TheHong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), can be divided into three geographical regions:Hong Kong Island,Kowloon (comprising theKowloon Peninsula andNew Kowloon), and theNew Territories (including theOutlying Islands).Hong Kong is a coastal city, borderingGuangdong Province through thecity of Shenzhen to the north and theSouth China Sea to the east, south, and west. Hong Kong and its 260 nearby islands and peninsulas are located at the mouth of thePearl River Delta. Being aspecial administrative region since 1997, Hong Kong is distinct frommainland China, but constitutionally defined to be an "inalienable part" of thePeople's Republic of China.
Hong Kong has a total area of 1,108 km2 (428 sq mi), of which 3.16% is water. 260 islands are dispersed around Hong Kong, the largest of which by area isLantau Island, located southwest of the main peninsula. Lantau Island and the majority of the remaining islands are parts of theNew Territories, an area that also encompasses the hilly terrain north ofNew Kowloon.Hong Kong Island is separated from Kowloon byVictoria Harbour, a natural harbour. TheKowloon Peninsula to the south ofBoundary Street, andNew Kowloon and theNew Territories to the north ofBoundary Street were added toBritish Hong Kong in 1860 and 1898, respectively.
Further from Victoria Harbour and the coast, the landscape of Hong Kong is fairly hilly to mountainous with steep slopes. The highest point in the territory isTai Mo Shan, at a height of 958 metres (3,143 ft) in the New Territories.[1] Lowlands exist in the northwestern part of the New Territories. Portions of land on Hong Kong Island and the New Territories are reserved as country parks and nature reserves.
With thefourth-highest population density in the world at 6,300 inhabitants per square kilometre (16,000/sq mi), Hong Kong is known for its shortage of residential space. Hong Kong has undergone several land reclamation projects to provide more space for residential and economic purposes, increasing its land area. This has caused the distance between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon to decrease.Hong Kong International Airport is the sole public airport in the territory, and is mostly located on reclaimed land on the island ofChek Lap Kok.
Politically, Hong Kong is divided into 18districts, each having a district council. Nevertheless, most public services operate across the territory, and travel between the districts is not restricted.Sha Tin is the most populous district as of 2019.
The name "Hong Kong", literally meaning "fragrant harbour", is derived from the area around present-dayAberdeen on Hong Kong Island, where fragrant wood products and incense were once traded.[2] The narrow body of water separating Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula,Victoria Harbour, is one of the deepest natural maritimeports in the world.
Hong Kong is 60 km (37 mi) east ofMacau, on the opposite side of thePearl River estuary. Hong Kong and Macau are connected through theHong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge.
Hong Kong's climate issubtropical andmonsoonal (Köppen: Cwa), with cool dry winters and hot and wet summers. As of 2006, its annual average rainfall is 2,214 mm (87.2 in), though about 80% of the rain falls between May and September. It is occasionally affected bytropical cyclones between May and November, most often from July to September. The mean temperature of Hong Kong ranges from 17 °C (62.6 °F) in January and February to 29 °C (84.2 °F) in July and August.[3]
January and February are cloudier, with occasionalcold fronts followed by dry northerly winds. It is not uncommon for temperatures to drop below 10 °C (50 °F) in urban areas. Sub-zero temperatures andfrost occur at times on high ground and in the New Territories. March and April can be pleasant although there are occasional spells of high humidity.Fog anddrizzle are common on high ground which is exposed to the southeast. May to August are hot and humid with occasionalshowers andthunderstorms. Afternoon temperatures often exceed 31 °C (87.8 °F) whereas at night, temperatures generally remain around 26 °C (78.8 °F) with high humidity. In November and December there are pleasant breezes, plenty of sunshine and comfortable temperatures.[4]
Hong Kong is on China's southern coast, 60 km (37 mi) east ofMacau, on the east side of the mouth of the Pearl River estuary. It is surrounded by theSouth China Sea on all sides except the north, which neighbours the Guangdong city ofShenzhen along theSham Chun River. The territory's 2,755 km2 (1,064 sq mi) area consists of Hong Kong Island, theKowloon Peninsula, theNew Territories, Lantau Island, and over 200 other islands. Of the total area, 1,073 km2 (414 sq mi) is land and 35 km2 (14 sq mi) is water.[5] The territory's highest point isTai Mo Shan, 957 metres (3,140 feet) above sea level.[6] Urban development is concentrated on the Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong Island, and innew towns throughout the New Territories.[7] Much of this is built onreclaimed land, due to the lack of developable flat land; 70 km2 (27 sq mi) (six per cent of the total land or about 25 per cent of developed space in the territory) is reclaimed from the sea.[8]
Undeveloped terrain is hilly to mountainous, with very little flat land, and consists mostly of grassland, woodland, shrubland, or farmland.[9][10] About 40 per cent of the remaining land area iscountry parks and nature reserves.[11] The territory has a diverse ecosystem; over 3,000 species ofvascular plants occur in the region (300 of which are native to Hong Kong), and thousands of insect, avian, and marine species.[12][13]
Total: 30 km (19 mi)
Border city:ShenzhenSpecial Economic Zone,Guangdong Province
Figures published by the United States Central Intelligence Agency[1]
Total: 733 km (455 mi)
Maritime claims:
Territorial sea: 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi)
Figures published by the United States Central Intelligence Agency[1]
Hong Kong has263 islands over 500 m2 (5,400 sq ft),[14] includingHong Kong Island,Lantau Island,Cheung Chau,Lamma Island,Peng Chau andTsing Yi Island.
Hong Kong's terrain is hilly and mountainous with steep slopes. There are lowlands in the northern part of Hong Kong. A significant amount of land in Hong Kong, especially on the Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon peninsula, isreclaimed.
The lowest elevation in Hong Kong is in the South China Sea (0 m)[dubious –discuss] while the highest elevation is atTai Mo Shan (957 m (3,140 ft)) in Tsuen Wan, theNew Territories.
Victoria Peak, the highest point onHong Kong Island, at 552 m (1,811 ft) is the 24th highest peak in Hong Kong.
The natural resources of Hong Kong can be divided into three main categories:
Despite its small size, Hong Kong has a relatively large number of mineral occurrences. Some mineral depositshave been exploited commercially. Metalliferous mineral occurrences are grouped into four broad categories:tin-tungsten-molybdenum mineralisation,copper-lead-zinc mineralisation,iron mineralisation and placer deposits oftin andgold.Mesozoic igneous activity is largely responsible for this diversity of mineral deposits and the mineral concentrations have been variably enhanced by hydrothermal activity associated with faulting. Concentrations of non-metalliferous minerals that have been commercially exploited includekaolin clay,feldspar,quartz,beryl andgraphite.[15]
For many years,granite andvolcanic rocks have been quarried locally for road base metal,riprap, armour stone and asphalt, although the main purpose now is for concreteaggregates. At present, there are three quarries operating in Hong Kong. These are principally in granite and are located atLam Tei,Shek O andAnderson Road. All the quarries are in the process of rehabilitation and have a life expectancy of between two and eight years.[15]
Offshore sand bodies have been dredged for aggregate sand and reclamation fill in Hong Kong as the rate of urban development has increased.[16]
Additional natural resources include forest and wildlife.
Arable land: 2.95%
Permanent crops: 0.95%
Other: 96.10% (2012 est.)
Figures published by the United States Central Intelligence Agency[1]Big 22
Tropical cyclones are frequent in Hong Kong during the summer months between July and September.[17] Landslides are common afterrainstorms.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)May to November are the months during which tropical cyclones of different intensities may strike Hong Kong, while July to September are the most likely months with tropical cyclones affecting Hong Kong.
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