Hong Kong Information

The Fragrant Harbour   

Lying at the southeastern tip of China, Hong Kong adjoins the province of Guangdong (Canton), and is just south of the tropic of Cancer. The total land area of Hong Kong is 1,078 square kilometers, comprising Hong Kong Island (77.5 square kilometers); Kowloon (45.5 square kilometer); and the New Territories, including 235 outlying islands (955 square kilometers).
Today Hong Kong has become a great international trading post, a powerful manufacturing base and one of the world's largest financial centres.


Overview

Prior to the arrival of the British, Hong Kong was a small fishing community and a haven for travelers and pirates in the South China Sea. Following the end of the first Opium War, the territory was ceded to Britain in perpetuity. After additional conflicts with the Chinese in 1860 Britain gained Kowloon and Stonecutters Island. In 1898 Britain acquired the New Territories on a 99-year lease. In 1984, Britain and China reached an agreement that Hong Kong would revert back to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. However, the commercial, social and legal life of Hong Kong would remain as it is until 2047.

Hong Kong comprises 235 islands including one with the largest Buddha in the world. The Kowloon peninsula seethes with shops, temples, markets and restaurants; the New Territories offers a contrast of scenic beauty and man-made achievements, it's unique gardens and parks bursting with birds, wildlife and plants.

Hong Kong's success has been achieved in a city with an area of less than 1,100 square kilometers and endowed with no natural resources except a fine, deep-water harbor and an industrious, entrepreneurial population of almost 7 million.


Industry and Commerce

Hong Kong is an international city which blends the best from the East and West, creating a unique personality. Strategically located at the heart of Asia, it is the world's seventh largest merchandise trading economy. More than 2,000 multinational companies have regional headquarters or offices in Hong Kong. Its per capita GDP is one of the highest in Asia. It is one of the world's top 10 exporters of services embracing a wide spectrum of activities--finance and banking, accounting and legal, tourism, telecommunications and media, importing and exporting to name a few. Hong Kong is the world's fifth largest foreign exchange market. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is the second largest in Asia and the seventh largest in the world. The gold market is in the top four of the world and Hong Kong is also a regional leader in loan syndication and investment management business. In addition, Hong Kong is also one of the world's most prolific film and entertainment production centers.

In communications and information technology, Hong Kong is the leader in the region. It is an important satellite and fiber-optic communications hub in the Pacific, providing links for instant, efficient and cheap communications around the globe. Hong Kong also has one of the world's first completely digitized telephone systems, and the density of fax lines ranks second in the world. The Internet community in Hong Kong has grown rapidly with some 100 licensed Internet service providers in operation.


Population and Language

The population as of 2002 was about 7.5 millions, almost 95 per cent of which is Chinese. Chinese and English are the official languages. Cantonese is the most widely spoken Chinese dialect, though Mandarin, Shanghainese and other Chinese dialects are also spoken. Many people, especially in shops, hotels, and service industries, speak English.


Politics and government

Pursuant to Basic Law, Hong Kong's constitutional document, the local Hong Kong government retains sovereignty over the territory except in areas of national defense and foreign relations. Only the Chief Executive, Hong Kong's head of state, is appointed by Beijing. All other functionaries of the government, including members the executive and legislative branch, are either appointed by the Chief Executive (directly or by proxy) or elected by voters. In theory, this arrangement guarantees Hong Kong is governed almost independently of the PRC and can retain its unique cultural, legal and economic infrastructure. In practice, however, some have accused Beijing of excess intrusion into Hong Kong domestic affairs beyond levels permitted under Basic Law.

Laws in Hong Kong are enacted only by approval of the Chief Executive and majority consent from the 60 seat Legislative Council of Hong Kong, or Legco. Despite the often said undemocratic nature of Hong Kong's government, half of Legco's seats are elected under universal suffrage with the other half selected by functional constituencies consisting of trade unions and special interests. Basic Law guarantees that all seats will eventually be elected under universal suffrage.

