Outline of Hong Kong
Encyclopedia
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
is one of two special administrative regions of China, the other being Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
.
The territory lies on the eastern side of the Pearl River Delta
Pearl River Delta
The Pearl River Delta , Zhujiang Delta or Zhusanjiao in Guangdong province, People's Republic of China is the low-lying area surrounding the Pearl River estuary where the Pearl River flows into the South China Sea...
, bordering Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
province in the north and facing the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
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 centre
Financial Centre
A financial centre is a global city that is a company and business hub, as well as being home to many world famous banks and/or stock exchanges....
s.
Hong Kong was a Crown colony
Crown colony
A Crown colony, also known in the 17th century as royal colony, was a type of colonial administration of the English and later British Empire....
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
from 1842 to 1981 and was a British dependent territory
British overseas territories
The British Overseas Territories are fourteen territories of the United Kingdom which, although they do not form part of the United Kingdom itself, fall under its jurisdiction. They are remnants of the British Empire that have not acquired independence or have voted to remain British territories...
from 1981 until the transfer of its sovereignty
Transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong
The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, referred to as ‘the Return’ or ‘the Reunification’ by the Chinese and ‘the Handover’ by others, took place on 1 July 1997...
to the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
in 1997. The Sino-British Joint Declaration
Sino-British Joint Declaration
The Sino-British Joint Declaration, formally known as the Joint Declaration of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Question of Hong Kong, was signed by the Prime Ministers, Zhao Ziyang and Margaret...
and the Basic Law of Hong Kong stipulate that Hong Kong operate with a high degree of autonomy until at least 2047, fifty years after the transfer.
Under the “one country, two systems
One country, two systems
"One country, two systems" is an idea originally proposed by Deng Xiaoping, then Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China , for the reunification of China during the early 1980s...
” policy, the Central People's Government
Central People's Government
The Central People's Government is the central government of the People's Republic of China in Beijing. According to the 1982 Constitution, "Central People's Government" is synonymous with the State Council.-History:...
is responsible for the territory's defence and foreign affairs, while the Government of Hong Kong
Government of Hong Kong
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, commonly the Hong Kong Government, is led by the Chief Executive as Head of the Government, who is also the head of the Hong Kong SAR...
is responsible for its own legal system
Legal system of Hong Kong
The law of Hong Kong is based on the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. The constitutional framework for the legal system is provided by the Hong Kong Basic Law. Under the principle of ‘one country, two systems’, the legal framework of Hong Kong is based on the English common law,...
, police force, monetary system
Hong Kong Monetary Authority
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority or HKMA is Hong Kong's central banking institution . It is a government authority founded on 1 April 1993 via the consolidation of "Office of the Exchange Fund" and the "Office of the Commissioner of Banking"...
, customs policy, immigration policy
Immigration Department (Hong Kong)
The Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong is responsible for immigration control of Hong Kong. After the People's Republic of China assumed sovereignty of the territory in July 1997, Hong Kong's immigration system remained largely unchanged from its British predecessor model...
, and delegate
Delegate
A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization at a meeting or conference between organizations of the same level A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization (e.g., a government, a charity, an NGO, or a trade union) at a meeting or conference...
s to international organisations and events.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Hong Kong:
General reference
- Pronunciation: ˈhɒŋkɒŋ
- Common English country name: Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
- Official English country name: The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
- Common endonym(s):
- Official endonym(s):
- Adjectives: Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Hongkongese - Demonym(s): Hongkonger, Hongkongese
- EtymologyEtymologyEtymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
: Name of Hong Kong - International rankings of Hong KongInternational rankings of Hong KongThis is a list of International rankings of Hong Kong....
- ISO country codes: HK, HKG, 344
- ISO region codes: See ISO 3166-2:HKISO 3166-2:HKISO 3166-2:HK is the entry for Hong Kong in ISO 3166-2, part of the ISO 3166 standard published by the International Organization for Standardization , which defines codes for the names of the principal subdivisions of all countries coded in ISO 3166-1.Currently no ISO 3166-2 codes are defined in...
- InternetInternetThe Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
country code top-level domainCountry code top-level domainA country code top-level domain is an Internet top-level domain generally used or reserved for a country, a sovereign state, or a dependent territory....
: .hk.hk.hk is the designated Internet country code top-level domain for Hong Kong. Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation is the only organization endorsed by the Hong Kong Government to undertake the administration of 'hk' domain names...
Geography of Hong Kong
- Hong Kong is: a Chinese special administrative region
- Location:
- Northern HemisphereNorthern HemisphereThe Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
and Eastern HemisphereEastern HemisphereThe Eastern Hemisphere, also Eastern hemisphere or eastern hemisphere, is a geographical term for the half of the Earth that is east of the Prime Meridian and west of 180° longitude. It is also used to refer to Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australasia, vis-à-vis the Western Hemisphere, which includes... - EurasiaEurasiaEurasia is a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia ; covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...
- AsiaAsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
- East AsiaEast AsiaEast Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
- Pearl River DeltaPearl River DeltaThe Pearl River Delta , Zhujiang Delta or Zhusanjiao in Guangdong province, People's Republic of China is the low-lying area surrounding the Pearl River estuary where the Pearl River flows into the South China Sea...
- Pearl River Delta
- East Asia
- Asia
- Time zoneTime zoneA time zone is a region on Earth that has a uniform standard time for legal, commercial, and social purposes. In order for the same clock time to always correspond to the same portion of the day as the Earth rotates , different places on the Earth need to have different clock times...
: Hong Kong TimeHong Kong TimeHong Kong Time is the time in Hong Kong, observed at UTC+8 all year round. The Hong Kong Observatory is the official timekeeper of the Hong Kong Time.-Time standards:...
(UTC+08) - Extreme points of Hong Kong
- High: Tai Mo ShanTai Mo ShanTai Mo Shan has the highest peak in Hong Kong, with an altitude of 957 m. It is located approximately at the geographical centre of the New Territories....
958 m (3,143 ft) - Low: South China SeaSouth China SeaThe South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
0 m
- High: Tai Mo Shan
- Northern Hemisphere
- Population of Hong Kong: 6,985,260 (June 30, 2008) - —the most populous country
- Area of Hong Kong: 1,104 km2
- Atlas of Hong Kong
Environment of Hong Kong
- Climate of Hong KongClimate of Hong KongThe climate of Hong Kong is a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate , just short of being a tropical wet-and-dry climate.-The Four Seasons in Hong Kong:...
- Ecoregions in Hong Kong
- Renewable energy in Hong Kong
- Geology of Hong KongGeology of Hong KongThe geology of Hong Kong is dominated by Mesozoic volanic and granitic rocks, which together make up about 85% of the total land area. The remaining area is underlain by Palaeozoic meta-sedimentary rocks, Mesozoic to Cenozoic sedimentary rocks and superficial deposits.-External links:***...
- Protected areas of Hong Kong
- Biosphere reserves in Hong Kong
- National parks of Hong Kong
- Wildlife of Hong Kong
- Flora of Hong Kong
- Fauna of Hong Kong
- Birds of Hong Kong
- Mammals of Hong Kong
Natural geographic features of Hong Kong
- Glaciers of Hong Kong
- Islands of Hong Kong
- Lakes of Hong Kong
- Mountains of Hong Kong
- Volcanoes in Hong Kong
- Rivers of Hong Kong
- Waterfalls of Hong Kong
- Valleys of Hong Kong
- World Heritage Sites in Hong Kong: None
Ecoregions of Hong Kong
- Main article: Ecoregions in Hong Kong
Administrative divisions of Hong Kong
- Main article: Administrative divisions of Hong Kong
- Districts of Hong KongDistricts of Hong KongThe Districts of Hong Kong are the 18 political areas by which Hong Kong is geographically divided. Each district has a district council, which was formerly known as a district board. The districts were established in the early 1980s, when Hong Kong was under British rule...
Municipalities of Hong Kong
- Capital of Hong Kong: Hong Kong Central
- Cities of Hong Kong
Government and politics of Hong Kong
- Main article: Government of Hong KongGovernment of Hong KongThe Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, commonly the Hong Kong Government, is led by the Chief Executive as Head of the Government, who is also the head of the Hong Kong SAR...
and Politics of Hong KongPolitics of Hong KongPolitics of Hong Kong takes place in a framework of a political system dominated by its constitutional document, the Basic Law of Hong Kong, its own legislature, the Chief Executive as the head of government, and of a multi-party system...
- Form of governmentForm of governmentA form of government, or form of state governance, refers to the set of political institutions by which a government of a state is organized. Synonyms include "regime type" and "system of government".-Empirical and conceptual problems:...
: - Capital of Hong Kong: Hong Kong Central
- Elections in Hong KongElections in Hong KongElections are held in Hong Kong when certain offices in the government need to be filled. Every four years, half of the unicameral Legislative Council of Hong Kong's sixty seats representing the geographical constituencies are filled by the electorate; the other thirty seats representing the...
- Political parties in Hong Kong
- Political scandals of Hong Kong
- Taxation in Hong Kong
- Transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong
- Hong Kong handover ceremony
Executive branch of the government of Hong Kong
- Head of stateHead of StateA head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
and Head of governmentHead of governmentHead of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
: Chief Executive of Hong KongChief Executive of Hong KongThe Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the President of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and head of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The position was created to replace the Governor of Hong Kong, who was the head of the Hong Kong government during British rule...
, Donald TsangDonald TsangSir Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, GBM, KBE is the current Chief Executive and President of the Executive Council of the Government of Hong Kong.... - Cabinet of Hong KongExecutive Council of Hong KongThe Executive Council of Hong Kong is a core policy-making organ in the executive branch of the government of Hong Kong.. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong serves as its President.The Executive Council normally meets once a week...
