Hong Kong

Hong Kong (; , , literally "Fragrant Port"), officially The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of The People's Republic of China, is one of two Special Administrative Regions (SARs) of the People's Republic of China (the other is Macau). It is one of the richest and most highly developed parts in the world, and one where the cost of living is one of the highest. Hong Kong grew quickly in the decades after World War II, becoming a famous world-class financial centre. Hong Kong was one of the last territories of the British Empire until 1997, when United Kingdom handed it over to China. China then promised to grant it special status for 50 years.
The population of Hong Kong is over seven million. The economy has rapidly grown from a trading port to a very rich city. Hong Kong has the most skyscrapers in the world.
Hong Kong is divided into 3 main parts:
Hong Kong Island
Kowloon
New Territories (including 235 outlying islands)
Hong Kong was a British colony from 1842 to 1997 as China surrendered the city after losing the Second Opium War. After the handover in 1997, Hong Kong became under Chinese control under special status.
Hong Kong has its own constitution that is different from that of the People's Republic of China (PRC).
Climate
Hong Kong is in sub-tropical area, and has monsoon winds. It is cool and wet in winter (Jan-Mar), hot and rainy from spring through summer (Apr-Sep), and warm, sunny and dry in the autumn (Oct-Dec). The rainy season is from May until September. In summer and early autumn, there is a frequent threat of typhoons.
Population and language
The population of Hong Kong reached 7 million (7,413,070) in 2021. Most of the people in Hong Kong are Chinese. Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. It has an overall population density of 6,300 people per square kilometre.
Hong Kong has one of the world's lowest birth rates -- 1.05 per woman at an age of being capable to give birth as of 2019. This is far below the rate needed to replace each person, 2.1.
People from Hong Kong mainly speak Cantonese. Students are required to learn English at school. Ever since Hong Kong became a part of China, the number of people who speak Mandarin has increased because Mandarin is the official language of China.
Public holidays
In Hong Kong, 17 days of the year are public holidays:
1 January - New Year's Day, the beginning of the year
Chinese New Year (3 public holidays)
Ching Ming Festival, also known as "Tomb Sweeping Day"
Easter (3 public holidays)
1 May - Labour Day
The Buddha's birthday
Dragon Boat Festival
1 July - Hong Kong SAR Establishment Day
The day after Mid-Autumn Festival
1 Oct - Chinese National Day
Chung Yeung Festival - a day when people honour their ancestors, similar to "Tomb Sweeping Day"
25 December - Christmas
26 December - Boxing Day
Currency
There are coins from 10 cents to 10 Hong Kong Dollars and bank-notes (paper money bills) from $10 to $1000. One American dollar equals to HK$7.80+-0.05 Hong Kong Dollars, according to the official pegged exchange rate.
Public transport
Mass Transit Railway (MTR) which was established in 1979, owns seven lines (10 lines after KCR merger),
Kwun Tong Line (running between Whampoa and Tiu Keng Leng)
Tsuen Wan Line (running between Tsuen Wan and Central)
Island Line (running between Kennedy Town and Chai Wan)
South Island Line (running between Admiralty and South Horizons)
Tseung Kwan O Line (running between North Point and Po Lam/LOHAS Park)
Tung Chung Line (running between Tung Chung and Hong Kong)
Airport Express (running between AsiaWorld-Expo and Hong Kong)
Disneyland Resort Line (running between Sunny Bay and Disneyland Resort)
East Rail Line (running between Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau and Admiralty)
Tuen Ma Line (running between Tuen Mun and Wu Kai Sha)
Bus: there are four major bus companies in Hong Kong, namely KMB which mainly serves Kowloon and New Territories, New World First Bus, which mainly serves Hong Kong Island, New Lantau Bus, which mainly serves Lantau Island, and Citybus, which mainly serves airport routes.
Public Light Bus: in the 1960s, it was an illegal transportation, but later on, the government noticed that if there were only buses in Hong Kong, then some villages in N.T. will not have a public transport. Therefore, the Legislative Council made it legal and under government regulation.
Tram (running between Kennedy Town, Happy Valley, and Shau Kei Wan)
Peak Tram (running between Garden Road and Victoria Peak)
Taxi [Red (Kowloon and Hong Kong Island), Green (New Territories), and Blue (Lantau Island)]
Ferry (Lots of different companies, including the Star Ferry, First Ferry and Fortune Ferry)
Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport. It is the busiest airport in the world in terms of cargo traffic.
Education
Hong Kong's education system is mostly based on the English system. Children are required to be in school from age 6 until completing secondary school (high school) at age 18.
Universities
Hong Kong has 11 Universities:
University of Hong Kong
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
City University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong Baptist University
Education University of Hong Kong
Lingnan University
Hong Kong Metropolitan University
Hong Kong Shue Yan University
Hang Seng University of Hong Kong
Housing in Hong Kong
According to the International Housing Affordability survey, Hong Kong has the most unaffordable housing market in the world since 2010.
