Hong Kong is a part of China though it has a special status within the country. It is called a Special Autonomous Region, which means that Hong Kong does not follow all of the policies that the rest of China does. Hong Kong sits on the east side of the Pearl River delta, on the southeast coast of China. The area contains a natural harbor that is very deep and large. This makes it valuable for shipping. The Chinese named the place Xianggang, or “fragrant harbor,” probably because of the scent of pink bauhinia flowers that grew there, or because of the incense factories that were once in the area. Victoria, on Hong Kong Island, is the center of business and government activity. Hong Kong is surrounded on three sides by the South China Sea. Guangdong Province lies to the north. The region covers 424 square miles (1,097 square kilometers). Some of that land has been built up from the harbor by dumping soil and other materials, called fill, in shallow areas at the edge of the harbor. The region is made up of the main island of Hong Kong, Lantau Island, the Kowloon Peninsula on the mainland, and some 200 small islands in the surrounding area. Hong Kong also includes a region called the New Territories, to the north of Kowloon Peninsula. Places of interestThe heart of the region is the city of Victoria and the surrounding urban area. Two fifths of Hong Kong's land is set aside for country parks. One of the world's largest marine aquariums is the Ocean Park. Hong Kong's many inlets and bays provide good places for sailing, waterskiing, canoeing, and other water sports. Hong Kong has a mixed culture. The people celebrate the festivals and holidays of both the East and the West, such as the Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Lunar (Chinese) New Year, and Christmas. The Hong Kong Arts Festival has become one of the major cultural events in Asia. Hong Kong has also gained prominence as a major producer of motion pictures since the 1970s. The most successful films have been martial-arts and other action movies. Hong Kong has museums devoted to history, art, science and technology, and space. Cultural events and concerts are held at the City Hall and at the Hong Kong Arts Centre. EconomyHong Kong has an economy based largely on banking, investment, and international trade. The average salary of a working person in Hong Kong is one of the highest in Asia. Hong Kong has very little land suited for farming and almost no natural resources. The manufacturing businesses in the region produce cloth, electronic items, and machinery. The well-developed fishing industry is mostly based on marine fish. Fashion design and the cutting and design of ornamental diamonds are also parts of the economy. However, the service industries—including shipping, aviation, tourism, and finance—are more important to the economy. HistoryScientists have discovered pottery, stone tools, rings, and bronze items in many sites around Hong Kong. These discoveries show that humans have lived in the region since the Stone Age. The earliest people probably came from northern China in the 2nd millennium BC. Cantonese people began to settle there around 100 BC, and other groups of Chinese came later. Pirates were using the harbor by the 18th century. In 1821, British merchants also began to moor their ships there. These ships were used to transport opium, a drug that Britain sold in China. Great Britain and China fought several wars over the opium trade in the mid-1800s. Great Britain won those wars; as a result it was given possession of Hong Kong Island in 1842 and Kowloon Peninsula in 1860. As China became less and less powerful in the 19th century, Britain acquired more territory surrounding Hong Kong. In 1898 the two countries signed an agreement that gave Britain control of the territory for 99 years. In 1984, after many discussions, Britain agreed to return all of Hong Kong to China, but only if the people in Hong Kong could continue to govern themselves and to trade freely. The Chinese agreed to make Hong Kong a Special Autonomous Region, which allowed the people to do those things, and in 1997 control of Hong Kong went back to China. Population (2000 estimate), 6,782,000. |