Some information about Hong Kong

Chinese name: Hong Kong

Foreign name: Hong Kong

Alias: Pearl of the Orient

Administrative Region Category: Special Administrative Region

Region: Southern China

Regions under jurisdiction: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories

Government location: Central and Western District, Hong Kong Island

Telephone area code: 852

Location: Southeast of the Pearl River Estuary

Area: About 1,104 square kilometers

Population: 6.8 million (2009)

Dialect: Cantonese

Climate conditions: Subtropical monsoon climate

Famous attractions: Victoria Harbor, Disneyland, Ocean Park, etc.

Airport: Hong Kong International Airport

Train station: Hung Hom Station

Chinese name: Hong Kong

Full Chinese name: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China

English name: Hong Kong

The full English name is Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HK SAR for short)

Hong Kong International Financial Center Location: Southeast of the Pearl River Estuary, close to Shenzhen in the north

Region Status: Hong Kong is one of the international financial centers, ranking among the top three in the world

Spoken languages: Cantonese, English, Mandarin

Text: Chinese (Traditional), English

Landmark buildings:

Hong Kong Cultural Center

K. Wah Center (K. Wah Centre)

International Commerce Center (International Comme...)｜Union Square

2 International Finance Center

Bank of China

[Edit this paragraph] City overview

Since the Qin Dynasty, Hong Kong has clearly become the territory of the Central Plains (the Central Plains refers to the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River centered on Henan). It was not until the defeat of the Qing Dynasty in the mid-19th century that the territory was ceded and leased to the British in batches to become a colony, and Hong Kong opened a port. develop. In September 1982, China and the United Kingdom implemented the issue of Hong Kong's future and signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984, deciding that the People's Republic of China would resume the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong on July 1, 1997. China promises to implement one country, two systems in Hong Kong. Hong Kong will maintain its capitalist system and original way of life, and enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign affairs and national defense. That is, "Hong Kong people govern Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy."

After the Second World War, Hong Kong's economy and society developed rapidly. It not only became one of the "Four Asian Tigers", but also one of the richest, most economically developed and highest living standards in the world. Hong Kong is an important financial, service and shipping center in Asia. It is famous for its clean government, good public security, free economic system and perfect rule of law. Historical changes have transformed Hong Kong from a small fishing village with only a thousand people to an international metropolis known as the "Pearl of the Orient" today.

[Edit this paragraph] Historical years

Historical evolution

The history of Hong Kong can be traced back to the Neolithic Age five thousand years ago. After Qin Shihuang unified China, he established three counties in the south: Nanhai, Guilin, and Xiangjun. Hong Kong was affiliated to Panyu County, Nanhai County. From then on, Hong Kong was placed under the jurisdiction of the central government. In the Han Dynasty, Hong Kong belonged to Boluo County, Nanhai County. In the sixth year of Xianhe in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD 331), Hong Kong was affiliated to Bao'an County, Dongguan County. During the Sui Dynasty, Hong Kong was affiliated to Bao'an County, Nanhai County, Guangzhou Prefecture. In the second year of Zhide (AD 757) of the Tang Dynasty, Bao'an County was changed to Dongguan County, and Hong Kong was still under Dongguan County.

During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, a large number of people from the mainland moved south to Hong Kong, which promoted Hong Kong's economic and cultural development. In the first year of Wanli of the Ming Dynasty (1573), Hong Kong was affiliated to Xin'an County.

The emblem of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Hong Kong is an excellent deep-water port and was once known as one of the three largest natural seaports in the world. In the early years, the British took a fancy to Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor for its potential to become an excellent port in East Asia. , did not hesitate to use the Opium War to seize this place from the Manchu Qing government in order to develop its maritime trade in the Far East, thus beginning the history of Hong Kong becoming a British colony. From 1842 to June 30, 1997, Hong Kong was a British colony. On July 1, 1997, Hong Kong returned to China.

The three parts of Hong Kong (Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories) originated from three unequal treaties at different times. After the First Opium War in 1840, Britain forced the Qing government to sign the Treaty of Nanjing in 1842 and cede Hong Kong Island. In 1856, the British and French forces launched the Second Opium War, forcing the Qing government to sign the Treaty of Beijing in 1860 and cede the Kowloon Peninsula, the area south of present-day Boundary Street. After the Sino-Japanese War of 1894, the British forced the Qing government to sign the "Special Treaty on the Expansion of Hong Kong Boundary Sites" in 1898, forcibly leasing the New Territories for a period of 99 years, ending on June 30, 1997. The lease of the New Territories expanded the area of ??Hong Kong by as much as ten times.

