Hong KOng

Hong Kong (Chinese: 香港, see Name section), alternatively known by its initials H.
K., is a former British Colony which is currently a !ecial "#ministrative $egion of t
he %eo!le&s $e!ublic of China, enclose# by the %earl $iver 'elta an# outh China e
a.()* Hong Kong is known for its e+!ansive skyline an# #ee! natural harbour, an# wi
th a lan# mass of ,,,-. km/ (./0 s1 mi) an# a !o!ulation of over seven million !eo!
le, is one of the most #ensely !o!ulate# areas in the worl#.(2* Hong Kong&s !o!ulati
on is 23.04 ethnic Chinese an# 0..4 from other grou!s.(.* Hong Kong&s Cantonese5
s!eaking ma6ority originate mainly from the neighbouring Canton (now 7uang#ong)
!rovince,(,-* from which many of them 8e# to esca!e wars an# communist rule in C
hina from the ,23-s to the ,20-s.(,,*(,/*(,3*(,.*
Hong Kong became a colony of the British 9m!ire after the :irst ;!ium <ar (,)32=
./). Hong Kong >slan# was ?rst ce#e# to the @K in !er!etuity, followe# by Kowloon
%eninsula in ,)0- an# then the New Aerritories was !ut un#er lease in ,)2). >t was
occu!ie# by Ba!an #uring the %aci?c <ar (,2.,=.C), after which the British resume#
control until ,22D.(,C*(,0* Ahe region es!ouse# minimum government intervention
un#er the ethos of !ositive non5interventionism #uring the colonial era.(,D* Ahe time
!erio# greatly in8uence# the current culture of Hong Kong, often #escribe# as E9ast
meets <estE,(,)* an# the e#ucational system, which use# to loosely follow the syste
m in 9nglan#(,2* until reforms im!lemente# in /--2.(/-*
;n , Buly ,22D, Hong Kong became the ?rst !ecial "#ministrative $egion of the %e
o!le&s $e!ublic of China, un#er the !rinci!le of Eone country, two systemsE (the othe
r, Facau, attaine# that status in 'ecember ,222). >t has a #iGerent !olitical system f
rom mainlan# China.(/,* Hong Kong&s in#e!en#ent 6u#iciary functions un#er the co
mmon law framework.(//*(/3* Ahe Hong Kong Basic Haw (its constitutional #ocume
nt) governs its !olitical system, an# sti!ulates that Hong Kong shall have a high #eg
ree of autonomy in all matters e+ce!t foreign relations an# military #efence.(/.*(/C*
"lthough it has a burgeoning multi5!arty system, a small5circle electorate controls h
alf of its legislature, which le# to it being classi?e# a semi5authoritarian regime(/0*
with highly su!!resse# !olitical rights. Ahe hea# of the government, the Chief 9+ecu
tive of Hong Kong, is chosen by an 9lection Committee of .-- to ,,/-- members, a s
ituation that will be in eGect #uring the ?rst /- years of Chinese rule.(/D*(/)*(/2*
Hong Kong is a worl# city an# is one of the "lpha+ cities. As Hong Kong ranks the third
most important leading international financial centre, after London and New York City, Hong
Kong has a major capitalist serice economy characterised !y low ta"ation and free trade,
and the c#rrency, Hong Kong dollar, is the eighth most traded c#rrency in the world.$%&' (he
lack of space ca#sed demand for denser constr#ctions, which deeloped the city to a centre
for modern architect#re and the world)s most ertical city.$%*'$%+' Hong Kong has one of the
highest per capita incomes in the world !#t also the highest income ine,#ality among
adanced economies.$-' (he dense space has also led to a highly deeloped transportation
network with the p#!lic transport traelling rate e"ceeding .& percent,$%%' the highest in
the world.$%/' Hong Kong has n#mero#s high international rankings in ario#s aspects, s#ch
as its economic freedom, financial and economic competitieness,$%-' ,#ality of life,
corr#ption perception,$%0' H#man 1eelopment 2nde" are all ranked highly. According to
estimates from !oth 3N and 4H5, Hong Kong had the longest life e"pectancy of any region
in the world in +&*+.$%6' Howeer, air poll#tion and smog is a serio#s pro!lem$%7' with
loose emission standards and high leel of carcinogenic 89+.- compared to other adanced
economies.$%.'