Hong Kong where is located. What kind of country is Hong Kong

Our dreams have long been a desire to see China, and now, finally, we partially realized it.

Partly because they visited not China itself, but Hong Kong
which, for the most part, is inhabited by ethnic Chinese who migrated at different times from different provinces; The official language in the country is also Chinese, so we did get to know Chinese culture partially.

We found Hong Kong so interesting and exciting that we became even more determined not only to go on a full-fledged trip to China, but also to definitely return to Hong Kong again.

Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. Many do not fully understand the meaning of this concept and ask us - but in general, Hong Kong is the capital of which country? Hong Kong is neither a country (in the usual sense), nor a capital, nor, in fact, even a city.

Hong Kong is a special region or dependent territory, which is located on the Kowloon Peninsula and 260 islands, one of which is called Hong Kong. In general - a complete mess)) But in general, you should not go into these details - Hong Kong is the capital or country, island or district. Hong Kong, whatever it is, is beautiful, and this is the main thing!

Civilized Hong Kong

Our acquaintance with Hong Kong began at the airport, which turned out to be quite suitable for sleeping (if the departure or arrival took place at night). Comfortable soft benches without partitions, subdued light, silence, clean toilets, charging for laptops and phones, free Wi-Fi - this comfortable zone is located in the waiting room between the gates and customs control desks.

Toblerons made you happy in duty-free – did you try a new taste in blue packaging, are these already sold in Russia too?

They decided to get to the city by bus - there were few morning passengers, so they rode in a half-empty double-decker bus, where they easily took the front seats at the top.

Already from the first shots through the windshield of the bus, comfortable and clean Hong Kong begins to please, especially after

There are clear markings and signs on the roads, everything is in order, no one honks, everyone follows the rules

Suspended kilometer-long pedestrian crossings, beautiful bridges, skyscrapers and huge warehouses, with containers neatly arranged in the port

We arrived in the city on the eve of the Chinese New Year, the main decoration is tangerine trees in pots

They are everywhere - on ordinary streets

In shopping and business centers

Restaurants and residences

Life in Hong Kong

We stopped at the couchsurfer John (John), he comes from, but now lives in Asia - he worked in China for five years, and moved to Hong Kong six months ago. Comparing China and Hong Kong, he says, is impossible, it's like earth and sky. John fell in love with Hong Kong right away, in his opinion, here are ideal conditions for living and earning money, including building a successful career in international companies. If compared with America, then he lives much more comfortably here - we hear such an opinion, by the way, not from the first American.

Hong Kong is, first of all, one of the leading financial centers of the world. This is a high standard of living, low taxes, good social programs, you can open any business here without any problems, no one will put spokes in wheels, besides, the city is a free trade zone. Hong Kong is the world's largest re-exporter of Chinese goods, they are produced in neighboring provinces on the mainland, and Hong Kong exports to other countries. When ordering goods on Amazon "e in, we have repeatedly noticed that the sending country is Hong Kong.

On vacation, you can fly very cheaply to neighboring inexpensive countries -, or, there are many low-cost airlines, and besides, Hong Kong is a major aviation hub.

In spring and autumn, you can relax in Hong Kong itself (if it concerns beach holiday- there are many beaches, the sea is good). It is hot here in summer, and relatively cool in winter - 18-20 degrees. But after that, we didn’t need the beaches, and this temperature turned out to be very useful after the constant heat. And besides, since winter is a dry season, the period from December to March is the best, suitable for trekking and walking around the city (about them in a separate post).

Transport, food, clothing, and in general, most goods, with the exception of technology, are more expensive here, but there are more comfort and opportunities for life. The only, perhaps, very significant minus is the price of housing. The cost of renting in Hong Kong is very high, not to mention the purchase of property. But at the same time, there are state programs under which, under certain conditions, you can get an apartment on preferential terms.

As for salaries, here you can earn quite decently, but for this you need to be a good specialist with experience. John has a lot of experience, and, accordingly, a decent salary, so he can afford to rent an apartment in the business district. But young specialists with little experience receive, on average, 12,000-15,000 HK$ (50-60 thousand rubles), taking into account such a salary, renting a decent apartment in a good area or buying your own is already very difficult.

John talked about his experience of looking for a job in Hong Kong - if 2 candidates with the same abilities apply for the same position, but one of them is Chinese and the second is American, then the position is more likely to be given to a Chinese, because. he can be paid a lower salary (not that it would be possible according to the law, it’s just that the Chinese are less picky and will quickly agree to both a lower salary and a cut social package).

John rents a studio apartment (about 40 sq. m.) for 15,000 HK$ (60 thousand rubles), and this is not the very center of the city, but also a good Soho area, located on the hills

This area is considered expat, and is famous for its excellent infrastructure - there are numerous cafes with international cuisine and bars on the streets, convenience stores on every corner ("7 Eleven" and others)

Downtown Hong Kong

A pedestrian tunnel leads to the business district of skyscrapers, in one of which John works - this unique system of tunnels-transitions deserves special attention.

Mid-Levels is the longest open-air pedestrian escalator system in the world, saving residents a significant amount of time. John, thanks to this transition, gets to work at a walking pace, in the very center, in 20 minutes (on sidewalks, through roads with traffic lights it would take at least twice as long). And if you had to get to the popular area of ​​Kowloon, it would take another 7 minutes, by ferry across the river - the passage leads directly to the pier.
Tunnel-transitions consist of escalators, stairs, bridges

corridors and moving walkways reserved for pedestrians only

The tunnels are well thought out, for example, in the morning some escalators work only for descending, and in the evening - for ascending.

We spent the first couple of days just walking around the city, we were in no hurry to see popular sights.

Even ordinary streets seemed interesting

On Sunday afternoon, on a pedestrian bridge in the business district, they found gatherings of hundreds of Filipinos - as if they had never left the Philippines 🙂 As it was later found out, this is a tradition among local Filipinos appearance people are not poor, well-dressed, many with smartphones / tablets, but sit on cardboard boxes.

We climbed to the observation deck, in one of the towers of the IFC business center, to look at the city from above. The panorama is magnificent, but overcast. You can climb to the site for free, in order to get a pass you need to present only your passport.

We went to the money museum

Descending from the tower, climbed to the roof of the IFC shopping center and ended up in the park

A great idea to arrange such a recreation area - with fountains, green lawns, benches

and lunch tables right on the roof, among the skyscrapers

A huge number of toy pandas were found in the shopping complex

And in general, they noticed the "panda boom" here, pay attention to the boots 🙂

Ships and captains

One day we met with Ukrainian relatives - Dima and Vitya. They come from Odessa, in Hong Kong they work under a contract, on a ship. Dima is the captain, and Vitya is the senior assistant

This ship is not easy - it's a floating casino-restaurant Macao Success. In general, casinos are prohibited in Hong Kong, but if you swim out of the harbor a little and go beyond the water border of Hong Kong, then you can already gamble.

