdf |ref={{harvid|NY/NJ Port Authority Airport Traffic|2017}} |access-date=20 November 2017 |archive-date=25 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525172312/http://www.panynj.gov/airports/pdf-traffic/ATR2016.pdf |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite report |title=Akamai's State of the Internet – Q1 2017 Report |publisher=] |year=2017 |url=https://www.akamai.com/us/en/multimedia/documents/state-of-the-internet/q1-2017-state-of-the-internet-connectivity-report.pdf |ref={{harvid|Akamai's State of the Internet|2017}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Annual Report 2016/17 |publisher=] |date=12 June 2017 |url=http://www.hongkongairport.com/iwov-resources/file/airport-authority/publications/annual-and-interim-reports/en/16_17/1617_Annual_Report_EN.pdf |ref={{harvid|HKIA Annual Report|2017}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Annual Report 2016–17 |publisher=] |year=2017 |url=https://www.ird.gov.hk/dar/2016-17/table/en/ar_1617.pdf |ref={{harvid|Inland Revenue Annual Report|2017}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Annual Report 2017 |publisher=] |year=2017 |url=https://www.hshgroup.com/-/media/Files/HSH/Financial-Reports/2017/EW00045-2017-Annual-Report.ashx |format=PDF |ref={{harvid|HSH Annual Report|2017}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Annual Report and Accounts 2011 |publisher=] |year=2011 |url=https://www.hsbc.com.hk/content/dam/hsbc/hk/docs/legal/regulatory-disclosures/report-and-accounts-11.pdf |ref={{harvid|HSBC Annual Report|2011}} }}
* {{cite report |title=APAC Regional Headquarters |publisher=] |date=April 2016 |url=http://www.cushmanwakefield.com/~/media/reports/china/Cushman%20%20Wakefield%20RHQ%20Report_2016_F4.pdf |ref={{harvid|Cushman & Wakefield RHQ Report|2016}} |access-date=7 June 2018 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143118/http://www.cushmanwakefield.com/~/media/reports/china/Cushman%20%20Wakefield%20RHQ%20Report_2016_F4.pdf |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite report |title=Béthanie – The Academy's Landmark Heritage Campus |publisher=] |date=September 2015 |url=https://www.hkapa.edu/files/guide/media-publications/Bethanie-Booklet.pdf |ref={{harvid|Béthanie|2015}} |access-date=25 June 2018 |archive-date=1 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801204158/https://www.hkapa.edu/files/guide/media-publications/Bethanie-Booklet.pdf |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite report |title=Developing a Supplementary Guide to the Chinese Language Curriculum for Non-Chinese Speaking Students |publisher=] |date=January 2008 |url=http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr07-08/english/panels/ed/papers/ed0229cb2-1238-1-e.pdf |ref={{harvid|Developing a Supplementary Guide to the Chinese Language Curriculum for Non-Chinese Speaking Students|2008}} }}
* {{cite report |title=District Administration |work=Hong Kong: The Facts |publisher=Hong Kong Government |date=April 2016 |url=http://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/district_admin.pdf |ref={{harvid|District Administration Facts|2016}} |access-date=18 November 2008 |archive-date=7 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907000229/http://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/district_admin.pdf |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite report |title=Economic development: Statistical Highlights |publisher=] |date=26 April 2017 |url=https://www.legco.gov.hk/research-publications/english/1617issh25-port-of-hong-kong-20170426-e.pdf |ref={{harvid|Economic Statistical Highlights|2017}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Family Survey 2013 |publisher=] |date=July 2014 |url=https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr13-14/english/panels/ws/papers/ws0609cb2-2288-2-e.pdf |ref={{harvid|Family Survey|2013}} }}
* {{cite report |title=The UK's relations with Hong Kong: 30 years after the Joint Declaration |publisher=] |date=6 March 2015 |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmselect/cmfaff/649/649.pdf |ref={{harvid|House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee Tenth Report|2015}} }}
* {{cite report |author=Foreign and Commonwealth Office |author-link=Foreign and Commonwealth Office |title=Written evidence from Foreign and Commonwealth Office |publisher=] |date=October 2014 |url=http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/foreign-affairs-committee/the-uks-relations-with-hong-kong-30-years-after-the-joint-declaration/written/14357.pdf |ref={{harvid|FCO Written Evidence|2014}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Geography and Climate |publisher=] |year=2010 |url=https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/FileManager/EN/Content_810/geog.pdf |ref={{harvid|Geography and Climate|2010}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Guidelines on the Legislative Council Election |publisher=] |year=2016 |url=https://www.eac.gov.hk/pdf/legco/2016lc_guide/en/lc_full_guide.pdf |ref={{harvid|Guidelines on the Legislative Council Election|2016}} |access-date=22 June 2018 |archive-date=22 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122213234/https://www.eac.gov.hk/pdf/legco/2016lc_guide/en/lc_full_guide.pdf |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite report |title=Health Facts of Hong Kong: 2017 Edition |publisher=] |year=2017 |url=http://www.dh.gov.hk/english/statistics/statistics_hs/files/Health_Statistics_pamphlet_E.pdf |ref={{harvid|Health Facts|2017}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Hong Kong as a Service Economy |work=Hong Kong: The Facts |publisher=Hong Kong Government |date=April 2016 |url=https://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/service_economy.pdf |ref={{harvid|Economy Facts|2016}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Hong Kong Energy Statistics – 2016 Annual Report |publisher=] |date=April 2017 |url=http://www.statistics.gov.hk/pub/B11000022016AN16B0100.pdf |ref={{harvid|Energy Statistics Report|2017}} }}
* {{cite report |title=The Hong Kong Government Gazette |via=] |date=3 September 1926 |url=http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkgro/view/g1926/100085.pdf |ref={{harvid|Hong Kong Government Gazette|1926}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Human Development Indices and Indicators – Statistical Update 2018 |publisher=] |year=2018 |url=http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/2018_human_development_statistical_update.pdf |ref={{harvid|UN Human Development Indices and Indicators|2018}} }}
* {{cite report |last1=Jiang |first1=Guorong |last2=Tang |first2=Nancy |last3=Law |first3=Eve |last4=Sze |first4=Angela |title=The Profitability of the Banking Sector in Hong Kong |publisher=] |date=September 2003 |url=http://www.hkma.gov.hk/media/eng/publication-and-research/quarterly-bulletin/qb200309/fa1.pdf }}
* {{cite report |title=June 2019 |work=Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics |publisher=] |date=June 2019 |url=https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/data/stat_report/product/B1010002/att/B10100022019MM06B0100.pdf |ref={{harvid|Monthly Statistics for June|2019}} }}
* {{cite report |title=List of Political Affiliations of LegCo Members and DC Members |publisher=] |date=19 June 2017 |url=http://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/south/sc_chi/activities/files/Political_Affiliation_20170620_TC.pdf |ref={{harvid|LegCo and DC Member Political Affiliations|2017}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Literacy Rates Continue to Rise from One Generation to the Next |publisher=] |date=September 2017 |url=https://uis.unesco.org/sites/default/files/documents/fs45-literacy-rates-continue-rise-generation-to-next-en-2017.pdf |ref={{harvid|UNESCO Literacy Rates|2017}} |access-date=30 December 2019 |archive-date=29 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329020745/http://uis.unesco.org/sites/default/files/documents/fs45-literacy-rates-continue-rise-generation-to-next-en-2017.pdf |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite report |last1=Lung |first1=Charles C P |last2=Sung |first2=Y F |title=A Century of Railway Development – The Hong Kong Story |publisher=Institution of Railway Signal Engineers |year=2010 |url=http://www.irse.org/knowledge/publicdocuments/1.07%20Lung%20-%20Century%20of%20Railway%20Development%20Hong%20Kong.pdf |access-date=26 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411223254/http://www.irse.org/knowledge/publicdocuments/1.07%20Lung%20-%20Century%20of%20Railway%20Development%20Hong%20Kong.pdf |archive-date=11 April 2019 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite report |title=Main Results |work=2021 Population By-Census |publisher=] |year=2021 |url=https://www.census2021.gov.hk/doc/pub/21c-main-results.pdf |ref={{harvid|Population By-Census|2021}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Market Statistics 2018 |publisher=] |year=2018 |url=https://www.hkex.com.hk/-/media/HKEX-Market/News/News-Release/2018/181221news/181221news.pdf?la=en |ref={{harvid|HKSE Market Statistics|2018}} }}
* {{cite report |author=Panel on Education |title=Grant to the Hong Kong Shue Yan University for Establishing a General Development Fund |publisher=] |date=8 January 2007 |url=http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr06-07/english/panels/ed/papers/ed0108cb2-757-4-e.pdf |ref={{harvid|LegCo Grant to Shue Yan University|2007}} }}
* {{cite report |author=Panel on Home Affairs |chapter=List of Historical Buildings Declared as Monuments from 1997 to 2006 |title=The Queen's Pier |publisher=] |date=June 2007 |chapter-url=http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr06-07/english/panels/ha/papers/ha0601cb2-2102-1-e.pdf |ref={{harvid|Declared Monuments|2007}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Public Finance |work=Hong Kong: The Facts |publisher=Hong Kong Government |date=May 2018 |url=https://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/public_finance.pdf |ref={{harvid|Public Finance Facts|2018}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Public Transport Strategy Study |publisher=] |date=June 2017 |url=http://www.td.gov.hk/filemanager/en/publication/ptss_final_report_eng.pdf |ref={{harvid|Public Transport Strategy Study|2017}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Radio Television Hong Kong |work=The 2018–2019 Budget |publisher=Hong Kong Government |year=2018 |url=https://www.budget.gov.hk/2018/eng/pdf/head160.pdf |ref={{harvid|RTHK Budget|2018}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Railway Network |work=Hong Kong: The Facts |publisher=Hong Kong Government |date=April 2018 |url=https://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/railway.pdf |ref={{harvid|Railway Network Facts|2018}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Registration and Licensing of Vehicles by Class of Vehicles |publisher=] |date=January 2018 |url=http://www.td.gov.hk/filemanager/en/content_281/table41a.pdf |ref={{harvid|Vehicle Registration and Licensing|2018}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Religion and Custom |work=Hong Kong: The Facts |publisher=Hong Kong Government |date=May 2016 |url=https://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/religion.pdf |ref={{harvid|Religion and Custom Facts|2016}} }}
* {{cite report |author=Subcommittee on Matters Relating to Railways |title=Follow-ups on the Service Suspension of Tseung Kwan O Line and Part of Kwun Tong Line on 16 December 2013, and Report on Subsequent Major Incidents on East Rail Line and Light Rail |publisher=] |year=2014 |url=http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr13-14/english/panels/tp/tp_rdp/papers/tp_rdp0228cb1-980-5-e.pdf |ref={{harvid|Report on Rail Service|2014}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Reclamation Outside Victoria Harbour |publisher=] |year=2017 |url=https://www.devb.gov.hk/filemanager/en/content_1054/Paper_07_2017.pdf |ref={{harvid|Land Policy Report|2017}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Report of the Task Force on Population Policy |publisher=Hong Kong Government |year=2002 |url=http://www.info.gov.hk/info/population/eng/pdf/report_eng.pdf |ref={{harvid|Population Policy Report|2002}} }}
* {{cite report |title=The Global Financial Centres Index 22 |date=September 2017 |publisher=] |url=http://www.longfinance.net/images/gfci/gfci_22.pdf |ref={{harvid|Global Financial Centres Index|2017}} }}
* {{cite report |title=The Media |work=Hong Kong: The Facts |publisher=Hong Kong Government |date=December 2017 |url=https://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/media.pdf |ref={{harvid|Media Facts|2017}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Thematic Report: Household Income Distribution in Hong Kong |work=2021 Population By-Census |publisher=] |date=May 2023 |url=https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/data/stat_report/product/B1120108/att/B11201082021XXXXB0100.pdf |ref={{harvid|Household Income Distribution|2021}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Tourism |work=Hong Kong: The Facts |publisher=Hong Kong Government |date=May 2016 |url=https://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/tourism.pdf |ref={{harvid|Tourism Facts|2016}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Transport |work=Hong Kong: The Facts |publisher=Hong Kong Government |date=May 2016 |url=https://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/transport.pdf |ref={{harvid|Transport Facts|2016}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Report on Study of Road Traffic Congestion in Hong Kong |publisher=] |date=December 2014 |url=http://www.thb.gov.hk/eng/boards/transport/land/Full_Eng_C_cover.pdf |ref={{harvid|Traffic Congestion Study|2014}} |access-date=21 November 2017 |archive-date=23 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423133342/https://www.thb.gov.hk/eng/boards/transport/land/Full_Eng_C_cover.pdf |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite report |author=Transport and Housing Bureau |author-link=Transport and Housing Bureau |title=Technical Legislative Amendments on Traffic Arrangements for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge |publisher=] |date=19 April 2017 |url=https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr16-17/english/subleg/brief/2017ln060-065_brf.pdf |ref={{harvid|Technical Legislative Amendments on Traffic Arrangements for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge|2017}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Transport: Statistical Highlights |publisher=] |date=28 October 2016 |url=https://www.legco.gov.hk/research-publications/english/1617issh06-public-transport-20161028-e.pdf |ref={{harvid|Transport Statistical Highlights|2016}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Triennial Central Bank Survey: Foreign exchange turnover in April 2016 |publisher=] |date=September 2016 |url=http://www.bis.org/publ/rpfx16fx.pdf |ref={{harvid|Triennial Central Bank Survey|2016}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Usage of Information Technology and the Internet by Hong Kong Residents, 2000 to 2016 |publisher=] |date=November 2017 |url=http://www.statistics.gov.hk/pub/B71711FB2017XXXXB0100.pdf |ref={{harvid|IT and Internet Usage|2017}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Use of Chinese in Court Proceedings |publisher=] |year=2011 |url=http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr11-12/english/sec/library/1112in17-e.pdf |ref={{harvid|Use of Chinese in Court Proceedings|2011}} |access-date=16 November 2017 |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809065252/https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr11-12/english/sec/library/1112in17-e.pdf |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite report |title=Water Supplies |work=Hong Kong: The Facts |publisher=Hong Kong Government |date=May 2016 |url=https://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/water_supplies.pdf |ref={{harvid|Water Supply Facts|2016}} }}
* {{cite report |title=Women and Men in Hong Kong Key Statistics |publisher=] |date=July 2017 |url=http://www.statistics.gov.hk/pub/B11303032017AN17B0100.pdf |ref={{harvid|Women and Men in Hong Kong Key Statistics|2017}} }}
* {{cite report |last1=Yu |first1=Jian Zhen |last2=Huang |first2=Hilda |last3=Ng |first3=Wai Man |title=Final Report for Provision of Service for Fine Particulate Matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) Sample Chemical Analysis |publisher=] |date=June 2013 |url=http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/sites/default/files/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/studyrpts/files/final_report_mvtmpms_2012.pdf }}
{{refend}}

