Hong Kong alternatively known by its initials H.K., is a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea. The city is known for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour. With a land mass of 1,104 km2 (426 sq mi) and a population of over seven million people, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Hong Kong's population is 93.6% ethnic Chinese and 6.4% from other groups. Hong Kong's Cantonese-speaking majority originate mainly from the neighbouring Canton province from which many of them fled to escape wars and Communist rule in China from the 1930s to the 1960s.
Hong Kong became a colony of the British Empire after the First Opium War (1839–42). Hong Kong Island was first ceded to the UK in perpetuity, followed by Kowloon Peninsula in 1860 and then the New Territories was put under lease in 1898. It was occupied by Japan during the Pacific War (1941–45), after which the British resumed control until 1997, when China resumed sovereignty.
On 1 July 1997, Hong Kong became the first Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, under the principle of "one country, two systems" (the other, Macau, attained that status in December 1999). It has a different political system from mainland China. Hong Kong's independent judiciary functions under the common law framework. Hong Kong Basic Law, its constitutional document, which stipulates that Hong Kong shall have a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign relations and military defence, governs its political system.
|
Capital :
|
Dependency
|
|
Area:
|
1,104 km squre
|
|
National Bird:
|
Loons
|
|
National Animal:
|
Panda
|
|
National Flower:
|
Bauhinia blackeana
|
|
National Language:
|
Chinese and English
|
|
National Sport:
|
Rugby
|
|
National Dance:
|
Folk Dance
|
|
Prime Minister:
|
Habibi
|
|
Major Occupation:
|
Agriculture
|
|
Time Zone:
|
UTC+08
|
