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Hong Kong
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Capital:
Population: 7,436,154
Brief History of Hong Kong:
The area that is today Hong Kong was settled by the Han Chinese dynasty in the 7th century. In 1513 the Portuguese explorer Jorge Alvares arrived in Hong Kong. Trading between Portugal and China started soon after. However, there were also battles between the Chinese and Portuguese and soon the trading stopped. Years later, in 1699, the East India Company from Britain arrived and trade started up with Britain.
At the end of the first Opium war in 1842, Britain gained control of Hong Kong. The city became a major port for trade with southern China. When the communists took over China, many people fled to Hong Kong to keep their freedoms. After more than 150 years of British rule, China again took control of Hong Kong in July of 1997. Although now a part of China, Hong Kong maintains its same internal political, economic, and legal systems that it had before.
The Geography of Hong Kong
Total Size: 1,092 square km
Size Comparison: six times the size of Washington, DC
Geographical Coordinates: 22 15 N, 114 10 E
World Region or Continent: Southeast Asia
General Terrain: hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north
Geographical Low Point: South China Sea 0 m
Geographical High Point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m
Climate: subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall
Major cities:
The People of Hong Kong
Type of Government: limited democracy
Languages Spoken: Chinese (Cantonese), English; both are official
Independence: none (special administrative region of 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
Nationality: Chinese/Hong Konger
Religions: eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
National Symbol: orchid tree flower
National Anthem or Song: note:?as a Special Administrative Region of China, Yiyonggjun Jinxingqu is the official anthem (see China)
Economy of Hong Kong
Major Industries: textiles, clothing, tourism, banking, shipping, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks
Agricultural Products: fresh vegetables; poultry, pork; fish
Natural Resources: outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
Major Exports: electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel, footwear, watches and clocks, toys, plastics, precious stones, printed material
Major Imports: raw materials and semi-manufactures, consumer goods, capital goods, foodstuffs, fuel (most is re-exported)
Currency: Hong Kong dollar (HKD)
National GDP: $351,500,000,000
** Source for population (2012 est.) and GDP (2011 est.) is CIA World Factbook.
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