==== News and magazine articles ====
{{refbegin|35em}}
* {{cite news |last1=Baldwin |first1=Clare |author1-link=Clare Baldwin |last2=Lee |first2=Yimou |last3=Jim |first3=Clare |date=30 December 2014 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-china-economy-specialreport/special-report-the-mainlands-colonization-of-the-hong-kong-economy-idUSKBN0K901320141231 |title=Special Report: The mainland's colonisation of the Hong Kong economy |work=] |access-date=26 December 2017 }}
* {{cite news |last=Bland |first=Ben |date=31 July 2016 |title=Hong Kong ban on pro-independence candidates sparks backlash |newspaper=] |url=https://www.ft.com/content/c6e07268-56fd-11e6-9f70-badea1b336d4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/c6e07268-56fd-11e6-9f70-badea1b336d4 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=26 June 2018 }}
* {{cite news |last=Chan |first=Bernice |date=17 July 2017 |title=Hong Kong villagers using solar energy to help power their homes – and show its potential as a source of electricity for city |url=http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/2102674/hong-kong-villagers-using-solar-energy-help-power-their-homes-and-show-its |newspaper=] |access-date=25 November 2017 }}
* {{cite news |last=Chao |first=York |date=25 May 2013 |title=Racist Hong Kong is still a fact |url=http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1245226/racist-hong-kong-still-fact |newspaper=] |access-date=18 November 2017 }}
* {{cite news |last=Cheung |first=Stephanie |date=23 March 2015 |title=The case for extending Hong Kong's 2047 deadline |newspaper=] |url=http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1742930/case-extending-hong-kongs-2047-deadline |access-date=22 May 2018 }}
* {{cite news |last=Cheung |first=Tony |date=10 May 2016 |title=Too soon to talk about 2047? Legal experts split on when Hong Kong should debate its future |newspaper=] |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1943075/too-soon-talk-about-2047-legal-experts-split-when-hong-kong |access-date=22 May 2018 }}
* {{cite news |last=Cheung |first=Tony |date=28 February 2017 |title=Who goes there? Hong Kong's participation in China's 'two sessions' explained |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2074786/who-goes-there-chinas-annual-two-sessions-event-explained |newspaper=] |access-date=27 November 2017 }}
* {{cite news |last1=Cheung |first1=Tony |last2=Ho |first2=Lauren |date=19 January 2013 |title=CY Leung insists housing policy won't cause property crash |newspaper=] |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1131216/cy-leung-insists-housing-policy-wont-cause-property-crash |access-date=14 November 2017 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Chow |first=Vivienne |date=16 March 2017 |title=Hong Kong's TVB Targeting New Revenues With OTT Platform, Productions |magazine=] |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/asia/hong-kong-tvb-new-ott-platform-productions-1202010080/ |access-date=6 June 2018 }}
* {{cite magazine|last=Darrach|first=Amanda|date=14 June 2019|title=How many really marched in Hong Kong? And how should we best guess crowd size?|magazine=]|url=https://www.cjr.org/analysis/how-many-marched-protests-hong-kong-how-guess-crowd-size.php|access-date=23 October 2019}}
* {{cite news |title=End of an experiment |newspaper=] |date=15 July 2010 |url=https://www.economist.com/briefing/2010/07/15/end-of-an-experiment |access-date=5 September 2010 |ref={{sfnref|"End of an experiment", ''The Economist''}} }}
* {{cite news |last=Frank |first=Robert |date=5 September 2018 |title=Hong Kong topples New York as world's richest city |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/05/hong-kong-topples-new-york-as-worlds-richest-city.html |publisher=] |access-date=21 April 2019 }}
* {{cite news |last=Gargan |first=Edward A. |date=1 July 1997 |title=China Resumes Control of Hong Kong, Concluding 156 Years of British Rule |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/01/world/china-resumes-control-of-hong-kong-concluding-156-years-of-british-rule.html |newspaper=] |access-date=5 January 2018 }}
* {{cite news |last=Ge |first=Celine |date=28 July 2017 |title=It's fade out for Hong Kong's film industry as China moves into the spotlight |url=http://www.scmp.com/business/article/2104540/its-fade-out-hong-kongs-film-industry-china-moves-spotlight |newspaper=] |access-date=28 May 2018 }}
* {{cite news |last=Gold |first=Anne |date=6 July 2001 |title=Hong Kong's Mile-Long Escalator System Elevates the Senses: A Stairway to Urban Heaven |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/06/style/hong-kongs-milelong-escalator-system-elevates-the-senses-a-stairway-to.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322100224/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/06/style/hong-kongs-milelong-escalator-system-elevates-the-senses-a-stairway-to.html |archive-date=22 March 2017 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=] |access-date=22 October 2010 }}
* {{cite news |last1=Griffiths |first1=James |last2=Lazarus |first2=Sarah |date=22 October 2018 |title=World's longest sea-crossing bridge opens between Hong Kong and China |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/21/world/hong-kong-zhuhai-macau-bridge-intl/index.html |access-date=15 February 2019 }}
* {{cite news |last=Haas |first=Benjamin |date=14 July 2017 |title=Hong Kong pro-democracy legislators disqualified from parliament |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/14/hong-kong-pro-democracy-legislators-disqualified-parliament |newspaper=] |access-date=5 July 2018 }}
* {{cite news |last=He |first=Huifeng |date=13 January 2013 |title=Forgotten stories of the great escape to Hong Kong |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1126786/forgotten-stories-huge-escape-hong-kong |newspaper=] |access-date=27 December 2017 }}
* {{cite news |last1=Hollingsworth |first1=Julia |last2=Zheng |first2=Sarah |date=27 March 2017 |title=Top 10 Hong Kong skyscraper nicknames, from the Big Syringe to the Hong Kong Finger |url=http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/2081852/top-10-hong-kong-skyscraper-nicknames-big-syringe-hong-kong-finger |newspaper=] |access-date=26 June 2018 }}
* {{cite news |last=Huang |first=Echo |date=15 November 2016 |title=A Hong Kong court has disqualified two legislators who refused to take their oath "correctly" |url=https://qz.com/837562/a-hong-kong-court-has-disqualifed-yau-wia-ching-and-baggio-leung-from-the-legco-for-refusing-to-take-their-oath-correctly/ |newspaper=] |access-date=5 July 2018 }}
* {{cite news |last=Kaiman |first=Jonathan |date=30 September 2014 |title=Hong Kong's umbrella revolution – the Guardian briefing |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/30/-sp-hong-kong-umbrella-revolution-pro-democracy-protests |newspaper=] |access-date=3 February 2018 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Kong |first=Daniel |date=8 August 2013 |title=Hong Kong Imports Over 90% of Its Food. Can It Learn to Grow? |url=http://modernfarmer.com/2013/08/hong-kong-imports-over-90-of-its-food-can-it-learn-to-grow/ |magazine=] |access-date=26 October 2013 |archive-date=29 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191633/http://modernfarmer.com/2013/08/hong-kong-imports-over-90-of-its-food-can-it-learn-to-grow/ |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite news |last=Kwok |first=Donny |date=22 September 2018 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-china-train/all-aboard-hong-kong-bullet-train-signals-high-speed-integration-with-china-idUSKCN1M301T |title=All aboard: Hong Kong bullet train signals high-speed integration with China |work=] |access-date=26 September 2018 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Labarre |first=Suzanne |date=15 June 2010 |title=Ingenious Flipper Bridge Melds Left-Side Drivers With Right-Side Drivers |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1660258/ingenious-flipper-bridge-melds-left-side-drivers-right-side-drivers |magazine=] |access-date=25 March 2018 }}
* {{cite news |last=Lendon |first=Brad |date=29 June 2017 |title=China makes its military more visible in Hong Kong |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/27/asia/china-military-hong-kong/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=22 December 2017 }}
* {{cite news |last=Lhatoo |first=Yonden |date=17 September 2015 |title=Racism is rife in Hong Kong and the Equal Opportunities Commission is a toothless hamster to tackle it |url=http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1859049/racism-rife-hong-kong-and-equal-opportunities-commission |newspaper=] |access-date=18 November 2017 }}
* {{cite news |last=Liu |first=Alfred |date=5 September 2018 |title=These Are the Cities With the Most Ultra-Rich People |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-06/hong-kong-passes-new-york-as-home-to-the-most-ultra-rich-people |newspaper=] |access-date=21 April 2019 }}
* {{cite news |last=Mok |first=Danny |date=14 February 2018 |title=Going up! Prices for Hong Kong's famous Peak Tram to increase for second time in less than two years |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2133393/going-prices-hong-kongs-famous-peak-tram-increased-second |newspaper=] |access-date=2 July 2018 }}
* {{cite news |last1=Mok |first1=Danny |last2=Lee |first2=Eddie |date=4 March 2015 |title=Let Hongkongers serve in China's People's Liberation Army, says top military official |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1729129/let-hongkongers-serve-chinas-peoples-liberation-army-says-top |newspaper=] |access-date=27 November 2017 }}
* {{cite news |last1=Ngo |first1=Jennifer |last2=Cheung |first2=Elizabeth |date=16 March 2016 |title=A case for inclusion: Carrie Lam pledges to tout list of 16 ethnic minority Hongkongers for government advisory positions |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1928626/case-inclusion-carrie-lam-pledges-tout-list-16-ethnic |newspaper=] |access-date=18 November 2017 }}
* {{cite news |last=Park |first=Kyunghee |date=23 January 2019 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-23/hong-kong-port-falls-to-lowest-position-in-at-least-40-years |title=Once the World's Greatest Port, Hong Kong Sinks in Global Ranking |newspaper=] |access-date=14 February 2019 }}
* {{cite news |last=Sala |first=Ilaria Maria |date=1 September 2016 |title=As Hong Kong goes to the polls, why isn't the Communist Party on the ballot? |url=https://qz.com/770620/as-hong-kong-prepares-to-go-to-the-polls-why-isnt-the-communist-party-on-the-ballot/ |newspaper=] |access-date=18 November 2017 }}
* {{cite news |last1=Siu |first1=Phila |last2=Chung |first2=Kimmy |date=27 December 2017 |title=Controversial joint checkpoint plan approved for high-speed rail link as Hong Kong officials dismiss concerns over legality |newspaper=] |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2125820/chinas-top-body-approves-plan-enforce-mainland-laws-joint |access-date=5 July 2018 }}
* {{cite news |last=Tam |first=Luisa |date=11 September 2017 |title=Self-centred, demanding, materialistic and arrogant: how to steer clear of the Kong Girls |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/2110645/self-centred-demanding-materialistic-and-arrogant-how-steer-clear |newspaper=] |location=Hong Kong |access-date=27 December 2017 }}
* {{cite news |last=Tatlow |first=Didi Kirsten |date=2 February 2017 |title=On Deck With China's Last Junk Builders, Masters of an Ebbing Craft |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/02/world/asia/china-junk-builders-hong-kong.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220102/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/02/world/asia/china-junk-builders-hong-kong.html |archive-date=2 January 2022 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |newspaper=] |access-date=31 May 2018 }}{{cbignore}}
* {{cite news |title=To restore calm in Hong Kong, try democracy |newspaper=] |date=20 June 2019 |url=https://www.economist.com/leaders/2019/06/20/to-restore-calm-in-hong-kong-try-democracy |access-date=23 October 2019 |ref={{sfnref|"To restore calm in Hong Kong, try democracy", ''The Economist''}} }}
* {{cite news |last1=Wong |first1=Joshua |last2=Lim |first2=Emily |date=23 February 2017 |title=We must resist until China gives Hong Kong a say in our future |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/23/we-must-resist-until-china-gives-hong-kong-a-say-in-our-future |newspaper=] |access-date=16 November 2017 }}
* {{cite news |last1=Hung |first1=Emily |last2=Ma |first2=Jess |date=19 September 2023 |title=
Hong Kong's poorest struggle to benefit from post-pandemic recovery with wealth gap at its worst in over 10 years, Oxfam warns |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3235101/hong-kongs-poorest-households-struggle-benefit-post-pandemic-recovery-wealth-divide-reaches-worst |newspaper=] |access-date=8 June 2024 }}
* {{cite news |last=Yu |first=Verna |date=6 January 2013 |title=Veterans who fled mainland for Hong Kong in 1970s tell their stories |newspaper=] |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1120852/veterans-who-fled-mainland-hong-kong-1970s-tell-their-stories |access-date=9 September 2013 }}
* {{cite news |last=Zhao |first=Shirley |date=6 September 2015 |title='If you tell them you are Pakistani, they won't give you the flat': Finding a Hong Kong home is battle against prejudice for ethnic minorities |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1855629/if-you-tell-them-you-are-pakistani-they-wont-give-you-flat-finding |newspaper=] |access-date=18 November 2017 }}
* {{cite news |last=Zheng |first=Sarah |date=14 January 2017 |title=Hong Kong's heritage sites face continued threat despite government grading system |url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/2062004/hong-kongs-heritage-sites-face-continued-threat |newspaper=] |location=Hong Kong |access-date=5 March 2018 }}
{{refend}}

