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| <!--Note: Commonwealth spelling is used in this article-->{{featured article}} | |||
| {{otheruses4}} | |||
| {{Infobox Country or territory | |||
| |native_name = 香港特別行政區 | |||
| |conventional_long_name = Hong Kong<br>Special Administrative Region | |||
| |common_name = Hong Kong | |||
| |image_flag = Flag_of_Hong_Kong.svg | |||
| |image_coat = Hong Kong SAR Regional Emblem.svg | |||
| |symbol_type = Emblem | |||
| |symbol_type_article = Emblem | |||
| |image_map = LocationHongKong.png | |||
| |image_map2 = Hong Kong Location.png | |||
| |national_anthem = '']''<ref>Since the transfer of sovereignty in 1997, Hong Kong has used the national anthem of the ].</ref> | |||
| |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> | |||
| |largest_settlement_type = district (population) | |||
| |largest_settlement = ] | |||
| |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> | |||
| |government_type = | |||
| |leader_title1 = ] | |||
| |leader_name1 = ] | |||
| |area_rank = not ranked | |||
| |area_magnitude = 1 E9 | |||
| |area = 1,104 | |||
| |areami² = 426.4 <!--Do not remove per ]--> | |||
| |percent_water = 4.6 | |||
| |population_estimate = 6,921,700 | |||
| |population_estimate_rank = 96th | |||
| |population_estimate_year = 2007 | |||
| |population_census = 6,708,389 | |||
| |population_census_year = 2001 | |||
| |population_density = 6,352 | |||
| |population_densitymi² = 16,469.6 <!--Do not remove per ]--> | |||
| |population_density_rank = 3rd | |||
| |population_blank1_title = Demonym | |||
| |population_blank1 = Chinese / Hong Konger | |||
| |GDP_PPP = US$263.1 billion | |||
| |GDP_PPP_rank = 38th | |||
| |GDP_PPP_year = 2006 | |||
| |GDP_PPP_per_capita = US$38,127 | |||
| |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 6th | |||
| |GDP_nominal = US$189.5 billion | |||
| |GDP_nominal_rank = 36th | |||
| |GDP_nominal_year = 2006 | |||
| |GDP_nominal_per_capita = US$27,466 | |||
| |GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 28th | |||
| |sovereignty_type = ] | |||
| |established_event1 = ] | |||
| |established_date1 = ] ] | |||
| |established_event2 = ] | |||
| |established_date2 = ] ] | |||
| |established_event3 = ] | |||
| |established_date3 = ] ] – ] ] | |||
| |established_event4 = ] | |||
| |established_date4 = ] ] | |||
| |HDI = {{increase}} 0.927 | |||
| |HDI_rank = 22nd | |||
| |HDI_year = 2004 | |||
| |HDI_category = <font color="#009900">high</font> | |||
| |Gini = 0.533 | |||
| |Gini_year = 2006 | |||
| |Gini_category = <font color="#ff0000">high</font> | |||
| |currency = ] | |||
| |currency_code = HKD | |||
| |country_code = HKG | |||
| |time_zone = ] | |||
| |utc_offset = +8 | |||
| |cctld = ] | |||
| |calling_code = 852 | |||
| |calling_code_note = <small>(01 from ])</small> | |||
| |footnotes = <!--integrated into main body--> | |||
| | | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Chinese | |||
| |c={{linktext|香|港}} | |||
| |i={{IPA|}} | |||
| |j=hoeng1 gong2 | |||
| |y=Hēunggóng | |||
| |p=Xiānggǎng | |||
| |w=Hsiang1-kang3 | |||
| |altname=Hong Kong Special Administrative Region | |||
| |c2=香港特別行政區 | |||
| |i2={{IPA|}} | |||
| |j2=hoeng1 gong2 dak6 bit6 hang4 zing3 keoi1 | |||
| |y2=Hēunggóng Dahkbiht Hàhngjingkūi | |||
| |p2=Xiānggǎng Tèbié Xíngzhèngqū | |||
| |w2=Hsiang1-kang3 t'e4-pie2 Hsing2-cheng4-ch'ü1 | |||
| }} | |||
| {{coor title dms|22|11|00|N|114|08|00|E|}} | |||
| '''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=]]}}), officially The '''Hong Kong Special Administrative Region''' <small><nowiki>]<nowiki>]</nowiki></small>, is one of the two ] of the ] (PRC), along with ]. The territory lies on the eastern side of the ], bordering ] 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 a leading ]. | |||
| 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. | |||
| ==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 ]. | |||
| 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 ]. | |||
| ] was a major trading post of the ].]] | |||
| ]ese troops march along ] following the British surrender in 1941.]] | |||
| 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" /> | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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> | |||
| 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. | |||
| ], based on the British ] ]] | |||
| ] 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. | |||
| 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 ]. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| ==Geography== | |||
| ] | |||
| ]]] | |||
| {{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 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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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> | |||
| 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. | |||
| ==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> | |||
| 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" /> | |||
| 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 ]. | |||
| <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> | |||
| ==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 ] | |||
| Other functionaries of the government, including members the executive and legislative bodies, are either appointed by the Chief Executive or elected by voters. | |||
| ] | |||
| ] in Central where the ] resides.]] | |||
| 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. | |||
| ] 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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| ] 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. | |||
| 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> | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| ==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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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 ]. | |||
| 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> | |||
| ==Administrative districts== | |||
| ]; 2. ]; 3. ]; 4. ]; 5. ]; 6. ]; 7. ]; 8. ]; 9. ]; 10. ]; 11. ]; 12. ]; 13. ]; 14. ]; 15. ]; 16. ]; 17. ]; 18. ] ]] | |||
| {{main|Districts of Hong Kong}} | |||
| Hong Kong is subdivided into 18 geographic districts for administrative purposes: | |||
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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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| ==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. | |||
| 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> | |||
| 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 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> | |||
| 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> | |||
| 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. | |||
| {{seealso|Employment in Hong Kong}} | |||
| ==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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| Considered as a dependency, Hong Kong is one of the ], with an overall density of more than 6,200 people per km². Hong Kong has a ] of 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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| ==Education== | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| {{main|Education in Hong Kong}} | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| ==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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| ==Religion== | |||
| ] on ], Hong Kong, the tallest outdoor buddha statue in the world.]] | |||
| {{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'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 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 ]. | |||
| 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== | |||
| ] at dusk.]] | |||
| {{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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| {{wide image|Pauliyas Hongkong.jpg|1400px|A ] view of northern ] between ] in the east and ] in the west. }} | |||
| ==Transport== | |||
| {{main|Transport in Hong Kong}} | |||
| ]]] | |||
| ] 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 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 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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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 ]. | |||
| 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> | |||
| Note that the Hong Kong highway code uses the same road sign system as ] whereas the Chinese system is different. | |||
| ==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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| ==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. | |||
| |} | |||
| ==Footnotes== | |||
| {{ChineseText}} | |||
| {{Portal Hong Kong}} | |||
| <!-- Please DO NOT use a scroll template/form/table for the reflink, please read warning on the scoll template page. Thank you. --> | |||
| {{reflist|2}} | |||
| ==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 | |||
| ==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 | |||
| * | |||
| {{Hong Kong Topics}} | |||
| {{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}} | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Template group | |||
| |title = Language | |||
| |list = | |||
| {{Sino-Tibetan-speaking}} | |||
| {{Territories of Greater China}} | |||
| }} | |||
| {{APEC}} | |||
| {{WTO}} | |||
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