- Government departments and agencies in Hong KongGovernment departments and agencies in Hong KongThis is a list government agencies of the Hong Kong Government.The policies of the government are formulated decided by the bureaux led by secretaries and permanent secretaries are discussed in the Executive Council and implemented by the departments and agencies...
- Department of HealthDepartment of Health (Hong Kong)Hong Kong's Department of Health is responsible for healthcare policies and the provision of basic healthcare services. The public hospitals are managed by the Department's Hospital Authority...
- Department of JusticeDepartment of Justice (Hong Kong)The Department of Justice is the department responsible for the laws of Hong Kong headed by the Secretary for Justice. Before 1997, the names of the department and the position was the Legal Department and Attorney General respectively....
- Immigration DepartmentImmigration Department (Hong Kong)The Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong is responsible for immigration control of Hong Kong. After the People's Republic of China assumed sovereignty of the territory in July 1997, Hong Kong's immigration system remained largely unchanged from its British predecessor model...
- Customs and Excise Department
- Food and Environmental Hygiene DepartmentFood and Environmental Hygiene DepartmentFood and Environmental Hygiene Department , or FEHD for short, is a department of Hong Kong Government, reporting to the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau. It is The department is responsible for food hygiene and environmental hygiene...
- Leisure and Cultural Services DepartmentLeisure and Cultural Services DepartmentThe Leisure and Cultural Services Department , often abbreviated as LCSD, is a department in the Government of Hong Kong. It reports to the Home Affairs Bureau, headed by the Secretary for Home Affairs. It provides leisure and cultural activities for the people of Hong Kong, which was also one of...
- Housing DepartmentHousing DepartmentHousing Department is a department of Hong Kong Government, managing public housing estates that were built by Hong Kong Housing Authority in Hong Kong. It reports to the Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau, which is headed by the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands.-See also:* Hong Kong...
- More...Government departments and agencies in Hong KongThis is a list government agencies of the Hong Kong Government.The policies of the government are formulated decided by the bureaux led by secretaries and permanent secretaries are discussed in the Executive Council and implemented by the departments and agencies...
- Department of Health
- Government departments and agencies in Hong Kong
Legislative branch of the government of Hong Kong
- Legislative CouncilLegislative CouncilA Legislative Council is the name given to the legislatures, or one of the chambers of the legislature of many nations and colonies.A Member of the Legislative Council is commonly referred to as an MLC.- Unicameral legislatures :...
(unicameral)- President of the Legislative Council (Speaker)President of the Legislative Council of Hong KongThe President of the Legislative Council is the speaker of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. In the absence of the President, the chairman of the House Committee serves as deputy to the President....
: Jasper Tsang
- President of the Legislative Council (Speaker)
Judicial branch of the government of Hong Kong
- Department of JusticeDepartment of Justice (Hong Kong)The Department of Justice is the department responsible for the laws of Hong Kong headed by the Secretary for Justice. Before 1997, the names of the department and the position was the Legal Department and Attorney General respectively....
- Court of Final Appeal
- High CourtHigh Court (Hong Kong)The High Court in Hong Kong consists of the Court of Appeal and the Court of First Instance. It deals with criminal and civil cases which have risen beyond the lower courts. It was named the Supreme Court before 1997.- High Court Building :...
- Court of AppealCourt of Appeal (Hong Kong)The Court of Appeal deals with appeals on all civil and criminal cases from the Court of First Instance and the District Courts of Hong Kong. It is one of two courts that makes up the High Court of Hong Kong....
- Court of First InstanceCourt of First Instance (Hong Kong)The Court of First Instance is one of two courts in the High Court of Hong Kong. The court has unlimited jurisdiction in both civil and criminal matters...
- Court of Appeal
- District CourtDistrict Court (Hong Kong)The District Court is the lower court system in Hong Kong, having both criminal and civil jurisdictions. It is located in the Wanchai Law Courts, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road...
- Magistrates' courtMagistrates' Court (Hong Kong)Magistrates' courts in Hong Kong are presided over by 'Permanent' and 'Special' Magistrates. Permanent Magistrates are professionally qualified. They come from barristers or solicitors...
Foreign relations of Hong Kong
- Diplomatic missions in Hong Kong
- Diplomatic missions of Hong Kong
International organization membership
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is a member of:- Asian Development BankAsian Development BankThe Asian Development Bank is a regional development bank established on 22 August 1966 to facilitate economic development of countries in Asia...
(ADB) - Asia-Pacific Economic CooperationAsia-Pacific Economic CooperationAsia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is a forum for 21 Pacific Rim countries that seeks to promote free trade and economic cooperation throughout the Asia-Pacific region...
(APEC) - Bank for International SettlementsBank for International SettlementsThe Bank for International Settlements is an intergovernmental organization of central banks which "fosters international monetary and financial cooperation and serves as a bank for central banks." It is not accountable to any national government...
(BIS) - International Chamber of CommerceInternational Chamber of CommerceThe International Chamber of Commerce is the largest, most representative business organization in the world. Its hundreds of thousands of member companies in over 130 countries have interests spanning every sector of private enterprise....
