Hong Kong
Geography
At the south-eastern tip ofChina,Hong KongcoversHong Kong Island,Lantau Island,theKowloon Peninsulaandthe New Territories,including 262 outlying islands. Between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula liesVictoria Harbour,one of the world's most renowned deep-water harbours.
- Total area:1 104 square kilometres
- Land developed:less than 25%
- Country parks and nature reserves:40%
Government
Hong Kongis aSpecial Administrative Regionof thePeople's Republic of China.Following British rule from 1842 to 1997, China assumed sovereignty under the 'one country, two systems' principle. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's constitutional document, theBasic Law,ensures that the current political situation will remain in effect for 50 years. The rights and freedoms of people in Hong Kong are based on the impartial rule of law and anindependent judiciary.
- Head of Government:Chief Executive
- Cabinet:Executive Council
- Legislature:Legislative Council, 60 seats
- Highest Court:Court of Final Appeal
Climate
Hong Kong's climate is sub-tropical, with temperatures dropping below 10 degrees Celsius in winter and exceeding 31 degrees Celsius in summer. It is warm, sunny and dry in autumn, cool and dry in winter, and hot, humid and rainy from spring to summer.
- Average annual rainfall:2 214.3 mm
- Wettest month:August
- Driest month:January
- Winter:January-March
- Summer:July-September
Economy
Hong Kong'seconomyis characterised byfree trade,lowtaxationand minimumgovernmentintervention. It is the world's 12th largesttrading economy,with themainlandof China as its most significant trading partner. Hong Kong is also a majorservice economy,with particularly strong links to mainland China and the rest of theAsia-Pacificregion.
- Currency:Hong Kong dollar
- GDP:HK$1,616.2 billion (2007)
- '''GDP per capita:HK$233,358 (2007)
- Real GDP growth:6.4% (2007)
- Labour force:3.63 million
Population
Hong Kong's population was approximately 6.92 million in 2007. People of Chinese descent comprise the vast majority of thepopulation,with foreign nationals comprising 5%.
- Population density:6 410 people per square kilometre
- Crude birth rate:10.2 per 1000
- Percentage of population Chinese descent:95%
- Other significant national groups:
- Philippines (136 323 total)
- Indonesia (131 497 total)
- Thailand (28 375 total).
Language
ChineseandEnglishare the official languages of Hong Kong. English is widely used in theGovernmentand by the legal, professional and business sectors. Trilingual professionals who speak English, Cantonese and Putonghua play a vital role in the numerous enterprises trading in Hong Kong or doing business withmainlandChinaandTaiwan.
- Cantonesespeakers:88.7% of population
- Putonghuaspeakers:1.1% of population
- Other Chinese dialect speakers:5.8% of population
- English speakers:3.1% of population
- Other language speakers:1.3% of population
Public Holidays
Hong Kongprovides two types of public holidays: statutory and general holidays.Statutory holidaysare mandated under theEmployment Ordinanceand must be provided to all employees.General holidaysinclude every Sunday, all statutory holidays and an additional 5 holidays.
- Working week:Monday to Saturday
- Statutory holidays:12
- General holidays:17 (including the 12 statutory holidays)