Chronology of major historical events

January 26, 1841: After the First Opium War, the British occupied Hong Kong Island. Afterwards, the Qing government tried to use force to take over the colonial period. The "Hong Kong flag" was restored, and Emperor Daoguang issued many edicts to this end, but the Qing Dynasty was never able to defend its territorial integrity.

August 29, 1842: The Qing government signed the unequal Treaty of Nanjing with the United Kingdom, ceding Hong Kong Island to the United Kingdom.

October 24, 1860: China and Britain signed the unequal Treaty of Beijing, ceding the area south of Boundary Street on the Kowloon Peninsula to Britain.

June 9, 1898: The British forced the Qing government to sign the "Special Treaty on Expanding the Boundary Site of Hong Kong" and leased the area north of Boundary Street on the Kowloon Peninsula and 262 nearby islands for a period of 99 years (until 1997 Ends on June 30, 2019).

December 25, 1941: During World War II, the Japanese army invaded Hong Kong. The British troops stationed in Hong Kong were unable to resist. The then Governor of Hong Kong, Yang Muqi, reluctantly announced his surrender. Hong Kong was occupied by Japan and began the "Japanese Occupation Period" of three years and eight months.

September 15, 1945: After Japan's defeat, it signed a surrender letter in Hong Kong and withdrew from Hong Kong.

December 19, 1984: China and Britain signed a joint declaration on Hong Kong, implementing the implementation of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong after 1997.

July 1, 1997: Hong Kong became a special administrative region of the Republic of China. According to the Basic Law, Hong Kong retains its original economic, legal and social systems, which will remain unchanged for 50 years, and implements "one country, two systems". Except for defense and foreign affairs that are under the control of the central government, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region enjoys a high degree of autonomy.

Origin of place names

There are several theories about the origin of Hong Kong’s place names:

Theory 1: Hong Kong’s name is related to spices. During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, Hong Kong was administratively subordinate to Dongguan, Guangdong. Since the Ming Dynasty, a small harbor in the south of Hong Kong Island has been a distribution port for the transshipment of spices from southern Guangdong. It is famous for its transshipment of spices produced in Dongguan, Guangdong, and is known as "Hong Kong". It is said that the spices transshipped in Hong Kong at that time were of high quality and were called "Hainan treasures". Many local people in Hong Kong were also engaged in growing spices. Together with the spices grown in Hong Kong, Hong Kong became famous. Soon this spice was listed as a tribute to the emperor, and created a prosperous incense making and shipping industry at that time. Later, the cultivation and transshipment of spices gradually declined, but the name Hong Kong remained.

Night view of Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong (A Symphony of Lights) Myth 2: Hong Kong is a natural harbor. There are sweet and delicious streams nearby. Sailors on the sea often come here to get water for drinking. Over time, the sweet fragrance The stream became famous, and this stream was also called "Hong Kong", and the small bay formed by the alluvial flow of the Xiang River into the sea began to be called "Hong Kong". A group of British people landed in Hong Kong Island from this harbor, so they named the entire island after "Hong Kong". To this day, "Hong Kong" is still another name for Hong Kong.

Argument 3: It is named after "Xianggu". It is said that Xianggu was the wife of a pirate. After the pirate died, she took over the island. Over time, people named the island after her and called it "Hong Kong".

Although there are different opinions, it is generally certain that the place name Hong Kong first appeared in the Ming Dynasty. It initially referred to a small harbor and small village on Hong Kong Island at that time, and was later expanded to refer to the entire The name of the island (Hong Kong Island) finally became a collective name for the entire area occupied by British colonists at the beginning of the 19th century.