Vitya has been living and working in Hong Kong for 7 years, which was immediately evident - during our walk he was well versed in the city, giving us a short tour along the way

For lunch we went to an interesting sushi restaurant, there are almost always queues, but this good sign

The atmosphere in the restaurant is pleasant - quiet and calm, which is surprising for the noisy Hong Kong. We really liked the sushi there, especially since we haven’t eaten it for a hundred years

In this restaurant, as in many others in Hong Kong, food comes with free green tea, which is brewed from powder. There is a jar of powder and sugar on the tables, and a tap of boiling water is built into each table, so you can drink it without restrictions. Moreover, in color it turns out not transparent, but really bright green, saturated.
You can sit in the restaurant as at a separate table

and behind the general, like a bar counter

A moving belt passes by the tables, on which there are plates of sushi and rolls - choose what you liked. But you can order in the traditional way - from the menu.

Having refreshed ourselves, we went to inspect the ship. The casino is open at night, and during the day the ship is on the "bank" (anchor), in the middle of the harbor. The ship does not approach the shore, and in order to get to it, there is a special transportation - a small boat that runs between the ship and the pier several times a day

The tour of the ship begins, the crew is assembled. All officers are Russian-speaking sailors, mainly from Ukraine

We study the route

Walking on the deck

Vitya is responsible for safety on the ship, so he knows it like the back of his hand - he gives us a tour


The lower rank sailors have rather simple cabins, and the captain's cabin has a bedroom, study, toilet and bathroom.
We drink tea in the captain's cabin, eat the captain's rations and Ukrainian sweets

An international company works on the ship - most of the sailors of Burma, but there are also representatives of other countries -,. There are also several cooks, and one of them is Ukrainian, so the guys do not have to miss borscht and cutlets. True, you have to cook Ukrainian food from Hong Kong ingredients, so it doesn’t always turn out authentic =)

But we will return from the ship to the ball on land and continue our acquaintance with the city.

Transport

Trams in Hong Kong are the usual urban transport, but for most tourists, including us, they turned out to be the most interesting attraction. These old double-decker trams, with wooden benches and wide open windows, appeared here in 1904, so riding them, you can feel like in the past.

The cost of such an "attraction" is fixed, does not depend on the distance (as is customary in buses) and amounts to 2 HK$. Most of the buses are also double-decker - they are interesting to ride on hilly terrain, while getting a dose of adrenaline, especially when sitting on the second floor in the front seats. In general, the bus network in Hong Kong is simply remarkably developed - more than 700 routes have been laid around the city, along which you can get to almost any point.

About the network of metro and ferries, thanks to which it is easy to get both to the most remote parts of the island and to neighboring islands, you can not mention at all - here it is organized to the highest standard. Some metro stations have free wi-fi and even computers

If you are going to Hong Kong, then you just need to do 2 important things

Food in Hong Kong

First, eat sushi! Here they are very tasty, high quality, and most importantly - at an adequate price.

In many stores you can buy delicious takeaway sushi, not to mention restaurants

Although we ate not only rolls and sushi, we also tried Chinese cuisine

We visited several Chinese restaurants - we also liked the service and the dishes, we can recommend: "The Lotus Vietnamese Cuisine" and "Hong Kong Restaurant"

Machinery in Hong Kong

And the second thing you definitely need to do in Hong Kong is to buy some equipment

Hong Kong has a very developed market for photo and video equipment, and besides, the country is a duty-free zone, so if you need a new camera, then you are in the Mongkok area, on Sai Yeung choi street (red metro line, Mongkok station, exit D3) .

Prices for Nikon cameras are 10-12% lower than in Moscow (there is one drawback - the guarantee is only Hong Kong), and a camera without English-language firmware, only with Chinese, can be bought another 12-15% cheaper. The difference with Russian prices for Canon equipment is even greater - 20-25%. Accessories - tripods, filters, photo backpacks are also much cheaper (up to 30%), and the choice is very large

And if you are a lover of apple technology, then Hong Kong will also please you - the prices for Apple products here are the same as in, and all new items appear almost simultaneously with America. Moreover, due to the contract system, Apple gadgets are extremely popular - we have not seen such a rush to buy iPhones and iPads even in. On the eve of the Chinese New Year, we watched as a separate line of 30-35 people lined up for the iPhone 5. We also could not resist the new thing 🙂

There are several Apple Stores in Hong Kong, the largest and most famous, a two-story center, located at the Central subway station, Exit "F" IFC Mall (International Finance Center).

Here it is, the glass monster from the side

And this is what Hong Kong looks like from the inside of a bitten apple

Inside, on two floors, at any time of the day, the unceasing hype

Apple lovers come here not only for shopping - they just drop in to hang out, download new applications, and test new devices.

And the tram drove up to the topic 🙂

Brand stores are also held in high esteem here, for example, 2 popular stores - a store with jewelry from Mickey Mouse is never empty, and there is a queue at Louis Vuitton - there is a limit on the number of visitors inside.

And finally, some useful

For the convenience of moving around the city, you can purchase an "Octopus card" - it can pay for trips on any type of public transport, including taxis. In addition to the fact that you do not need to take care of the little things in your pocket and stand at the box office every time, there is a small discount when paying for the fare with this card. You can also pay with a card in some stores, for example, in the 7 Eleven grocery store. The card is free of charge, a deposit is charged upon purchase, which is returned upon handing over the card.

The cheapest hotels are located in Kowloon - a single room, 2x3 meters, with private facilities on the floor, but with air conditioning and wi-fi, costs from 150 HK $ (20 USD). Still, Hong Kong is the capital, so housing prices are appropriate.

UPD. Our friends stayed in a good hotel for quite adequate money and the location is quite convenient, so we can recommend it: The Empire Hotel Hong Kong Causeway Bay.

in Hong Kong

Ways to save:

• For housing - use or Airbnb (by the way, if you have not used this service yet, you will receive a $20 bonus upon registration).
• For food and entertainment - Groupon, he, as always, pleased us with good offers.

That's all! In the following posts, read about the stone jungle of Hong Kong, as well as the largest bronze Buddha in the world, and trekking through the hills and forests of Hong Kong.

About 95% of Hong Kong residents are ethnic Chinese, the majority of whom are Cantonese, as well as such Chinese ethnic groups as Hakka and Chaozhou people.

Cantonese- a variety of Chinese spoken in the neighboring Chinese province of Guangdong - is the main language of communication in Hong Kong.

The official languages ​​of the territory are Chinese(without specifying a specific variety) and English. According to the 1996 census, 3.1% of Hong Kong residents named English everyday communication, 34.9% named English as a second language.

Bilingual signs in Chinese and English are found throughout Hong Kong. After the transfer of sovereignty in 1997, the influx of immigrants from mainland China increased.

Usage level putonghua- the official dialect of mainland China - also rose. Integration with the mainland economy has led to the need for people who can speak Mandarin.

The remaining 5% are non-Chinese ethnic groups, which, despite their small number, form very noticeable groups. The South Asian population of Hong Kong consists of Indians, Pakistanis and a small number of Nepalese.

The Vietnamese who fled the war became permanent residents of Hong Kong. About 140,000 Filipinos work in Hong Kong house helpers.

