Hong Kong: Special Administrative Region

It's the fourth installment of country briefs. Today it's Hong Kong (SAR).

Hong Kong

Is in the South East Coast of China. HK has a deep water harbor.
1,104 square kilometers (about 426 square miles)
Population: ~ 7 mln. (97% are Cantonese). Offcial language is Cantonese.
Density: 6,339 people per square kilometer. !


Brief History

Great Britain gained Hong Kong as a result of 1842 Treaty of Nanjing. Therefore, HK has been colony of Great Britain for 155 years !! (1842 – 1997)
colony of Great Britain until 1997. Gov't in Great Britain had laissare faire policy toward economy of HK

In 1984 the gov't of Great Britain and PRC (People Rep. Of China) reached an agreement (called joint Declaration), that Hong Kong will be turn over to Chinese control on July 1, 1997.colony of Great Britain until 1997.

Economy

Income per capita is simliar to standard of living in the advances economies. ~ $32.000
Hong Kong is known as special administrative region of China (PRC).
Head of the Gov't: Chief Executive (appointed by PRC).
world's fourth largest banking and financial center
Currency: Hong Kong Dollar
Unemployment Rate: 5% (171,900 unemployed)