Geography and Climate

Geographical Overview

Hong Kong is located at 114°15′ east longitude and 22°15′ north latitude. It is located on the coast of South China, at the mouth of the Pearl River in Guangdong Province, China. To the east, it consists of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, the inland New Territories, and 262 islands (outlying islands). Hong Kong borders Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province to the north and Wanshan Islands, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province to the south. Hong Kong is 61 kilometers across the river from Macau to the west, 130 kilometers from Guangzhou to the north, and 1,200 kilometers from Shanghai. In addition, Hong Kong's land mass decreases by 3 centimeters every year.

The three major parts of Hong Kong cover an area of ??approximately 81 square kilometers on Hong Kong Island; approximately 47 square kilometers on the Kowloon Peninsula; and approximately ***976 square kilometers on the New Territories and 262 outlying islands, with a total area of ??approximately 1,104 square kilometers. Slightly larger than one-sixth of Shanghai and only one-ten thousandth of the total area of ??China, the total area of ??land and water under its jurisdiction is 2,755.03 square kilometers, and the water ratio is 59.9. Hong Kong has less than 25% of developed land and as many as 40% of country parks and nature reserves.

Hong Kong Climate

Hong Kong has a subtropical climate. Summers are hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from 26 to 30°C. Winters are cool and dry, but rarely drop below 5°C. . It is rainy from May to September, sometimes quite heavily. Between summer and autumn, typhoons hit from time to time. July to September is the season with more typhoons in Hong Kong. The average annual rainfall in Hong Kong is 2,214.3 mm. The month with the highest rainfall is August and the month with the lowest rainfall is January.

Resources and Properties

Limited by the natural environment, Hong Kong is short of natural resources. Hong Kong relies on Guangdong Province for more than 60% of its drinking water. Mineral deposits include small amounts of iron, aluminum, zinc, tungsten, beryl, graphite, etc. Hong Kong is adjacent to the continental shelf, with a vast ocean and numerous islands. It has a unique geographical environment for fishery production. There are more than 150 species of commercially valuable marine fish in Hong Kong, mainly red turtle, nine-stick fish, bigeye, croaker, yellow belly and squid. Hong Kong’s land resources are limited. Forest land accounts for 20.5% of the total area, grassland and shrubland account for 49.8%, wasteland accounts for 4.1%, swamp and mangrove land account for 0.1%, cultivated land accounts for 6.7%, and fish ponds account for 2%. Suburban construction and development Land accounts for 16.8%. Agriculture mainly operates a small amount of vegetables, flowers, fruits and rice, and raises pigs, cattle, poultry and freshwater fish. Nearly half of the agricultural and sideline products are supplied by mainland China. Hong Kong has fewer resources.

Administrative Division

Hong Kong Administrative Division Hong Kong can be roughly divided into four parts: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories East, and New Territories West. In more detail, it can be divided into 18 districts (different from mainland China) , these districts are non-governmental regional organizations).

Hong Kong Island: Central and Western District, Wan Chai District, Eastern District, Southern District.

Kowloon: Kowloon City District, Yau Tsim Mong District, Kwun Tong District, Wong Tai Sin District, Sham Shui Po District.

New Territories East: North District, Tai Po District, Sha Tin District, Sai Kung District.

New Territories West: Yuen Long District, Tuen Mun District, Tsuen Wan District, Kwai Tsing District, Islands District.

(Limited by space, it is impossible to introduce in detail, please open the entry link yourself)

[Edit this paragraph] One country, two systems

One country, two systems was a pioneering initiative to solve the Hong Kong problem. , and also the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s continued prosperity. Hong Kong has its own symbols, namely the regional flag and regional emblem. At the same time, Hong Kong also has a different social form and economic model from mainland China.

Hong Kong’s regional flag and regional emblem

The regional flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has a red background. The red and white colors symbolize one country, two systems. There is a white bauhinia flower with five-star stamens in the center. Pattern, Bauhinia is the symbol of Hong Kong. The blooming Bauhinia symbolizes the prosperity of Hong Kong, and the red background symbolizes that Hong Kong always relies on the motherland.

The regional emblem of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is the emblem representing Hong Kong. The regional emblem imitates the design of the Hong Kong regional flag, with a white bauhinia flower in the inner circle and a red background. The outer circle is in red letters on a white background, with "Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China" written in traditional Chinese and HONG KONG (Hong Kong) in English.