There are also domestic helpers from Indonesia, and their number is constantly growing. in commercial and Hong Kong's financial sector Europeans, Americans, Australians, Canadians, Japanese and Koreans also work.

Hong Kong- one of the most densely populated countries (dependent territories) in the world, the population density is more than 6200 people per km².

The average number of births per woman is 0.95. This is one of the lowest rates in the world, far below 2.1, the level required to maintain a constant population.

Despite this, population of Hong Kong continues to grow due to the influx of immigrants from mainland China, which amounts to 45,000 annually.

Average life expectancy in Hong Kong in 2006 was 81.6 years - it was the fifth indicator in the world. Also in the Hong Kong region is the most densely populated island in the world - Ap Lei Chau.

Population of Hong Kong mainly concentrated in the extremely densely populated center of the territory, consisting of Kowloon and the northern part of Hong Kong Island.

Population density much less in other parts of the territory. Several million residents live unevenly in the New Territories, the south of Hong Kong Island and Lantau Island.

Everything more Hong Kongers prefer to live in the mainland Shenzhen where prices are much lower and travel to Hong Kong to work.

Decided to organize a holiday in Hong Kong? Looking for the best Hong Kong hotels, hot tours, resorts and last minute deals? I'm interested in the weather in Hong Kong, prices, the cost of a tour, do I need a visa to Hong Kong and would it be useful detailed map? Would you like to see what Hong Kong looks like in photos and videos? What are the excursions and attractions in Hong Kong? What are the stars and reviews of Hong Kong hotels?

Hong Kong (Hong Kong) is a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China. Hong Kong is located on the Kowloon Peninsula, washed by the South China Sea from the west, south and east, as well as on more than 260 islands. To the north, Hong Kong borders the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone in the Chinese province of Guangdong.

Hong Kong is usually divided into three parts: Hong Kong Island itself, Kowloon and the New Territories.

Hong Kong Airport

international Airport Hong Kong Cheklapkok keichyeong (Chek Lap Kok Airport) or Hyungkong guokchai keichyeong (Hong Kong International Airport)

Hong Kong hotels 1 - 5 stars

Hong Kong weather

The climate of Hong Kong is subtropical, monsoonal. Cool and dry winter lasts from December to March. Spring and summer in Hong Kong are hot, humid and rainy, while autumn is warm, sunny and dry. Such a different climate at different times of the year is due to the different wind direction characteristic of each season. Tropical cyclones (typhoons) can pass through Hong Kong in summer and early autumn.

Hong Kong language

Official language: Chinese

English is widely used.

Currency of Hong Kong

International name: HKD

The Hong Kong dollar is equal to 100 cents. There are 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 HK$ banknotes in circulation in four different designs, as well as coins in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 cents.

There are no currency restrictions in Hong Kong, any currency is freely sold and purchased, although when buying with Hong Kong dollars, you can get a number of price advantages and discounts.

You can exchange currency at exchange offices in banks (usually the most favorable rate), the airport, large shops and most hotels. Credit cards and traveler's checks are accepted everywhere, the ATM network is very extensive.

Visa

Easy entry mode

Russian citizens do not need a visa to visit Hong Kong for a period not exceeding 14 days. The purpose of the trip must be tourism, transit, visiting friends or relatives, a short-term business visit, not related to making a profit in Hong Kong.

Customs restrictions

The import of foreign currency is not limited (the declaration is required). Duty-free imported up to 1 liter. alcoholic products, perfumes - no more than 60 ml. and toilet water no more than 250 ml. (packed), tobacco products - no more than 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 250 gr. tobacco.

It is forbidden to import weapons (including stun guns and gas cartridges), pornography, counterfeit products, drugs and poisons. Certain medications, antibiotics, combustibles and explosive substances and items are imported only with the appropriate permission of the local authorities. Valuable items (photo and video equipment, jewelry, etc.) must be indicated in the entry declaration; upon departure, the declaration is presented again. It is forbidden to export valuable items and works of art without a store receipt confirming the legality of the purchase.

Importation of animals

The importation of animals (even in the case of transit) is allowed only if there are relevant documents (valid for 90 days) from local border veterinary control services, as well as a veterinary certificate issued by the relevant veterinary services of the Russian Federation no earlier than 4 days before departure.

Mains voltage

Tips

Office Hours

Most banks are open from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 16.00-17.00 with a lunch break from 13.00 to 14.00 and on Saturdays from 9.00 to 12.30-13.00.

Most shops are open from 10.00 to 20.00, large trading houses often continue to work until 21.00-22.00. Many shops are open on weekends as well.

Photo and video shooting

Photography in temples and museums is either prohibited or charged extra. For the use of video cameras, the fee is much higher or it is not allowed to shoot at all. Photographing strategic objects (airport, train station, dam, bridge, etc.) is prohibited.

Restrictions

Since July 1, 2009, Hong Kong has introduced a ban on smoking in public places, including restaurants, bars and even public toilets. In addition, restrictions on smoking on the streets will be tightened - there are already entire “tobacco-free areas” on the island.

Security

In Hong Kong, you must always carry identification (passport, driver's license, etc.) - immigration authorities often arrange document checks to detain illegal workers and immigrants with expired visas.

Country code: +852

First level geographic domain name:.hk

Emergency Phones

Police, ambulance, fire and emergency services - 999.

Brief information about Hong Kong

The contradictory and confusing history of Hong Kong is baffling. Many still do not know what kind of country it is and what relation it has to China. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China (香港 or Hong Kong) is one of the world's leading financial and business centers. Conventionally, the capital of Hong Kong was called the city of Victoria City, but officially the Hong Kong SAR does not have a capital.

According to the joint Sino-British declaration, Hong Kong was granted autonomy until 2047. This means that the central people's government The PRC decides only questions of defense and foreign policy Hong Kong, while the Hong Kong government retains control over the police, legislation, financial and customs system, immigration policy, and also has representation in international organizations. This whole incomprehensible situation with Hong Kong began back in 1842, when Britain won the so-called. "Second Opium War" and as a result received a part of China - Hong Kong - on lease for 99 years. However, China managed to regain Hong Kong only in 1997 through complex political negotiations, which went down in history as a "war of words". But even here, not everything is so smooth - they returned it, but with the condition that for another 50 years (until 2047) Hong Kong will be an autonomous (i.e., quite independent) part of the Celestial Empire.

As of 2016, Hong Kong is ranked 5th in the global ranking of ease of doing business, as well as 4th in the ranking of global taxation systems. There are only two main taxes in Hong Kong, of which income tax is 17.6% and labor tax is 5.1%, 0.1% is other taxes. The total tax rate is 22.8%.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region consists of the Hong Kong Island, Lantau and 260 small islands, as well as the Kowloon Peninsula and the so-called New Territories, which adjoin the Kowloon Peninsula from the north.

