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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.hk

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

591,993 (2003)

Internet users [time series]

3,212,800 (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 5, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2004)

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: country code - 852; 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]

3,801,300 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

7,241,400 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

4 (2004)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

fresh vegetables, poultry, fish, pork

Budget [time series]

revenues: $26.17 billion expenditures: $32.64 billion, including capital expenditures of $5 billion (2003)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Hong Kong dollar (HKD)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

HKD

Current account balance [time series]

$17.42 billion (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$59.21 billion (2003 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 also battered Hong Kong's economy, but a boom in tourism from the mainland because of China's easing of travel restrictions, a return of consumer confidence, and a solid rise in exports resulted in the resumption of strong growth in late 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)

Exchange rates [time series]

Hong Kong dollars per US dollar - 7.7868 (2003), 7.7989 (2002), 7.7988 (2001), 7.7912 (2000), 7.7575 (1999)

Exports [time series]

$225.9 billion f.o.b., including reexports (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

China 42.6%, US 18.7%, Japan 5.4% (2003)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

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

purchasing power parity - $213 billion (2003 est.)

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

agriculture: 0.1% industry: 12.1% services: 87.9% (2003 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $28,800 (2003 est.)

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

3.3% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$230.3 billion (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

China 43.5%, Japan 11.9%, Taiwan 6.9%, US 5.5%, Singapore 5%, South Korea 4.8% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-9.2% (2003 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

-2.6% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

22.3% of GDP (2003)

Labor force [time series]

3.5 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

manufacturing 8.2%, construction 2.9%, wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 43.5%, financing, insurance, and real estate 19.5%, transport and communications 7.8%, community and social services 17.8% (Note: above data exclude public sector) (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]

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$118.4 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

7.9% (2003)

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)

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 regional border: China 30 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 5.05% permanent crops: 1.01% other: 93.94% (2001)

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 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 seven non-official members and 14 official members; including Chief Secretary Donald TSANG Yam-kuen (since 1 May 2001), Financial Secretary Henry TANG (since 2 August 2003), 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, ICC, ICFTU, IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTO

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; in 2004 30 seats indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 30 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 12 September 2004 (next to be held in September 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - pro-democracy group 62%; seats by party - (pro-Beijing 34) DAB 12, Liberal Party 10, independents 11, FTU 1; (pro-democracy 25) independents 11, Democratic Party 9, CTU 2, ADPL 1, Frontier Party 1, NWSC 1

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 or ADPL [Frederick FUNG Kin-kee, chairman]; Citizens Party [Alex CHAN Kai-chung]; Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong or DAB [MA Lik, chairman]; Democratic Party [LEE Wing-tat, chairman]; Frontier Party [Emily LAU Wai-hing, chairwoman]; Liberal Party [James TIEN Pei-chun, chairman] note: political blocs include: pro-democracy - Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood, Democratic Party, Frontier Party; pro-Beijing - Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Progressive Alliance, Liberal Party

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) [CHENG Yiu-tong, executive councilor]; 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]; The Alliance [Bernard CHAN, exco member]

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 200,000 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 - dollar figure [time series]

Hong Kong garrison is funded by China; figures are NA

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

NA (FY02)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,878,574 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,404,705 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 41,821 (2004 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 14.2% (male 510,702; female 465,145) 15-64 years: 73.3% (male 2,461,914; female 2,560,382) 65 years and over: 12.5% (male 394,697; female 462,285) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

7.23 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.98 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Chinese 95%, other 5%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 200 (2003 est.)

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

2,600 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 2.97 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.16 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages [time series]

Chinese (Cantonese), English; both are official

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 81.39 years male: 78.72 years female: 84.3 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 93.5% male: 96.9% female: 89.6% (2002)

Median age [time series]

total: 39.4 years male: 39.3 years female: 39.6 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Chinese/Hong Konger adjective: Chinese/Hong Kong

Net migration rate [time series]

5.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

6,855,125 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.65% (2004 est.)

Religions [time series]

eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

0.91 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

Makes strenuous law enforcement efforts, but faces difficult 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]

4 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Heliports [time series]

2 (2003 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 663 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 20,478,042 GRT/34,554,455 DWT by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 364, cargo 78, chemical tanker 23, combination bulk 2, combination ore/oil 3, container 97, liquefied gas 20, multi-functional large load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 60, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 4, short-sea/passenger 1, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 4 foreign-owned: Australia 2, Belgium 1, British Virgin Islands 1, China 178, Cyprus 1, Denmark 3, France 2, Germany 14, Greece 4, India 9, Indonesia 2, Japan 22, South Korea 2, Malaysia 3, Monaco 9, Norway 16, Panama 4, Philippines 17, Singapore 22, Taiwan 3, Thailand 1, United Kingdom 22, United States 1 registered in other countries: 569 (2004 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Hong Kong