Social Economics

Hong Kong will maintain its original social system and economic operation model after the return. Hong Kong has an independent judicial system. Hong Kong issues and circulates its own currency, the Hong Kong dollar, which is independently issued. Stamps (the mark of the stamp is "Hong Kong, China"), in international sports competitions, participate in international sports events in the name of "Hong Kong, China". Hong Kong participates in the World Trade Organization and many other international organizations as an independent "Hong Kong, China". Hong Kong operates its own mature fiscal and financial system and has its own immigration policy. As of the end of 2007, citizens or residents of 170 countries and regions around the world can enter Hong Kong visa-free.

Ten years after the handover

Hong Kong on July 1, 1997

At midnight on December 20, 1999 in Macau

Historical background :

In 1842, the Qing government signed the unequal Treaty of Nanjing with the United Kingdom, ceding Hong Kong Island to the United Kingdom.

In 1860, the Treaty of Beijing was signed, ceding the Kowloon Peninsula to Britain.

In 1896, the British forced the Qing government to make another treaty, leasing the area north of Boundary Street on the Kowloon Peninsula and nearby islands for 99 years. During World War II, it was occupied by Japan.

In 1945, Japan surrendered and was reoccupied by the British.

In 1984, China and Britain signed a joint declaration on Hong Kong.

In 1997, Hong Kong returned to China and implemented "one country, two systems" and "a high degree of autonomy."

In 2007, it was the tenth anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland. Hong Kong has developed steadily over the past ten years and is still the "Pearl of the Orient". Over the past ten years, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, together with the Hong Kong people, has overcome a series of difficulties such as the Asian financial crisis and SARS. The economy has stabilized, recovered and developed, and people's livelihood has improved. Ten years after Hong Kong's return to the motherland, Hong Kong's economy is growing strongly. The amount of funds raised from new stock listings in 2006 surpassed that of New York and was second only to London. Ten years ago, the international community was worried about the future of Hong Kong. In 1995, the American "Fortune" magazine published an article "Hong Kong is Dead", predicting that Hong Kong would gradually decline after the handover. However, the June 28, 2007 issue of "Fortune" magazine published an article on the eve of the tenth anniversary of Hong Kong's handover. Frankly speaking, the prediction back then was completely wrong.

Over the past decade, the status of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has been continuously consolidated and improved. The number of international countries and regions that grant visa-free treatment to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders increased to 134 by June 2007. Over the past decade, exchanges between Hong Kong and the Mainland have continued to strengthen.

In the 10 years since the handover, Hong Kong's economic structure has undergone significant transformation: the proportion of manufacturing in GDP has dropped from 8.3 in 1997 to 3.5 in 2006. The proportion of the service industry in GDP increased from 78.8 to 87.4. Between 1997 and 2006, the net output value of all service industries in Hong Kong grew at an average annual real rate of 2.4%.

Over the past 10 years, Hong Kong's employment has continued to shift from manufacturing to distribution trade, finance, insurance, real estate and business services, as well as community, social and personal services.

The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (also known as the head of the SAR, or referred to as the chief executive; English: Chief Executive, referred to as CE) is the president and chief executive of the People's Republic of China. The head of the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the highest representative of Hong Kong. This position was established on July 1, 1997 and generally replaces the duties of the Governor of Hong Kong. Each term is 5 years and can be reappointed once.

Previous Chief Executives

Tung Chee-hwa

The first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was Tung Chee-hwa, who completed part of the first and second terms. On March 12, 2005, he resigned on health grounds without completing his second term. In accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law, Donald Tsang, who was then Chief Secretary for Administration, acted as the Chief Executive.

Donald Tsang

The current Chief Executive, Donald Tsang, became the only candidate in the 2005 Chief Executive by-election on June 16, 2005. Therefore, he was automatically elected in accordance with the "Chief Executive Election Ordinance". On June 21, the Central People's Government appointed him as the Chief Executive and took office on the same day. He went to Beijing on June 24 to be formally sworn in.

On March 25, 2007, he defeated his opponent Liang Jiajie by 649 votes to 123 votes in the 2007 Chief Executive election. He was re-elected as the third Chief Executive and was elected by the Central People's Government on April 2. Appointed and sworn in on July 1, 2007.

Religious Ethnicity

Population and Demographic Structure

The Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government released figures on the 11th, showing that the provisional population of Hong Kong at the end of 2009 was 7.0264 million , an increase of 37,500 people compared with the end of 2008, with a growth rate of 0.5%.

