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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]

4.35 million (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 7, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

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)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

fresh vegetables; poultry, fish, pork

Budget [time series]

revenues: $22.8 billion expenditures: $30.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY02/03)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Hong Kong dollar (HKD)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

HKD

Debt - external [time series]

$49.5 billion (2002 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Hong Kong has a free market economy highly dependent on international trade. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. 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. Hong Kong has been further integrating its economy with China because China's growing openness to the world economy has increased competitive pressure on Hong Kong's service industries, and Hong Kong's re-export business from China is a major driver of growth. Per capita GDP compares with the level in the four big economies of Western Europe. GDP growth averaged a strong 5% in 1989-1997, but Hong Kong suffered two recessions in the past 6 years because of the Asian financial crisis in 1998 and the global downturn of 2001-2002. The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak has also battered Hong Kong's economy but the resumption of strong growth began in 2003.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

37.12 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

1.581 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

10.36 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

30.48 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

Hong Kong dollars per US dollar - 7.8 (2002), 7.8 (2001), 7.79 (2000), 7.76 (1999), 7.75 (1998)

Exports [time series]

$200.3 billion f.o.b., including reexports (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel, footwear, watches and clocks, toys, plastics, precious stones

Exports - partners [time series]

China 34%, US 19.5%, UK 5.5%, Japan 4.8% (2002)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

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

purchasing power parity - $198.5 billion (2002 est.)

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

agriculture: 0.1% industry: 13.4% services: 86.5% (2001 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $27,200 (2002 est.)

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

2.3% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$208.1 billion (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

China 37.5%, Japan 12.2%, Taiwan 7.3%, US 6.2%, Singapore 5.3%, South Korea 5% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-9.7% (2002 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3% (2002 est.)

Labor force [time series]

3.52 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 31%, financing, insurance, and real estate 13%, community and social services 12%, manufacturing 6%, transport and communications 6%, construction 5%, other 25% (2002 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

680.9 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

680.9 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

257,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

7.5% (2002 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 1,092 sq km water: 50 sq km land: 1,042 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 (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 30 km border countries: China 30 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 5.05% other: 93.94% (1998 est.) permanent crops: 1.01%

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 short form: Xianggang local long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu abbreviation: HK

Dependency status [time series]

special administrative region of China

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Consul General James KEITH consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong mailing address: PSC 461, Box 1, FPO AP 96521-0006 telephone: [852] 2523-9011 FAX: [852] 2524-0860

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (special administrative region of China)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003) 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 Donald TSANG Yam-kuen (since 1 May 2001), Financial Secretary Antony LEUNG (since 1 May 2001), and Secretary of Justice Elsie LEUNG (since 1 July 1997) elections: TUNG Chee-Hwa was elected to a second term in March 2002 by an 800-member election committee dominated by pro-Beijing forces; the next election is scheduled to be held in 2007

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

limited democracy

Independence [time series]

none (special administrative region of China)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

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 in September 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 [Alex CHAN Kai-chung]; 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 imposed on 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]

no regular indigenous military forces; 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 (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

NA% (FY02)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,033,716 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,524,903 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 47,477 (2003 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 17.3% (male 680,973; female 599,309) 15-64 years: 71.7% (male 2,619,929; female 2,679,430) 65 years and over: 11% (male 375,058; female 439,471) (2003 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.71 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.19 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Chinese 95%, other 5%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 100 (2001 est.)

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

2,600 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 5.63 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 5.44 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

Chinese (Cantonese), English; both are official

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 79.93 years male: 77.23 years female: 82.83 years (2003 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 94% male: 97.1% female: 90.5% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 37.5 years male: 37.1 years female: 37.7 years (2002)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Chinese adjective: Chinese

Net migration rate [time series]

7.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population [time series]

7,394,170 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.22% (2003 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: 1.14 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.32 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

Makes strenuous law enforcement efforts, but faces serious challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to regional and world markets; modern banking system provides a conduit for money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs, especially among young people

Transportation

Airports [time series]

3 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2002)

Heliports [time series]

2 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 1,831 km paved: 1,831 km unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 549 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 16,176,728 GRT/27,119,764 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 315, cargo 66, chemical tanker 15, combination bulk 2, container 86, liquefied gas 16, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 40, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 2, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 2, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Belgium 5, Belize 1, British Virgin Islands 1, China 115, Denmark 2, Germany 19, Greece 2, India 8, Japan 8, Liberia 1, Malaysia 7, Norway 1, Panama 2, Philippines 5, Singapore 7, South Korea 2, Taiwan 1, UK 27, Virgin Islands (UK) 1 note: (2002 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Hong Kong

Railways [time series]

total: 34 km standard gauge: 34 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified and double-tracked) note: connects to China railway system at Hong Kong-China border (2001)

Waterways [time series]

none