However, about 20% of Hong Kong residents live below the poverty line - the gap between the rich and the poor is huge. All sorts of social benefits are provided for the latter, but this does little to improve the general situation. Most often, families with children and people of retirement age fall into the category of poor citizens. Another serious social problem city ​​is a catastrophic shortage of living space. The area of ​​a standard apartment for a family of five is just over 25 square meters. In this case, the kitchen and bathroom are allocated 2-3 m² each. Despite this, housing prices are high, as a result, half of the city's residents occupy social housing (rooms with an area of ​​1-2 sq.m) and their number is constantly increasing.

Despite Hong Kong's reputation as a highly urbanized area, the city authorities pay a lot of attention to natural resources and ecology. A huge part of the area of ​​the islands (more than 75%) is still undeveloped, it is dominated by mountains with steep slopes and hills. About 40% of the area of ​​the Hong Kong islands are nature reserves and areas for cultural recreation. The main part of the development is located on the Kowloon Peninsula, as well as in settlements dispersed throughout the New Territories, and on the northern coast of Hong Kong Island.

Hong Kong has won the title of the place on the globe where "East meets West", which is expressed in culture and architecture, education and economy. The official languages ​​of the Hong Kong Territory are English and Chinese. Government offices, police, transport and most shops are bilingual. Western culture is deeply rooted in Hong Kong through British rule. Hong Kong is a major global exporter of entertainment film products, namely the martial arts genre. Hollywood actors such as Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan are from Hong Kong. Hong Kong directors Wong Kar Wai, Yuan Heping, John Woo and Tsui Hark are also world famous.

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Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
whale. trad. 香港特別行政區, ex. 香港特别行政区 , pinyin: Xianggǎng Tebié Xingzhengqū English
Hymn: "March of the Volunteers"
Based
official languages	Chinese and English
Capital	Not
Largest cities	Hong Kong
Form of government	Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
The head of administration	Carrie Lam
Territory	182nd in the world
Total	1104 km²
% water surface	4,6
Population
Score (2013)	▲ 7,182,724 people (99th)
Density	6480 people/km²
GDP
Total (2006)	$254.2 billion (40th)
Per capita	$38,127
HDI (2013)	▲ 0.891 (very high; 15th)
Currency	Hong Kong dollar (HKD, code 344)
Internet domain	.hk
ISO code	HK
IOC code	HKG
Telephone code	+852 (from - 01)
Time Zones	+8

Victoria Harbour. hong kong.

The International Finance Center (Two IFC). hong kong.

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region(Jer. trad. 香港特別行政區, ex. 香港特别行政区, English. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, cant. Hyeonkon takpeet hanchinkhui, put. xiangang tebe xingzhengqu), abbreviated Hong Kong(Jer. 香港, English Hong Kong, cant. Hoeng¹gong², Hyeongkon, put. Hong Kong) or Hong Kong- a special administrative region, one of the leading financial centers in the world.

Hong Kong is located on the Kowloon Peninsula, bordered on the west, south and east by the South China Sea, as well as on more than 260 islands, the largest of which are Hong Kong (the location of the supreme authorities and the financial center of the territory), Lantau and Lamma. To the north, Hong Kong borders a special economic zone within the province of China. Hong Kong is usually divided into three parts: Hong Kong Island itself, and the New Territories. Hong Kong is part of the Pearl River Delta region, located on the left bank of its mouth.

In 1842, Hong Kong was captured and became its colony under the Treaty of Nanjing. However, a large area (not population) part of Hong Kong, the so-called. New Territories, was leased in 1898 for 99 years and for this period was part of the British colony. And although China as an independent state appeared only in 1911, and the agreement was concluded with the Manchu Qing Empire, Great Britain recognized this lease agreement and never abandoned the obligation to transfer the New Territories to China by 1997. The 1960 UN Declaration on Decolonization did not provide for the division of the colonies, therefore, in fact, the UK had no other option but to integrate Hong Kong into China. A referendum on the independence of Hong Kong was not held, which, however, is not a direct violation of the said declaration, since the declaration is aimed at granting independence not only to colonies, but also to colonial peoples, and in the ethnic sense, Hong Kong is part of a common national space with China. In 1997, it gained sovereignty over the territory. According to the joint Chinese-British declaration and the Basic Law of Hong Kong, the territory is granted broad autonomy until 2047, that is, within 50 years after the transfer of sovereignty. Under the course of "One country, two systems" and "Hong Kong is run by the Hong Kongers themselves with a high degree of autonomy", during this period the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China takes over the defense and foreign policy of the territory, while Hong Kong retains control over legislation, police, monetary system, duties and immigration policy, and also retains representation in international organizations and events.

Story

Flag of British Hong Kong 1959-1997

Stamp with the image of Elizabeth II, 1953

• In 1860, after the defeat of China (Qing Empire) in the Second Opium War, the territories of the Kowloon Peninsula south of Boundary Street and Stonecutting Island were transferred to the perpetual possession of Great Britain under the Treaty of Peking. In 1898, Great Britain leased from China for 99 years the adjacent territory in the north of the Kowloon Peninsula and Lantau Island, which were called the New Territories.
• The date of the transfer of Hong Kong to the PRC was fixed by the Joint Sino-British Declaration on the Transfer of Hong Kong, signed after long negotiations, called the "War of Words" on December 19, 1984.
• In 1997, the territory of Hong Kong was officially returned.

Geography

Hong Kong SAR Map

yue yer. 香港, trans. hyungkon

Victoria Harbour. hong kong.

Hong Kong is located on the south coast of China and consists of Hong Kong Island, Lantau Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories, and about 260 small islands. The New Territories adjoin the peninsula to the north, and beyond their northern border is a river.

In total, Hong Kong includes 262 islands in the South China Sea, the largest of which is Lantau Island. The second largest and the first in terms of population is Hong Kong Island.

The name "Hong Kong" (yue yer. 香港, tran. hyungkon) literally means "fragrant harbour" and comes from the name of a locality in the present-day district of Aberdeen on Hong Kong Island. It used to sell fragrant wood products and incense. The narrow strip of water separating Hong Kong and the Kowloon Peninsula is called Victoria Bay. It is one of the deepest natural seaports in the world.

Despite the reputation of Hong Kong as a highly urbanized area, the Hong Kong authorities pay great attention to ecology and landscaping. Much of Hong Kong is still undeveloped, as it is dominated by hills and steep mountains. Less than 25% of Hong Kong's 1,104 km2 has been developed. The rest of the territory is covered with greenery, of which about 40% are declared recreation areas and nature reserves. Most of the territory's urban development is located on the Kowloon Peninsula and the northern coast of Hong Kong Island, as well as in settlements dispersed throughout the New Territories.

With its long, irregular, winding coastline, Hong Kong has many bays, rivers, and beaches. Despite the abundance of greenery and water in Hong Kong, the city's environmental problems are of increasing concern, and in terms of air quality, the city ranks one of last places. About 80% of Hong Kong's smog comes from other areas of the Pearl River Delta, that is, from mainland China.

Hong Kong is located 60 km east of, on the opposite bank of the Pearl River Delta. In the north, it borders on the city of the province. The highest point of Hong Kong is Mount Taimoshan in the New Territories, its height is 958 m. There are also lowlands in Hong Kong, they are located in the northwestern part of the New Territories.