==== Websites ====
{{refbegin|35em}}
* {{cite web |last1=Bush |first1=Richard C. |last2=Whelan-Wuest |first2=Maeve |date=29 March 2017 |title=Another Hong Kong election, another pro-Beijing leader—why it matters |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2017/03/29/another-hong-kong-election-another-pro-beijing-leader-why-it-matters |website=Brookings Institution |access-date=18 November 2017 }}
* {{cite web |last=Desjardins |first=Jeff |date=14 March 2018 |title=These 25 countries have the most billionaires |website=] |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/these-25-countries-have-the-most-billionaires-2018-3 |access-date=3 April 2018 }}
* {{cite web |title=Disclaimer and Copyright Notice |url=http://www.legco.gov.hk/english/disclaim.htm |website=] |access-date=27 November 2017 |ref={{sfnref|Legislative Council Disclaimer and Copyright Notice}} }}
* {{cite web |last=Ghoshal |first=Amoy |date=1 July 2011 |title=Asian Cup: Know Your History – Part One (1956–1988) |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/8/main/2011/01/07/2293901/asian-cup-know-your-history-part-one-1956-1988 |website=] |access-date=5 March 2018 }}
* {{cite web |title=HK records hottest day before typhoon |date=23 August 2017 |website=EJ Insight |url=http://www.ejinsight.com/20170823-hk-records-hottest-day-before-typhoon/ |access-date=29 August 2018 |ref={{sfnref|"HK records hottest day before typhoon", ''EJ Insight''}} |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729141559/http://www.ejinsight.com/20170823-hk-records-hottest-day-before-typhoon/ |archive-date=29 July 2018 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite web |title=HK vs China GDP: A sobering reality |date=9 June 2017 |website=EJ Insight |url=http://www.ejinsight.com/20170609-hk-versus-china-gdp-a-sobering-reality/ |access-date=29 January 2018 |ref={{sfnref|"HK vs China GDP: A sobering reality", ''EJ Insight''}} |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829090354/http://www.ejinsight.com/20170609-hk-versus-china-gdp-a-sobering-reality/ |archive-date=29 August 2018 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite web |title=Hong Kong Activists Stare Down 'Great Firewall of China' |date=29 September 2014 |publisher=] |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hong-kong-protests/hong-kong-activists-stare-down-great-firewall-china-n213911 |access-date=21 June 2018 |ref={{sfnref|"Hong Kong Activists Stare Down 'Great Firewall of China'", ''NBC News''}} }}
* {{Cite news |title=Hong Kong profile – Media |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-16525992 |date=5 March 2018 |work=BBC News |access-date=29 May 2018 |ref={{sfnref|"Hong Kong media profile", ''BBC News''}} }}
* {{cite web |last=Kohlstedt |first=Kurt |date=5 September 2016 |title=Here Be Dragons: How Feng Shui Shapes the Skyline of Hong Kong |url=https://99percentinvisible.org/article/dragons-feng-shui-shapes-skyline-hong-kong/ |website=] |access-date=23 June 2018 }}
* {{cite web |last=Kwong |first=Chi Man |date=9 September 2015 |title=Hong Kong during World War II: A Transnational Battlefield |url=http://theasiadialogue.com/2015/09/09/hong-kong-during-world-war-ii-a-transnational-battlefield/ |publisher=] |access-date=22 January 2018 |archive-date=27 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627034106/http://theasiadialogue.com/2015/09/09/hong-kong-during-world-war-ii-a-transnational-battlefield/ |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite news |last1=Lam |first1=Eric |last2=Qiu |first2=Yue |date=23 June 2017 |title=Hong Kong's Stock Market Tells the Story of China's Growing Dominance |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2017-hang-seng-index/ |website=] |access-date=26 December 2017 }}
* {{cite web |title=Land Use in Hong Kong 2017 |url=http://www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/info_serv/statistic/landu.html |website=] |access-date=1 September 2018 |ref={{sfnref|"Land Use in Hong Kong 2017", Planning Department}} |archive-date=19 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019212830/http://www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/info_serv/statistic/landu.html |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite web |title=Meanings of Right of Abode and Other Terms |url=http://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/roa/term.html |website=] |access-date=18 November 2017 |ref={{sfnref|"Meanings of Right of Abode and Other Terms", Immigration Department}} }}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|voy=Hong Kong|d=Q8646|Hong Kong}}
* . '']''. ].
* from ]
* from ]
* , an open access photographic archive of recent Hong Kong history
'''Government'''
* Hong Kong SAR government portal
* Official site of the tourism board
'''Trade'''
*
'''Maps'''
* {{Wikiatlas|Hong Kong}}
* {{OSM relation|913110}}

