2012 Edition

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 the People's Republic of China on 1 July 1997. In this agreement, China promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system would not be imposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong would enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.

Area

1,104 sq km 1,054 sq km 50 sq km

total

1,104 sq km

water

50 sq km

Area - comparative

six times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

733 km

Elevation extremes

South China Sea 0 m Tai Mo Shan 958 m

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

Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution (associate member)

party to

Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution (associate member)

Geographic coordinates

22 15 N, 114 10 E

Geography - note

composed of more than 200 islands

Irrigated land

NA; note - included in the total for China (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

30 km China 30 km

regional border

China 30 km

total

30 km

Land use

5.05% 1.01% 93.94% (2001)

arable land

5.05%

other

93.94% (2001)

permanent crops

1.01%

Location

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

3 nm

territorial sea

3 nm

Natural hazards

occasional typhoons

Natural resources

outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar

Terrain

hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north

Age structure

11.4% (male 427,250/ female 390,856) 74.6% (male 2,573,116/ female 2,766,169) 13.9% (male 467,199/ female 528,929) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

11.4% (male 427,250/ female 390,856)

15-64 years

74.6% (male 2,573,116/ female 2,766,169)

65 years and over

13.9% (male 467,199/ female 528,929) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

7.54 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Death rate

7.23 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

Education expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic groups

Chinese 95%, Filipino 1.6%, Indonesian 1.3%, other 2.1% (2006 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2,600 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

2.9 deaths/1,000 live births 3.07 deaths/1,000 live births 2.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

2.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

2.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Cantonese (official) 90.8%, English (official) 2.8%, Putonghua (Mandarin) 0.9%, other Chinese dialects 4.4%, other 1.1% (2006 census)

Life expectancy at birth

82.12 years 79.39 years 85.05 years (2012 est.)

female

85.05 years (2012 est.)

total population

82.12 years

Literacy

age 15 and over has ever attended school 93.5% 96.9% 89.6% (2002)

definition

age 15 and over has ever attended school

female

89.6% (2002)

male

96.9%

total population

93.5%

Median age

43.9 years 43.3 years 44.4 years (2012 est.)

female

44.4 years (2012 est.)

male

43.3 years

total

43.9 years

Nationality

Chinese/Hong Konger Chinese/Hong Kong

adjective

Chinese/Hong Kong

noun

Chinese/Hong Konger

Net migration rate

3.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Population

7,153,519 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate

0.421% (2012 est.)

Religions

eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

16 years 15 years 16 years (2009)

female

16 years (2009)

male

15 years

total

16 years

Sex ratio

1.07 male(s)/female 1.09 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female 0.88 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.93 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.88 male(s)/female

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.09 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.09 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

12.6% 15.1% 10.3% (2009)

female

10.3% (2009)

total

12.6%

Urbanization

100% of total population (2010) 0.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

none (special administrative region of China)

Constitution

The Basic Law, approved March 1990 by China's National People's Congress, is Hong Kong's charter

Country name

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Hong Kong Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu Xianggang HK

abbreviation

HK

conventional long form

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

conventional short form

Hong Kong

official long form

Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu

official short form

Xianggang

Dependency status

special administrative region of China

Diplomatic representation from the US

Consul General Stephen M. YOUNG 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong PSC 461, Box 1, FPO AP 96521-0006 [852] 2523-9011 [852] 2845-1598

chief of mission

Consul General Stephen M. YOUNG

consulate(s) general

26 Garden Road, Hong Kong

FAX

[852] 2845-1598

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); Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) carries out normal liaison and communication with the US Government and other US entities Donald TONG 1520 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 [1] 202 331-8947 [1] 202 331-0318 New York, San Francisco

FAX

[1] 202 331-0318

HKETO offices

New York, San Francisco

office

1520 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

representative

Donald TONG

telephone

[1] 202 331-8947

Executive branch

President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003) Chief Executive LEUNG Chun-ying (since 1 July 2012) Executive Council or ExCo consists of 15 official members and 14 non-official members chief executive elected for five-year term by a 800-member electoral committee; the election of Donald TSANG was held on 25 March 2007; on 25 March 2012 LEUNG Chun-ying [C.Y.LEUNG] was elected chief executive by a 1,193-member electoral committee; he will take office on 1 July 2012; (next election to be held in March 2017) the Legislative Council voted in June 2010 to expand the electoral committee to 1,200 seats for the 2012 election LEUNG Chun-ying was elected with 689 votes; Henry TANG received 285 votes, and Albert HO received 76 of the 1,132 votes cast; 82 ballots were deemed invalid most were blank