Climate

The climate of Hong Kong is tropical monsoon. It is characterized by a cool dry season which lasts from December to March and a hot and muggy rainy season which lasts from April to November.

During the dry season, cool air blows from the mainland, bringing dry, sunny weather. Serious cold snaps can sometimes occur for the tropics, with a deep penetration of cold air from the north. Precipitation during this period is rare.

During the rainy season, moist air blows from the Pacific Ocean, bringing heavy rainfall. The temperature in Hong Kong rarely exceeds 33°C, but the humidity is close to saturation, making the weather unbearable and extremely stuffy. The amount of precipitation can reach almost 500 mm per month. In some years, tropical cyclones (typhoons) can pass through Hong Kong. A tropical forest can grow in such a climate.

Geologically, the land beneath Hong Kong has been stable for millions of years, but landslides can occur after heavy rains. The flora and fauna of Hong Kong have undergone major changes due to climate change, sea level and human influence.

The Hong Kong Observatory is a government agency responsible for meteorological forecasts, weather warnings and geophysical surveys of Hong Kong.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Hong Kong is 38°C and the lowest is -4°C. At the same time, the highest and most low temperature, recorded by the Hong Kong Observatory, respectively, are 36.1 ° C on August 19, 1900 and August 18, 1990, as well as 0.0 ° C on January 18, 1893. The average temperature of the coldest month, January, is 16.1°C, while the average temperature of the hottest month, July, is 28.7°C.

Hong Kong is located just south of the Tropic of Cancer, being close in latitude to cities such as,.

Climate of Hong Kong
Indicator	Jan.	Feb.	March	Apr.	May	June	July	Aug.	Sen.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.	Year
Absolute maximum, °C	26,9	28,3	30,1	33,4	35,5	35,6	35,7	36,1	35,2	34,3	31,8	28,7	36,1
Average maximum, °C	18,6	18,9	21,4	25,0	28,4	30,2	31,4	31,1	30,1	27,8	24,1	20,2	25,6
Average temperature, °C	16,3	16,8	19,1	22,6	25,9	27,9	28,8	28,6	27,7	25,5	21,8	17,9	23,3
Average minimum, °C	14,5	15,0	17,2	20,8	24,1	26,2	26,8	26,6	25,8	23,7	19,8	15,9	21,4
Absolute minimum, °C	0,0	2,4	4,8	9,9	15,4	19,2	21,7	21,6	18,4	13,5	6,5	4,3	0,0
Precipitation rate, mm	25	54	82	175	305	456	377	432	328	101	38	27	2399
Water temperature, °C	17,6	17,0	18,2	21,2	24,8	26,7	26,9	26,9	27,3	26,5	23,6	20,0	23,1
Source: Hong Kong Observatory

Relative humidity
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	sen	Oct	But I	Dec	Year
Air humidity, %	74	80	82	83	83	82	81	81	78	73	71	69	78.0

Panorama of Hong Kong

healthcare

In 1997, a serious Negative influence had the Asian financial crisis of 1997, which hit many East Asian markets. In the same year, the first human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus was recorded in Hong Kong. In 1998, after six years of construction, the new Hong Kong International Airport was opened as part of the Central Airport Construction Program. This project was part of an ambitious port and airport development strategy drawn up in the early 1980s.

In the first half of 2003, an epidemic of the SARS virus broke out in Hong Kong. Dong Jianhua - Chief Executive of Hong Kong (1997-2005), was criticized and accused of making mistakes in overcoming the 1997 Asian financial crisis and not taking proper measures in the fight against SARS. In the same 2003, the Dong Jianhua administration tried to pass Article 23 of the Basic Law of Hong Kong, which made it possible to violate the rights and freedoms of Hong Kongers. As a result of half a million protest demonstrations, the administration was forced to abandon these plans. In 2004, during the same mass demonstrations, the people of Hong Kong demanded the introduction in 2007 of the general election of the head of the SAR. In March 2005, at the request of the Chinese leadership, Dong Jianhua resigned. Immediately after the resignation of Dong Jianhua, this place was taken by his deputy Donald Tsang. On March 25, 2007, Donald Tsang was re-elected for a second term.

Government and politics

According to the Basic Law, which acts as the constitution of the Hong Kong SAR, local authorities retain sovereignty over all matters and affairs of the territory, with the exception of defense and foreign policy. While Hong Kong was a colony, its governor was appointed by the British monarch. After the return of this territory under the jurisdiction of China, it is headed by the Chief Minister of the Administration of Hong Kong. He is elected by the Hong Kong Chief Minister's Election Committee, which consists of 800 people who represent Hong Kong's business elite. All other civil servants in both the executive and legislative branches are either appointed by the Chief Minister of Administration (directly or indirectly) or elected by the electorate. In theory, such an agreement should guarantee the almost complete independence of Hong Kong's political, cultural, legislative and economic infrastructure from mainland China. However, in practice, it is often accused of excessive interference in the internal affairs of Hong Kong, crossing the boundaries defined by the Basic Law.

Legislative Assembly of Hong Kong

Government House in the Central district - the residence of the head of the territory

In order for the new law to come into force, it must be supported by the Chief Minister and a majority of the 60 members of the Legislative Assembly of Hong Kong. Half of the deputies of the Legislative Assembly are elected by universal suffrage (the so-called "geographical districts", that is, the population divided on a territorial basis), and the other half from "functional districts", that is, groups of individuals and organizations, divided on a professional (functional) basis ( that is, lawyers and law firms elect their deputy, financial groups and financiers their own, etc.). These groups represent the most significant areas of Hong Kong's life and economy. According to the Basic Law, in the future, all deputies of the Legislative Assembly will have to be elected through universal suffrage.

Local administration elections

Since June 16, 2005, Donald Tsang has been the Chief Minister of the Administration of Hong Kong. He was elected by a committee of electors appointed from among the Hong Kong business elite. Prior to the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997, Donald Tsang served as the Chief Secretary of the Hong Kong Administration in the colonial government. On June 24, 2005, he officially assumed his current position. On it, he replaced Dong Jianhua, who resigned early due to health reasons (according to other sources, as a result of public pressure), so first Donald Tsang had to “finish” his term for Dong, ending on June 30, 2007, according to the interpretation of the Appendix I and Article No. 46 of the Basic Law of Hong Kong.

The election of a new Chief Minister by the 852-seat Electoral Committee was to take place on July 10, 2005, but already on June 16, Donald Tsang was declared the winner, as he was the only candidate to be nominated by the required 100 members of the Electoral Committee. The first Chief Minister of Hong Kong was the billionaire Dong Jianhua, who was nominated by the Chinese authorities. He was elected by a committee of 400 electors, on July 1, 1997, he officially took office. In July 2002, his first five-year term expired and he was also automatically re-elected as the only nominated candidate. This gave reason to critics to say that the committee did not elect, but in fact twice issued the appointment of a candidate.

