Hong Kong (Chinese: 香港; Cantonese: [hœ́ːŋ.

kɔ̌ːŋ] ( listen)), officially the Hong Kong

Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, is an autonomous

territory on the eastern side of the Pearl River estuary in South China. With over 7.4
million Hongkongers of various nationalities[c] in a territory of 1,104 square kilometres
(426 sq mi), Hong Kong is the fourth-most densely populated region in the world.

Hong Kong was formerly a colony of the British Empire, after Qing China ceded Hong
Kong Island at the conclusion of the First Opium War in 1842. Originally a lightly
populated area of farming and fishing villages,[16] the territory has become one of the
most significant financial centres and trade ports in the world.[17] With the exception of
the Second World War, during which the colony was occupied by the Empire of Japan,
Hong Kong remained under British control until 1997, when it was returned to China. As
a special administrative region, Hong Kong maintains a separate political and economic
system apart from mainland China.[18]

As the world's seventh-largest trading entity,[19][20] the territory's legal tender, Hong Kong
dollar, is the 13th-most traded currency.[21] Hong Kong's services-dominated economy is
characterised by competitive simple taxation and supported by its common law judicial
system.[22]Although the city boasts one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, it
suffers severe income inequality.[23]

The territory features the most skyscrapers in the world, surrounding Victoria Harbour,
which lies in the centre of the city's dense urban region.[24]It has a very high Human
Development Index ranking and the seventh-highest life expectancy in the world.[8] Over
90% of its population makes use of well-developed public transportation.[25] Seasonal air
pollution from neighbouring industrial areas of mainland China has resulted in a high
level of atmospheric particulates in winter.[26]

Contents

 1Etymology
 2History
 3Government and politics
o 3.1Administrative divisions
o 3.2Political reforms and sociopolitical issues
 4Geography
o 4.1Climate
o 4.2Architecture
 5Demographics
 6Economy
 7Infrastructure
o 7.1Transport
o 7.2Utilities
 8Culture
o 8.1Cuisine
o 8.2Cinema
o 8.3Music
o 8.4Sport and recreation
 9Media
 10See also
 11Notes and references
o 11.1Notes
o 11.2References
o 11.3Sources
 12External links

Etymology

Hong Kong

"Hong Kong" in Chinese characters

Chinese 香港

Cantonese Yale Hēunggóng or Hèunggóng

Literal meaning Fragrant Harbour,

Incense Harbour[27][28]
 showTranscriptions

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Traditional Chinese 香港特別行政區

(香港特區)

Simplified Chinese 香港特别行政区

(香港特区)

Cantonese Yale Hēunggóng Dahkbiht Hàhngjingkēui

(Hēunggóng Dahkkēui)
or

Hèunggóng Dahkbiht Hàhngjingkēui

(Hèunggóng Dahkkēui)

showTranscriptions

The name of the territory was first spelled as "He-Ong-Kong" in 1780,[29] and originally
referred to a small inlet between Aberdeen Island and the southern coast of Hong Kong
Island. Aberdeen was an initial point of contact between British sailors and local
fishermen.[30] The source of the romanised name is not known, but it is generally believed
to be an early phonetic rendering of the Cantonese pronunciation hēung góng. The name
translates to "fragrant harbour" or "incense harbour".[27][28][31] "Fragrance" may refer to the
sweet taste of the harbour's fresh water influx from the Pearl River or to the incense from
factories lining the coast of northern Kowloon. The incense was stored near Aberdeen
Harbour for export before Victoria Harbour developed.[31] Sir John Davis, the second
colonial Governor, offered an alternative origin, claiming that the name was derived from
"Hoong-keang" (meaning "red torrent"), reflecting the colour of soil through which a
waterfall on the island flowed.[32]Regardless of origin, the Treaty of Nanking indicates
Hong Kong Island using this name, which has referred to the entire territory ever since.[33]

The simplified name Hong Kong was frequently used by 1810,[34] though it was also
written as a single word. Hongkong was common until 1926, when the government
officially adopted the two-word form.[35] Some corporations founded during the early
colonial era still keep this name, including Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels and the
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.[36][37]
History
Main articles: History of Hong Kong and History of China

The region was first occupied by humans during the Neolithic period, around 6,000 years
ago.[38] Early Hong Kong settlers were a semi-coastal people[38] who migrated from inland
regions and brought with them knowledge of rice cultivation.[39] The Qin
dynasty incorporated the Hong Kong area into China for the first time in 214 BCE,
after conquering the indigenous Baiyue.[40] The region was consolidated under
the Nanyue kingdom following Qin collapse,[41] but recaptured by China after the Han
conquest.[42] During the Mongol conquest, the Southern Song court was briefly stationed
in modern-day Kowloon City (the Sung Wong Toi site) before the its final defeat at
the Battle of Yamen in 1279.[43] By the end of the Yuan dynasty, seven large families had
settled in the region and owned most of the land. Settlers from nearby provinces
migrated to Kowloon throughout the Ming dynasty.[44] The earliest European visitor
was Portuguese explorer Jorge Álvares, who arrived in 1513.[45][46] Portuguese merchants
established a trading post called "Tamão" in Hong Kong waters and began regularly
trading in southern China. Though these traders were expelled after military clashes in
the 1520s,[47] Luso-Chinese trade relations were reestablished by 1549. Portugal later
acquired a permanent lease for Macau in 1557.[48]