Statistics show that based on the number of births minus the number of deaths, the natural population growth from the end of 2008 to the end of 2009 was 41,900. However, during the same period, the net migration of Hong Kong residents (i.e., immigrants minus emigration) was a net outmigration of 4,400 people, thus offsetting part of the population growth. Therefore, the overall population of Hong Kong increased to 37,500 people.

Hong Kong has a total population of 6.8 million (mid-2009), including about 210,000 migrant residents in Hong Kong. The population density is 6,420 people per square kilometer. It is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The average population density is 21,000 people per square kilometer. The vast majority of Hong Kong's population is Chinese, most of whom are originally from Guangdong. They mainly speak Cantonese (Cantonese), but English is very popular, and there are also many people who speak Teochew and other dialects. Many of the indigenous residents of the New Territories speak Hakka. Mandarin has become very popular in recent years, and its use is encouraged by general agencies and institutions. The number of foreigners living in Hong Kong is quite large, with approximately 517,560 people. The top three nationalities with the largest number are as follows: Philippines (130,810), Indonesia (114,020) and Thailand (28,360). Most people in Hong Kong live in high-rise buildings, so Hong Kong can still retain a large amount of undeveloped rural land despite its high population density.

From the mid-1990s to the present, the local population of Hong Kong has been more female than male. There are more female residents than male residents, and this gap continues to widen.

Hong Kong’s birth rate is the lowest among the 225 countries and regions in the world. After the 1990s, there were only 6 to 7 newborn babies per 1,000 people, and only 0.91 babies were born per Hong Kong woman. Coupled with the increase in average life expectancy, the population will become increasingly older. It is estimated that by 2033, the number of people aged 65 and above in Hong Kong will be 27, compared with 11 in 2003. This is an extremely high growth rate of population aging. These developments affect the Hong Kong government's future urban development planning.

Working population

As of December 2005, Hong Kong’s working population was more than 3.6 million, of which 55.2 were men and 44.8 were women.

The majority of the employed population (85.3) is engaged in the service industry, of which 34.4 are engaged in wholesale, retail, import and export trade, catering and hotel industries; 10.5 in the transportation, warehousing and communications industry; 15 in the finance, insurance, real estate and commercial service industries; community , social and personal services industry 26; those engaged in manufacturing only account for 5.3

Religious beliefs

Almost all major religions in the world are believed in in Hong Kong. The Chinese mainly believe in Buddhism and Taoism. There are more than 360 monasteries in Hong Kong, 40 public temples, and 24 Tin Hau temples. In 1841, the Roman Catholic Episcopal Mission District of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was established. In 1991, there were approximately 258,000 Catholics in Hong Kong. The Catholic Church runs schools, hospitals and social service centers in Hong Kong. Christianity was introduced to Hong Kong in 1841 and now has more than 50 denominations and 285,000 believers. It also establishes schools, hospitals, social service centers and other institutions in Hong Kong. Other religions include: Islam has about 50,000 followers, more than half of whom are Chinese; Hindus have about 12,000; there are also a small number of Sikhs and Jews.

Language

At present, the official languages ??of Hong Kong (not called "official languages") are Chinese and English, and the government's language policy is "biliteracy and trilingualism", that is, written Chinese vernacular and English are used online, and Cantonese (commonly known as Cantonese or Cantonese [1]), Mandarin and English are used for spoken language. The Chinese population in Hong Kong mainly uses Cantonese, while the non-Chinese population mostly uses English as a communicative language. Most of the residents of Hong Kong are not native residents of the city. People who move from the mainland or other parts of the world will bring the languages ??of their hometowns to Hong Kong. In addition, Hong Kong culture is also influenced by trends from around the world. Therefore, the languages ??heard and seen in Hong Kong are far more than Cantonese and English.

Since Hong Kong was still a British colony when Mainland China implemented simplified characters, the most commonly used Chinese character script in Hong Kong is Traditional Chinese.

