All About Hong Kong

 

Hong Kong dates back to the Neolithic area, though it didn't yet have its name. It became known as Hong Kong in 1842 after the Treaty of Nanking. In 1839 the Qing Dynasty was in charge of China, but went against popular sentiment when they decided to stop importing opium. The decision resulted in a war between Britain and China. British forces occupied the island of Hong Kong and the Treaty of Nanking gave full power of the island to the country. They founded Victoria City on the island in 1843.

Hong Kong remained under British rule until World War II. Japan invaded the area in 1941 and the Battle of Hong Kong took place. Britain surrendered in less than a month, but Japan eventually relinquished control back to Britain following the end of the War.

The island quickly grew as a center for textile manufacturing in the Far East. With the advent of public housing and the growth of financial businesses operating in the area, the island continued to grow. The People's Republic of China gained control of the island back in 1997 provided that Hong Kong would remain a sovereign nation.

Hong Kong is a nation located in East Asia, with borders located near China and on the South China Sea. It measures exactly 1,092 square kilometers, with only 50 square kilometers of that space occupied by water and it shares a 30 kilometer border with China. In addition, it has 733 kilometers of coastline. The climate is considered subtropical because there are no winter or colder seasons. Instead the area remains hot throughout the year, with rains possible year round. The highest point in Hong Kong is Tai Mo Shan, a mountain more than 900 meters above sea level.

The population of Hong Kong was listed as just over 7 million as of July 2008. The largest population was those 15-64 years of age and there are more females living in the area than men. The median age is 41.7 years, with a relatively low birth and death rate. Males outnumber females in the early years, but as the females have a higher life expectancy, they outnumber the men in later years. The largest population in terms of ethnic groups is Chinese, with a small number of Filipino and Indonesian people living there as well. Chinese is the official language, but some also speak English and other forms of Chinese.

Hong Kong is listed as a region of China, but in terms of government it's a sovereign nation. This means it remains under partial democratic control rather than Communist control. They celebrate two national holidays: one on October 1 on the anniversary of the People's Republic of China and the other on July 1 as the Hong Kong day. They also have a large population of citizens enlisted in the military.

Find out more information on Hong Kong at:

The World Factbook Hong Kong

Hong Kong on Wikipedia

About Hong Kong

Hong Kong Facts & Figures

Fast Facts on Hong Kong

Hong Kong Facts

Hong Kong Fact Sheets

Hong Kong - The Facts

Statistics on Hong Kong

Fun Facts About Hong Kong