After the Qing conquest, maritime trade was banned under the Haijin doctrine.
The Kangxi Emperor lifted the prohibition and allowed foreigners to enter Chinese ports
in 1684.[49] Qing authorities established the Canton System in 1757 to more strictly
regulate trade, restricting non-Russian ships to the port of Canton.[50] While European
demand for Chinese commodities like tea, silk, and porcelain was high, Chinese interest
in European manufactured goods was negligible. To counter this trade imbalance, the
British sold large volumes of Indian opium to China. Faced with a drug crisis, Qing
officials pursued ever more aggressive actions to halt the opium trade.[51] The Daoguang
Emperor rejected proposals to legalise and tax opium, and instead ordered Imperial
Commissioner Lin Zexu to eradicate the opium trade in 1839. The commissioner
destroyed opium stockpiles and stopped all foreign trade,[52] forcing a British military
response and starting the First Opium War. The Qing initially conceded early in the war
and ceded Hong Kong Island in the Convention of Chuenpi. However, both countries
were dissatisfied and did not ratify this agreement.[53] After over a year of further
hostilities, Hong Kong Island was formally ceded to the United Kingdom under the Treaty
of Nanking on 29 August 1842.[54]

Administrative infrastructure was very quickly built up by early 1842, but frequent piracy,
endemic disease, and hostile Qing policies towards Hong Kong prevented the
government from attracting merchants. The Taiping Rebellion improved the island's
conditions, when many wealthier Chinese fled from the turbulent conditions of the
mainland and settled in the colony.[16] Further tensions between the British and Qing over
the opium trade escalated into the Second Opium War. The defeated Qing were again
forced to give up land, ceding Kowloon Peninsula and Stonecutter's Islandin
the Convention of Peking.[55] By the end of this war, Hong Kong had morphed from a
transient colonial outpost into a major entrepôt. Rapid economic improvement in the
1850s attracted foreign investment, as potential stakeholders became more confident in
the future of the colony.[56]

The colony was expanded further in 1898, when Britain obtained a 99-year lease of
the New Territories.[57] The University of Hong Kong was established in 1911 as the
territory's first higher education institute.[58] Kai Tak Airport entered operation in 1924 and
the colony was able to avoid a prolonged economic downturn after the Canton–Hong
Kong strike ended, which had lasted for more than a year from 1925 through 1926.[59][60]At
the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937, Governor Northcote declared Hong
Kong a neutral zone to safeguard its status as a free port.[61] The colonial government
prepared for a possible attack by evacuating all British women and children in
1940.[62] The Imperial Japanese Army attacked Hong Kong on 8 December 1941, on the
same morning as attack on Pearl Harbor.[63] The colony was occupied by Japan for
almost four years, before Britain resumed control on 30 August 1945.[64]

Hong Kong's population recovered quickly after the war, as skilled Chinese migrants fled
from the Chinese Civil War. Even more refugees crossed the border when
the Communist Party took full control of mainland China in 1949.[65] Hong Kong became
the first of the Four Asian Tiger economies to industrialise in the 1950s.[66] With a rapidly
rising population, the colonial government started reforms to improve infrastructure and
public services. The public housing estate programme, ICAC, and Mass Transit
Railway were all established in the post-war decades to provide safer housing, a clean
civil service, and more reliable transport.[67][68] The territory's competitiveness in
manufacturing gradually declined due to rising labour and property costs, but it made a
successful transition to a services-based economy. By the early 1990s, Hong Kong had
established itself as a global financial centre and shipping hub.[69]

As the end of the New Territories lease drew closer, the colony faced an uncertain future
and Governor MacLehose raised the question of Hong Kong's status with Deng
Xiaoping in 1979.[70] Diplomatic negotiations with China resulted in the Sino-British Joint
Declaration in 1984. The United Kingdom agreed to transfer the entire colony in 1997
and China would guarantee Hong Kong's economic and political systems for 50 years
after the transfer.[71] The impending retrocession triggered a wave of mass emigration, as
residents feared an erosion of civil rights, the rule of law, and quality of life.[72] Over half a
million people in total left the territory during the peak migration period from 1987 until
1996.[73] Hong Kong was transferred to China on 1 July 1997, after 156 years of British
rule.[74]

Immediately after the transfer of sovereignty, Hong Kong was severely affected by
several crises. The government was forced to use substantial foreign-exchange
reserves to maintain the Hong Kong dollar's currency peg during the 1997 Asian financial
crisis,[65] but the recovery from this was muted by the H5N1 avian flu outbreak[75] as well
as a housing oversupply crisis.[76] All of this was followed by the SARS epidemic in 2003,
during which the territory suffered its most serious economic downturn.[77]

Political debates after the transfer of sovereignty have centred around the
region's democratic development and the central government's adherance to the "one
country, two systems" concept. After reversal of the last colonial era Legislative
Council democratic reforms immediately following the handover,[78] the regional
government unsuccessfully attempted to enact sweeping national security
legislation pursuant to Article 23 of the Basic Law.[79] The central government decision to
implement nominee pre-screening before allowing Chief Executive
elections triggered mass protests in 2014, collectively known as the Umbrella
Revolution.[80] Discrepancies in the electorate registry and disqualification of elected
legislators following the 2016 Legislative Council elections,[81][82][83] as well as enforcement
of national law in the West Kowloon high-speed railway station have raised extreme
concern over the region's jurisdictional independence.[84]