{{Hong Kong topics}}
{{Pearl River Delta}}
{{Major cities along the Pearl River}}
{{Province-level divisions of the People's Republic of China}}
{{Prefectural-level divisions of the People's Republic of China}}
{{Navboxes
| list =
{{Countries of Asia}}
{{East Asian topics}}
{{Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation}}
{{World Trade Organization}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|22.3|114.2|type:adm1st_region:HK_dim:30000|format=dms|display=title}}


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Latest revision as of 23:28, 13 December 2024

Special administrative region of China "HK" redirects here. For other uses, see Hong Kong (disambiguation) and HK (disambiguation).

Special administrative region in China
Hong Kong香港
Special administrative region
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China Other official names
A flag with a white 5-petalled flower design on solid red background
FlagA red circular emblem, with a white 5-petalled flower design in the centre, and surrounded by the words "Hong Kong" and "中華人民共和國香港特別行政區"
Emblem
Location of Hong KongLocation of Hong Kong within China
Sovereign stateChina
British possession26 January 1841
Treaty of Nanking29 August 1842
Convention of Peking24 October 1860
New Territories lease9 June 1898
Imperial Japanese occupation25 December 1941 to 30 August 1945
Re-designated as a British Dependent Territory1 January 1981
Sino-British Joint Declaration19 December 1984
Handover to China1 July 1997
Administrative centreTamar
Largest district
by population
Sha Tin
Official languages
Regional languageCantonese
Official scriptsTraditional Chinese
English alphabet
Ethnic groups (2021)91.6% Chinese
2.7% Filipino
1.9% Indonesian
0.8% White
0.6% Indian
0.4% Nepalese
2% other
Demonym(s)
GovernmentDevolved executive-led government within a unitary one-party state
• Chief Executive John Lee
• Chief Secretary Eric Chan
• Council President Andrew Leung
• Chief Justice Andrew Cheung
LegislatureLegislative Council
National representation
• National People's Congress36 deputies
• Chinese People's
Political Consultative
Conference
203 delegates
Area
• Total2,754.97 km (1,063.70 sq mi) (168th)
• Water (%)59.70%
(1,640.62 km;
633.45 sq mi)
• Land1,114.35 km
(430.25 sq mi)
Highest elevation (Tai Mo Shan)957 m (3,140 ft)
Lowest elevation (South China Sea)0 m (0 ft)
Population
• 2023 estimateNeutral increase 7,498,100
• 2021 censusNeutral increase 7,413,070
• Density6,801/km (17,614.5/sq mi) (4th)
GDP (PPP)2024 estimate
• TotalIncrease $569.828 billion (50th)
• Per capitaIncrease $75,407 (17th)
GDP (nominal)2024 estimate
• TotalIncrease $401.751 billion (41st)
• Per capitaDecrease $53,165 (20th)
Gini (2021)Positive decrease 39.7
medium
HDI (2022)Decrease 0.956
very high · 4th
CurrencyHong Kong dollar (HK$) (HKD)
Time zoneUTC+08:00 (HKT)
Date formatdd/mm/yyyy
yyyy年mm月dd日
Mains electricity220 V–50 Hz
Driving sideLeft
Calling code+852
ISO 3166 code
Internet TLD
Number plate prefixesNone for local vehicles, 粤Z for cross-boundary vehicles

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. With 7.4 million residents of various nationalities in a 1,104-square-kilometre (426 sq mi) territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the world.

Hong Kong was established as a colony of the British Empire after the Qing dynasty ceded Hong Kong Island in 1841–1842 as a consequence of losing the First Opium War. The colony expanded to the Kowloon Peninsula in 1860 and was further extended when the United Kingdom obtained a 99-year lease of the New Territories in 1898. Hong Kong was occupied by Japan from 1941 to 1945 during World War II. The territory was handed over from the United Kingdom to China in 1997. Hong Kong maintains separate governing and economic systems from that of mainland China under the principle of one country, two systems.

Originally a sparsely populated area of farming and fishing villages, the territory is now one of the world's most significant financial centres and commercial ports. Hong Kong is the world's third-ranked global financial centre (behind New York City and London), ninth-largest exporter, and eighth-largest importer. Its currency, the Hong Kong dollar, is the ninth most traded currency in the world. Home to the seventh-highest number of billionaires of any city in the world, Hong Kong has the largest number of ultra high-net-worth individuals. Although the city has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, severe income inequality exists among the population. Despite being the city with the most skyscrapers in the world, housing in Hong Kong is consistently in high demand.

Hong Kong is a highly developed territory and has a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.956, ranking fourth in the world and currently the only place in Asia to be in the top 5. The city has the highest life expectancy in the world, and a public transport usage exceeding 90 per cent.

Etymology

Hong Kong
"Hong Kong" in Chinese characters
Chinese香港
Jyutpinghoeng1 gong2
Cantonese Yale
Literal meaning"Fragrant Harbour"
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinXiānggǎng
Bopomofoㄒㄧㄤ   ㄍㄤˇ
Gwoyeu RomatzyhShianggaang
Wade–GilesHsiang-kang
Yale RomanizationSyānggǎng
IPA
Wu
Romanization Error: {{Transliteration}}: transliteration text not Latin script (pos 11) (help)
Hakka
RomanizationHionggong
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization
Jyutpinghoeng1 gong2
Canton RomanizationHênggong
IPA
Southern Min
Hokkien POJHiong-káng
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Traditional Chinese
  • 香港特別行政區
  • (香港特區)
Simplified Chinese
  • 香港特别行政区
  • (香港特区)
Jyutping
  • hoeng1 gong2 dak6 bit6 hang4 zing3 keoi1
  • (hoeng1 gong2 dak6 keoi1)
Cantonese Yale
  • Hēunggóng Dahkbiht Hàhngjingkēui
  • (Hēunggóng Dahkkēui)
  • or
  • Hèunggóng Dahkbiht Hàhngjingkēui
  • (Hèunggóng Dahkkēui)
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin
  • Xiānggǎng Tèbié Xíngzhèngqū
  • (Xiānggǎng Tèqū)
Bopomofo
  • ㄒㄧㄤ   ㄍㄤˇ
  • ㄊㄜˋ   ㄅㄧㄝˊ
  • ㄒㄧㄥˊ   ㄓㄥˋ   ㄑㄩ
  • (ㄒㄧㄤ   ㄍㄤˇ   ㄊㄜˋ   ㄑㄩ)
Gwoyeu Romatzyh
  • Shianggaang Tehbye Shyngjenqchiu
  • (Shianggaang Tehchiu)
Wade–Giles
  • Hsiang-kang Tʻe-⁠pieh Hsing-⁠cheng-⁠chʻü
  • (Hsiang-kang Tʻe-chʻü)
Yale Romanization
  • Syāngggǎng Tèbyé Syíngjèngchyū
  • (Syānggǎng Tèchyū)
IPA
  • ()
Wu
Romanization Error: {{Transliteration}}: transliteration text not Latin script (pos 84) (help)
Hakka
Romanization
  • Hionggong Tet⁠piet Hang⁠zin⁠ki
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization
  • Hēunggóng Dahkbiht Hàhngjingkēui
  • (Hēunggóng Dahkkēui)
  • or
  • Hèunggóng Dahkbiht Hàhngjingkēui
  • (Hèunggóng Dahkkēui)
Jyutping
  • hoeng1 gong2 dak6 bit6 hang4 zing3 keoi1
  • (hoeng1 gong2 dak6 keoi1)
Canton Romanization
  • Hênggong Deg⁠bid Heng⁠jing⁠kêu
IPA
Southern Min
Hokkien POJ
  • Hiong-káng Te̍k-⁠pia̍t Hêng-⁠chèng-⁠khu
  • (Hiong-káng Te̍k-khu)
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The name of the territory, first romanised as "He-Ong-Kong" in 1780, originally referred to a small inlet located between Aberdeen Island and the southern coast of Hong Kong Island. Aberdeen 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 Cantonese (or Tanka Cantonese) phrase 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 Pearl River or to the odour from incense factories lining the coast of northern Kowloon. The incense was stored near Aberdeen Harbour for export before Victoria Harbour was developed. 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 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 Hongkong Land, Hongkong Electric Company, Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels and the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC).

History

Main article: History of Hong Kong For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Hong Kong history.

Prehistory and Imperial China

Earliest known human traces in what is now Hong Kong are dated by some to 35,000 and 39,000 years ago during the Paleolithic period. The claim is based on an archaeological investigation in Wong Tei Tung, Sai Kung in 2003. The archaeological works revealed knapped stone tools from deposits that were dated using optical luminescence dating.

During the Middle Neolithic period, about 6,000 years ago, the region had been widely occupied by humans. Neolithic to Bronze Age Hong Kong settlers were semi-coastal people. Early inhabitants are believed to be Austronesians in the Middle Neolithic period and later the Yue people. As hinted by the archaeological works in Sha Ha, Sai Kung, rice cultivation had been introduced since Late Neolithic period. Bronze Age Hong Kong featured coarse pottery, hard pottery, quartz and stone jewelry, as well as small bronze implements.

