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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.hk

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

800,834 (2006)

Internet users [time series]

4,878,713 (2005)

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]

3,794,600 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

8.693 million (2005)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

55 low power stations note: two TV networks, each one broadcasting on two channels (2006)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

fresh vegetables; poultry, pork; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $31.31 billion expenditures: $32.3 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.9 billion (2005 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Hong Kong dollar (HKD)

Current account balance [time series]

$19.7 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$72.04 billion (2005 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

43.4 (1996)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Hong Kong has a free market, entrepot economy, highly dependent on international trade. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Gross imports and exports (i.e., including reexports to and from third countries) 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 made manufacturing in China much more cost effective. Hong Kong's reexport business to and from China is a major driver of growth. Per capita GDP is comparable to that of the four big economies of Western Europe. GDP growth averaged a strong 5% from 1989 to 2005, but Hong Kong suffered two recessions in the past eight years because of the Asian financial crisis in 1997-1998 and the global downturn in 2001-2002. Although the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003 also battered Hong Kong's economy, a solid rise in exports, a boom in tourism from the mainland because of China's easing of travel restrictions, and a return of consumer confidence resulted in the resumption of strong growth from late 2003 through 2005.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

39.22 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports [time series]

3.086 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports [time series]

9.84 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production [time series]

37.3 billion kWh (2004)

Exchange rates [time series]

Hong Kong dollars per US dollar - 7.7773 (2005), 7.788 (2004), 7.7868 (2003), 7.7989 (2002), 7.7988 (2001)

Exports [time series]

$286.3 billion f.o.b., including reexports (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

China 45%, US 16.1%, Japan 5.3% (2005)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$172.6 billion (2005 est.)

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

$234.3 billion (2005 est.)

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

agriculture: 0.1% industry: 9.2% services: 90.6% (2005 est.)

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

$34,000 (2005 est.)

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

7.3% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$291.6 billion (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

raw materials and semi-manufactures, consumer goods, capital goods, foodstuffs, fuel (most is re-exported)

Imports - partners [time series]

China 45%, Japan 11%, Taiwan 7.2%, Singapore 5.8%, US 5.1%, South Korea 4.4% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-0.6% (2005 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

0.9% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

20.8% of GDP (2005 est.)

Labor force [time series]

3.61 million (October 2005)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

manufacturing 7.5%, construction 2.9%, wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 43.9%, financing, insurance, and real estate 19.6%, transport and communications 7.1%, community and social services 18.8% note: above data exclude public sector (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

692.2 million cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

71.15 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m NA cu m

Oil - consumption [time series]

293,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Public debt [time series]

1.8% of GDP (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$124.3 billion (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

5.5% (2005 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]

subtropical 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 B. CUNNINGHAM consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong mailing address: PSC 461, Box 1, FPO AP 96521-0006 telephone: [852] 2523-9011 FAX: [852] 2845-1598

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 Donald TSANG (since 24 June 2005) cabinet: Executive Council consists of 14 official members and 15 non-official members elections: previous chief executive TUNG Chee-hwa was elected to second five-year term in March 2002 by 800-member election committee dominated by pro-Beijing forces, resignation accepted 12 March 2005; Donald TSANG acted as chief executive between 12 March 2005 and 25 May 2005; Henry TANG acted as chief executive between 25 May 2005 and 24 June 2005; TSANG was elected on 16 June 2005 to fill final two years of TUNG's term (next election to be held in March 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), 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; non-voting LEGCO president 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]; Citizens Party [Alex CHAN Kai-chung]; Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong or DAB [MA Lik]; Democratic Party [LEE Wing-tat]; Frontier Party [Emily LAU Wai-hing]; Liberal Party [James TIEN Pei-chun] note: political blocs include: pro-democracy - ADPL, Democratic Party, Frontier Party; pro-Beijing - DAB, Liberal Party

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

Article 45 Concern Group (pro-democracy); Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Confederation of Trade Unions or CTU (pro-democracy) [LAU Chin-shek, president; LEE Cheuk-yan, general secretary]; Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Federation of Trade Unions or FTU (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]; Neighborhood and Workers' Service Center or NWSC (pro-democracy); 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

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 1,743,972 females age 18-49: 1,904,967 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 1,403,088 females age 18-49: 1,527,278 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males age 18-49: 40,343 females age 18-49: 38,234 (2005 est.)

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) includes 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]

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age (2004)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 13.5% (male 488,607/female 445,593) 15-64 years: 73.7% (male 2,495,679/female 2,620,336) 65 years and over: 12.8% (male 413,031/female 477,186) (2006 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

7.29 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.29 deaths/1,000 population (2006 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: 2.95 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.13 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages [time series]

Chinese (Cantonese), English; both are official

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 81.59 years male: 78.9 years female: 84.5 years (2006 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: 40.7 years male: 40.4 years female: 40.9 years (2006 est.)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

4.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population [time series]

6,940,432 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.59% (2006 est.)

Religions [time series]

eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

0.95 children born/woman (2006 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 conduit for money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs, especially among young people

Transportation

Airports [time series]

3 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Heliports [time series]

3 (2006)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 924 ships (1000 GRT or over) 30,838,025 GRT/51,957,682 DWT by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 495, cargo 121, chemical tanker 44, container 133, liquefied gas 22, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 76, roll on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 7, vehicle carrier 8 foreign-owned: 562 (Australia 1, Belgium 3, Canada 28, China 274, Denmark 6, Germany 6, Greece 27, Indonesia 4, Japan 67, South Korea 6, Norway 26, Philippines 16, Portugal 1, Singapore 24, Syria 1, Taiwan 6, UAE 2, UK 43, US 21) registered in other countries: 417 (Bahamas 8, Belize 8, Bermuda 10, Cambodia 15, China 7, Cyprus 1, France 1, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 2, Greece 1, Honduras 2, India 1, Liberia 37, Malaysia 14, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 7, Norway 55, Panama 169, Philippines 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6, Singapore 50, Taiwan 3, Tuvalu 8, unknown 7) (2006)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Hong Kong

Roadways [time series]

total: 1,955 km paved: 1,955 km (2005)