(ICC) - International Hydrographic OrganizationInternational Hydrographic OrganizationThe International Hydrographic Organization is the inter-governmental organisation representing the hydrographic community. It enjoys observer status at the UN and is the recognised competent authority on hydrographic surveying and nautical charting...
(IHO) - International Maritime OrganizationInternational Maritime OrganizationThe International Maritime Organization , formerly known as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization , was established in Geneva in 1948, and came into force ten years later, meeting for the first time in 1959...
(IMO) (associate) - International Monetary FundInternational Monetary FundThe International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
(IMF) - International Olympic CommitteeInternational Olympic CommitteeThe International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
(IOC) - International Organization for StandardizationInternational Organization for StandardizationThe International Organization for Standardization , widely known as ISO, is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations. Founded on February 23, 1947, the organization promulgates worldwide proprietary, industrial and commercial...
(ISO) (correspondent)
- International Trade Union ConfederationInternational Trade Union ConfederationThe International Trade Union Confederation is the world's largest trade union federation. It was formed on November 1, 2006 out of the merger of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the World Confederation of Labour...
(ITUC) - Universal Postal UnionUniversal Postal UnionThe Universal Postal Union is an international organization that coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system. The UPU contains four bodies consisting of the Congress, the Council of Administration , the Postal Operations Council and the...
(UPU) - World Confederation of LabourWorld Confederation of LabourThe World Confederation of Labour was an international labour organization founded in 1920 and based in Europe. Totalitarian governments of the 1930s repressed the federation and imprisoned many of its leaders, limiting operations until the end of World War II...
(WCL) - World Customs OrganizationWorld Customs OrganizationThe World Customs Organization is an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. With its worldwide membership, the WCO is recognized as the voice of the global customs community...
(WCO) - World Federation of Trade UnionsWorld Federation of Trade UnionsThe World Federation of Trade Unions was established in 1945 to replace the International Federation of Trade Unions. Its mission was to bring together trade unions across the world in a single international organization, much like the United Nations...
(WFTU) - World Meteorological OrganizationWorld Meteorological OrganizationThe World Meteorological Organization is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 189 Member States and Territories. It originated from the International Meteorological Organization , which was founded in 1873...
(WMO) - World Tourism OrganizationWorld Tourism OrganizationThe World Tourism Organization , based in Madrid, Spain, is a United Nations agency dealing with questions relating to tourism. It compiles the World Tourism rankings. The World Tourism Organization is a significant global body, concerned with the collection and collation of statistical information...
(UNWTO) (associate) - World Trade OrganizationWorld Trade OrganizationThe World Trade Organization is an organization that intends to supervise and liberalize international trade. The organization officially commenced on January 1, 1995 under the Marrakech Agreement, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade , which commenced in 1948...
(WTO)
Law and order in Hong Kong
- Main article: Law of Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Basic LawHong Kong Basic LawThe Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, or simply Hong Kong Basic Law, serves as the constitutional document of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China...
- Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23 is the basis of a security law proposed by the Government of Hong Kong. It states:On 24 September 2002 the government released its proposals for the anti-subversion law. It is the cause of considerable controversy and division in Hong Kong, which operates as a...
- Hong Kong Basic Law Article 45Hong Kong Basic Law Article 45Hong Kong Basic Law Article 45 is a controversial article in the Basic Law of Hong Kong. It states that the Chief executive should be chosen by universal suffrage as an eventual goal. Its speedy implementation is advocated by the Basic Law Article 45 Concern Group.-Contents of Article 45:Article...
- Hong Kong Basic Law Article 46Hong Kong Basic Law Article 46Article 46 of the Hong Kong Basic Law states:This became a part of a legal dispute in 2005 after the resignation of Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-Hwa. The question arose as to whether his successor would serve a full five-year term or would only serve the remainder of Tung's term...
- Hong Kong Basic Law Article 69Hong Kong Basic Law Article 69Article 69 of Hong Kong Basic Law sets the term of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong .The article states the term of office of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be four years, except the first term which shall be two years.This defines the reason for...
- Hong Kong Basic Law Annex TwoHong Kong Basic Law Annex TwoAnnex II of the Basic Law of Hong Kong, entitled Method for the Formation of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Its Voting Procedures, defines the procedure for electing the Legislative Council of Hong Kong....
- Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23
- Hong Kong trade mark law
- Hong Kong copyright lawHong Kong copyright lawCopyright law in Hong Kong to a great extent follows the English model. The Basic Law of Hong Kong, its constitutional document, guarantees a high degree of autonomy and continuation of laws previously in force after its reunification with Mainland China. Hong Kong therefore continues to maintain...
- Legislation of the Provisional Government of Hong KongLegislation of the Provisional Government of Hong KongThis is a list of bills that were introduced and passed into law and became ordinances of the territory by the Provisional Legislative Council that sat for a year from July 1997 to 1998....