In 1996, the Provisional Legislative Assembly of Hong Kong was formed in the PRC, and after the transfer of Hong Kong to China in 1997, it moved to Hong Kong. The Provisional Assembly repealed several laws passed by the popularly elected colonial Legislative Assembly in 1995. The Provisional Assembly passed a number of laws, including the Public Order Act, which required police permission to hold any event with more than 30 participants. Elections for the Hong Kong Legislative Assembly were held on 24 May 1998, 10 September 2000 and 12 September 2004. According to the Basic Law, in the Legislative Assembly of this third convocation, 25 seats are assigned to deputies from geographical districts and 30 seats from functional districts. Despite the dissatisfaction of the democratic opposition with the system of functional constituencies, which entitles a very small number of voters (just over 100 thousand) to elect half of the deputies of parliament, the elections held in 1998, 2000 and 2004 were assessed by observers as free and open.

Central government offices on Government Hill

Demonstration against the Chinese Communist Party in Central District

Following the colonial tradition, Hong Kong government institutions maintain their neutrality and high quality, operating without overt interference. Many government buildings are located in the Central area of ​​Hong Kong Island, close to the historic site of the city of Victoria, the site of the original location of the British settlements.

In 1999, controversy over the right to reside in Hong Kong erupted in Hong Kong, while controversy over Article 23 of the Basic Law of Hong Kong became the main topic of political life in Hong Kong in 2002 and 2003, culminating on July 1, 2003 in half a million demonstration. Despite this, the government continued to try to push the law through the Legislative Assembly. However, one of the main pro-government parties refused to vote for the law. Realizing that the law could not be adopted, the government shelved its draft, generated by Article 23. By the end of 2003 and into 2004, the main topic of controversy was the issue of general elections, the demands for which became the main slogan of the mass demonstrations on July 1, 2004.

On September 24, 2005, 25 members of the Democratic Hong Kong Legislative Assembly, some of whom were branded traitors after criticizing Beijing's actions during the suppression of student demonstrations in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989, traveled to Hong Kong's neighboring province, accepting an unprecedented invitation from the PRC authorities. The invitation was hailed as the most significant act of goodwill towards Hong Kong's democratic forces since the events in Tiananmen Square.

On December 4, 2005, the Civil Rights Front and MPs from the Democratic camp organized a demonstration, the main demand of which was to include the timing of the introduction of general elections in proposals for political reforms in the elections for Chief Minister and Legislative Assembly in 2007 and 2008 respectively. According to the police, 63,000 people took part in the demonstration, the organizers reported at least 250,000. According to these proposals, the electoral committee would double in size (from 800 to 1,600 members), and the members of the Legislative Assembly would increase by 10 (5 each from geographical and from functional districts). On December 22, 2005, the reforms proposed by the Chief Minister of the Administration of Hong Kong, Donald Tsang, due to the position of the democratic camp, failed to gain the required two-thirds of the vote, receiving 34 votes in favor and 24 against. After the defeat, China and the Chief Minister made it clear that reforms were not possible before the 2012 elections. At the same time, the vote had little effect on Tsang's popularity: his level of support fell from only 82 to 79%.

The new Chief Minister of Administration, Liang Zhenying, who received 689 out of 1,132 votes in the elections on March 25, 2012, took office on July 1 of the same year, celebrating the 15th anniversary of the return of the former British colony to Chinese jurisdiction (July 1, 1997). The term of office of the 4th head of the Hong Kong administration is from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2017. According to the Basic Law of the PRC on the Hong Kong SAR, the candidate for the post of head of the administration of the SAR is nominated on the spot through elections or consultations, the official appointment is made by the central government of the PRC.

Despite the fact that Hong Kong is not an independent state, it enjoys the right of independent membership in such international organizations and events as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or the Olympic Games, but after 1997 the official name of its delegations was changed to "Hong Kong, China". Hong Kong also participates in some international events by including its delegate in the group of representatives of the People's Republic of China.

At the end of September 2014, mass protests began in Hong Kong against the attempt by the Chinese central government to prevent free elections in the former colony of England in 2017. The protests were called the Umbrella Revolution.

ministries

• Hong Kong Ministry of Urban Services
• Hong Kong Ministry of Civil Aviation
• Hong Kong Ministry of Leisure and Culture
• Hong Kong Ministry of Housing
• Hong Kong Ministry of Environmental Protection
• Hong Kong Ministry of Immigration
• Hong Kong Information Service Ministry
• Hong Kong Ministry of Taxes
• Hong Kong Ministry of Census and Statistics
• Hong Kong Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation
• Hong Kong Ministry of Construction and Development
• Hong Kong Ministry of Transport
• Hong Kong Ministry of Electrical and Mechanical Services
• Hong Kong Ministry of Justice
• Maritime Ministry of Hong Kong
• Hong Kong Customs and Excise

Administrative division

Districts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: 1. Central and Western, 2. Wan Chai, 3. East, 4. South, 5. Yauchimwon, 6. Samseipou, 7. Kowloon City, 8. Wontaixin, 9. Kunton, 10. Khuaichin, 11. Chungwan, 12. Thyunmun, 13. Yunlong, 14. North, 15. Taipou, 16. Sathin, 17. Sai Kung, 18. Islands

Hong Kong consists of 18 districts:

Each district is represented by a district assembly, which advises the Hong Kong government on local matters relating to public institutions, district development programs, cultural activities and environmental protection. The Department of Internal Affairs is responsible for coordinating the actions of the district authorities and informing the population about the plans and actions of the government. It communicates with the local population through the bodies of the respective districts.

Several cities and towns de facto exist in Hong Kong, but they do not have a formal administrative status, being just part of one of the districts. The historical borders of Victoria, and New Kowloon are written into law, but they no longer have legal and administrative powers.

Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower. Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Population

View of Hong Kong from Victoria Peak

Hong Kong, view of the strait

Residential skyscrapers in Kowloon

During the 1990s, Hong Kong's population began to grow rapidly. As of mid-2016, it is over 7,167,403 people (July 2016, estimate). About 95% of Hong Kong residents are ethnic Chinese, most of whom are Cantonese, as well as such Chinese ethnic groups as the Hakka and Chaozhou people. Cantonese, a variety of Chinese spoken in the neighboring Chinese province, is the main language spoken in Hong Kong. The official languages ​​of the territory are Chinese (without specifying a specific variety) and English. According to the 1996 census, 3.1% of Hong Kong residents called English the language of everyday communication, 34.9% called English a second language. Bilingual signs in Chinese and English are found throughout Hong Kong. After the transfer of sovereignty in 1997, the influx of immigrants from mainland China increased. The use of Putonghua, the official language of mainland China, has also increased. Integration with the mainland economy has led to the need for people who can speak Mandarin.

