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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

17 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.hk

Internet users [time series]

1.85 million (2000)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 7, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios [time series]

4.45 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic network international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; access to 5 international submarine cables providing connections to ASEAN member nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

3.839 million (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

3.7 million (December 1999)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

4 (plus two repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

1.84 million (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

fresh vegetables; poultry

Budget [time series]

revenues: $20.8 billion expenditures: $24.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99/00)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Hong Kong dollar (HKD)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

HKD

Debt - external [time series]

$48.1 billion (1999)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy highly dependent on international trade. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Indeed, imports and exports, including reexports, each exceed GDP in dollar value. Even before Hong Kong reverted to Chinese administration on 1 July 1997 it had extensive trade and investment ties with China. Per capita GDP compares with the level in the four big countries of Western Europe. GDP growth averaged a strong 5% in 1989-97. The widespread Asian economic difficulties in 1998 hit this trade-dependent economy quite hard, with GDP down 5%. The economy is undergoing a rapid recovery, with growth of 10% in 2000 to be followed by projected growth of 5% in 2001.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

32.202 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports [time series]

633 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports [time series]

7.05 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production [time series]

27.726 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Exchange rates [time series]

Hong Kong dollars per US dollar - 7.7990 (January 2001), 7.7912 (2000), 7.7575 (1999), 7.7453 (1998), 7.7421 (1997), 7.7343 (1996); note - Hong Kong became a special administrative region of China on 1 July 1997; before then, the Hong Kong dollar was linked to the US dollar at the rate of about 7.8 Hong Kong dollars per US dollar

Exports [time series]

$204 billion (including reexports; f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

clothing, textiles, footwear, electrical appliances, watches and clocks, toys

Exports - partners [time series]

China 33%, US 24%, Japan 5%, UK 4%, Germany, Singapore (1999)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $181 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 0.1% industry: 14.3% services: 85.6% (1999 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $25,400 (2000 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

10% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$215 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Imports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials, semimanufactures, petroleum; a large share is reexported

Imports - partners [time series]

China 44%, Japan 12%, US 7%, Taiwan 7%, South Korea, Singapore (1999)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2.1% (2000)

Industries [time series]

textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.7% (2000 est.)

Labor force [time series]

3.39 million (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 31.5%, community and social services 24%, financing, insurance, and real estate 14.5%, transport and communications 11.6%, manufacturing 7.7%, construction 2.6% (October 1999)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

4.5% (2000 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 1,092 sq km land: 1,042 sq km water: 50 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

six times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

Coastline [time series]

733 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

air and water pollution from rapid urbanization

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution (associate member)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

22 15 N, 114 10 E

Geography - note [time series]

more than 200 islands

Irrigated land [time series]

20 sq km (1997 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 30 km border countries: China 30 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 6% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 20% other: 72% (1997 est.)

Location [time series]

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Map references [time series]

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 3 NM

Natural hazards [time series]

occasional typhoons

Natural resources [time series]

outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar

Terrain [time series]

hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (special administrative region of China)

Constitution [time series]

Basic Law approved in March 1990 by China's National People's Congress is Hong Kong's "mini-constitution"

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region conventional short form: Hong Kong local long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu local short form: Xianggang abbreviation: HK

Dependency status [time series]

special administrative region of China

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Consul General Michael KLOSSON consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong mailing address: PSC 464, Box 30, FPO AP 96522-0002 telephone: [852] 2523-9011

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (special administrative region of China)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President of China JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993) head of government: Chief Executive TUNG Chee-hwa (since 1 July 1997) cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex-officio members and 10 appointed members; ex-officio members are: Chief Secretary Anson CHAN (since 29 November 1993), Financial Secretary Donald TSANG (since 7 March 1995), and Secretary of Justice Elsie LEUNG (since 1 July 1997) elections: NA

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[852] 2845-1598

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in the center

Government type [time series]

Independence [time series]

none (special administrative region of China)

International organization participation [time series]

APEC, AsDB, BIS, CCC, ESCAP (associate), ICC, ICFTU, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMO, WToO (associate), WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

The Court of Final Appeal in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (60 seats; 30 indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 24 elected by popular vote, and 6 elected by an 800-member election committee; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 10 September 2000 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 12, Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong 10, Liberal Party 7, Frontier Party 5, Hong Kong Progressive Alliance 4, New Century Forum 2, Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood 1, independents 19

National holiday [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood [Frederick FUNG Kin-kee, chairman]; Citizens Party [leader NA]; Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong [Jasper TSANG Yok-sing, chairman]; Democratic Party [Martin LEE Chu-ming, chairman]; Frontier Party [Emily LAU Wai-hing, chairwoman]; Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood [leader NA]; Hong Kong Progressive Alliance [Ambrose LAU Hon-chuen]; Liberal Party [James TIEN Pei-chun, chairman]; New Century Forum [NQ Ching-fai, chairman] note: political blocs include: pro-democracy - Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood, Citizens Party, Democratic Party, Frontier Party; pro-Beijing - Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Progressive Alliance, Liberal Party, New Century Forum

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Confederation of Trade Unions (pro-democracy) [LAU Chin-shek, president; LEE Cheuk-yan, general secretary]; Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Federation of Trade Unions (pro-China) [LEE Chark-tim, president]; Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China [Szeto WAH, chairman]; Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union [CHEUNG Man-kwong, president]; Liberal Democratic Federation [HU Fa-kuang, chairman]

Suffrage [time series]

direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect election limited to about 100,000 members of functional constituencies and an 800-member election committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies

Introduction

Background [time series]

Occupied by the UK in 1841, Hong Kong was formally ceded by China the following year; various adjacent lands were added later in the 19th century. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and the UK on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997. In this agreement, China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system will not be practiced in Hong Kong and that Hong Kong will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.

Military

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of China

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Hong Kong garrison of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) including elements of the PLA Ground Forces, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the adjacent Guangzhou Military Region

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$NA; note - separate budget for Hong Kong not established by China

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,020,937 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,520,531 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 47,139 (2001 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 17.73% (male 677,785; female 600,781) 15-64 years: 71.52% (male 2,554,329; female 2,602,662) 65 years and over: 10.75% (male 354,199; female 420,749) (2001 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

11.13 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.02 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Chinese 95%, other 5%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.06% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 100 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

2,500 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

5.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Languages [time series]

Chinese (Cantonese), English; both are official

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 79.67 years male: 76.97 years female: 82.55 years (2001 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 92.2% male: 96% female: 88.2% (1996 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Chinese adjective: Chinese

Net migration rate [time series]

7.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Population [time series]

7,210,505 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.3% (2001 est.)

Religions [time series]

eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.29 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

a hub for Southeast Asian heroin and regional stimulants trade; transshipment and money-laundering center; increasing indigenous amphetamine abuse

Transportation

Airports [time series]

3 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Heliports [time series]

2 (2000 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 1,831 km paved: 1,831 km unpaved: 0 km (1997)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 354 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 10,330,662 GRT/17,227,315 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 208, cargo 36, chemical tanker 7, combination bulk 2, container 59, liquefied gas 6, multi-functional large-load carrier 2, petroleum tanker 26, refrigerated cargo 3, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 3 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Bermuda 2, Belgium 1, Canada 2, China 9, Japan 3, Mongolia 1, Norway 1, South Africa 1, UK 7 (2000 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Hong Kong

Railways [time series]

total: 34 km standard gauge: 34 km 1.435-m gauge (all electrified) (1996 est.)

Waterways [time series]

none