The office of the Chief Executive is currently held by Donald Tsang after his election on 16 June 2005 by an electoral committee appointed by Beijing . Before the 1997 handover, Tsang had held the post of Chief Secretary for Administration under British rule. He was elevated to his current post on 24 June 2005 and is scheduled to complete the remaining portion of Tung Chee Hwa's last term which ends on 30 June 2007 in accordance to the interpretation of Annex I and Article 46 by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

The election of a new Chief Executive by the 852-member Election Committee was expected to be held on 10 July 2005. On 16 June 2005, Donald Tsang was acclaimed the winner as the only candidate securing the required 100 nominations from members of the election committee. Tung Chee Hwa, the first Chief Executive, assumed office on 1 July 1997, following his election by a 400-member electoral college. For the second five-year term of the Chief Executive which began in July 2002, Tung was the only nominated candidate and therefore acclaimed.

The PRC set up a Provisional Legislative Council (PLC) in 1996 just before the handover, where it moved to Hong Kong to have its meetings after the handover. It reverted some laws passed by the colonial Legislative Council, which was formed by means of universal suffrage since 1995. The PLC passed some new laws, such as the Public Order Ordinance, which required permission from police to hold a demonstration where the number of people who participates exceeds 30. Legislative Council elections were held on 24 May 1998, on 10 September 2000 and again on 12 September 2004, with the next election scheduled for 2008. According to the Basic Law, Hong Kong's "mini-constitution", the present third term of the Legislative Council has 25 seats directly elected from geographical constituencies and 30 seats elected from functional constituencies. The 1998, 2000 and 2004 Legislative Council elections were seen as free, open, and widely contested, despite discontent among mainly 'pro-democratic' politicians, who contended that the functional constituency elections and the Election Committee elections (for 1998 and 2000) were undemocratic, as they consider that the electorate for these seats is too narrow.

The civil service of Hong Kong maintains its quality and neutrality following its tradition in the colonial times, operating without discernible direction from Beijing. Many government and administrative operations are located in Central on Hong Kong Island near the historical location of Victoria City, the site of the original British settlements.

The right of abode issue sparked debates in 1999, while the controversy over Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23 was the focus of politics in Hong Kong between 2002 and 2003, culminating in a peaceful mass demonstration (over 500,000 demonstrators) on 1 July 2003, after which the government still tried to pass the law to the Legislative Council. But one of the major pro-government parties refused to vote for passing the bill. Thus the government found that the bill could not be passed. So it shelved[4] the drafted law[5] brought forth by Article 23. The focus of controversies shifted to the issue of universal suffrage towards the end of 2003 and in 2004, which was the slogan of another mass demonstration on 1 July 2004[6][7][8].

On 24 September 2005, 25 Hong Kong pro-democracy Legco members, some of whom were previously labelled as traitors by Beijing after the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown and barred from entering the mainland, crossed the border into the southern province of Guangdong, following an unprecedented invitation by the PRC.[9] The invitation was generally regarded as one of the greatest goodwill gestures from the PRC to the Hong Kong democrats since the Tiananmen Square massacre.

On 4 December 2005, a demonstration was organised by the Civil Human Rights Front and pro-democracy lawmakers to demand a timetable for universal suffrage to be included in political reform proposals for the 2007 and 2008 elections for the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council respectively. The turnout was reported to be 63,000 by the police, and at least 250,000 by the organisers. The proposals would have doubled the size of the election committee (from 800 members to 1,600) and added ten seats to the Legislative Council (5 geographic and 5 functional seats for district councillors). On 22 December 2005, the reforms, proposed by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Donald Tsang, were defeated by the pro-democracy camp after they failed to reach the necessary two-third threshold with 34 votes in favour and 24 opposed. In the wake of the defeat, China and the Chief Executive have indicated that reforms will not be possible until the 2012 elections. The defeat also did little to blunt Tsang's popularity, with his approval ratings only dropping from 82 to 79% in the wake of the vote.

Although Hong Kong is not an independent country, it retains its own delegation in international organizations such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Olympic Games (although it changed its name from "Hong Kong" to "Hong Kong, China" after 1997). Hong Kong also participates in international events by including a delegate with the PRC's representative group.


Climate

Hong Kong has a subtropical climate :

Spring (March - mid-May): Temperature and humidity rising. Jackets or sweaters suggested. Average temperature: 23°C (73°F), humidity around 82%, sea temperature, 22.3° C (72° F)


Summer (late May - mid-September): Hot and humid. Temperature may rise to 33°C (91 °F) with humidity up to around 90%. . Shirtsleeves, cotton clothing, a sweater for indoors and an umbrella for outside suggested Average temperature: 28°C (82°F), humidity 80%, sea temperature 28°C (82°F).