Timeline of Hong Kong
Here is a brief history of Hong Kong:
Around 4000 BC
Sea levels rose above 100 meters
Around 3500 BC
Ceramic forms decorated with a wide range of patterns
Around 2000 BC
Bronze weapons, knives, arrowheads & tools.
Metal worked locally
Around 500 BC
Ancient Chinese writing developed
221 BC
People from Mainland China came to Hong Kong
220 BC
Coins from the Chinese Han period were used in Hong Kong
1555
A Portuguese named Jorge Alvares was the first European to reach Hong Kong
1799
China banned the drug trade in Hong Kong
1800
Opium became a huge business
1839
Lin Zexu was appointed Special Commissioner
The First Opium war began
1841
Hong Kong was given to the British and became a dependent territory of United Kingdom
Lord Palmerston wrote that Hong Kong was a barren island with only a few houses on it
January 26, 1841
The British flag was raised at Possession Point, on Hong Kong Island
August 1841
Sir Henry Pottinger became Hong Kong's first governor
The Treaty of Nanjing was signed, ending the First Opium War
1860
China was defeated in the Second Opium War. Boundary Street and Stonecutter's Island were leased to Britain
1888
The Peak Tram started operating on Hong Kong Island
1898
Lantau Island and the New Territories were leased to the British for 99 years
1900s
Hong Kong became a refuge for exiles from China
1920s-1930s
Western dress began to come in fashion for the locals
1933-1934
Father Daniel Finn began excavations on Lamma Island
1941
Refugees fleeing the Chinese Communist Party came to Hong Kong
December 8, 1941
The Empire of Japan invaded Hong Kong
December 25, 1941
The British authorities surrendered Hong Kong to the Japanese Army
August 1945
Britain reclaimed its territory after Japan's surrender
1949
Double-decker buses were introduced to Hong Kong
1950
Hong Kong became a free port
1953
The Shek Kip Mei Estate was built, establishing the program of public housing
1955
A Han period tomb was discovered near Lei Cheng Uk
1983
The Hong Kong dollar was tied to the US dollar
1984
China and Britain signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration
1990
The Hong Kong Basic Law was confirmed
1997
Asia's financial crisis
Archaeologists discovered 20 graves on the island of Ma Wa
Tung Chee Wa elected as the first Chief Executive of Hong Kong. Voting was conducted by 400 committees of an electoral college whose members are appointed by the Chinese Government.
July 1, 1997
Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of China for 50 years
1998
Hong Kong International Airport opened, replacing Kai Tak Airport in Kowloon
June 2002
Tung Chee Hwa was elected as Chief Executive for a second term.
2003
Citizens wanted a more democratic and republican system
The SARS epidemic began
March 10, 2005
Tung Chee Hwa resigned as chief executive because of health problems.
June 16, 2005
Donald Tsang Yam-kuen was elected unopposed as Chief Executive.
March 2012
Leung Chun Ying was elected as Chief Executive.
2014
People occupied the Central region to demand universal suffrage for the next chief executive election, to take place in 2017.
2015
The government voted against the universal suffrage demanded by the people.
2016
There were more protests in Mong Kok because the government voted against universal suffrage. Police had to use pepper spray and Tear gas on the protesters to get them to leave.
2019
Protestors in Hong Kong demonstrated against a new extradition law proposed by the central government of China.It was the largest protest in Hong Kong's history. This law would allow China to extradite people living or visiting Hong Kong. People opposed this because of the poor reputation of China due to allegations of torture, forced confessions and arbitrary detentions. The bill would just bring Hong Kong closer under China's control, even though Hong Kong have their own judicial system.
2020
The Hong Kong National Security Law is created. This law will give Beijing, more power to control Hong Kong. Beijing also put a security office in Hong Kong. The law was created at 11 P.M. on 30 June 2020, Hong Kong Time.
Media
Hong Kong has a few media companies, notably Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB), HK Television Entertainment (HKTVE), and Fantastic Television. Access to television is not affected by Chinese regulations, such as the Great Firewall, which filters and blocks certain programs.
Places in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Disneyland
Victoria Peak
Victoria Park
Ocean Park
Man Mo Temple
Repulse Bay
Hong Kong Park
Yuen Po Street Bird Garden
Hong Kong Museum of History
Hong Kong Space Museum
Hong Kong Museum of Science & Technology
Wong Tai Sin Temple
Fung Ying Sin Koon
Kowloon Walled City
Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre
Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong
Sham Tung Uk
Po Lin Monastery and the Big Buddha on Lantau Island (currently the largest bronze Buddha in world)
Cheung Chau (Long Island)
Chek Lap Kok
Clock Tower, Hong Kong
Notes
References
Other websites