Government and politics

Main articles: Government of Hong Kong, Politics of Hong Kong, and Elections in Hong
Kong

The legislature meets in the Legislative Council Complex in Tamar.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China with executive, legislative, and
judicial powers devolved from the national government.[85] It has an executive-led system,
inherited from its time as a British colony.[86][87] The Sino-British Joint
Declaration guarantees the territory's capitalist economy and assures local self-
governance for 50 years after the transfer of sovereignty,[71] except in diplomatic and
military affairs, which the central authority is responsible for.[88] Under these terms and the
concept of "one country, two systems", the Basic Law of Hong Kong is the
regional constitution.[89]

The regional government is composed of three branches:

 Executive: The Chief Executive is responsible for enforcing regional law,[86] can force
reconsideration of legislative bills,[90] and appoints Executive Council members
and principal officials.[91] When acting with the Executive Council, the Chief
Executive-in-Council can propose new bills, may issue subordinate legislation, and
has authority to dissolve the legislature.[92]
 Legislature: The unicameral Legislative Council enacts regional law, approves
budgets, and has the power to impeach a sitting Chief Executive.[93]
 Judiciary: The Court of Final Appeal and lower courts, whose judges are appointed
by the Chief Executive on the advice of a recommendation commission,[94] interprets
laws and overturns those inconsistent with the Basic Law.[95]

The Chief Executive is the head of government and serves for a five-year term,
renewable once. The State Council appoints the Chief Executive after nomination by
the Election Committee, which is composed of 1,200 prominent business, community,
and government leaders.[96][97][98]

The Legislative Council has 70 members sitting for a four-year term:[99] 35 directly elected
from geographical constituencies and 35 representing functional constituencies. 30 FC
councilors are selected among limited electorates representing different sectors of the
economy or special interest groups,[100] while the remaining 5 FC members are nominated
from sitting District Councilmembers and selected in region-wide double direct
elections.[101] All popularly elected members are chosen using proportional
representation. The 30 limited electorate functional constituencies fill their seats
using first-past-the-post or instant-runoff voting.[100]

22 political parties had representatives elected to the Legislative Council in the 2016
election.[102] These parties have aligned themselves into three ideological groups: the pro-
Beijing camp who form the current government, the pro-democracy camp, and localist
groups.[103] The Communist Party does not have an official political presence in Hong
Kong and its members do not run in local elections.[104] Hong Kong is represented in
the National People's Congress by 36 deputies chosen through an electoral college and
203 delegates in the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference appointed by
the central government.[7]
The Court of Final Appeal Buildingformerly housed the Supreme Courtand the Legislative
Council before its current function.

Chinese national law does not generally apply in the region, and Hong Kong is treated as
a separate jurisdiction.[95] The territorial judicial system is based on common law,
continuing the legal tradition established during British rule.[105] Local courts may refer to
precedents set in English law and overseas jurisprudence.[106] However, interpretative
and amending power over the Basic Law itself and jurisdiction over acts of state lie with
the central authority, making regional courts ultimately subordinate to the socialist civil
law system of the mainland.[107] Additionally, decisions made by the Standing Committee
of the National People's Congress can override territorial judicial processes.[108]

Jurisdictional independence of the territory is most apparent is its immigration policy and
taxation. The Immigration Department issues distinct passportsfor permanent residents
different from those of the mainland or Macau.[109] The region also maintains a regulated
border with the rest of the country. All travellers between Hong Kong and both China and
Macau must pass through border controls, regardless of nationality.[110] Chinese citizens
resident in mainland China do not have right of abode in Hong Kong, and are subject to
immigration controls.[111] Public finances are handled independently of the national
government and taxes levied in Hong Kong do not fund the central authority.[112][113]

The Hong Kong Garrison is responsible for the region's defence.[114] The President of
China is supreme commander of the armed forces,[115] but the regional government may
request assistance from the garrison.[116] Hong Kong residents are not required to perform
military service and current law also has no provision for local enlistment, meaning that
the defending force is composed entirely of non-Hongkonger personnel.[117]

The central government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs handle diplomatic affairs, but
Hong Kong retains the ability to maintain separate economic and cultural relations with
foreign nations.[118]The territory actively participates in the World Trade
Organization, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, International Olympic
Committee, and many United Nations agencies.[119][120][121]The regional government
maintains trade offices throughout Greater China and in other nations.[122]

Administrative divisions
Main articles: List of cities and towns in Hong Kong and Districts of Hong Kong

The territory is administratively divided into 18 districts. A District Council represents

each district and advises the government on local issues such as public facility
provisioning, community programme maintenance, cultural promotion, and environmental
policy.[123] There are a total of 479 seats in the District Councils, 452 of which are directly
elected. Rural committee chairmen representing outlying villages and towns fill the
remaining 27 seats.[124]

Political reforms and sociopolitical issues

Main articles: Democratic development in Hong Kong and Human rights in Hong Kong

Presentation of an electoral reform consultation report in 2014

Articles 45 and 68 state that the ultimate goal is for both the Chief Executive and all
members of the Legislative Council to be selected by universal suffrage.[125] While the
legislature is now partially directly elected, the executive continues to be selected by
means other than direct election.[126] The government faces ongoing calls to introduce
direct election of the Chief Executive and all Legislative Council members.[127] These
efforts have been partially successful; the Election Committee no longer selects a portion
of the Legislative Council.[128]