- Alcohol laws of Hong Kong
- Capital punishment in Hong KongCapital punishment in Hong KongCapital punishment in Hong Kong was formally abolished in 1993.Before that, capital punishment was the usual sentence given since the establishment of the Crown Colony of Hong Kong for offences such as murder, kidnapping leading to death, and piracy. However, it had been suspended since the last...
- Constitution of Hong Kong
- Crime in Hong Kong
- Organized crime in Hong KongOrganized crime in Hong KongOrganised crime in Hong Kong is not as prevalent as in its Chinese mainland neighbour, but it does exist. Hong Kong is generally known as one of the safest cities in the world with a crime rate at roughly the same level as Singapore and lower than New York, London and Tokyo.The name most associated...
- Prostitution in Hong KongProstitution in Hong KongProstitution in Hong Kong is itself legal, but organized prostitution is illegal, as there are laws against keeping a vice establishment , causing or procuring another to be a prostitute, living on the prostitution of others, or public solicitation....
- Human trafficking in Hong KongHuman trafficking in Hong KongThe Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China is a destination and transit territory for men and women trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. Hong Kong is primarily a transit point for illegal migrants, some of whom are...
- Organized crime in Hong Kong
- Human rights in Hong KongHuman rights in Hong KongHuman rights in Hong Kong occasionally comes under the spotlight of the international community because of its world city status. This is occasionally used as a yardstick by commentators to judge whether the People's Republic of China has kept its end of the bargain of the "One Country, Two...
- Hong Kong Human Rights MonitorHong Kong Human Rights MonitorHong Kong Human Rights Monitor is a local non-governmental organization which was established in April 1995. It aims at promoting better human rights protection in Hong Kong in the aspect of legislation and people's everyday life....
- Hong Kong 1 July marches
- December 2005 protest for democracy in Hong KongDecember 2005 protest for democracy in Hong KongOn 4 December 2005, tens of thousands of people in Hong Kong protested for democracy and called on the Government to allow universal and equal suffrage. The protesters demanded the right to directly elect the Chief Executive and all the seats of the Legislative Council...
- Internet censorship in Hong KongInternet censorship in Hong KongInternet censorship in Hong Kong refers to the law that criminalizes the distribution of certain materials, particularly child pornography, obscene images and pirated materials. Contrary to the Mainland China, freedom of expression is well protected by the Hong Kong Bill of Rights. No websites,...
- LGBT rights in Hong KongLGBT rights in Hong KongHomosexuality is legal in Hong Kong and public opinion shows increased awareness about and tolerance for LGBT people. However, there are only limited anti-discrimination laws and no legal recognition of same-sex couples.- Criminal law :...
- Freedom of religion in Hong KongReligion in Hong KongReligion in Hong Kong is part of the culture of Hong Kong. Religious freedom is one of the fundamental rights enjoyed by Hong Kong residents. It is protected by the Basic Law and relevant legislation. There is a large variety of religious groups in Hong Kong, including Buddhism, Taoism,...
- Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor
- Law enforcement in Hong KongLaw enforcement in Hong KongThe main duties of law enforcement in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China is taken up by the Hong Kong Police Force. Other major law enforcement agencies include the Customs and Excise Department, the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the...
- Department of JusticeDepartment of Justice (Hong Kong)The Department of Justice is the department responsible for the laws of Hong Kong headed by the Secretary for Justice. Before 1997, the names of the department and the position was the Legal Department and Attorney General respectively....
- Hong Kong Police ForceHong Kong Police ForceThe Hong Kong Police Force is the largest disciplined service under the Security Bureau of Hong Kong. It is the world's second, and Asia's first, police agency to operate with a modern policing system. It was formed on 1 May 1844, with a strength of 32 officers...
- Commissioner of PoliceCommissioner of Police (Hong Kong)The commissioner of police heads the Hong Kong Police Force and reports to the secretary for security.-Chiefs of the police force:The commissioner is the current head of the Hong Kong Police.*Chief magistrates**1841 – Captain William Caine...
: Tang King ShingTang King ShingTang King-shing, PMSM, PDSM was the Commissioner of the Hong Kong Police force until 11th January 2011.-Biography:Tang joined the Royal Hong Kong Police in 1976 as a Probationary Inspector...
- Commissioner of Police
- Department of Justice
Military of Hong Kong
- Main article: Military of Hong KongMilitary of Hong KongHong Kong is a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China, and formerly a British crown colony. As such it has never had any military force of its own, and defence have always been the responsibilities of the sovereign power. Currently defence of the territory is the duty of...
- Command
- Commander of the People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison
- Forces
- People's Liberation Army Hong Kong GarrisonPeople's Liberation Army Hong Kong GarrisonThe People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison is a garrison of the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China responsible for defence duties of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region since the sovereignty of Hong Kong was returned to the PRC in 1997...
- People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison
- Military history of Hong KongMilitary history of Hong KongThe Military history of Hong Kong is dated back to Qin conquest. As Hong Kong is on the sea routes to the city of Guangzhou, the territories of Hong Kong served as an outer port. Numerous of precious resources like salt and pearl on the shore of Hong Kong...
