China - Hong Kong Skyline
Special Status
• Hong Kong (Chinese: 香港) is one of the two special
administrative regions of the People's Republic of
China; the other is Macau. 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. With land mass of 1,104 km2
(426 sq mi) and a population of seven million people,
Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas
in the world. Hong Kong's population is 95% ethnic
Chinese and 5% from other groups. Hong Kong's Han
majority originate mainly from Guangzhou and
Taishan, both cities in neighbouring Guangdong
province
Reunion with China in 1997
• Under the principle of "one country, two
systems", Hong Kong runs on economic and
political systems different from those of mainland
China. Hong Kong is one of the world's leading
international financial centers, with a major
capitalist service economy characterized by low
taxation, free trade and minimum government
intervention under the ethos of positive noninterventionism. The Hong Kong dollar is the 9th
most traded currency in the world.
Governance
• Hong Kong's independent judiciary functions
under the common law framework. Its
political system is governed by the Basic Law
of Hong Kong, its constitutional document.
Although it has a burgeoning multi-party
system, half of its legislature is controlled by
small-circle electorate. The Chief Executive of
Hong Kong, the head of government, is
selected by an 800-person election
committee.
DOWN TO EARTH IN HONG KONG