Ethnic minorities, excluding those of European ancestry, have marginal representation in

government and are often discriminated against while seeking housing, education, and
employment opportunities.[129][130] Employment vacancies and public service appointments
frequently have language requirements, which minority job seekers frequently fail to
meet, while language education resources remain inadequate for Chinese
learners.[131][132]Foreign domestic helpers, predominantly women from
the Philippines and Indonesia, have little protection under territorial law. Although
residing and working in Hong Kong, workers of this class are not treated as ordinarily
resident, barring them from eligibility for right of abode.[133]

The Joint Declaration guarantees the functioning of the Basic Law only for 50 years after
the transfer of sovereignty.[71] It does not specify how Hong Kong is to be governed after
2047, and how the central government will determine the territory's system of
government past this point is the subject of political debate and speculation. It is possible
that Hong Kong's political and judicial systems will be reintegrated with China's at this
date or the territory may have its autonomy extended for a further period of time.[134][135]

Geography
Main articles: Geography of Hong Kong and Ecology of Hong Kong

Areas of urban development and vegetation are visible in this false-colour satellite image.

Hong Kong is located on the southern coast of China, 60 km (37 mi) east of Macau, at
the mouth of the Pearl River estuary on its eastern side. It is surrounded by the South
China Sea on all sides except its northern boundary, which neighbours the Guangdong
city of Shenzhen along the Sham Chun River. The territory's 2,755 km2 (1,064 sq mi)
area consists of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories, Lantau
Island, and over 200 other offshore islands. Of the total area, 1,106 km2 (427 sq mi) is
land and 1,649 km2 (637 sq mi) is water.[9] The territory's highest point is Tai Mo Shan, at
957 metres (3,140 ft) above sea level.[136] Urban development is concentrated on
Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong Island, and in new towns located throughout the New
Territories.[137] Much of this is built on reclaimed land, due to the lack of developable flat
land; an area of 70 km2 (27 sq mi), representing 6 per cent of total land or about 25 per
cent of developed space in the territory, is reclaimed from the sea.[138]

Undeveloped terrain is largely hilly to mountainous with very little flat land, consisting
mostly of grassland, woodland, shrubland, or is used for agriculture.[139][140] About 40 per
cent of the remaining land area is reserved as country parks and nature reserves.[141] The
territory has a highly diverse ecosystem: over 3,000 species of vascular plants occur in
the region, 300 of which are native to Hong Kong, as well as thousands of other insect,
avian, and marine species.[142][143]

Climate
Hong Kong has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa) characteristic of southern
China. Summer is hot and humid with occasional showers and thunderstorms, with warm
air coming from the southwest. Typhoons most often occur in summer, sometimes
resulting in flooding or landslides. Winters are mild and usually start sunny, becoming
cloudier towards February; the occasional cold front brings strong, cooling winds from the
north. The most temperate seasons are spring, which can be changeable, and autumn,
which is generally sunny and dry.[144] Snowfall is extremely rare, and usually occurs in
areas of high elevation. Hong Kong averages 1,709 hours of sunshine per year,[145] while
the highest and lowest ever recorded temperatures at the Hong Kong Observatory are
36.6 °C (97.9 °F) on 22 August 2017 and 0.0 °C (32.0 °F) on 18 January 1893,
respectively.[146] The highest and lowest ever recorded temperatures across all of Hong
Kong, on the other hand, are 38.4 °C (101 °F) at Waglan Island in June 1991 and
−6.0 °C (21.2 °F) at Tai Mo Shan on 24 January 2016, respectively.[147]

showClimate data for Hong Kong (Hong Kong Observatory), normals 1981–2010, ex

Architecture
Main article: Architecture of Hong Kong
See also: List of tallest buildings in Hong Kong

Stacked apartment units in the Montane Mansion building located in Quarry Bay, an example of
architectural compression commonly found in Hong Kong
Hong Kong boasts the highest number of skyscrapers, with 317 towers taller than 150
metres (490 ft),[24] and the third-most high-rise buildings in the world.[150] A lack of
available sprawl space restricted development to high-density residential tenements and
commercial complexes packed closely together on areas of improvable land.[151] Single-
family detached homes are extremely rare and generally only found in outlying areas.[152]

The International Commerce Centre and Two International Finance Centre are the tallest
buildings in Hong Kong and among the tallest in the Asia-Pacific region.[153] Other distinct
towers line the Hong Kong Island skyline, including the HSBC Main Building,
the anemometer-topped triangular Central Plaza, the circular Hopewell Centre, and the
sharp-edged Bank of China Tower.[154][155]

High demand for new construction has contributed to frequent demolition of older
buildings, freeing space for the development of modern architecture high-
rises.[156] Despite this, many examples of European and Lingnan architecture can be
found throughout the territory. Older government installations are enduring examples of
colonial architecture. Flagstaff House, the former residence of the commanding British
military officer, was built in 1846 and is the oldest Western-style building in Hong
Kong.[157] Some remain used in their originally intended functions, including the Court of
Final Appeal Buildingand the Hong Kong Observatory, while others have been modified
for adaptive reuse; the Former Marine Police Headquarters was extensively redeveloped
into a commercial and retail complex[158] and Béthanie, built in 1875 as a sanatorium,
currently houses the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.[159] The Tin Hau Temple,
dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu and originally constructed in 1012 then rebuilt in
1266, is the oldest standing structure in the territory.[160] The Ping Shan Heritage
Trail contains architectural examples from several dynastic eras of imperial China,
including the Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda, the only remaining pagoda in Hong Kong.[161]