- Military ranks of Hong Kong
Local government in Hong Kong
- District Councils of Hong Kong
| District | Population (2006 est.) | Area (km²) | Density (/km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong (全港) | 6,864,346 | 1080.18 | 6,352 |
| Hong Kong Island Hong Kong Island Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008... (香港島) |
1,268,112 | 79.68 | 15,915 |
| Central and Western Central and Western District The Central and Western District located on northern part of Hong Kong Island is one of the 18 administrative districts of Hong Kong. It had a population of 261,884 in 2001... (中西區) |
250,064 | 12.44 | 20,102 |
| Wan Chai Wan Chai District The Wan Chai District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong, located in the north of Hong Kong island. It had a population of 167,146 in 2001. The district has the second most educated residents with the highest income, the second lowest population and the third oldest residents, and is also the... (灣仔) |
155,196 | 9.83 | 15,788 |
| Eastern Eastern District, Hong Kong The Eastern District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It had a population of 587,690 in 2006. The district has the second highest population while its residents have the third highest median household income among 18 districts.... (東區) |
587,690 | 18.56 | 31,664 |
| Southern Southern District, Hong Kong The Southern District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is located in the southern part of Hong Kong Island. It had a population of 290,240 in 2001. This district has the fourth lowest population of Hong Kong.-Geography:... (南區) |
275,162 | 38.85 | 7,083 |
| Kowloon Kowloon Kowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of... (九龍) |
2,019,533 | 46.93 | 43,033 |
| Yau Tsim Mong Yau Tsim Mong District Yau Tsim Mong District is one of 18 districts of Hong Kong, located on western Kowloon peninsula. It is the core urban area of Kowloon. The district has the third highest population density of all districts... (油尖旺) |
280,548 | 6.99 | 40,136 |
| Sham Shui Po Sham Shui Po District Sham Shui Po District is one of 18 districts of Hong Kong. It covers the Shek Kip Mei, Sham Shui Po, Cheung Sha Wan, Lai Chi Kok and Yau Yat Chuen areas of New Kowloon, and Stonecutter's Island of Kowloon... (深水埗) |
365,540 | 9.35 | 39,095 |
| Kowloon City Kowloon City District Kowloon City District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is located in Kowloon. It had a population of 381,352 in 2001. The district has the third most educated residents while its residents enjoy the highest income in Kowloon.... (九龍城) |
362,501 | 10.02 | 36,178 |
| Wong Tai Sin Wong Tai Sin District Wong Tai Sin District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong, and is the only landlocked district of the city. It is located in Kowloon and has a population of 444,630... (黃大仙) |
423,521 | 9.30 | 45,540 |
| Kwun Tong Kwun Tong District Kwun Tong is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is located in Kowloon. It had a population of 562,427 in 2001. The district has the third highest population while the income is below average.... (觀塘) |
587,423 | 11.27 | 52,123 |
| New Territories New Territories New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory. Historically, it is the region described in The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory... (新界) |
3,573,635 | 953.48 | 3,748 |
| Kwai Tsing Kwai Tsing District Kwai Tsing is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It consists of two parts - Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi Island. Kwai Tsing is part of the New Territories. It had a population of 477,092 in 2001... (葵青) |
523,300 | 23.34 | 22,421 |
| Tsuen Wan Tsuen Wan District Tsuen Wan District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is located in the New Territories and is served by the Tsuen Wan Line of the MTR metro system. It had a population of 275,527 in 2001... (荃灣) |
288,728 | 61.71 | 4,679 |
| Tuen Mun Tuen Mun District Tuen Mun District is one of the 18 administrative districts of Hong Kong. Its name was previously 'Tsing Shan' and it changed in the 1970s. It is the westernmost continental district of Hong Kong, located about 32 km from the Kowloon Peninsula, 7 km southwest of Yuen Long and 18 km... (屯門) |
502,035 | 82.89 | 6,057 |
| Yuen Long Yuen Long District Yuen Long District , is one of the districts of Hong Kong located in the northwest of the New Territories. It had a population of 449,070 in 2001. The district has the youngest population of Hong Kong and the lowest income in the New Territories.-Geography:... (元朗) |
534,192 | 138.46 | 3,858 |
| North North District, Hong Kong North District is the northernmost district of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is located in the northwestern part of the New Territories. The new town of Fanling-Sheung Shui is within this district. It had a population of 298,657 in 2001. The district has the second lowest population density.It... (北區) |
280,730 | 136.61 | 2,055 |
| Tai Po Tai Po District Tai Po District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It covers the areas of Tai Po, Tai Po Kau, Ting Kok, Plover Cove and the northern part of Sai Kung Peninsula on both shores of Tolo Channel. It is located in the New Territories... (大埔) |
293,542 | 136.15 | 2,156 |
| Sha Tin Sha Tin District Sha Tin District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. One of the 9 districts located in the New Territories, it covers the areas of Sha Tin, Tai Wai, Ma On Shan, Fo Tan, Siu Lek Yuen and Ma Liu Shui . The district has the highest population... (沙田) |
607,544 | 68.71 | 8,842 |
| Sai Kung Sai Kung District Sai Kung District is the second largest district in Hong Kong in terms of area. It comprises the southern half of Sai Kung Peninsula and Clear Water Bay Peninsula in the New Territories plus a strip to the east of Kowloon. The administrative centre is Sai Kung Town but the district's population is... (西貢) |
406,442 | 129.65 | 3,135 |
| Islands (離島) | 137,122 | 175.12 | 783 |
History of Hong Kong
- Main article: History of Hong KongHistory of Hong KongHong Kong began as a coastal island geographically located off the southern coast of China. While pockets of settlements had taken place in the region with archaeological findings dating back thousands of years, regular written records were not made...