cabinet

Executive Council or ExCo consists of 15 official members and 14 non-official members

chief of state

President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)

election results

LEUNG Chun-ying was elected with 689 votes; Henry TANG received 285 votes, and Albert HO received 76 of the 1,132 votes cast; 82 ballots were deemed invalid most were blank

elections

chief executive elected for five-year term by a 800-member electoral committee; the election of Donald TSANG was held on 25 March 2007; on 25 March 2012 LEUNG Chun-ying [C.Y.LEUNG] was elected chief executive by a 1,193-member electoral committee; he will take office on 1 July 2012; (next election to be held in March 2017)

head of government

Chief Executive LEUNG Chun-ying (since 1 July 2012)

Flag description

red with a stylized, white, five-petal Bauhinia flower in the center; each petal contains a small, red, five-pointed star in its middle; the red color is the same as that on the Chinese flag and represents the motherland; the fragrant Bauhinia - developed in Hong Kong the late 19th century - has come to symbolize the region; the five stars echo those on the flag of China

Government type

limited democracy

Independence

none (special administrative region of China)

International organization participation

ADB, APEC, BIS, FATF, ICC (national committees), IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITUC (NGOs), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WTO

Judicial branch

Court of Final Appeal, High Court (Court of Appeal and the Court of the First Instance), district courts, magistrates' courts, and other special courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of common law based on the English model and Chinese customary law (in matters of family and land tenure)

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Council or LegCo (60 seats; 30 members indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 30 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms) the LegCo voted in June 2010 to expand to 70 seats for the 2012 election; the measure was approved by the National People's Congress Standing Committee in August 2010; the 10 new seats will be elected by popular vote last held on 7 September 2008 (next to be held on 9 September 2012) percent of vote by block - pro-democracy 57%; pro-Beijing 40%, independent 3%; seats by parties - (pro-Beijing 35) DAB 13, Liberal Party 7, FTU 1, others 14; (pro-democracy 23) Democratic Party 8, Civic Party 5, CTU 3, League of Social Democrats 3, ADPL 2, The Frontier 1, NWSC 1; others 11; independents 2

election results

percent of vote by block - pro-democracy 57%; pro-Beijing 40%, independent 3%; seats by parties - (pro-Beijing 35) DAB 13, Liberal Party 7, FTU 1, others 14; (pro-democracy 23) Democratic Party 8, Civic Party 5, CTU 3, League of Social Democrats 3, ADPL 2, The Frontier 1, NWSC 1; others 11; independents 2

elections

last held on 7 September 2008 (next to be held on 9 September 2012)

National anthem

as a Special Administrative Region of China, "Yiyonggjun Jinxingqu" is the official anthem (see China)

note

as a Special Administrative Region of China, "Yiyonggjun Jinxingqu" is the official anthem (see China)

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

National symbol(s)

orchid tree flower

Political parties and leaders

Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood or ADPL [LIU Sung Lee]; Civic Party [LEONG Ka-kit]; Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong or DAB [TAM Yiu Cheng]; Democratic Party [Albert HO Chun-yan]; Labor Party [LEE Cheuk-yan]; League of Social Democrats or LSD [LEONG Kwok-hung]; Liberal Party [Miriam LAU Kin-yee]; New People's Party [Regina IP Lau Su-yee]; People Power [Raymond WONG Yuk-man]; The Frontier (disbanded) Confederation of Trade Unions or CTU; Federation of Trade Unions or FTU; Neighborhood and Workers Service Center or NWSC political blocs include: pro-democracy - ADPL, Civic Party, Democratic Party, League of Social Democrats, People Power; pro-Beijing - DAB, Liberal Party, New People's Party, The Professional Forum (an informal group of three generally pro-government and pro-business LegCo members from functional constituencies and one independent elected from a geographic constituency), and Economic Synergy; there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies

others

Confederation of Trade Unions or CTU; Federation of Trade Unions or FTU; Neighborhood and Workers Service Center or NWSC

parties

Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood or ADPL [LIU Sung Lee]; Civic Party [LEONG Ka-kit]; Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong or DAB [TAM Yiu Cheng]; Democratic Party [Albert HO Chun-yan]; Labor Party [LEE Cheuk-yan]; League of Social Democrats or LSD [LEONG Kwok-hung]; Liberal Party [Miriam LAU Kin-yee]; New People's Party [Regina IP Lau Su-yee]; People Power [Raymond WONG Yuk-man]; The Frontier (disbanded)

political blocs include

pro-democracy - ADPL, Civic Party, Democratic Party, League of Social Democrats, People Power; pro-Beijing - DAB, Liberal Party, New People's Party, The Professional Forum (an informal group of three generally pro-government and pro-business LegCo members from functional constituencies and one independent elected from a geographic constituency), and Economic Synergy; there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies

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) [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 [LEE Cheuk-yan, chairman]; Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union [FUNG Wai-wah, president]; Neighborhood and Workers' Service Center or NWSC [LEUNG Yiu-chung, LegCo member] (pro-democracy); Civic Act-up [Cyd HO Sau-lan, LegCo member] (pro-democracy)

Suffrage

18 years of age in direct elections for half the legislature and a majority of seats in 18 district councils; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; note - in indirect elections, suffrage is limited to about 220,000 members of functional constituencies for the other half of the legislature and an 1,200-member election committee for the chief executive drawn from broad sectoral groupings, central government bodies, municipal organizations, and elected Hong Kong officials

Agriculture - products

fresh vegetables; poultry, pork; fish

Budget

$50.46 billion $47.56 billion (2012 est.)

expenditures

$47.56 billion (2012 est.)

revenues

$50.46 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.5% (31 December 2011) 0.5% (31 December 2010)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5% (31 December 2012 est.) 5% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

$12.87 billion (2012 est.) $12.91 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$903.2 billion (30 June 2011 est.) $750.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

53.3 (2007)

Economy - overview

Hong Kong has a free market economy, highly dependent on international trade and finance - the value of goods and services trade, including the sizable share of re-exports, is about four times GDP. Hong Kong's open economy left it exposed to the global economic slowdown that began in 2008. Although increasing integration with China, through trade, tourism, and financial links, helped it to make an initial recovery more quickly than many observers anticipated, it again faces a possible slowdown as exports to the Euro zone and US slump. The Hong Kong government is promoting the Special Administrative Region (SAR) as the site for Chinese renminbi (RMB) internationalization. Hong Kong residents are allowed to establish RMB-denominated savings accounts; RMB-denominated corporate and Chinese government bonds have been issued in Hong Kong; and RMB trade settlement is allowed. The territory far exceeded the RMB conversion quota set by Beijing for trade settlements in 2010 due to the growth of earnings from exports to the mainland. RMB deposits grew to roughly 7.8% of total system deposits in Hong Kong by the end of 2011, an increase of over 59% since the beginning of the year. The government is pursuing efforts to introduce additional use of RMB in Hong Kong financial markets and is seeking to expand the RMB quota. The mainland has long been Hong Kong's largest trading partner, accounting for about half of Hong Kong's exports by value. Hong Kong's natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. As a result of China's easing of travel restrictions, the number of mainland tourists to the territory has surged from 4.5 million in 2001 to 28 million in 2011, outnumbering visitors from all other countries combined. Hong Kong has also established itself as the premier stock market for Chinese firms seeking to list abroad. In 2011 mainland Chinese companies constituted about 43% of the firms listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and accounted for about 56% of the Exchange's market capitalization. During the past decade, as Hong Kong's manufacturing industry moved to the mainland, its service industry has grown rapidly. Growth slowed to 5% in 2011, and less than 2% in 2012. Credit expansion and tight housing supply conditions caused Hong Kong property prices to rise rapidly in 2010 and inflation to rise 5.3% in 2011, but the tempo slowed in 2012. Lower and middle income segments of the population are increasingly unable to afford adequate housing. Hong Kong continues to link its currency closely to the US dollar, maintaining an arrangement established in 1983.

