Hong Kong
Special administrative region in the southeast of China, comprising
Hong Kong Island; the Kowloon Peninsula; many other islands, of
which the largest is Lantau; and the mainland New Territories.
A former British crown colony, it reverted to Chinese control
in July 1997
Area:
1,070 sq km/413 sq mi
Capital:
Victoria (Hong Kong City)
Towns and Cities:
Kowloon, Tsuen Wan (in the New Territories)
Features:
An enclave of Guangdong province, China, it has one of the world's
finest natural harbours; Hong Kong Island is connected with Kowloon
by undersea railway and ferries; a world financial centre, its
stock market has four exchanges
Environment:
World's most densely populated city; surrounding waters heavily polluted
Exports:
Textiles, clothing, electronic goods, clocks, watches, cameras, plastic
products; a large proportion of the exports and imports of southern
China are transshipped here ; tourism is important
Currency:
Hong Kong dollar
Population:
(1995 est) 6,189,800; 57% Hong Kong Chinese, most of the remainder
refugees from the mainland
Language:
English, Chinese
Religion:
Confucianist, Buddhist, Taoist, with Muslim and Christian minorities
Government:
Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region within China, with a chief
executive, Tung Chee-hwa, from 1997. There is an executive council,
which comprises a mixture of business and political figures, and,
from May 1998, an elected legislative council. Until reversion
to Chinese control in July 1997 Hong Kong was a British dependency
administered by a crown -appointed governor who presided over
an unelected executive council, composed of 4 ex-officio and 11
nominated members, and a legislative council composed of 3 ex-officio
members, 18 appointees, and 39 elected members
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