Sung Wong Toi

The Qin dynasty incorporated the Hong Kong area into China for the first time in 214 BCE, after conquering the indigenous Baiyue. The region was consolidated under the Nanyue kingdom (a predecessor state of Vietnam) after the Qin collapse and recaptured by China after the Han conquest. 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 by the Yuan Dynasty. By the end of the Yuan dynasty, seven large families had settled in the region and owned most of the land. Settlers from nearby provinces migrated to Kowloon throughout the Ming dynasty.

The earliest European visitor was Portuguese explorer Jorge Álvares, who arrived in 1513. Portuguese merchants established a trading post called Tamão in Hong Kong waters and began regular trade with southern China. Although the traders were expelled after military clashes in the 1520s, Portuguese-Chinese trade relations were re-established by 1549. Portugal acquired a permanent lease for Macau in 1887.

After the Qing conquest, maritime trade was banned under the Haijin policies. From 1661 to 1683, the population of most of the area forming present day Hong Kong was cleared under the Great Clearance, turning the region into a wasteland. The Kangxi Emperor lifted the maritime trade prohibition, allowing foreigners to enter Chinese ports in 1684. Qing authorities established the Canton System in 1757 to regulate trade more strictly, restricting non-Russian ships to the port of Canton. 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 opium to China. Faced with a drug crisis, Qing officials pursued ever more aggressive actions to halt the opium trade.

British colony

Main article: British Hong Kong
Hong Kong in 1868, photograph by John Thomson

In 1839, the Daoguang Emperor rejected proposals to legalise and tax opium and ordered imperial commissioner Lin Zexu to eradicate the opium trade. The commissioner destroyed opium stockpiles and halted all foreign trade, triggering a British military response and the First Opium War. The Qing surrendered early in the war and ceded Hong Kong Island in the Convention of Chuenpi. British forces began controlling Hong Kong shortly after the signing of the convention, from 26 January 1841. 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 United Kingdom in the 1842 Treaty of Nanking.

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 Taiping Rebellion 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 Second Opium War. The Qing were again defeated and forced to give up Kowloon Peninsula and Stonecutters Island in the Convention of Peking. By the end of this war, Hong Kong had evolved from a transient colonial outpost into a major entrepôt. Rapid economic improvement during the 1850s attracted foreign investment, as potential stakeholders became more confident in Hong Kong's future.

The colony was further expanded in 1898 when the United Kingdom obtained a 99-year lease of the New Territories. The University of Hong Kong was established in 1911 as the territory's first institution of higher education. Kai Tak Airport began operation in 1924, and the colony avoided a prolonged economic downturn after the 1925–26 Canton–Hong Kong strike. At the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937, Governor Geoffry Northcote 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 Imperial Japanese Army attacked Hong Kong on 8 December 1941, the same morning as its attack on Pearl Harbor. Hong Kong was occupied by Japan for almost four years before the British resumed control on 30 August 1945.

The flag of British Hong Kong from 1959 to 1997
Peking Road in Tsim Sha Tsui in 1971

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 Chinese Communist Party took control of mainland China in 1949. Hong Kong became the first of the Four Asian Tiger economies to industrialise during the 1950s. With a rapidly increasing population, the colonial government attempted reforms to improve infrastructure and public services. The public-housing estate programme, Independent Commission Against Corruption, and Mass Transit Railway were all established during the post-war decades to provide safer housing, integrity in the civil service, and more reliable transportation.

Nevertheless, widespread public discontent resulted in multiple protests from the 1950s to 1980s, including pro-Republic of China and pro-Chinese Communist Party protests. In the 1967 Hong Kong riots, pro-PRC protestors clashed with the British colonial government. As many as 51 were killed and 802 were injured in the violence, including dozens killed by the Royal Hong Kong Police via beatings and shootings.

Although the territory's competitiveness in manufacturing gradually declined because of 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.

Chinese special administrative region

Further information: Handover of Hong Kong
Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island, 2007

The colony faced an uncertain future as the end of the New Territories lease approached, and Governor Murray MacLehose raised the question of Hong Kong's status with Deng Xiaoping in 1979. Diplomatic negotiations with China resulted in the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, in which the United Kingdom agreed to the handover of the colony in 1997 and China would guarantee Hong Kong's economic and political systems for 50 years after the handover. The impending handover triggered a wave of mass emigration 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. The Legislative Council became a fully elected legislature for the first time in 1995 and extensively expanded its functions and organisations throughout the last years of the colonial rule. The handover of Hong Kong to China was at midnight on 1 July 1997, after 156 years of British rule.

Immediately after the handover, Hong Kong was severely affected by several crises. The Hong Kong government was forced to use substantial foreign exchange reserves to maintain the Hong Kong dollar's currency peg during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, and the recovery from this was muted by an H5N1 avian-flu outbreak and a housing surplus. This was followed by the 2003 SARS epidemic, during which the territory experienced its most serious economic downturn.

Chinese communists portrayed the return of Hong Kong as key moment in the PRC's rise to great power status.

Hong Kong protests, August 2019

Political debates after the handover have centred around the region's democratic development and the Chinese central government's adherence to the "one country, two systems" principle. After reversal of the last colonial era Legislative Council democratic reforms following the handover, the regional government unsuccessfully attempted to enact national security legislation pursuant to Article 23 of the Basic Law. The central government decision to implement nominee pre-screening before allowing chief executive elections triggered a series of protests in 2014 which became known as the Umbrella Revolution. Discrepancies in the electoral registry and disqualification of elected legislators after the 2016 Legislative Council elections and enforcement of national law in the West Kowloon high-speed railway station raised further concerns about the region's autonomy. In June 2019, mass protests erupted in response to a proposed extradition amendment bill permitting the extradition of fugitives to mainland China. The protests are the largest in Hong Kong's history, with organisers claiming to have attracted more than three million Hong Kong residents.

The Hong Kong regional government and Chinese central government responded to the protests with a number of administrative measures to quell dissent. In June 2020, the Legislative Council passed the National Anthem Ordinance, which criminalised "insults to the national anthem of China". The Chinese central government meanwhile enacted the Hong Kong national security law to help quell protests in the region. Nine months later, in March 2021, the Chinese central government introduced amendments to Hong Kong's electoral system, which included the reduction of directly elected seats in the Legislative Council and the requirement that all candidates be vetted and approved by a Beijing-appointed Candidate Eligibility Review Committee.

In May 2023, the Legislative Council also introduced legislation to reduce the number of directly elected seats in the district councils, and a District Council Eligibility Review Committee was similarly established to vet candidates.

Government and politics

Main articles: Government of Hong Kong, Politics of Hong Kong, Elections in Hong Kong, and Separation of powers in Hong Kong
Large, round room with desks and a dais
Since 2012, the legislature has met in the Tamar Legislative Council Complex.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, with executive, legislative, and judicial powers devolved from the national government. The Sino-British Joint Declaration provided for economic and administrative continuity through the handover, resulting in an executive-led governing system largely inherited from the territory's history as a British colony. Under these terms and the "one country, two systems" principle, the Basic Law of Hong Kong is the regional constitution. The regional government is composed of three branches:

The chief executive is the head of government and serves for a maximum of two five-year terms. The State Council (led by the Premier of China) appoints the chief executive after nomination by the Election Committee, which is composed of 1500 business, community, and government leaders.

The Legislative Council has 90 members, each serving a four-year term. Twenty are directly elected from geographical constituencies, thirty-five represent functional constituencies (FC), and forty are chosen by an election committee consisting of representatives appointed by the Chinese central government. 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 district council members and selected in region-wide double direct elections. All popularly elected members are chosen by proportional representation. The 30 limited electorate functional constituencies fill their seats using first-past-the-post or instant-runoff voting.

Twenty-two political parties had representatives elected to the Legislative Council in the 2016 election. These parties have aligned themselves into three ideological groups: the pro-Beijing camp (the current government), the pro-democracy camp, and localist groups. The Chinese Communist Party 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 National People's Congress by 36 deputies chosen through an electoral college and 203 delegates in the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference appointed by the central government.

The grey dome and front gable of a granite neo-classical building, with a skyscraper in the background against a clear blue sky
The Court of Final Appeal Building formerly housed the Supreme Court and the Legislative Council.

Chinese national law does not generally apply in the region, and Hong Kong is treated as a separate jurisdiction. Its judicial system is based on common law, continuing the legal tradition established during British rule. Local courts may refer to precedents set in English law and overseas jurisprudence. However, mainland criminal procedure law applies to cases investigated by the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the CPG in the HKSAR. 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 socialist civil law system. Decisions made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress 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 immigration and taxation policies. The Immigration Department issues passports for permanent residents which differ from those of the mainland or Macau, and the region maintains a regulated border 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 right of abode in Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong Garrison of the People's Liberation Army is responsible for the region's defence. Although the Chairman of the Central Military Commission is supreme commander 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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs handle diplomatic matters, but Hong Kong retains the ability to maintain separate economic and cultural relations with foreign nations. The territory actively participates in the World Trade Organization, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, the International Olympic Committee, and many United Nations agencies. The regional government maintains trade offices in Greater China and other nations.

The imposition of the Hong Kong national security law by the central government in Beijing in June 2020 resulted in the suspension of bilateral extradition treaties by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, and Ireland. The United States ended its preferential economic and trade treatment of Hong Kong in July 2020 because it was no longer able to distinguish Hong Kong as a separate entity from the People's Republic of China. In 2024, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance was passed by the Legislative Council to grant officials "even more powers to crack down on opposition to Beijing and the Hong Kong government" and includes penalties such as life imprisonment for political crimes such as treason and insurrection. Critics state that this expansion "will strike a lasting blow to the partial autonomy the city had been promised by China ."

Administrative divisions

Main articles: Areas of Hong Kong, Districts of Hong Kong, and List of towns in Hong Kong

Hong Kong's administrative divisions are divided into three levels: Areas (區域), Districts (地區), and Sub-districts (分區). Hong Kong is administratively divided into three areas: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. They are further divided into 18 districts. The area of Hong Kong Island has four districts, the area of Kowloon has five districts, and the area of the New Territories has nine districts. Each district is represented by a district council. The district councils advise the government on local issues such as public facility provisioning, community programme maintenance, cultural promotion, and environmental policy.

As of 2024, there are a total of 470 district council seats, 88 of which are directly elected. In May 2023, the government proposed reforms to the District Council electoral system which further cut the number of directly elected seats from 452 to 88, and total seats from 479 to 470. A requirement that district council candidates be vetted and approved by the District Council Eligibility Review Committee was also proposed. The Legislative Council approved the reforms in July 2023.