Exchange rates

Hong Kong dollars (HKD) per US dollar - 7.8 (2012 est.) 7.784 (2011 est.) 7.77 (2010 est.) 7.75 (2009) 7.751 (2008)

Exports

$439 billion (2012 est.) $438 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

China 52.4%, US 9.9%, Japan 4% (2011 est.)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition by sector

0% 7% 93% (2012 est.)

agriculture

0%

industry

7%

services

93% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$50,700 (2012 est.) $50,200 (2011 est.) $48,200 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.8% (2012 est.) 5% (2011 est.) 7.1% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$258 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$363.7 billion (2012 est.) $357.2 billion (2011 est.) $340.1 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$499.4 billion (2012 est.) $494.1 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

China 44.9%, Japan 8.9%, Taiwan 7.5%, US 4.9% (2011 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

0.8% (2011 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.7% (2012 est.) 5.3% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

21.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Labor force

3.705 million (2012 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

4.3% 2.4% 41.4% 12.5% 6.3% 16.8% above data exclude public sector (2011 est.)

community and social services

16.8%

construction

2.4%

financing, insurance, and real estate

12.5%

manufacturing

4.3%

transport and communications

6.3%

wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels

41.4%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$2.24 trillion (31 December 2011) $2.711 trillion (31 December 2010) $2.292 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

30% of GDP (2012 est.) 39.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$299.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $285.4 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.028 trillion (31 December 2011 est.) $917.5 billion (31 December 2010)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$1.112 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.046 trillion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$1.2 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.138 trillion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$544.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $515.8 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$143.8 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $130.4 billion (31 December 2010)

Taxes and other revenues

19.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

3.4% (2012 est.) 3.4% (2011 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

83.78 million Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

Electricity - consumption

43.14 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

2.75 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

10.75 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

12.62 million kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

41.22 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

3.46 billion cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - imports

3.195 billion cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

291,400 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

16,620 bbl/day (2011)

Refined petroleum products - imports

375,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Broadcast media

2 commercial terrestrial TV networks each with multiple stations; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems available; 3 radio networks, one of which is government-funded, operate about 15 radio stations (2010)

Internet country code

.hk

Internet hosts

870,041 (2012)

Internet users

4.873 million (2009)

Telephone system

modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic network country code - 852; multiple international submarine cables provide connections to Asia, US, Australia, the Middle East, and Western Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China

domestic

microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic network

general assessment

modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services

international

country code - 852; multiple international submarine cables provide connections to Asia, US, Australia, the Middle East, and Western Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China

Telephones - main lines in use

4.342 million (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

15.293 million (2011)

Airports

2 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2012)

over 3,047 m

1

total

2

Heliports

9 (2012)

Merchant marine

1,644 barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 785, cargo 198, carrier 10, chemical tanker 149, container 288, liquefied gas 31, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 156, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 7 976 (Bangladesh 1, Belgium 26, Bermuda 20, Canada 77, China 500, Cyprus 3, Denmark 42, France 4, Germany 10, Greece 27, Indonesia 10, Iran 3, Japan 79, Libya 1, Norway 48, Russia 1, Singapore 13, South Korea 3, Switzerland 5, Taiwan 25, UAE 1, UK 33, US 44) 341 (Bahamas 3, Bermuda 4, Cambodia 10, China 18, Curacao 1, Cyprus 2, Georgia 3, India 2, Kiribati 2, Liberia 48, Malaysia 8, Malta 4, Marshall Islands 3, NZ 1, Panama 144, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Seychelles 1, Sierra Leone 7, Singapore 46, Thailand 1, UK 12, unknown 16) (2010)

foreign-owned

976 (Bangladesh 1, Belgium 26, Bermuda 20, Canada 77, China 500, Cyprus 3, Denmark 42, France 4, Germany 10, Greece 27, Indonesia 10, Iran 3, Japan 79, Libya 1, Norway 48, Russia 1, Singapore 13, South Korea 3, Switzerland 5, Taiwan 25, UAE 1, UK 33, US 44)

registered in other countries

341 (Bahamas 3, Bermuda 4, Cambodia 10, China 18, Curacao 1, Cyprus 2, Georgia 3, India 2, Kiribati 2, Liberia 48, Malaysia 8, Malta 4, Marshall Islands 3, NZ 1, Panama 144, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Seychelles 1, Sierra Leone 7, Singapore 46, Thailand 1, UK 12, unknown 16) (2010)

total

1,644

Ports and terminals

Hong Kong

Roadways

2,067 km 2,067 km (2010)

total

2,067 km

Manpower available for military service

1,704,090 1,873,175 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

1,873,175 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,704,090

Manpower fit for military service

1,387,213 1,505,875 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

1,505,875 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,387,213

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

39,579 36,554 (2010 est.)

female

36,554 (2010 est.)

male

39,579

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of China

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 (2009)

Military expenditures

NA

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

despite strenuous law enforcement efforts, 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