2005 Edition

Administrative divisions

none (special administrative region of China)

Age structure

0-14 years: 13.8% (male 498,771/female 454,252) 15-64 years: 73.5% (male 2,479,656/female 2,591,170) 65 years and over: 12.7% (male 404,308/female 470,529) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

fresh vegetables, poultry, fish, pork

Airports

4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Area

land

1,042 sq km

total

1,092 sq km

water

50 sq km

Area - comparative

six times the size of Washington, DC

Background

Occupied by the UK in 1841, Hong Kong was formally ceded by China the following year; various adjacent lands were added later in the 19th century. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and the UK on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997. In this agreement, China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system will not be imposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years. Geography Hong Kong

Birth rate

7.23 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$31.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.9 billion (2004 est.)

revenues

$26.6 billion

Climate

tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

Coastline

733 km

Constitution

Basic Law, approved in March 1990 by China's National People's Congress, is Hong Kong's "mini-constitution"

Country name

abbreviation

HK

conventional long form

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

conventional short form

Hong Kong

local long form

Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu

local short form

Xianggang

Currency (code)

Hong Kong dollar (HKD)

Currency code

HKD

Current account balance

$14.85 billion (2004 est.)

Death rate

5.98 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$66.94 billion (2004 est.)

Dependency status

special administrative region of China

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Consul General James B. CUNNINGHAM

consulate(s) general

26 Garden Road, Hong Kong

FAX

[852] 2524-0860

mailing address

PSC 461, Box 1, FPO AP 96521-0006

telephone

[852] 2523-9011

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (special administrative region of China)

Disputes - international

none

Economy - overview

Hong Kong has a free market, entrepot economy, highly dependent on international trade. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Gross imports and exports (i.e., including reexports to and from third countries) each exceed GDP in dollar value. Even before Hong Kong reverted to Chinese administration on 1 July 1997, it had extensive trade and investment ties with China. Hong Kong has been further integrating its economy with China because China's growing openness to the world economy has made manufacturing in China much more cost effective. Hong Kong's reexport business to and from China is a major driver of growth. Per capita GDP is comparable to that of the four big economies of Western Europe. GDP growth averaged a strong 5% from 1989 to 1997, but Hong Kong suffered two recessions in the past six years because of the Asian financial crisis in 1998 and the global downturn in 2001 and 2002. Although the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak also battered Hong Kong's economy, a boom in tourism from the mainland because of China's easing of travel restrictions, a return of consumer confidence, and a solid rise in exports resulted in the resumption of strong growth in late 2003 and in 2004.

Electricity - consumption

38.45 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports

3 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports

10.4 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production

35.51 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Tai Mo Shan 958 m

lowest point

South China Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

air and water pollution from rapid urbanization

Environment - international agreements

party to

Marine Dumping (associate member)

Ethnic groups

Chinese 95%, other 5%

Exchange rates

Hong Kong dollars per US dollar - 7.788 (2004), 7.7868 (2003), 7.7989 (2002), 7.7988 (2001), 7.7912 (2000)

Executive branch

cabinet

Executive Council consists of seven non-official members and 14 official members

chief of state

President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)

elections

previous chief executive TUNG Chee-hwa was elected to second five-year term in March 2002 by 800-member election committee dominated by pro-Beijing forces, resignation accepted 12 March 2005; Donald TSANG acted as chief executive between 12 March 2005 and 25 May 2005; Henry TANG acted as chief executive between 25 May 2005 and 24 June 2005; last election 16 June 2005 to fill final two years of TUNG's term (next to be held in June 2007)

head of government

Chief Executive Donald TSANG (since 24 June 2005)

Exports

$268.1 billion f.o.b., including reexports (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel, footwear, watches and clocks, toys, plastics, precious stones, printed material

Exports - partners

China 44%, US 17%, Japan 5.3% (2004)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March Communications Hong Kong

Flag description

red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in the center Economy Hong Kong

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

0.1%

industry

11.3%

services

88.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $34,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7.9% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$234.5 billion (2004 est.)

Geographic coordinates

22 15 N, 114 10 E

Geography - note

more than 200 islands People Hong Kong

Government type

limited democracy

Heliports

2 (2004 est.) Military Hong Kong

Highways

paved

1,831 km

total

1,831 km

unpaved

0 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2,600 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Illicit drugs

makes strenuous law enforcement efforts, but faces difficult challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to regional and world markets; modern banking system provides conduit for money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs, especially among young people This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Imports

$275.9 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

raw materials and semi-manufactures, consumer goods, capital goods, foodstuffs, fuel (most is re-exported)

Imports - partners

China 43.5%, Japan 12.1%, Taiwan 7.3%, US 5.3%, Singapore 5.3%, South Korea 4.8% (2004)

Independence

none (special administrative region of China)

Industrial production growth rate

1% (2004 est.)