The main territory of Hong Kong consists of a peninsula bordered to the north by Guangdong province, an island to the south east of the peninsula, and a smaller island to the south. These areas are surrounded by numerous much smaller islands.New TerritoriesIslandsKwai TsingNorthSai KungSha TinTai PoTsuen WanTuen MunYuen LongKowloonKowloon CityKwun TongSham Shui PoWong Tai SinYau Tsim MongHong Kong IslandCentral and WesternEasternSouthernWan ChaiIslandsIslandsIslandsIslandsIslandsIslandsIslandsIslandsIslandsIslandsIslandsKwai TsingNorthSai KungSai KungSai KungSai KungSai KungSai KungSai KungSha TinTai PoTai PoTai PoTai PoTai PoTai PoTsuen WanTsuen WanTsuen WanTuen MunTuen MunTuen MunTuen MunYuen LongKowloon CityKwun TongSham Shui PoWong Tai SinYau Tsim MongCentral and WesternEasternSouthernSouthernWan Chai

Political reforms and sociopolitical issues

Main articles: Democratic development in Hong Kong and Human rights in Hong Kong
A yellow vertical protest banner which read "We demand real universal suffrage" was hung on Lion Rock during the 2014 Hong Kong protests

Hong Kong is governed by a hybrid regime that is not fully representative of the population. Legislative Council members elected by functional constituencies composed of professional and special interest groups are accountable to these narrow corporate electorates and not the general public. This electoral arrangement has guaranteed a pro-Beijing camp majority in the legislature since the handover. Similarly, the chief executive is selected by establishment politicians and corporate members of the Election Committee rather than directly elected. Despite universal suffrage being established as ultimate goals for the election of the chief executive and all members of the Legislative Council in Articles 45 and 68 of the basic law, 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, but has not introduced these direct elections as of 2024.

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. Foreign domestic helpers, mostly 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 do not have the right of abode in the territory. Sex trafficking is also an issue, local, mainland Chinese, and foreign women have been trafficked for sex in brothels, homes, and businesses in the city.

The Joint Declaration guarantees the Basic Law of Hong Kong for 50 years after the handover. 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 integrated with China's at that time, or the territory may continue to be administered separately. However, in response to large-scale protests in 2019 and 2020, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress passed the controversial Hong Kong national security law. The law criminalises secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign elements 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. Some of the aforementioned acts were previously considered protected speech under Hong Kong law. The United Kingdom considers the law to be a serious violation of the Joint Declaration. In October 2020, the Hong Kong Police arrested seven pro-democracy politicians over tussles with pro-Beijing politicians in the Legislative Council in May. They were charged with contempt and interfering with members of the council, while none of the pro-Beijing lawmakers were detained. Annual commemorations of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre were also cancelled amidst fears of violating the national security law. In March 2021, the Chinese central government unilaterally changed Hong Kong's electoral system and established the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee, which would be tasked with screening and evaluating political candidates for their "patriotism", effectively crushing the remainder of the Pro-Democracy camp.

Geography

Main articles: Geography of Hong Kong and Environment of Hong Kong
Satellite image showing areas of vegetation and conurbation.
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 Macau, on the east side of the mouth of the Pearl River estuary. It is surrounded by the South China Sea on all sides except the north, which neighbours the Guangdong city of Shenzhen along the Sham Chun River. The territory's 1,110.18 km (428.64 sq mi) area (2,754.97 km if the maritime area is included) consists of Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories, Lantau Island, and over 200 other islands. Of the total area, 1,073 km (414 sq mi) is land and 35 km (14 sq mi) is water. The territory's highest point is Tai Mo Shan, 957 metres (3,140 ft) above sea level. Urban development is concentrated on the Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong Island, and in new towns throughout the New Territories. Much of this is built on reclaimed land; 70 km (27 sq mi) (6% of the total land or about 25% 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% of the remaining land area is country parks and nature reserves. The territory has a diverse ecosystem; over 3,000 species of vascular plants 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 humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa), characteristic of southern China, despite being located south of the Tropic of Cancer, although closely bordering on a tropical climate. Summers are long, hot and humid, with occasional showers and thunderstorms and warm air from the southwest. The humid nature of Hong Kong exacerbates the warmth of summer. Typhoons occur most often then, sometimes resulting in floods or landslides. Also rarely occurring are waterspouts and tornadoes, which occurred at Hong Kong International Airport on 26 September 2020 and at Victoria Harbour on 28 September 2024. Winters are short, mild and usually sunny at the beginning, becoming cloudy towards February. Frequent cold fronts bring strong, cooling winds from the north and occasionally result in chilly weather. Autumn is the sunniest season, whilst spring is generally cloudy. Snowfall has been extremely rare in Hong Kong; the last reported instance was on Tai Mo Shan in 1975. Hong Kong averages 1,709 hours of sunshine per year. Historic temperature extremes 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. The highest and lowest recorded temperatures in all of Hong Kong are 39.0 °C (102 °F) at Wetland Park on 22 August 2017, and −6.0 °C (21.2 °F) at Tai Mo Shan on 24 January 2016.

Climate data for Hong Kong (Hong Kong Observatory), normals 1991–2020, extremes 1884–1939 and 1947–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 26.9
(80.4)
28.3
(82.9)
31.5
(88.7)
33.4
(92.1)
36.1
(97.0)
35.6
(96.1)
36.1
(97.0)
36.6
(97.9)
35.9
(96.6)
34.6
(94.3)
31.8
(89.2)
28.7
(83.7)
36.6
(97.9)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 24.0
(75.2)
25.1
(77.2)
27.5
(81.5)
30.2
(86.4)
32.3
(90.1)
33.6
(92.5)
34.1
(93.4)
34.2
(93.6)
33.4
(92.1)
31.3
(88.3)
28.4
(83.1)
25.1
(77.2)
34.7
(94.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 18.7
(65.7)
19.4
(66.9)
21.9
(71.4)
25.6
(78.1)
28.8
(83.8)
30.7
(87.3)
31.6
(88.9)
31.3
(88.3)
30.5
(86.9)
28.1
(82.6)
24.5
(76.1)
20.4
(68.7)
26.0
(78.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 16.5
(61.7)
17.1
(62.8)
19.5
(67.1)
23.0
(73.4)
26.3
(79.3)
28.3
(82.9)
28.9
(84.0)
28.7
(83.7)
27.9
(82.2)
25.7
(78.3)
22.2
(72.0)
18.2
(64.8)
23.5
(74.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 14.6
(58.3)
15.3
(59.5)
17.6
(63.7)
21.1
(70.0)
24.5
(76.1)
26.5
(79.7)
26.9
(80.4)
26.7
(80.1)
26.1
(79.0)
23.9
(75.0)
20.3
(68.5)
16.2
(61.2)
21.6
(70.9)
Mean minimum °C (°F) 9.1
(48.4)
10.2
(50.4)
12.2
(54.0)
16.3
(61.3)
20.7
(69.3)
23.6
(74.5)
24.2
(75.6)
24.3
(75.7)
23.5
(74.3)
20.1
(68.2)
15.3
(59.5)
10.1
(50.2)
7.8
(46.0)
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) 33.2
(1.31)
38.9
(1.53)
75.3
(2.96)
153.0
(6.02)
290.6
(11.44)
491.5
(19.35)
385.8
(15.19)
453.2
(17.84)
321.4
(12.65)
120.3
(4.74)
39.3
(1.55)
28.8
(1.13)
2,431.2
(95.72)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) 5.70 7.97 10.50 11.37 15.37 19.33 18.43 17.50 14.90 7.83 5.70 5.30 139.90
Average relative humidity (%) 74 79 82 83 83 82 81 81 78 73 72 70 78
Average dew point °C (°F) 11.7
(53.1)
13.2
(55.8)
16.1
(61.0)
19.7
(67.5)
23.0
(73.4)
24.9
(76.8)
25.2
(77.4)
25.1
(77.2)
23.6
(74.5)
20.2
(68.4)
16.7
(62.1)
12.4
(54.3)
19.3
(66.7)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 145.8 101.7 100.0 113.2 138.8 144.3 197.3 182.1 174.4 197.8 172.3 161.6 1,829.3
Percent possible sunshine 43 32 27 30 34 36 48 46 47 55 52 48 41
Source: Hong Kong Observatory

Architecture

Main article: Architecture of Hong Kong
Monster Building, a famous group of residential buildings in Quarry Bay

Hong Kong has the world's largest number of skyscrapers, with 554 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. Single-family detached homes are uncommon and generally only found in outlying areas. The International Commerce Centre and Two International Finance Centre are the tallest buildings in Hong Kong and are among the tallest in the Asia-Pacific region. Other distinctive buildings lining the Hong Kong Island skyline include the HSBC Main Building, the anemometer-topped triangular Central Plaza, the circular Hopewell Centre, and the sharp-edged Bank of China Tower.

Demand for new construction has contributed to frequent demolition of older buildings, freeing space for modern high-rises. However, many examples of European and Lingnan architecture are still found throughout the territory. Older government buildings are examples of colonial architecture. The 1846 Flagstaff House, the former residence of the Commander of the British forces in Hong Kong, is the oldest Western-style building in Hong Kong. Some buildings, such as the Court of Final Appeal Building and the Hong Kong Observatory retain their original functions, and others have been adapted and reused; the Former Marine Police Headquarters was redeveloped into a commercial and retail complex, and Béthanie (built in 1875 as a sanatorium) houses the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. The Tin Hau Temple, dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu (originally built in 1012 and rebuilt in 1266), is the territory's oldest existing structure. 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).

Tong lau, 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 Lui Seng Chun, the Blue House in Wan Chai, and the Shanghai Street shophouses in Mong Kok. Mass-produced public-housing estates, built since the 1960s, are mainly constructed in modernist style.

