Hong Kong is composed of four main
areas. Hong Kong island itself, from which the entire region gets
its name, is a rocky wooded island in the Pearl River Delta. Together
with Kowloon (nine dragons), a small peninsula on the mainland
on the opposite side of the Pearl River Delta, it encloses a magnificent
deepwater harbor. This harbor (Hong Kong means Fragrant Harbor)
is one of the reasons for its economic success, both in the 19th
century and today. Adjoining Kowloon is a much larger mainland
area known as the New Territories because it was acquired by Britain
from China in 1897 as a result of China's loss in the 1895 Sino-Japanese
war (Britain acquired Hong Kong Island by treaty in 1842 after
the first Opium War and Kowloon was acquired in 1862 after the
second Opium War). In addition to these mainland areas, Hong Kong
comprises a set of 235 islands many of which are uninhabited.
The largest of these islands, Lantao, is larger than Hong Kong
Island and is the site of the newly built a modern airport (opened
in 1998). While the tallest peak is Tai Mo Shan in Kowloon, at
957 meters, Victoria Peak at 552 meters offers a panoramic view
of Victoria Harbor and is a favorite among both locals and tourists.
The area called Hong Kong is mostly hilly with only seven percent
of land fit for agriculture; this land is in the New Territories
which has some farms and market gardens. Hong Kong imports most
of its food from around the world and is an extremely cosmopolitan
city; it imports much of its water from China.
Typhoons are the main natural hazard. The English
word typhoon comes from the Hong Kong British pronunciation of
the Chinese Tai Feng (big wind). Hong Kong has an official typhoon
warning system; when the siren goes, shops and schools close and
people stay inside until the all-clear is blown. The region experiences
tropical monsoons and a sub-tropical climate throughout the year.
As Hong Kong is based on volcanic strata, there are minor seismic
activities but there have been no major earthquakes recorded for
over a hundred years.
Hong Kong, as the name suggests, has the world's
busiest deep-water harbor, and container shipments are the lifeblood
of the area. The port is responsible for the country's emergence
as one of the major economic powers of the region. In addition
to shipping, Hong Kong has long been known as the banking capital
of Asia; the free market in money, with money changers who will
change any currency, has not been affected by the handover to
China in 1997.
The islands do not enjoy any extensive source
of natural resources. In fact, when Britain first acquired Hong
Kong in 1842, members of the British Parliament grumbled about
that "worthless piece of rock." However, in addition
to its role as shipping port and money market, Hong Kong has created
a number of industries in textiles, electronics, and plastics.
The region is one of the most developed and fastest growing in
Asia and is often lumped with Taiwan, Korea, and Singapore as
the "4 little tigers of Asia." Its free market economy
attracts numerous international businesses and has contributed
to the prosperity of the region. It has withstood recent threats
such as the economic recession and the SARS outbreak.
Being a hub for international business, Hong Kong
has a very well developed telecommunication network. The region
also has an extensive public transportation network with trams,
buses, metros and taxis. A ferry network aids travel throughout
the islands. In addition to the famous "STAR FERRY"
which connects Kowloon and Hong Kong, an extensive system of ferries
connects the various inhabited islands in the Hong Kong harbor,
as well as Macau and ports on the Chinese mainland. The region
also has a rail network that connects it to the Chinese mainland,
including a new high speed rail service to Beijing. The train
from the airport deposits travelers in downtown Hong Kong in under
20 minutes.
Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated
regions in the world with a population of over 7 million. This
over crowding is evident in the structure of the buildings as
high rises dominate the skyline. Attempts to relieve downtown
congestion have resulted in the creation of "new towns"
in Kowloon and the New Territories. These "new towns"
consist of multiple high rise apartments with mall-type shopping
centers underneath, and schools, hospitals, and recreation services
nearby.
The most widely spoken language is Cantonese.
English, which is the second official language,e is also spoken
and understood by many. Since its return to China in 1997, Mandarin
Chinese has been growing in popularity and Mandarin classes can
easily be found. Hong Kong still has a dual Chinese and English
school system. The countries with the largest ex-patriate communities
in Hong Kong are Britain, the Philippines, Indonesia and the United
States. Chinese make up by far the largest ethnic group but immigrants
from India and Southeast Asia, as well as from other commonwealth
nations, make Hong Kong a truly international city.
In keeping with its mixed ethnic community, Hong
Kong has a varied mix of religions and all major religions such
as Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, and Islam are found
throughout the area. However, the predominantly Chinese population
follows Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism as well as worshipping
a variety of local gods and goddesses, mostly connected with the
sea as fishing is still a major source of livelihood for many.
For a good printable map, please click on the following site:
http://www.mapquest.com/atlas