As Hong Kong people communicate more and more with mainland China, Hong Kong people generally know the commonly used simplified Chinese characters. It is not difficult to see simplified Chinese slogans and signs made for foreign tourists on the market. Some schools allow students to use simplified Chinese characters for assignments and examinations that are answered in Chinese. The HKEAA also allows students to use simplified characters in public examinations that comply with national standards (i.e., the "Master List of Simplified Characters" promulgated by the National Language Commission in 1986).

Economy and Finance

Economic and Trade Overview and International Status

Hong Kong is a free port, except for cigarettes, spirits and fuel for power (gasoline, diesel, etc.) In addition, Hong Kong does not impose tariffs on other imported items. Hong Kong's economy is known for its free trade, low tax rates and minimal government intervention. Hong Kong has been rated as the freest economic system in the world by internationally renowned rating agencies and organizations for many years in a row. Nobel Prize winner Milton Friedman even regarded Hong Kong as a model of free economy. Hong Kong is a financial center, an international shipping center, and a regional trade center in the Asia-Pacific region and even internationally. It has an irreplaceable advantageous position close to many countries and regions. Today, Hong Kong has become the 11th largest trading entity in the world. In terms of throughput, Hong Kong's container (container) port is one of the busiest container ports in the world. Hong Kong International Airport is one of the world's busiest airports in terms of passenger volume and international cargo handling. Hong Kong is the world's 15th largest banking center in terms of external banking transaction volume. Hong Kong is the world's sixth largest foreign exchange market in terms of turnover. The Hong Kong stock market is Asia's second largest market in terms of market capitalization.

Hong Kong is one of the transportation and tourism centers in the Asia-Pacific region. The public transportation system consists of a transportation network of railways, ferries, buses, and automobiles, which extends to almost every corner of the port. Hong Kong is an important international commercial port with a developed shipping industry. It has shipping connections with 460 ports in more than 100 countries and regions, forming a complete maritime transportation network with Hong Kong as the hub and routes reaching five continents and three oceans. There are more than 20 routes from Hong Kong to various parts of the world. Hong Kong is also the gateway to the mainland for business and tourism.

In 2005, Hong Kong residents returned to the mainland approximately 62.7 million times, and tourists from other places entered the mainland via Hong Kong ***4 million times. There are 128 ships, about 100 flights, more than 400 trains and 40,200 vehicles traveling between Hong Kong and the Mainland every day.

Hong Kong is one of the international financial centers, with financial institutions and markets closely connected. The government's policy is to maintain and develop a sound legal framework, regulatory system, infrastructure and administrative system to provide a level playing field for market participants, maintain the stability of the financial and monetary system, and enable Hong Kong to compete effectively with other major financial centres. . Hong Kong is strategically located as a bridge connecting the time difference between North America and Europe. It is closely connected with the mainland and other Southeast Asian economic systems, and has established a good communication network with other parts of the world. Therefore, it can become an important international financial center. In addition, the free flow of funds into and out of Hong Kong is also an important factor.

Hong Kong is the world's eleventh largest trading economic system, sixth largest foreign exchange market and fifteenth largest banking center. Hong Kong's stock market is the second largest in Asia. Hong Kong is also a major exporter of garments, watches, toys, games, electronics and certain light industrial products, with its total export value ranking among the highest in the world.

Hong Kong’s economy is dominated by the service industry and is closely related to mainland China and other parts of the Asia-Pacific region. It is the city with the largest number of international companies in Asia to set up regional offices. Hong Kong is also one of the most popular tourist destinations for tourists and is also a popular tourist destination. Popular place for international conferences and exhibitions. In 2005, Hong Kong was the eleventh largest services exporter in the world. The main industries related to trade in services include travel and tourism, trade-related services, transportation services, financial and banking services and professional services.

Main economic data

Gross domestic product: HK$1,472.3 billion (2006)

GDP per capita: HK$214,710 (2006) year)

Real GDP growth: 6.8 (2006)

Urban GDP (purchasing power parity)

US$289.7 billion (2007 , ranked 39th among countries and regions in the world).

Per capita GDP is US$41,614 (305,018 RMB. No. 1 among Chinese administrative regions; No. 6 among countries and regions in the world).

Urban GDP (nominal)

US$203 billion (37th among countries and regions in the world in 2007).

Per capita GDP is 29,149 US dollars (2nd among Chinese administrative regions; 28th among countries and regions in the world).

