History
Human settlement in Hong Kong dates back to the Paleolithic period. In 1513, the area recorded its earliest visitor, Jorge Álvares, a Portuguese mariner. It was the dependent territory of United Kingdom since 1847 until the transfer of its sovereignty to the People of China on 1st July, 1997.
Demographics
Hong Kong has a large population and 95% of it belongs to Chinese descent. A majority of people speak Cantonese. The remaining 5% of the population belongs to the non-ethnic Chinese. Though smaller in numbers, they form a highly visible group.
Although the official dialect of Hong Kong is Cantonese, English too is an official language, widely spoken by more than 38% of the population. Since 1997, with the arrival of new mainland Chinese immigrants, Mandarin is also now widely spoken.
Government and politics
Except in defence and foreign affairs, Hong Kong as a special administrative region enjoys the autonomy. Here, the Chief Executive is known as the head of government. The Election Committee chooses the principal secretaries for the region. They serve only for two five-year terms. The Hong Kong Civil Service, a politically-neutral party enforces all the policies and renders all the services of government.
Culture
It is a cosmopolitan city and it reflects in its habitants and their culture. British influence still exists with the traditional culture and philosophy of Hong Kong. Stuff from all over the world can be seen here. Most people talk bilingually i.e. Cantonese and English, so shopping and traveling is not a trouble.
Apart from trade, Hong Kong is well known for its martial arts. It is a home to full time comedy club in Asia. The government too supports the cultural exchange and even sponsors international performers. Economy
With a highly capitalist economy, Hong Kong is one of the world’s leading financial centers. For 14 consecutive years it is ranked as the freest economy in the world. Although it suffered great financial loss in 1998 and 2003, but it recovered from it fast and no doubt, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange was announced the sixth largest in the world. Hong Kong imports most of its food items and raw material. It stands eleventh in the world’s trading entities.
The currency used is Hong Kong Dollar.
Education:
It has followed the education system of England but for higher studies, both American and United Kingdom systems exist. Based on the American model of higher education, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology was established. Education bureau operates all the public schools in Hong Kong which features six-year compulsory primary education. Hong Kong’s education has been ranked as the second best in the world by the Programme for International Student Assessment.
Geographical Settings (Longitude & Latitude)
It is situated on the south coast of China. The South China Sea surrounds it on the east, south, and west. Hong Kong borders Shenzhen located in Guangdong Province. Its territory chiefly consists of Hong Kong Island, New Territories, Kowloon Peninsula, and Lantau Island. Apart from this around 260 more islands too fall under its territoy. The largest island is Lantau and Hong Kong Island comes next to it.
Since it is situated south to the tropic of cancer, the climate here is subtropical and unpredictable.
Capital city
Since the territory is ruled by a unitary authority , so no capital city has been designated as yet
Country Famous For
The place is well known for its Martial arts and producing actors like Bruce Lee, Chow Yun-Fat, and Jackie Chan. It is a good place to shop. Theme park inside the Hong Kong Disneyland is the main attraction for the people to visit. Many tourists come to visit and enjoy the beautiful locale and mesmerizing beauty of the beaches.
Total Population
With an overall density of more than 6,200 people per km², Hong Kong is considered to one of the most densely populated place. As per the estimate of 2007, the average population was 6,963,100.
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