Tong lau, describing mixed-use tenement buildings constructed during the colonial era,
blended southern Chinese architectural styles with European influences. These were
especially prolific during the immediate post-war period, when many were rapidly
constructed to house large numbers of migrants from China.[162] Examples of this mixed
style include Lui Seng Chun, the Blue House in Wan Chai, and the Shanghai Street
shophouses in Mong Kok. Mass produced public housing estates constructed from the
1960s on were largely built in the modernist style.[163]
 City view of Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, and the Hong Kong skyline

Demographics
Main articles: Demographics of Hong Kong and Hong Kong people

The Census and Statistics Department estimated the population to be 7,409,800 people
as of December 2017.[10] The overwhelming majority (92%) of the population is Han
Chinese,[6] the majority of whom are Taishanese, Teochew, Hakka, and a variety of
other Cantonese peoples.[164][165][166] The remaining 8% is composed of non-ethnic
Chinese minorities, mostly Filipinos, Indonesians, and South Asians.[6][167] About half of
the population has some form of British nationality, a legacy of colonial rule. 3.4 million
residents hold British National (Overseas) status and a further 260,000 British
citizens reside in the territory.[168] The vast majority of them also hold Chinese nationality,
which was automatically granted to all Chinese residents at the transfer of
sovereignty.[169]

The predominant language is Cantonese, a variety of Chinese originating in Guangdong.

94.6% of the population speak Cantonese, 88.9% as a first language and 5.7% as a
second language.[170] Slightly over half of the population (53.2%) speaks English, the
other official language,[3] though only 4.3% use it natively and 48.9% as a second
language.[170] Code-switching is common among the bilingual population, mixing English
and Cantonese in informal conversation.[171] Post-handover governments have
promoted Mandarin, which is now about as prevalent as English; 48.6% of the population
can speak it, with 1.9% using it as a first language and 46.7% as a second
language.[170] Traditional Chinese characters are used in writing, rather than the simplified
characters used in the mainland.[172]

Among the religious population, the traditional "three teachings" of China

(Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism) have the most adherents (20%), followed
by Christianity (12%), and Islam(4%).[173] Followers of other religions,
including Sikhism, Hinduism, Judaism, and the Bahá'í Faith, generally ethnically originate
from the same region as their faith.[173]

Of residents aged 15 and older, 81.3% completed lower secondary schooling, 66.4%
graduated from upper secondary, 31.6% attended a non-degree tertiary program, and
24% earned a bachelor's degree or higher.[174] Mandatory education has contributed to an
adult literacy rate of 95.7%.[175] While comparatively lower than that of other developed
economies, this rate is due to the influx of refugees from mainland China during the post-
war colonial era. Much of the elderly population were not formally educated as a result of
war and poverty.[176][177]

Life expectancy in Hong Kong is 81.7 years for males and 87.7 years for females as of
2017, making it the seventh-highest in the world.[8][10] Cancer, pneumonia, heart
disease, cerebrovascular disease, and severe injuries caused by accidents are the five
leading causes of death in the territory.[178] The universal public system is funded by
general tax revenue and treatment is highly subsidised; on average, 95 per cent of
healthcare costs is covered by the government.[179]

Income inequality has risen since the transfer of sovereignty, as the region's ageing
population has gradually added to the number of economically inactive people.[180] While
median household income has steadily increased in the last decade, the wage gap
remains high.[181] The 90th percentile of earners receives 41 per cent of all
income.[181] The city also has the most billionaires per capita, with one per 109,657
people.[182] Despite government efforts to reduce the growing disparity,[183] median income
for the top 10 per cent of earners is 44 times that of the bottom 10 per cent.[184][185]

Economy
Main articles: Economy of Hong Kong and Tourism in Hong Kong

The Port of Hong Kong is one of the busiest container ports in the world.

Hong Kong has a capitalist mixed service economy, characterised by low taxation,
minimal government market intervention, and an established international financial
market.[186] It is the 35th-largest economy in the world, with a nominal GDP of
approximately US$364 billion.[12] Hong Kong's economy has consistently ranked at the
top of the Heritage Foundation's index of economic freedom since 1995,[187][188] but the
territory suffers from a relatively high level of income disparity.[13] The Hong Kong Stock
Exchange is the seventh largest in the world and has a market capitalisation of US$4.3
trillion as of December 2017.[189]

Hong Kong is the seventh largest trading entity in both exports and imports, trading more
goods in value than its gross domestic product.[19][20] Over half of its cargo throughput
consists of transshipments, or goods travelling through Hong Kong. Products from
mainland China alone account for about 40 per cent of that traffic.[190] The city's location
allowed it to establish a transportation and logistics infrastructure system that includes
the fifth busiest container port in the world[190] and the busiest airport for international
cargo.[191] The territory's largest export markets are mainland China and the United
States.[8]

The territory has little arable land and few natural resources, so it imports most of its food
and raw materials. Imports account for more than 90 per cent of Hong Kong's food
supply, including nearly all the meat and rice available there.[192] Agricultural activity
outputs a marginal 0.1% of GDP, consisting of growing premium food and flower
varieties.[193]