Skyline at night, with building lights reflected in water The Hong Kong Island skyline, viewed from the Victoria Harbour waterfront City view of Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, and the Hong Kong skyline

Demographics

Main articles: Demographics of Hong Kong and Hong Kong people
Death rates (No. of Deaths per 100,000 Population) by leading causes of death, based on ICD 10th Revision. Red: increased compared with 2001. Deaths from dementia increased more than 5 times from 2001 to 2021.
Cause of Death 2001 2011 2021
1. Malignant neoplasms 169.9 187.2 203.8
2. Pneumonia 45.1 87.8 132.6
3. Diseases of heart 70 89.6 89
4. Cerebrovascular 46.6 47.2 42.2
5. External causes of
morbidity and mortality
27.5 22.2 26.7
6. Nephritis, nephrotic
syndrome and nephrosis
15.7 21.8 24
7. Dementia 3.8 10.6 20.2
8. Septicaemia 6.3 10.8 16.8
9. Chronic lower
respiratory diseases
31.5 27.8 14.3
10. Diabetes mellitus 10.1 6.5 7.4
All other causes 69.7 85 118.1
All causes 496 596.6 695.2
Population graph
2016 population pyramid

The Census and Statistics Department estimated Hong Kong's population at 7,413,070 in 2021. The overwhelming majority (91.6%) is Han Chinese, most of whom are Taishanese, Teochew, Hakka, and other Cantonese peoples. The remaining 8.4% are non-ethnic Chinese minorities, primarily Filipinos, Indonesians, and South Asians. However, most Filipinos and Indonesians in Hong Kong are short-term workers. According to a 2021 thematic report by the Hong Kong government, after excluding foreign domestic helpers, the real number of non-Chinese ethnic minorities in the city was 301,344, or 4% of Hong Kong's population. About half the population have some form of British nationality, a legacy of colonial rule; 3.4 million residents have British National (Overseas) status, and 260,000 British citizens live in the territory. The vast majority also hold Chinese nationality, automatically granted to all ethnic Chinese residents at the handover. Headline population density exceeds 7,060 people/km, and is the fourth-highest in the world.

The predominant language is Cantonese, a variety of Chinese originating in Guangdong. It is spoken by 93.7% of the population, 88.2% as a first language and 5.5% as a second language. Slightly over half the population (58.7%) speaks English, the other official language; 4.6% are native speakers, and 54.1% speak English as a second language. Code-switching, mixing English and Cantonese in informal conversation, is common among the bilingual population. Post-handover governments have promoted Mandarin, which is currently about as prevalent as English; 54.2% of the population speak Mandarin, with 2.3% native speakers and 51.9% as a second language. Traditional Chinese characters are used in writing, rather than the simplified characters used in the mainland.

Wong Tai Sin Temple is dedicated to the Taoist deity Wong Tai Sin.

Among the religious population, the traditional "three teachings" of China, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, have the most adherents (20%), followed by Christianity (12%) and Islam (4%). Followers of other religions, including Sikhism, Hinduism, and Judaism, generally originate from regions where their religion predominates.

Life expectancy in Hong Kong was 81.3 years for males and 87.2 years for females in 2022, one of the highest in the world. Cancer, pneumonia, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and accidents are the territory's five leading causes of death. The universal public healthcare system is funded by general-tax revenue, and treatment is highly subsidised; on average, 95% of healthcare costs are covered by the government.

The city has a severe amount of income inequality, which has risen since the handover, 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 2021, the wage gap remained high; the 90th percentile of earners receive 41% of all income. The city has the most billionaires per capita, with one billionaire per 109,657 people, as well as the second-highest number of billionaires of any city in the world, the highest number of billionaires of any city in Asia, and the largest concentration of ultra high-net-worth individuals of any city in the world. Despite government efforts to reduce the growing disparity, median income for the top 10% of earners is 57 times that of the bottom 10%.

Economy

Main articles: Economy of Hong Kong and Tourism in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of the world's busiest container ports.

One of the world's most significant financial centres and commercial ports, Hong Kong has a market economy focused on services, characterised by low taxation, minimal government market intervention, and an established international financial market. It is the world's 38th-largest economy, with a nominal GDP of approximately US$407 billion. Hong Kong's economy ranked at the top of the Heritage Foundation's economic freedom index between 1995 and 2021. However, Hong Kong was removed from the index by the Heritage Foundation in 2021, with the Foundation citing a "loss of political freedom and autonomy ... almost indistinguishable in many respects from other major Chinese commercial centers like Shanghai and Beijing". Hong Kong is highly developed, and ranks fourth on the UN Human Development Index. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is the seventh-largest in the world, with a market capitalisation of HK$30.4 trillion (US$3.87 trillion) as of December 2018. Hong Kong is ranked as the 18th most innovative territory in the Global Innovation Index in 2024, and 3rd in the Global Financial Centres Index. The city is sometimes referred to as "Silicon Harbor", a nickname derived from Silicon Valley in California. Hong Kong hosts several high tech and innovation companies, including several multinational companies.

Hong Kong is the ninth largest trading entity in exports and eighth largest in imports (2021), trading more goods in value than its gross domestic product. Over half of its cargo throughput consists of transshipments (goods travelling through Hong Kong). Products from mainland China account for about 40% 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. Hong Kong is a key part of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It has little arable land and few natural resources, importing most of its food and raw materials. More than 90% of Hong Kong's food is imported, including nearly all of 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% of economic output, with the public sector accounting for about 10%. 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% in 1993; it fell to less than 3% in 2017, as the mainland developed and liberalised its economy. Economic and infrastructure integration with China has increased significantly since the 1978 start of market liberalisation on the mainland. Since resumption of cross-boundary train service in 1979, many rail and road links have been improved and constructed, facilitating trade between regions. The Closer Economic Partnership 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. 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 handover. Mainland firms represent over half of the Hang Seng Index value, up from 5% in 1997.

Large, empty room, with many desks and computer terminals
Former trading floor of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange

As the mainland liberalised its economy, Hong Kong's shipping industry faced intense competition from other Chinese ports. Half of China's trade goods were routed through Hong Kong in 1997, dropping to about 13% 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 foreign direct investment in China, giving investors open access to mainland Chinese markets through direct links with the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges. The territory was the first market outside mainland China for renminbi-denominated bonds, and is one of the largest hubs for offshore renminbi trading. In November 2020, Hong Kong's Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau proposed a new law that will restrict cryptocurrency trading to professional investors only, leaving amateur traders (93% of Hong Kong's trading population) out of the market. The Hong Kong dollar, the local currency, is the eighth most traded currency in the world. Due to extremely compact house sizes and the extremely high housing density, the city has the most expensive housing market in the world.

The government has had a passive role in the economy. Colonial governments had little industrial policy and implemented almost no trade controls. Under the doctrine of "positive non-interventionism", 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 export-credit guarantees, a compulsory pension scheme, a minimum wage, anti-discrimination laws, and a state mortgage backer.

Tourism is a major part of the economy, accounting for 5% of GDP. In 2016, 26.6 million visitors contributed HK$258 billion (US$32.9 billion) to the territory, making Hong Kong the 14th most popular destination for international tourists. It is the most popular Chinese city for tourists, receiving over 70% more visitors than its closest competitor (Macau). The city is ranked as one of the most expensive cities for expatriates. However, since 2020, there has been a sharp decline in incoming visitors due to tight COVID-19 travel restrictions. Additionally, due to the closure of the Russian airspace in 2022, multiple airlines decided to cease their operations in Hong Kong. In an attempt to attract tourists back to Hong Kong, the Hong Kong government announced plans to give away 500,000 free airline tickets in 2023. Hong Kong was the most visited city internationally in the Asia-Pacific in 2023, with over 2 million more international visitors than its closest competitor, Bangkok.

Victoria Peak is a major tourist attraction that offers views of Central and Victoria Harbour.

Infrastructure

Transport

Main article: Transport in Hong Kong
Tunnel entrance at night, with heavy traffic
Entrance to the Cross-Harbour Tunnel in Hung Hom, Kowloon

Hong Kong has a highly developed, sophisticated transport network. Over 90% of the daily trips made by its residents are made with public transport, the highest percentage in the world. The Octopus card, a contactless smart payment card made for Hong Kong, is widely accepted on railways, trams, buses and ferries, and can be used for payment in most retail stores. Alternative payments such as Apple Pay, AliPay, Mastercard and Visa have also been gradually introduced to public transports.

The Peak Tram, Hong Kong's first public transport system, has provided funicular rail transport between Central and Victoria Peak since 1888.

The Central and Western District has an extensive system of escalators and moving pavements, which being the Mid-Levels escalator, the world's longest outdoor covered escalator system.

Hong Kong Tramways’ tram network covers a portion of Hong Kong Island, covering from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan, with a branch to Happy Valley. It operates 6 routes and has had a rideship of 42,558 in 2022. It began servicing Hong Kong since 1904. Hong Kong Tramways currently holds the Guinness World Record as the "Largest double-decker tram fleet in service", certified on 30 July 2021, with a fleet of 165 double-decker trams. The fleet of trams were mostly built by Hong Kong Tramways.

The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is an extensive passenger rail network, connecting 99 metro stations and 68 light-rail stops throughout the territory. With a daily ridership of almost five million, the system serves 41% of all public transit passengers in the city and has an on-time rate of 99.9%. Cross-boundary train service to Shenzhen is offered by the East Rail line, and longer-distance inter-city trains to Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing are operated from Hung Hom station. This train service has however been suspended since the outbreak of COVID-19, and officially closed by the State Council on 31 July 2024, as announced by the General Administration of Customs, citing that high-speed passenger trains have effectively met the travel needs of passengers between the mainland and Hong Kong. Connecting service to the national high-speed rail system is provided at West Kowloon railway station.

Although public transport systems handle most passenger traffic, there are over 500,000 private vehicles registered in Hong Kong. Automobiles drive on the left (unlike in mainland China), because of historical influence of the British Empire. 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 taxicabs, easily identifiable by their bright colours and taxi lights, are licensed to carry riders in the territory. Unlicensed ride-hailing services such as Uber also exists in Hong Kong, with some operating with licensed taxis to legitimise their business in ride-sharing. Unlicensed drivers have been targeted by the government and taxi drivers in the past, mainly due to the lack of third-party insurance on passengers and taxi drivers fearing the competition from drivers of these ride-hailing services. The government in 2024 has looked into legalising these services.

Bus services operate more than 700 routes across the territory, with smaller public light buses (also known as minibuses) serving areas standard buses do not reach as frequently or directly. Expressways and truck roads, organised with the Hong Kong Strategic Route and Exit Number System, connect all major areas of the territory. The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge provides a direct route to the western side of the Pearl River estuary.

Light-rail train on a straightaway
MTR train on the Tung Chung line

Hong Kong International Airport is the territory's primary airport, replacing Kai Tak International Airport that ended its operation in 1998. Over 100 airlines operate flights from the airport, including locally based Cathay Pacific (flag carrier), Hong Kong Airlines, low-cost airline HK Express and cargo airline Air Hong Kong. It was the eighth-busiest airport by passenger traffic pre-COVID and handles the most air-cargo traffic in the world. Most private recreational aviation traffic flies through Shek Kong Airfield, under the supervision of the Hong Kong Aviation Club.