Industries

textiles, clothing, tourism, banking, shipping, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks

Infant mortality rate

female

2.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

3.16 deaths/1,000 live births

total

2.97 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.3% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

APEC, AsDB, BIS, ICC, ICFTU, IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTO

Internet country code

.hk

Internet hosts

591,993 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

17 (2000)

Internet users

3,212,800 (2003) Transportation Hong Kong

Investment (gross fixed)

22.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Irrigated land

20 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Court of Final Appeal in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Labor force

3.54 million (October 2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

manufacturing 7.5%, construction 2.9%, wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 43.7%, financing, insurance, and real estate 19.2%, transport and communications 7.9%, community and social services 18.5% note: above data exclude public sector (2004 est.)

Land boundaries

regional border

China 30 km

total

30 km

Land use

arable land

5.05%

other

93.94% (2001)

permanent crops

1.01%

Languages

Chinese (Cantonese), English; both are official

Legal system

based on English common law

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (60 seats; in 2004 30 seats indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 30 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - pro-democracy group 62%; seats by party - (pro-Beijing 34) DAB 12, Liberal Party 10, independents 11, FTU 1; (pro-democracy 25) independents 11, Democratic Party 9, CTU 2, ADPL 1, Frontier Party 1, NWSC 1; other 1

elections

last held 12 September 2004 (next to be held in September 2008)

Life expectancy at birth

female

84.41 years (2005 est.)

male

78.81 years

total population

81.5 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

female

89.6% (2002) Government Hong Kong

male

96.9%

total population

93.5%

Location

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 1,743,972 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 1,403,088 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

40,343 (2005 est.)

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

territorial sea

3 nm

Median age

female

39.6 years (2005 est.)

male

39.3 years

total

39.4 years

Merchant marine

by type

barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 446, cargo 119, chemical tanker 44, combination ore/oil 2, container 105, liquefied gas 20, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 75, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 8

foreign-owned

453 (Australia 1, Bahamas 1, Belgium 3, Canada 9, China 246, Denmark 3, France 5, Germany 13, Greece 19, India 1, Indonesia 1, Israel 1, Japan 51, Norway 16, Philippines 13, Singapore 17, South Korea 8, Taiwan 5, Thailand 4, UAE 1, United Kingdom 32, United States 3)

registered in other countries

373 (2005)

total

837 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 20,478,042 GRT/34,554,455 DWT

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of China Transnational Issues Hong Kong

Military branches

no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong garrison of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) includes elements of the PLA Ground Forces, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the adjacent Guangzhou Military Region

Military expenditures - dollar figure

Hong Kong garrison is funded by China; figures are NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (2004)

National holiday

National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 1 July 1997 is celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day

Nationality

adjective

Chinese/Hong Kong

noun

Chinese/Hong Konger

Natural gas - consumption

680.9 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

680.9 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

NA

Natural hazards

occasional typhoons

Natural resources

outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar

Net migration rate

5.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

257,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood or ADPL [Frederick FUNG Kin-kee, chairman]; Citizens Party [Alex CHAN Kai-chung]; Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong or DAB [MA Lik, chairman]; Democratic Party [LEE Wing-tat, chairman]; Frontier Party [Emily LAU Wai-hing, chairwoman]; Liberal Party [James TIEN Pei-chun, chairman] note: political blocs include: pro-democracy - Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood, Democratic Party, Frontier Party; pro-Beijing - Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Progressive Alliance, Liberal Party

Political pressure groups and leaders

Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Confederation of Trade Unions or CTU (pro-democracy) [LAU Chin-shek, president; LEE Cheuk-yan, general secretary]; Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Federation of Trade Unions or FTU (pro-China) [CHENG Yiu-tong, executive councilor]; Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China [Szeto WAH, chairman]; Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union [CHEUNG Man-kwong, president]; Neighborhood and Workers' Service Center or NWSC (pro-democracy); The Alliance [Bernard CHAN, exco member]

Population

6,898,686 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Population growth rate

0.65% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Hong Kong

Public debt

2.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios

4.45 million (1997)

Religions

eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$123.6 billion (31 December 2004 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage

direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect election limited to about 200,000 members of functional constituencies and an 800-member election committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies

Telephone system

domestic

microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic network

general assessment

modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services

international

country code - 852; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; access to 5 international submarine cables providing connections to ASEAN member nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe

Telephones - main lines in use

3,801,300 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

7,241,400 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

4 (2004)

Televisions

1.84 million (1997)

Terrain

hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north

Total fertility rate

0.91 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.7% (2004 est.)