While the territory boasted one of the largest manufacturing economies in Asia during the
latter half of the colonial era, Hong Kong's economy is now dominated by the services
sector. Services alone constitute 92.7 per cent of economic output, with the public sector
accounting for about 10 per cent.[194] Between 1961 and 1997, Hong Kong's gross
domestic product multiplied by a factor of 180, while per-capita GDP increased 87 times
over.[195][196] The territory's GDP relative to mainland China's peaked at 27 per cent in
1993, but this has since fallen significantly as the mainland developed and liberalised its
economy, declining to less than 3 per cent in 2017.[197]

Trading floor of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange

Economic and infrastructure integration with China has increased significantly from the
start of market liberalisation in the mainland in 1978. Since resumption of cross-boundary
train service in 1979, many rail and road links have been improved and constructed,
facilitating trade between the regions.[198][199] The Closer Partnership Economic
Arrangement formalised a policy of free trade between the two areas. Each jurisdiction
pledged to remove remaining obstacles to trade and cross-boundary investments.[200] A
similar economic partnership arrangement with Macau also details liberalisation of trade
and deregulation of the movement of goods and services between the two special
administrative regions.[201] Chinese companies have greatly expanded their economic
presence in the territory since the transfer of sovereignty. Mainland firms now represent
over half of the Hang Seng Index value, up from 5 per cent in 1997.[202][203]

As the mainland liberalised its economy, Hong Kong's shipping industry faced severe
competition from other Chinese ports. While 50 per cent of China's trade goods were
routed through Hong Kong in 1997, that figure dropped to about 13 per cent by
2015.[204] Conversely, the territory's minimal taxation, common law system, and effective
civil service attract overseas corporations looking to establish a presence in Asia.[204] The
city hosts the second highest number of corporate headquarters in the Asia-
Pacific region.[205] Additionally, Hong Kong is a gateway for foreign direct investment into
China. Investors have open access to mainland Chinese markets through direct links with
the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges. The territory was the first market outside
of mainland China for renminbi-denominated bonds and remains one of the largest hubs
for offshore renminbi trading.[206]

The government traditionally adopted a passive role in the economy. Colonial

governments had little by way of industrial policy and implemented almost no trade
controls. Under the doctrine of "positive non-interventionism", post-war administrations
deliberately avoided directly allocating productive resources. Active intervention was
thought to be detrimental to economic growth.[207]While the economy transitioned to
become services-based in the 1980s,[207] late colonial governments steadily introduced
interventionist policies. Post-handover administrations continued and expanded on these
programmes, including export credit guarantees, a compulsory pension scheme, a
minimum wage, anti-discrimination laws, and a state mortgage backer.[208]

Tourism forms a major part of the economy, accounting for 5% of GDP.[158] 26.6 million
visitors contributed US$32.9 billion to the territory in 2016, making Hong Kong the
14th most popular destination for international tourists. It is also the most popular city for
tourists, receiving over 70 per cent more visitors than its closest competitor,
Macau.[209] The city is further consistently ranked as one of the most expensive cities for
expatriates.[210][211]

Infrastructure
Transport
Main article: Transport in Hong Kong

Entrance to the Cross-Harbour Tunnel in Hung Hom, Kowloon

Hong Kong has a highly developed and sophisticated transport network. Over 90% of
daily journeys are made on public transport, the highest such percentage in the
world.[25] The Octopus card, a contactless smart payment card, is widely accepted on
railways, buses, and ferries, and can be used for payment in most retail stores.[212]

The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is an extensive passenger railway network, connecting
93 metro stations throughout the territory.[213] With a daily ridership of over five million, the
system serves 41% of all public transit passengers in the city[214] and is extremely
punctual, achieving an on-time rate of 99.9%.[215] Cross-boundary train service
to Shenzhen is offered by the East Rail line and longer distance inter-city
trains to Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing are operated from Hung Hom
Station.[216] Connecting service to the national high-speed rail system is scheduled to
begin in 2018, after construction of West Kowloon Station completes.[217]

While public transport systems handle the majority of passenger traffic, there are over
500,000 private vehicles licensed in Hong Kong.[218] Automobiles drive on the left, unlike
in mainland China, due to historical influence from the British Empire.[219] Vehicle traffic is
extremely congested in urban areas, exacerbated by limited space to expand roads and
a growing number of vehicles.[220] More than 18,000 taxicabs, easily identifiable by their
bright paint, are licensed to carry riders in the territory.[221] Bus services operate more
than 700 routes across the territory[214], with smaller public light buses (also called
minibuses) complementing them by serving areas where standard buses cannot reach or
do not operate in as frequently or directly.[222] Highways are organised as the Hong Kong
Strategic Route and Exit Number System, connecting all major geographic areas of the
territory.[223] When completed, the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge will create a direct
route to the western side of the Pearl River estuary.[199]
MTR train on the Tung Chung line

Hong Kong International Airport is the primary airport for the territory. Over 100 airlines
operate flights from the airport, including locally based Cathay Pacific (flag carrier), Hong
Kong Airlines, Regional carrier Cathay Dragon, and cargo airline Air Hong Kong.[224] It is
the eighth-busiest airport by passenger traffic[225] and also handles the most air cargo
traffic in the world.[226] The majority of private recreational aviation traffic flies
through Shek Kong Airfield under supervision of the Hong Kong Aviation Club.[227]