, Timeline of the history of Hong Kong, and Current events of Hong Kong
- Economic history of Hong Kong
- Military history of Hong KongMilitary history of Hong KongThe Military history of Hong Kong is dated back to Qin conquest. As Hong Kong is on the sea routes to the city of Guangzhou, the territories of Hong Kong served as an outer port. Numerous of precious resources like salt and pearl on the shore of Hong Kong...
Culture of Hong Kong
- Main article: Culture of Hong KongCulture of Hong KongThe culture of Hong Kong can best be described as a foundation that began with China, and became more influenced by British colonialism. Despite the 1997 transfer of sovereignty to the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong continues to hold an identity of its own.-People in the culture:Most Hong...
- Architecture of Hong KongArchitecture of Hong KongThe Architecture of Hong Kong features great emphasis on Contemporary architecture, specially Modernism, Postmodernism, Functionalism, etc. Due to the lack of available land, few historical buildings remain in the urban areas of Hong Kong. However, Hong Kong has become a centre for modern...
- Cuisine of Hong KongCuisine of Hong KongHong Kong cuisine is influenced by Cantonese cuisine and parts of non-Cantonese-speaking China , Western world, Japan, and Southeast Asia, due to Hong Kong's past as a British colony and long history of being an international city of commerce...
- Ethnic minorities in Hong Kong
- Festivals in Hong Kong
- Humor in Hong Kong
- Languages of Hong KongLanguages of Hong KongIn Hong Kong, English and Chinese are the official languages as defined in the Basic Law of Hong Kong. Since Britain's arrival in 1842, English became the sole official language of Hong Kong until 1974. The majority of the population in Hong Kong are descendants of migrants from mainland China...
- Media in Hong Kong
- National symbols of Hong Kong
- Coat of arms of Hong KongCoat of arms of Hong KongThe Regional Emblem of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China came into use on 1 July 1997, after Hong Kong's transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China....
- Flag of Hong KongFlag of Hong KongThe Flag of Hong Kong — or Regional Flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China — features a white, stylised, five-petal Hong Kong orchid tree flower in the centre of a red field. Its design was adopted on 4 April 1990 at the Third Session of the...
- National anthem of Hong Kong
- Coat of arms of Hong Kong
- People of Hong Kong
- Prostitution in Hong KongProstitution in Hong KongProstitution in Hong Kong is itself legal, but organized prostitution is illegal, as there are laws against keeping a vice establishment , causing or procuring another to be a prostitute, living on the prostitution of others, or public solicitation....
- Public holidays in Hong KongPublic holidays in Hong KongPublic holidays in Hong Kong are holidays designated by the Government of Hong Kong. They allow workers rest from work, usually in conjunction with special occasions.-Public holidays:...
- Records of Hong Kong
- Religion in Hong KongReligion in Hong KongReligion in Hong Kong is part of the culture of Hong Kong. Religious freedom is one of the fundamental rights enjoyed by Hong Kong residents. It is protected by the Basic Law and relevant legislation. There is a large variety of religious groups in Hong Kong, including Buddhism, Taoism,...
- Buddhism in Hong KongBuddhism in Hong Kongthumb|250px|right|The [[Tian Tan Buddha|Big Buddha]], on [[Lantau Island]], Hong KongBuddhism, often practiced with Taoism, is the majority religion of Hong Kong. 90% of the population of Hong Kong are thought to practice an eclectic mixture of the two, sometimes combined with other practices.)...
- Christianity in Hong KongChristianity in Hong KongChristianity has been in Hong Kong since 1841. Of about 670,000 Christians in Hong Kong, most of them are Protestants and Roman Catholics.-Catholicism:...
- Hinduism in Hong Kong
- Islam in Hong KongIslam in Hong KongIslam is practiced in Hong Kong by about 250,000 Muslims. About 10,000 of the Muslim families in Hong Kong are 'local boy' families, Muslims of mixed Chinese and South Asian ancestry descended from early Muslim South Asian immigrants who took local Chinese wives and brought their children up as...