Urban Gross National Product

295.2 billion U.S. dollars (purchasing power evaluation, ranked 36th in the world and region in 2008)

GDP per capita 29350 (world and country ranking 27th)

According to 2005 data from the International Monetary Fund, Hong Kong’s per capita GDP (PPP) was US$34,111, ranking 9th in the world and 1st in Asia, surpassing the four major Western European countries. Economic system; according to the international exchange rate, it is US$25,555, ranking 26th in the world and 5th in Asia, followed by Qatar, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and Singapore. Looking at various industries in Hong Kong, the service industry accounts for the highest proportion of GDP in 2005. The figure was 91 in 2005. Among them, the import and export trade industry accounted for 22.5% of GDP, the community, social and personal services industry accounted for 19.2%, and the financial and insurance industry accounted for 12.7%.

Hong Kong’s currency

The currency of Hong Kong is the Hong Kong dollar (HK$). The vast majority of Hong Kong dollar banknotes are issued by three note-issuing banks under the supervision of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. The three note-issuing banks include HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank and Bank of China Hong Kong Branch, and a small number of ten-dollar notes are issued by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. The newness level of banknotes in circulation in Hong Kong has always been very high. Broken old banknotes will be collected and destroyed by the note-issuing bank after they return. Every year, approximately one-third of the banknotes in circulation are deemed no longer suitable for circulation and are replaced by new banknotes.

Banking Industry

Hong Kong’s banking industry is very developed, and the streets are full of branches of local banks in Hong Kong and from around the world. In the 1970s, Hong Kong people used the saying "there are more banks than rice shops" to describe the number of banks on the streets of Hong Kong, which means that there are more banks than rice shops. As of the end of 2008, there were 143 licensed banks, 27 restricted license banks and 28 deposit-taking companies in Hong Kong. In addition, 88 foreign banks have representative offices in Hong Kong, with a total of about 1,300 branches. These foreign banks come from 37 countries, 71 of which are among the world's 100 largest banks. Banks in Hong Kong engage in a wide range of retail and wholesale banking businesses, such as deposit-taking, trade finance, corporate finance, treasury activities, precious metals trading and securities brokerage.

Foreign exchange market

Hong Kong’s foreign exchange market is well-developed and actively traded, occupying an indispensable position in the global foreign exchange market. Since Hong Kong is connected to other overseas foreign exchange markets, foreign exchange transactions can be conducted with all parts of the world 24 hours a day. According to the triennial global survey conducted by the Bank for International Settlements in 2004, Hong Kong's foreign exchange market ranks sixth in the world in terms of turnover.

Gold Market

Hong Kong is not only a global financial center, but its gold market is particularly famous. As one of the four largest gold markets in the world, Hong Kong is the third largest gold market in the world. Its gold exchange is called the Gold and Silver Trade Market.

Equity and Debt Markets

The Hong Kong stock market is one of the largest stock markets in the world in terms of capital market capitalization. As of the end of May 2006, there were 1,144 listed companies listed on Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, with a total capital market value of NT$9,411 billion (USD 1,206.5 billion). Hong Kong's stock market ranks second in Asia, after Japan.

Hong Kong’s debt market has developed into one of the most liquid markets in the Asia-Pacific region. Central Settlement of Debt Instruments was established in 1990 and is managed by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. It provides settlement and custody services for Exchange Fund bills and bonds, and debt securities issued by private institutions.

In September 2006, the average daily trading volume of Exchange Fund bills and bonds was HK$36.3 billion. As of the end of September 2006, the amount of outstanding Exchange Fund bills and bonds was approximately HK$130.4 billion. In the first half of 2006, the amount of debt securities issued by private institutions reached HK$112 billion.

Business exchanges with the Mainland

The Mainland is Hong Kong’s largest trading partner and the main source of Hong Kong’s drinking water, vegetables, meat, poultry and eggs. In 2005, China-Hong Kong trade accounted for 45% of Hong Kong's total trade value. The Mainland is both the main source and the largest market for Hong Kong's re-exported goods. About 90% of Hong Kong's re-exported goods originate from or are destined for the Mainland. Hong Kong is also the center of financial and other business support services on the mainland, especially in South China, providing a wide range of financial and other business support services to the mainland, such as banking and financing, insurance, transportation, accounting, and sales promotion.