The Star Ferry operates two lines across Victoria Harbour for its 53,000 daily
passengers.[228] Ferries also serve outlying islands inaccessible by other means.
Smaller kai-to boats serve the most remote coastal settlements.[229] Cross-boundary
travel to Macau and mainland China is available by ferry as well.[230] Junk ships, once
commonplace in Hong Kong waters, are no longer widely available for transport and are
currently used for tourism and private use.[231]

The Peak Tram, the first public transport system in Hong Kong, has provided vertical rail
transport between Central and Victoria Peak since 1888.[232] In the Central and Western
District, there is an extensive system of escalators and moving pavements, including the
longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world, the Mid-Levels escalator.[233] Hong
Kong Tramways covers a portion of Hong Kong Island. The MTR operates the Light
Rail system serving the northwestern New Territories.[213]

Utilities
Main articles: Energy in Hong Kong, Electricity sector in Hong Kong, and Water supply
and sanitation in Hong Kong

Hong Kong imports almost all its generated electricity and fuel.[234] The vast majority of
this energy comes from fossil fuels, with 46% from coal and 47% from petroleum.[235] The
rest is from other imports, including nuclear energy generated on the
mainland.[236] Renewable sources only account for a negligible amount of total energy
generated for the territory.[237] Wind power sources have been developed at very low
scale,[234] and a small number of private homes have deployed solar panels for residential
use.[238]
With few natural lakes and rivers, a high population density, inaccessible groundwater
sources, and extremely seasonal rainfall, the territory does not have a reliable source of
fresh water. The Dongjiang River in Guangdong supplies 70% of the city's water,[239] while
the remaining demand is filled by harvesting rainwater.[240] Toilets flush using seawater,
greatly reducing freshwater usage.[239]

Broadband Internet access is widely available, with 92.6% of households connected.

Connections over fibre-optic infrastructure are increasingly prevalent,[241] contributing to
the high regional average connection speed of 21.9 Mbit/s, ranked fourth in the
world.[242] Mobile phone usage in Hong Kong is ubiquitous;[243] there are more than 18
million active mobile phone subscribers,[244] more than double the total number of
residents in the territory.[10]

Culture
Main article: Culture of Hong Kong
See also: Lingnan culture

Hong Kong is often characterised as a hybrid of East and West. Traditional Chinese
values emphasising family and education are blended with progressive Western ideals,
including economic liberty and the rule of law.[245] Though the vast majority of the
population is ethnically Chinese, Hong Kong has developed a distinct identity. The
territory diverged from the mainland due to the long period of colonial administration and
a differing pace of economic, social, and cultural development. Mainstream culture is
derived from immigrants originating from various parts of China. This was influenced by
British-style education, a separate political system, and the territory's rapid development
during the late 20th century.[246][247] Most incoming migrants were fleeing poverty and war,
which is reflected in the way that people in Hong Kong today view wealth, tending to
quite closely tie self-image and decision-making to material benefits.[248][249]

Traditional Chinese family values are prevalent among the population. These
include preference for sons, family honor, and filial piety.[250] Nuclear families are the most
common households. But, multi-generational and extended family living arrangements
are also not unusual.[251] Spiritual concepts like feng shui are very seriously considered.
Large-scale construction projects often hire consultants to ensure proper building
positioning and layouts. The degree of adherence to feng shui is believed to determine
the success of a business.[154] Bagua mirrors are regularly used to deflect evil
spirits[252] and buildings often lack floor numbers with a 4 in them;[253] the number has a
similar sound to the word for "die" in Cantonese.[254]

Cuisine
Main article: Hong Kong cuisine

Left: typical fare at a dim sum restaurant. Right: cha chaan teng breakfast food with Hong Kong-
style milk tea.

Food in Hong Kong is primarily based on Cantonese cuisine, despite the territory's
sustained exposure to foreign influences and many residents with varied origins. Rice is
the primary staple food and is usually served plain with other dishes.[255] Freshness of
ingredients is particularly emphasised. Poultry and seafood are commonly sold live at wet
markets and ingredients are used as quickly as possible.[256] There are five mealtimes:
breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and siu yeh.[257] Dim sum, usually served from
breakfast to lunch, is a central aspect of local cuisine. Large groups of family and friends
gather to yum cha, the social tradition of gathering to dine at a teahouse or restaurant.
Characteristic dishes include congee, cha siu bao, siu yuk, egg tarts, and mango
pudding. Local interpretations of Western food are served at fast, casual restaurants
called cha chaan teng. Common menu items at these restaurants include macaroni in
soup, deep-fried French toast, and Hong Kong-style milk tea.[255]

Cinema
Main article: Cinema of Hong Kong

A statue of Bruce Lee on the Avenue of Stars, a tribute to the city's martial arts
Hong Kong developed into a major filmmaking hub in the late 1940s, as a wave of
Shanghai filmmakers migrated to the territory. These movie veterans helped rebuild the
colony's entertainment industry through the next decade.[258] By the 1960s, the city itself
was already well-known to overseas audiences through foreign films like The World of
Suzie Wong.[259] But it was not until the 1972 release of the Bruce Lee film Way of the
Dragon that local productions became popular outside of Hong Kong. Building on this
momentum, films in the 1980s including A Better Tomorrow, As Tears Go By, and Zu
Warriors from the Magic Mountain expanded global interest beyond martial arts films.
Locally made gangster movies, romantic dramas, and supernatural fantasies became
hugely popular.[260] Hong Kong cinema in the 1990s continued to find international
success through critically acclaimed dramatic pictures such as Farewell My
Concubine, To Live, and Chungking Express. Nevertheless, the city's film industry roots
in martial arts can often be observed through the roles of the most prolific Hong Kong
actors. Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen, Jet Li, Chow Yun-fat, and Michelle Yeoh frequently star
in action-oriented parts when featured in foreign films. At the height of the local movie
industry in the early 1990s, over 400 films were produced each year. Since then, industry
momentum shifted towards mainland China. The annual number of films produced has
declined significantly, to around 60 in 2017.[261]

