About Hong Kong

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Hong Kong
About

Hong Kong
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Hong Kong
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Hong Kong
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Hong Kong
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Hong Kong
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Hong Kong
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Hong Kong
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Hong Kong
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Hong Kong
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Activities

Hong Kong
GMT +8

The number one tourist destination in Hong Kong is Victoria Peak, featuring the peak tram, galleria and tower. There is a 5.7 kilometer cable car ride up to the Big Buddha, an Ocean Amusement Park and even a Hong Kong Disneyland. Ferry rides, cruise ships and helicopter flights offer city tours. The Museum of Art, Museum of History and Philharmonic Orchestra are located downtown. Street markets contain local venders to high-end shopping centers with luxury items providing access to an array of shopping experiences. Hong Kong is a metropolitan wonderland with top hotels from around the world, service oriented day spas and restaurants with cuisine from every corner of the earth.

Climate

Temperature °C

Hong Kong has a subtropical climate averaging 23°C with 78% humidity. Monsoons are common along with the seasonal alternation of winds. January is the coldest month dropping down to 10°C or lower on occasion. Spring lasts from March through the middle of May bringing heavy rains and very little sunshine. The transition from winter to spring is considered the most undesirable time of year, even miserable with nearly 2 meters of rainfall. The summer months have intense sunshine running from June through the middle of September and are characteristically hot and humid reaching temperatures of 33°C with 86% humidity. The fall season and first half of winter are dry, cool and considered the most pleasant time of year.

Culture

Cityscape

Although 95% of Hongkongese are of Chinese decent, Hong Kong is recognized as a hub of cultural diversity. Family surnames are traditionally listed first in honor of the father, followed by two personal names. Confucianism drives the system of ethics and relational responsibilities such as duty, loyalty and respect. Business cards are given using two hands, often with a slight bow and eyes lowered. The concept of "face" is an intangible quality representing dignity, reputation and prestige that is dynamically woven into the fabric of Asian society. Mainstream educational systems in Hong Kong place a heavy emphasis on ranking systems beginning at an early age as competition for job placement is fierce. Business relationships are developed carefully and are intended to be maintained for lengthy periods of time.

Economy

Hong Kong has the highest degree of autonomy as a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China in all areas except defense and foreign affairs. Individual rights and freedoms are enshrined in the "Hong Kong Basic Law" constitution. The legal system is based on English common law and completely independent of China's civil law. The Hong Kong government is made of a Legislative Council, Executive Council, Judiciary and Civil Service. The Executive Council is headed by the Chief Executive, who is chosen by the Election Committee and appointed by the Central People's Government. The Political & Economic Risk Consultancy rated Hong Kong as the "2nd most politically stable country in Asia" with the "best Judicial system in Asia". A total of 70 out of the world's 100 largest banks have licensed representative offices in Hong Kong. The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (SEHK) is the 6th largest in the world with over $2.3 Trillion (USD) in market capitalization. The Hong Kong government has few, if any, import and export regulations allowing the market to control the rate of development. The official government policy of "positive non-interventionism" is often cited as laissez-faire capitalism, the success of which can be seen with an unemployment rate just over 4%. Since Hong Kong has virtually no natural resources, 90% of the Gross Domestic Product is understandably driven by the service sector. The 2010 World Bank Report "Doing Business" rated Hong Kong the "World's #3 Easiest Place to do Business".

Offshore Financial Services

The principle regulation of the financial markets is conducted by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA). The Hong Kong banking system is composed of three tiers, licensed banks, restricted license banks and deposit taking banks. Collectively they are known as Authorized Institutions (AI) under the Banking Ordinance. These Authorized Institutions will not comply with the United States "Patriot Act" legislation and as a result have been known to close out the accounts of many Americans and refund their holdings. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has endorsed the view that Hong Kong is not considered a "tax haven" but simply a "low tax jurisdiction". Hong Kong has an outstanding reputation for commitment to the international standard on tax information and exchange. Hong Kong is one of the world's largest importers and simultaneously one of the world largest exporters. Given the scale of business conducted by Hong Kong companies internationally, Hong Kong Private Limited Companies and are not viewed by other nations with negativity or suspicion. The Hong Kong Companies Registry administers and enforces the 385 pages of provisions in Chapter 32 of the Companies Ordinance. Currently there are over 805,000 private companies on the register with over 50,000 new incorporations annually. Asset Protection Services International offers incorporation services for the formation of Private Companies Limited by Shares in the jurisdiction of Hong Kong.

Geography

Regional Map

National Map

Hong Kong is located along the southern coast of China, about 160 kilometers southeast of Guanzhou, formerly Canton. The Hong Kong territories cover 1,100 square kilometers and contain more than 200 offshore islands, the largest of which is Lantau. Regionally situated between the Taiwan Straits, the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, the area is a strategic channel for international sea traffic. With mountainous regions to the North and South, accommodating deep harbors and territorial waters extending 5.6 kilometers from shore, Hong Kong is a favorable port renowned for its spectacular skyline.

History

National Flag

Coat of Arms

The history of Hong Kong extends back six millennium. The first emperor of China was recorded in 214 B.C. and formed imperial China. Chinese history is exhaustive as dynasties lasted for centuries. The earliest recorded european visitor was a Portuguese explorer who arrived in 1513. From 1661 to 1669, during a period of civil unrest, the territory was evacuated and largely became a wasteland. The East India Company was the first sea venture to China in 1699 and British merchant trading developed rapidly. Within a hundred years China was consuming over 2,000 chests of opium annually. When authorities refused to import more opium the first of two opium wars erupted and British forces occupied Hong Kong Island. In 1842 under the Treaty of Nanking, Hong Kong was ceded in perpetuity to the United Kingdom and a year later became a crown colony with the founding of the capital Victoria City. In the early 1950's when a city to the north of Hong Kong called Shenzhen became a "Special Economic Zone" of the People's Republic of China (PRC), Hong Kong was established as a center for foreign investments into China. When the United Kingdom reclassified Hong Kong as a "Dependent Territory" in 1983, discussions began to transfer sovereignty. And in 1984 the Sino-British Joint Declaration was signed stipulating that Hong Kong would be governed as a PRC "Special Administrative Region" retaining a high degree of autonomy for at least 50 years after the transfer. On July 1, 1997 the transfer of sovereignty occurred ending 156 years of British colonial rule. Hong Kong remains economically independent to this day.

Interesting Facts

Capital
Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region (SAR)
People's Republic of China
"One Country, Two Systems"

Official Language
Chinese and English

Government
Partial Democracy

Laws
Common Law

Independence Day
July 1st, 1997

Total Area
1,078 Km2

Population
7,100,000

GDP
$225 Billion

Currency
Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
Permanent Exchange Rate:
$7.75 (HKD) = $1.00 (USD)

Driving
Left

Internet
.hk

Calling Code
+852