The Star Ferry operates two lines across Victoria Harbour for its 53,000 daily passengers. Ferries also serve outlying islands inaccessible by other means. Smaller kai-to boats serve the most remote coastal settlements. Ferry travel to Macau and mainland China is also available. Junks, once common in Hong Kong waters, are no longer widely available and are used privately and for tourism. The large size of the port gives Hong Kong the classification of Large-Port Metropolis.

Utilities

Main articles: Energy in Hong Kong, Electricity sector in Hong Kong, and Water supply and sanitation in Hong Kong
Lamma Power Station, October 2019

Hong Kong generates most of its electricity locally. The vast majority of this energy comes from fossil fuels, with 46% from coal and 47% from petroleum. The rest is from other imports, including nuclear energy generated in mainland China. 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 and public buildings 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 freshwater. The Dong River in Guangdong supplies 70% of the city's water, and the remaining demand is filled by harvesting rainwater locally. Toilets in most built-up areas of the territory flush with seawater which reduces freshwater use.

Broadband Internet access is widely available, with 92.6% of households connected. Connections over fibre-optic infrastructure 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 almost 22 million mobile-phone accounts registered in Hong Kong, which is almost triple the territory's population.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Hong Kong See also: Cantonese culture

Hong Kong is characterised as a hybrid of East and West. 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 through its long period of colonial administration and a different pace of economic, social, and cultural development. Mainstream culture was derived from immigrants originating from various parts of China; it was then 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 would tend to link self-image and decision-making to material benefits. Residents' sense of local identity has increased post-handover: polling in December 2022 had 32% of respondents identifying as "Hongkongers", 34.1% identifying as "Hongkongers in China" 45.9% purporting a "Mixed Identity", 20.5% identifying as "Chinese" and 11.9% identifying as "Chinese in Hong Kong".

Traditional Chinese family values, including family honour, filial piety, and a preference for sons, are prevalent. Nuclear families are the most common households, although multi-generational and extended families are not unusual. Spiritual concepts such as feng shui 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. Bagua mirrors are regularly used to deflect evil spirits, and buildings often lack floor numbers with a 4; the number has a similar sound to the word for "die" in Cantonese.

Cuisine

Main article: Hong Kong cuisine An assortment of items in a Dim Sum breakfast mealFrench Toast on left, Milk Tea on rightTypical fare at a dim sum restaurant (left); cha chaan teng breakfast food with Hong Kong-style milk tea (right)

Food in Hong Kong is primarily based on Cantonese cuisine, 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 wet markets, and ingredients are used as quickly as possible when still fresh. There are up to five daily meals: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and siu yeh. Dim sum, as part of yum cha (brunch), is a dining-out tradition with family and friends. Dishes include congee, cha siu bao, siu yuk, egg tarts, and mango pudding. Local versions of Western food are served at cha chaan teng (Hong Kong-style cafes). Common cha chaan teng menu items include macaroni in soup, deep-fried French toast, and Hong Kong-style milk tea.

Cinema

Main article: Cinema of Hong Kong
Statue of Bruce Lee in a fighting pose
Statue of Bruce Lee on the Avenue of Stars, a tribute to the city's film industry

Hong 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 build the colony's entertainment industry over the next decade. By the 1960s, the city was well known to overseas audiences through films such as The World of Suzie Wong. When Bruce Lee's The Way of the Dragon was released in 1972, local productions became popular outside Hong Kong. During the 1980s, films such as A Better Tomorrow, As Tears Go By, and Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain expanded global interest beyond martial arts films; 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 Farewell My Concubine, To Live, and Chungking Express. The city's martial arts film roots are evident in the roles of the most prolific Hong Kong actors. Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen, Jet Li, Chow Yun-fat, and Michelle Yeoh frequently play action-oriented roles in foreign films. Hong Kong films have also grown popular in oversea markets such as Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, earning the city the moniker "Hollywood of the East". 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: Music of Hong Kong Leslie Cheung with a microphoneA serious-looking Andy Lau, seated and wearing a suitLeslie 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.

Cantopop is a genre of Cantonese popular music which emerged in Hong Kong during the 1970s. Evolving from Shanghai-style shidaiqu, it is also influenced by Cantonese opera and Western pop. Local media featured songs by artists such as Sam Hui, Anita Mui, Leslie Cheung, and Alan Tam; during the 1980s, exported films and shows exposed Cantopop to a global audience. The genre's popularity peaked in the 1990s, when the Four Heavenly Kings dominated Asian record charts. Despite a general decline since late in the decade, Cantopop remains dominant in Hong Kong; contemporary artists such as Eason Chan, Joey Yung, and Twins 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 Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the territory's oldest professional symphony orchestra, frequently hosts musicians and conductors from overseas. The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, composed of classical Chinese instruments, is the leading Chinese ensemble and plays a significant role in promoting traditional music in the community.

Hong Kong has never had a separate national anthem to the country that controlled it; its current official national anthem is therefore that of the People's Republic of China, March of the Volunteers. The song Glory to Hong Kong has been used by protestors as an unofficial anthem of the city.

Sport and recreation

Main article: Sport in Hong Kong
Cheering rugby fans, seen from the stands
The Hong Kong Sevens, considered the premier tournament of the World Rugby Sevens Series, is played each spring.

Despite its small area, the territory is home to a variety of sports and recreational facilities. The city has hosted numerous major sporting events, including the 2009 East Asian Games, the 2008 Summer Olympics equestrian events, and the 2007 Premier League Asia Trophy. The territory regularly hosts the Hong Kong Sevens, Hong Kong Marathon, Hong Kong Tennis Classic and Lunar New Year Cup, and hosted the inaugural AFC Asian Cup and the 1995 Dynasty Cup.

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 nine medals. Lee Lai-shan won the territory's first Olympic gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and Cheung Ka Long won the second one in Tokyo 2020. Hong Kong athletes have won 126 medals at the Paralympic Games and 17 at the Commonwealth Games. No longer part of the Commonwealth of Nations, the city's last appearance in the latter was in 1994.

Dragon boat races originated as a religious ceremony conducted during the annual Tuen Ng Festival. The race was revived as a modern sport as part of the Tourism Board'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 Hong Kong Jockey Club, the territory's largest taxpayer, has a monopoly on gambling and provides over 7% of government revenue. Three forms of gambling are legal in Hong Kong: lotteries, horse racing, and football.

Education

Main article: Education in Hong Kong
Old campus of St. Paul's College, the first school established in the colonial era

Education in Hong Kong is largely modelled on that of the United Kingdom, particularly the English system. Children are required to attend school from age 6 until completion of secondary education, generally at age 18. At the end of secondary schooling, all students take a public examination and are awarded the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education upon successful completion.

Of residents aged 15 and older, 81% completed lower-secondary education, 66% graduated from an upper secondary school, 32% attended a non-degree tertiary program, and 24% earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

Mandatory education has contributed to an adult literacy rate of 95.7%. The literacy rate is lower than that of other developed economies because of the influx of refugees from mainland China during the post-war colonial era; much of the elderly population were not formally educated because of 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 Direct Subsidy Scheme and international schools fall outside of this system and may elect to use differing curricula and teach using other languages.

Medium of instruction

At primary and secondary school levels, the government maintains a policy of "mother tongue instruction"; most schools use Cantonese as the medium of instruction, with written education in both Chinese and English. Other languages being used as medium of instruction in non-international school education include English and Putonghua (Standard Mandarin Chinese). Secondary schools emphasise "bi-literacy and tri-lingualism", which has encouraged the proliferation of spoken Mandarin language education.

English is the official medium of instruction and assessments for most university programmes in Hong Kong, although use of Cantonese is predominant in informal discussions among local students and professors.

Tertiary education

Main article: Higher education in Hong Kong
University of Hong Kong main building

Hong Kong has twelve universities. The University of Hong Kong (HKU) was founded as the city's first institute of higher education during the early colonial period in 1911. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) was established in 1963 to fill the need for a university that taught using Chinese as its primary language of instruction. Along with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) established in 1991, these universities are consistently ranked among the top 50 or top 100 universities worldwide.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and City University of Hong Kong (CityU), both granted university status in 1994, are consistently ranked among the top 100 or top 200 universities worldwide. The Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) was granted university status in 1994 and is a liberal arts institution. Hong Kong Metropolitan University (formerly as Open University of Hong Kong prior to 2021) (attaining status in 1997), Lingnan University (in 1999), Hong Kong Shue Yan University (in 2006), Education University of Hong Kong (in 2016), Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (in 2018) and Saint Francis University (in 2024) all attained full university status in subsequent years.

Media

Main article: Media of Hong Kong
Modern, green-and-white building with dish antennas on top
TVB City, headquarters of Hong Kong's first over-the-air television station

Most of the newspapers in Hong Kong are written in Chinese but there are also a few English-language newspapers. The major one being the South China Morning Post, with The Standard serving as a business-oriented alternative. A variety of Chinese-language newspapers are published daily; the most prominent are Ming Pao and Oriental Daily News. 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 Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po. Several international publications have regional operations in Hong Kong, including The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, Yomiuri Shimbun, and The Nikkei.

Four free-to-air television broadcasters operate in the territory; TVB, HKTVE, Hong Kong Open TV and Phoenix Television air eight digital channels. TVB, Hong Kong's dominant television network, has an 80% viewer share. Paid television services operated by PCCW offer hundreds of additional channels and cater to a variety of audiences. RTHK is the public broadcaster, providing seven radio channels and six free-to-air 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 Great Firewall, yet local control applies.

See also

Portals:

Notes

  1. ^ No specific variety of Chinese is official in the territory. Residents predominantly speak Cantonese, the de facto regional standard.
  2. ^ For all government use, documents written using Traditional Chinese characters are authoritative over ones inscribed with Simplified Chinese characters. English shares equal status with Chinese in all official proceedings.
  3. After adjustment for taxes and social transfers
  4. Except for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Link Road, which drives on the right.
  5. Hong Kong permanent residents can be of any nationality. A person without Chinese nationality who has entered Hong Kong with a valid travel document, has ordinarily resided there for a continuous period not less than seven years, and is permanently domiciled in the territory would be legally recognised as a Hongkonger.
  6. However, decisions made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress override any territorial judicial process. Furthermore, the State Council may enforce national law in the region under specific circumstances.
  7. Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data in Hong Kong from 1991 to 2020.

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