Music
Main article: Music of Hong Kong

Leslie Cheung (left) is considered one of the pioneering artists of the Cantopop genre. Andy
Lau(right), as a member of the Four Heavenly Kings, has been a perennial icon in Hong Kong
music and film for the past several decades.

Cantopop is the genre of Cantonese popular music that emerged in Hong Kong during
the 1970s. This musical style evolved from Shanghai-style shidaiqu, influenced
by Cantonese opera and Western pop as well.[262] Overseas popularity of Hong Kong
films and dramas allowed Cantopop to capture large followings. Local media featured
songs performed by artists such as Anita Mui, Leslie Cheung, and Alan Tam. Throughout
the 1980s, these movies and shows were exported outside of the territory and exposed
Cantopop to a global audience.[263] The genre continued to enjoy peak popularity in the
1990s as the Four Heavenly Kings dominated record charts throughout Asia.[264] Despite
a general decline since the late 1990s,[265] Cantopop remains dominant in Hong Kong
today. More recent contemporary artists such as Eason Chan, Joey Yung,
and Twins continue to be popular within and outside the territory.[266]

Western classical music has historically had a strong presence in Hong Kong, and
remains a large part of local musical education.[267] The publicly-funded Hong Kong
Philharmonic Orchestra is the territory's oldest professional symphony orchestra and
frequently host musicians and conductors from overseas. The Hong Kong Chinese
Orchestra, composed solely of classical Chinese instrumentation, is the leading Chinese
ensemble counterpart and plays a large role in promoting traditional music in the local
community.[268]

Sport and recreation

Main article: Sport in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Sevens is considered the premier tournament on the World Rugby Sevens
Series and is held annually in spring.

Despite its small area, the territory is home to a wide range of sports and recreational
facilities. Hong Kong maintains regional sports teams to represent itself abroad, and
participates in international competitions apart from Chinese national teams. The city has
hosted a number of major sporting events, including the 2009 East Asian Games,
the 2008 Summer Olympics equestrian events, and the 2007 Premier League Asia
Trophy.[269] The territory regularly hosts the Hong Kong Sevens, Hong Kong
Marathon, Hong Kong Tennis Classic, and Lunar New Year Cup, additionally serving as
the inaugural host city for the AFC Asian Cup and where the 1995 Dynasty Cup was
held.[270][271]

The region has participated at almost every Summer Olympics since 1952, earning 3
medals throughout the competitions. Lee Lai-shan won the territory's first and only
Olympic gold medal in the 1996 Atlanta Games.[272] Hong Kong athletes have also
won 126 medals at the Paralympic Gamesand 17 at the Commonwealth Games. No
longer part of the Commonwealth of Nations, the city's last appearance at the
Commonwealth Games was in 1994.[273]

The Hong Kong Jockey Club holds a statutory monopoly on gambling and is the largest
taxpayer in the territory.[274] Betting duties alone account for over 7 per cent of revenue
collected by the government.[275] Three forms of gambling are legal in Hong Kong:
lotteries, horse race betting, and football betting.[274] Dragon boat races originated as a
religious ceremony performed during the annual Tuen Ng Festival. The race was revived
as a modern sport as part of the Tourism Board's efforts to promote Hong Kong's image
abroad. The first modern competition was organised in 1976, and overseas teams began
competing in the first international race in 1993.[276]

Media
Main article: Media of Hong Kong

TVB City, headquarters of the first wireless television station in the territory

The major English-language newspaper for Hong Kong is the South China Morning Post,
with The Standard serving as a business-oriented alternative. A large variety of Chinese-
language publications are distributed daily; the most prominent are Ming Pao, Oriental
Daily News, and the Apple Daily. Local publications are often overt in their political
affiliations, showing either pro-Beijing or pro-democracy sympathies. The central
government itself maintains a print media presence in the territory through the state-
owned Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po.[277] Several international publications base their
regional operations in Hong Kong as well, including The Wall Street Journal, The
Financial Times, The New York Times International Edition, USA Today, Yomiuri
Shimbun, and The Nikkei.[278]

Three free-to-air television broadcasters operate in Hong Kong; TVB, HKTVE, and
Fantastic TV in total air three analogue and eight digital channels.[279]TVB, the dominant
television network in the territory, has an 80% share of viewership.[280] Pay TV
services operated by Cable TV Hong Kong and PCCW offer hundreds of additional
channels catering to a variety of audiences.[279] RTHK is the sole public broadcaster,
providing seven radio channels and three television channels.[281] 10 non-domestic
broadcasters air foreign programming for the territory's non-local population.[279] Access to
media and information over the Internet is not subject to regulations applicable in the
mainland, including restrictions through the Great Firewall.[282]