- Judaism in Hong Kong
- Sikhism in Hong Kong
- Buddhism in Hong Kong
- World Heritage Sites in Hong Kong: None
Art in Hong Kong
- Art in Hong Kong
- Cinema of Hong KongCinema of Hong KongThe cinema of Hong Kong is one of the three major threads in the history of Chinese language cinema, alongside the cinema of China, and the cinema of Taiwan...
- Literature of Hong KongLiterature of Hong KongHong Kong literature is 20th century and subsequent writings from or about Hong Kong or by writers from Hong Kong, primarily in the poetry, performance, and fiction media...
- Music of Hong KongMusic of Hong KongThe Music of Hong Kong is an eclectic mixture of traditional and popular genres. Cantopop is one of the more prominent genres of music produced in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta regularly perform western classical music in the city...
- Television in Hong Kong
- Theatre in Hong Kong
Economy and infrastructure of Hong Kong
- Main article: Economy of Hong KongEconomy of Hong KongAs one of the world's leading international financial centres, Hong Kong has a major capitalist service economy characterised by low taxation and free trade, and the currency, Hong Kong dollar, is the ninth most traded currency in the world. Hong Kong has remained as the world's freest economy,...
- Economic rank, by nominal GDP (2007): 36th (thirty-sixth)
- Agriculture in Hong KongAgriculture in Hong KongAgriculture and Aquaculture in Hong Kong are considered sunset industries. Most agricultural produce is directly imported from the neighbouring mainland China. In 2006 the industry accounts for less than 0.3% of the labor sector. Geographically Hong Kong consists largely of steep, unproductive...
- Banking in Hong Kong
- National Bank of Hong Kong
- Communications in Hong KongCommunications in Hong KongA wide-ranging and sophisticated communications network has developed in Hong Kong, reflecting its thriving commerce and international importance....
- Internet in Hong Kong
- Companies of Hong Kong
- Currency of Hong KongCurrencyIn economics, currency refers to a generally accepted medium of exchange. These are usually the coins and banknotes of a particular government, which comprise the physical aspects of a nation's money supply...
: DollarHong Kong dollarThe Hong Kong dollar is the currency of the jurisdiction. It is the eighth most traded currency in the world. In English, it is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively HK$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
- ISO 4217ISO 4217ISO 4217 is a standard published by the International Standards Organization, which delineates currency designators, country codes , and references to minor units in three tables:* Table A.1 – Current currency & funds code list...
: HKD
- ISO 4217
- Economic history of Hong Kong
- Energy in Hong Kong
- Energy policy of Hong Kong
- Oil industry in Hong Kong
- Health care in Hong Kong
- Mining in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Stock ExchangeHong Kong Stock ExchangeThe Hong Kong Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in Hong Kong. It is Asia's third largest stock exchange in terms of market capitalization behind the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange and fifth largest in the world...
- Tourism in Hong KongTourism in Hong KongThe tourism industry has been an important part of the economy of Hong Kong since it shifted to a service sector model in the late 1980s and early 90s...
- Transport in Hong KongTransport in Hong KongHong Kong has a highly developed and sophisticated transport network, encompassing both public and private transport. Over 90% of the daily journeys are on public transport, making it the highest rate in the world....
- Airports in Hong Kong
- Rail transport in Hong KongRail transport in Hong KongHong Kong's rail network comprises public transport trains operated by MTR Corporation Limited . The MTRC operates the metro network of Hong Kong and the commuter rail network connecting the northeastern and northwestern New Territories with the rest of Hong Kong...
- Roads in Hong Kong
- Water supply and sanitation in Hong Kong
See also
- Index of Hong Kong-related articlesIndex of Hong Kong-related articlesArticles related to Hong Kong include:- 0–9 :*123 Democratic Alliance*1950s in Hong Kong*1956 riots*1960s in Hong Kong*1966 riots*1967 riots*1981 riots*1970s in Hong Kong*1980s in Hong Kong*1990s in Hong Kong...
- List of Hong Kong-related topics
- List of international rankings
- Outline of AsiaOutline of AsiaThe following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Asia:Asia – world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...
- Outline of ChinaOutline of Chinaright|188pxthumb|An enlargeable map of the [[People's Republic of China]]The People's Republic of China is the most extensive country in East Asia and the third or fourth most extensive country in the world...
- Outline of geographyOutline of geographyThe following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to geography:Geography – science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth.- Geography is :...
- Place names of Hong KongPlace names of Hong KongThe generic forms of Hong Kong place names are mainly Cantonese, Hakka and British English, although other languages also contribute to Hong Kong place names....
External links
Government- GovHK - Official government site
- Hong Kong Government - Census and Statistics Department
- Hong Kong Government - Fact Sheets
- Hong Kong Legislative Council - Official site of the legislative body
- DiscoverHongKong - Official site of the Hong Kong Tourism Board
General reference
- Hong Kong entry at The World Factbook
- Encyclopædia BritannicaEncyclopædia BritannicaThe Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
entry on Hong Kong
Miscellanea