The remaining 5% are non-Chinese ethnic groups, which, despite their small numbers, form a very visible group. The South Asian population of Hong Kong consists of Indians, Pakistanis and a small number of Nepalese. The Vietnamese who fled the war became permanent residents of Hong Kong. About 140,000 Filipinos work as domestic helpers in Hong Kong. There are also housekeepers from, and their number is constantly growing. Europeans, Americans, Australians, Canadians, Japanese and Koreans also work in the commercial and financial sector in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated countries (dependencies) in the world, with a population density of over 6,200 people per km². The average number of births per woman is 1.11. This is one of the lowest rates in the world, far below 2.1, the level required to maintain a constant population. Despite this, the population of Hong Kong continues to grow thanks to an influx of immigrants from mainland China, which annually amounts to about 45,000 people. Average life expectancy in Hong Kong in 2006 was 81.6 years (fifth highest in the world). Within the borders of Hong Kong is the most densely populated island in the world - Apleichow.

The population of Hong Kong is mainly concentrated in the extremely densely populated center of the territory, consisting of and the northern part of Hong Kong Island. The population density in other parts of the territory is much less. Several million residents live unevenly in the New Territories, the south of Hong Kong Island and Lantau Island. An increasing number of Hong Kongers choose to live in the mainland, where prices are much lower, and travel to Hong Kong for work.

As of 2012, 19.6% of city residents live below the poverty line. There are various social benefits for them, but in general this does not improve the general situation. Basically, families with children and the old generation fall into the category of the poor. Today, there is no clear program to "eradicate poverty" in the city, but the state is taking separate measures, for example, in 2011, a minimum hourly wage was set, which is $ 2.6 per hour. Another serious social problem of the city is an acute shortage of living space, in particular, the area of ​​a standard apartment for 5 people is 25-28 square meters, while only 2-3 m² is allocated to the kitchen and bathroom, and housing prices are extremely high, half of the residents cities live in social apartments. According to 2014 data, almost half a million residents who do not have the means to buy an apartment live in the so-called "boxes / cages", rooms with an area of ​​​​1-2 square meters, while their number is constantly increasing due to the rapid rise in apartment prices.

Jews in Hong Kong

The Jewish community arose in the city in 1857 and was represented by very influential people, among whom the Sassoon family stood out, which played a significant role in the world opium trade in the 19th century. In 1904-1907, the governor of British Hong Kong was a Jew by origin, Matthew Nathan. The dynamics of the number of Jews in the city is as follows: 1921 - 100 people, 1954 - 250 people, 1968 - 200 people (including 70 Sephardim and 130 Ashkenazim), 1998 - 2500 people, 2002 - 6000 people.

Economy

The economy of the territory is based on the free market, low taxation and non-intervention of the state in the economy. Hong Kong is not an offshore territory, it is a free port and does not charge customs duties on imports, there is no value added tax or its equivalent. Excises are levied on only four types of goods, regardless of whether they are imported or locally produced. These are spirits, tobacco, mineral oil and methyl alcohol. Hong Kong is an important center for international finance and trade, and the concentration of headquarters is the highest in the Asia-Pacific region. In terms of per capita gross domestic product and gross urban product, Hong Kong is the richest city in China.

Hong Kong's taxation system was modeled on the English one and largely inherited the principles of the British Commonwealth Tax Policy Set of Measures adopted in 1947. In Hong Kong, there is no division of companies into resident and non-resident, and the territorial principle of taxation has been adopted. This means that Hong Kong companies are only taxable if the income is derived from a source in Hong Kong or the activity to generate that income was carried out in Hong Kong. If the company did not conduct business in Hong Kong and did not receive income from sources in Hong Kong, it is not subject to taxation. There are no taxes in Hong Kong on capital gains, dividends, interest, royalties received from abroad or sent abroad. The income tax rate for companies operating in Hong Kong is 16.5%.

Continuing the policy of the British administration, the Hong Kong government gives priority to the management of the economy to the free market and the private sector. Since 1980, the government has played a passive role within the official policy of positive non-intervention. Hong Kong is often cited as a model example of laissez-faire capitalism put into practice. Since the introduction of the index of economic freedom in 1995, Hong Kong has ranked first every year for 13 years. It also ranks first in the Economic Freedom of the World report.

Hong Kong has little arable land and scarce natural resources, so it has to import most of its food and raw materials. Hong Kong ranks eleventh in the list of the largest trading actors in the world, the total value of its imports and exports exceeds the territory's gross domestic product. As of 2006, 114 countries had consulates in Hong Kong, more than in any other city in the world. A significant part of Hong Kong's exports are re-exports, that is, products manufactured outside the territory, mainly in mainland China, and distributed through Hong Kong. Even before the transfer of sovereignty to the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong had developed strong trade and investment ties with mainland China. The autonomous status of the territory allows it to act as a gateway for investment and resources flowing to the continent.

The currency of Hong Kong is the Hong Kong dollar. It has been pegged to the US dollar since 1983. The exchange rate can fluctuate in the corridor between 7.75 and 7.85 Hong Kong dollars for one American. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is the seventh largest exchange in the world, in February 2007 its capitalization was 1.69 trillion US dollars. By the number of IPOs in 2006, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange ranked second in the world, second only to London. According to the 2007 World Financial Centers Index, compiled by the City of London Corporation to measure the competitiveness of 46 financial centers around the world, Hong Kong is the third best financial center in the world and the first in .

Today, the service sector accounts for more than 90% of Hong Kong's gross domestic product. After World War II and the subsequent industrialization of Hong Kong, the dominant sector of the territory was industry. In the 1970s, Hong Kong's economy grew by an average of 8.9% annually thanks to exports. In the 1980s, Hong Kong's economy underwent a rapid transformation, with the service sector becoming the backbone of the economy. The average annual GDP growth during this period was 7.2%. During this period, most of the production was transferred to mainland China, and now the contribution of industry to the economy is only 9%. After Hong Kong became a recognized financial center in the 1990s, economic growth slowed to 2.7%. Thanks to rapid economic growth and rapid industrialization, Hong Kong entered the top four "Asian tigers", or "dragons", along with South Korea and.

Skyscrapers of Hong Kong against the background of the night sky

In 1998, due to the effects of the Asian financial crisis, the Territory's economy contracted by 5.3%. This was followed by a period of recovery and growth, which in 2000 was 10%, despite continued deflation. In 2003, Hong Kong's economy was adversely affected by the SARS outbreak, causing the economy to grow by only 2.3% that year. However, thanks to the recovery and growth of external and domestic demand in 2004, the economy began to grow strongly again, while cost reduction increased the competitiveness of Hong Kong exports. The 68-month period of deflation ended in mid-2004, when the inflation rate stabilized near zero. Since 2003, an "individual visitor regime" has been introduced that has eliminated the need for mainland Chinese citizens to join a tour group to visit Hong Kong. The increase in the flow of tourists from the continent as a result of this measure had a positive impact on the income of the tourism industry in Hong Kong. This was also facilitated by the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland in 2005. The economy continues to grow strongly thanks to consumer confidence and increased trade. Hong Kong has a low level of taxation for companies and individuals.

In 2006, with a GDP per capita of $38,127, Hong Kong ranked 6th in the world, ahead of countries such as, and. In terms of total GDP, which is 253.1 billion US dollars, Hong Kong ranks 40th.

As of 2014, Hong Kong ranked 3rd in the global ease of doing business rankings. It occupies the 5th place in the ranking of tax systems in the world. According to the World Bank, there are 3 taxes in Hong Kong, of which 17.6% is income tax, 5.1% is labor tax, and 0.1% is others. The total tax rate is 22.8%.