Autumn(late September - early December): temperature and humidity drop. Clear sunny days. Shirtsleeves to sweaters and light jackets suggested. Average temperature: 23°C (73°F), humidity 72%, sea temperature 17°C (63°F).


Winter (late December- February): Cool with low humidity. Suits, light woollens and sometimes overcoats suggested. Average temperature: 17°C (62°F), humidity 72%, sea temperature 17°C (63°F).


Entry Regulations

Visitors must hold a valid passport, endorsed where necessary for Hong Kong. Citizens of some 24 countries, including the USA, Japan, and certain Western European and South American nations are permitted one-month visa-free visits. Three-month visa-free visits are available to another 23 countries as well as all Commonwealth countries.
Visitors from most countries can enter Hong Kong without a visa for periods of seven days to six months, depending on nationality. Check with any Chinese embassy or consulate for the latest status.


Health Regulations

Vaccination certificates are not required for yellow fever, cholera and typhoid for visitors travelling to Hong Kong. Check with your travel agent well before your departure, however, as requirements can change without notice.


Customs Allowance

Visitors may bring into Hong Kong free of duty:

Liquor - A one-litre bottle of wine or spirits.
Ivory - The importation and exportation of raw or worked ivory is governed by strict regulation. Firearms must be declared and handed into custody until departure.


Airport Facilities

A baggage storage service is available in the departure hall and the arrival hall. Other services include a bank, moneychangers, gift shops, duty-free shops, snack bars, restaurants, payphones, a police station, post office, a HK Telecom International Ltd. Office, HKTA Information Centres and private reception rooms.


Airport Departure Tax

Adults: HK$80; children (aged 12 years and under) free.


Safety

Hong Kong is generally considered a safe city by day or night. Policemen are very helpful, and those who speak English wear a red label under their shoulder badge. As in all big cities, avoid carrying large amounts of cash; traveller's cheques or credit cards are preferable. Make use of your hotel's safe-deposit boxes.


Currency

The unit of currency is the Hong Kong dollar (HK$). Notes issued by two private banks (the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank and Standard Chartered Bank) have denominations of $10, $20, $50, $100, $500, and $1000. The Bank of China issues all of the denominations except HK$10. There are silver coins for HK$1, HK$2, and HK$5, bronze coins for HK10 cents, HK20 cents and HK50 cents, and a new nickel and bronze coin for $10.

Most foreign currencies and traveller's cheques are easily changed in Hong Kong, either at banks, hotels or moneychangers (check how much you will get in return before handing over your money).


Telephones

Telephones in Hong Kong are advanced, economical and easy to use. Local calls are free, and many stores and restaurants offer use of a telephone free of charge to patrons. Calls from public coin phones cost HK$1. Most hotels have International Direct Dialling (IDD). Please note that some hotels charge a handling fee for local and/or international calls. You can also make long-distance calls from (IDD) Public Coin Phones and from HK Telecom International Ltd. Offices. An easy method of making calls is to purchase stored-value phonecards (HK$50, $150 and $200), which can be used in any Cardphone box. The new Hello Phonecard (HK$100, $200,$300) is a stored value card that enables the user to place calls to and from over 30 countries from a touch-tone phone. Both types of cards can be purchased at HKTA Information and Gift Centres and most convenience stores. Call 013 for information.


Access

Hong Kong is the most popular tourist destination in Asia. Tourism receipts are Hong Kong's second largest earner of foreign exchange. Hong Kong has many attributes that have led to its development as the most popular travel destination in Asia. In terms of accommodation, Hong Kong has many hotels of a high standard providing a total of more than 33,500 rooms. In terms of transport Hong Kong is conveniently linked by air to all major cities worldwide; it is also the major gateway for travel to China. Its free-port status makes it one of the most attractive shopping destinations in the world.

Given its central location in the region and excellent telecommunications and air links with other cities, Hong Kong has become a popular choice for international exhibitions and conventions. Hong Kong has the world's busiest airport in terms of international cargo and third busiest in terms of international passengers. Flights take off from, and arrive in, Hong Kong every two minutes. Some 60 airlines operate more than 1,600 scheduled and nonscheduled flights weekly between Hong Kong and more than 100 cities. The new international airport at Chek Lap Kok, can initially handle 35 million passengers a year and has an ultimate capacity of 87 million passengers a year.