Transport

Star Ferry. Victoria Harbour. hong kong.

Hong Kong has a complex and highly developed transport system, including public and private transport.

The public transport system, in addition to the MTR rail system, which combines subway, commuter and intracity electric trains (KCR), includes bus service, ferry service between the island and the mainland of the city, as well as with adjacent islands, a double-decker Hong Kong tram and a funicular connecting the center cities with Victoria Peak. In addition, an escalator lift is used as transport, which is a chain of several escalators and travelators that connects the Central and Western and Mid-Levels areas.

culture

Hong Kong tea utensils

Facade of the Queen Elizabeth Stadium

Hong Kong is often described as the place where East meets West, which is reflected in its economic infrastructure, architecture, education and urban culture. On one street you can find traditional Chinese shops selling Chinese medicines, Buddhist incense or shark fin soup. But right around the corner you can see the cinema, which is playing the latest Hollywood blockbuster, an English pub, catholic church or McDonald's. The official languages ​​of the Territory are Chinese and English, and bilingual signs are found throughout Hong Kong. Government agencies, police, most institutions and shops conduct business in both languages. Although British rule ended in 1997, Western culture is deeply rooted in Hong Kong and coexists in harmony with traditional Eastern philosophy and traditions.

The cosmopolitan spirit of Hong Kong is also reflected in the variety of cuisines on display. The most popular are various areas of Chinese cuisine, especially seafood, while there are many European, American, Japanese, Korean and other restaurants in Hong Kong. Local cuisine is also very popular, which can be found in chachhantheng and taikhaitong. Hong Kong people take food very seriously, which is why Hong Kong is a destination that attracts top chefs from all over the world.

Bruce Lee statue on the Avenue of Stars

Along with the status of one of the centers of world trade, Hong Kong is also a major exporter of entertainment products, in particular, the martial arts genre. Several Hollywood celebrities are from Hong Kong, including Bruce Lee, Chow Yun-Fat, Jackie Chan. Hong Kong has also given Hollywood some outstanding film directors such as John Woo, Wong Kar-wai, Tsui Hark, Yuan Heping. Hong Kong films have also achieved worldwide fame several times, such as Chungking Express, Infernal Affairs, Killer Football, Showdown in the Bronx and In the Mood for Love. Renowned director Quentin Tarantino said in an interview that Hong Kong militants had a great influence on him. Hong Kong is also the main production center for Cantopop music. Many movie stars live in Hong Kong. Karaoke culture is part of Hong Kong's nightlife.

The Hong Kong government supports cultural institutions such as the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition, the Hong Kong Department of Entertainment and Cultural Services subsidizes and sponsors overseas artists visiting Hong Kong.

Since 2001, the International Literary Festival has been held annually in the city.

Education

As a former British Overseas Territory, Hong Kong has largely retained the UK education system. At the higher levels in Hong Kong, there are both British and American systems. The University of Hong Kong, the oldest tertiary institution in Hong Kong, has traditionally been based on the British model, but in recent years has taken on some of the American model. The second-oldest founding Chinese University of Hong Kong follows the American model with a distinctive British college system. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is based on the American model higher education. There are nine public universities in Hong Kong, as well as several private universities. One of clear examples- Lingnan University in Thunmun District, is the only university in Hong Kong that teaches the seven liberal arts.

Public educational institutions in Hong Kong are supervised by the Department of Education of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR. The system includes non-mandatory three-year kindergartens, followed by compulsory six-year primary education and three-year lower secondary education; then optional two-year upper secondary education culminating in the Hong Kong Educational Examination Certificate, followed by a two-year Hong Kong Advanced Exam preparation course. In 2009-2012, the gradual introduction of the new 3+3+4 system is planned, consisting of a three-year course of the first stage of secondary school, a three-year course of the second stage and a four-year higher education. Hong Kong also has universities offering bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees, other higher diplomas and associate's degrees.

Leading educational institutions Hong Kong can be divided into three categories: public, subsidized and private institutions. The first category is the smallest, the largest number of educational institutions are subsidized, receiving assistance from the government and grants from charitable organizations, often of a religious orientation. As a rule, these are Catholic and other Christian organizations, but they can also include Buddhist, Taoist, Islamic and Confucian organizations. At the same time, private educational institutions are often run by Christian organizations. Outside this system, there are institutions under the direct grant system and private international schools.

University of Hong Kong Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Hong Kong Polytechnic University

see also

• Telecommunications in Hong Kong
• List of richest people in Hong Kong
• Copyright in Hong Kong

Notes

1. The Basic Law of Hong Kong states that the official languages ​​of the territory are "Chinese and English". At the same time, the law does not specify which variety of Chinese is the standard. In mainland China, Putonghua is used as a standardized form of spoken language and Simplified Chinese characters are used as written language, while Standard Cantonese and full characters have long been the de facto standard language forms in Hong Kong.
2. In the 19th century Victoria City was often called the capital of Hong Kong, since all administrative institutions were located there; now government buildings are located in the Central West District of Hong Kong (
3. census.gov. country rank. Countries and Areas Ranked by Population: 2013. U.S. Department of Commerce (2013). Retrieved May 9, 2013. Archived from the original on May 9, 2013.
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5. Human Development Report 2014. United Nations Development Program. - Human Development Report (2014) on the website of the United Nations Development Program. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
6. Name Hong Kong comes from the self-name of the territory in Cantonese Chinese - hyungkon(Chinese 香港), which means "Fragrant Harbor": once various spices and incense were taken out from here. However, in the official language of the People's Republic of China, Putonghua, based on the Northern Chinese pronunciation, these same characters are read Hong Kong. In Russian, the Northern Chinese reading of the name of the city is sometimes used (for example, on all official maps), but the most common is still Hong Kong.
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51. The Global Financial Centers Index 1 Executive Summary (PDF) (unavailable link - story) . City of London (March 2007). Archived from the original on November 8, 2009.
52. Wallace, Peter. (2002). Contemporary China: The Dynamics of Change at the Start of the New Millennium. Routledge. ISBN 0-7007-1637-8
53. 2005-06 Budget Speech by the Financial Secretary of Hong Kong.
54. Economy Ranking - Doing Business - World Bank
55. Paying Taxes 2015: Overall ranking and data tables: PwC
56. China Briefing Media. (2004) Business Guide to the Greater Pearl River Delta. China Briefing Media Ltd. ISBN 988-98673-1-1
57. ABOUT THE FESTIVAL. The Hong Kong International Literary Festival. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
58. Education for Non-Chinese Speaking Children (unavailable link), Education and Manpower Bureau, Government of HKSAR.

Links

• Damier W. V. Hong Kong // Around the World
• Hong Kong government
• DiscoverHongKong - Official site of the Hong Kong Tourism Board
• The largest non-profit portal about Hong Kong and Macau - Hong Kong.ru
• Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Hong Kong
• Hong Kong at the Open Directory Project Links Directory (dmoz)