It is one of the richest and most developed parts in the world, and one where thecost of living is one of the highest. Hong Kong grew quickly in the decades afterWorld War II, becoming a famous world-class financial centre. Hong Kong was one of the last territories of theBritish Empire until 1997, when United Kingdom handed it over to China. China then promised to grant it special status for 50 years.
The population of Hong Kong is over seven million. The economy has rapidly grown from a trading port to a very rich city. Hong Kong has the most skyscrapers in the world.
Hong Kong was a British colony from 1842 to 1997 as China surrendered the city after losing theSecond Opium War. After thehandover in 1997, Hong Kong became under Chinese control under special status.
Hong Kong has its ownconstitution that is different from that of the People's Republic of China (PRC).
Hong Kong is in a sub-tropical area, and hasmonsoon winds. It is cool and wet inwinter (January-March), hot and rainy fromspring throughsummer (April-September), and warm, sunny and dry in theautumn (October-December). The rainyseason is from May until September. In summer and early autumn, there is a frequent threat oftyphoons.
The population of Hong Kong reached 7.5 million (7,503,100) in 2023. Most of the people in Hong Kong areChinese. Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. It has an overallpopulation density of 6,300 people per square kilometre.
Hong Kong has one of the world’s lowest birth rates — 1.05 per woman at an age of being capable to give birth as of 2019. This is far below the rate needed to replace each person, 2.1.
People from Hong Kong mainly speakCantonese. Students are required to learnEnglish at school. Ever since Hong Kong became a part ofChina, the number of people who speakMandarin has increased because Mandarin is the official language of China.
Chung Yeung Festival - a day when people honour their ancestors, similar to "Tomb Sweeping Day", and people often do something for the olds who is still living
There arecoins from 10 cents to 10 Hong Kong Dollars and bank-notes (paper money bills) from $10 to $1000. One Americandollar equals to HK$7.80±0.05 Hong Kong Dollars, according to the official pegged exchange rate.
Hong Kong's education system is mostly based on theEnglish system. Children are required to be in school from age 6 until completingsecondary school (high school) at age 18.
Lord Palmerston wrote that Hong Kong was a barren island with only a few houses on it
January 26, 1841
The British flag was raised at Possession Point, on Hong Kong Island
August 1841
Sir Henry Pottinger became Hong Kong's first governor
The Treaty of Nanjing was signed, ending the First Opium War
1860
China was defeated in the Second Opium War. Boundary Street and Stonecutter's Island were leased to Britain
1888
The Peak Tram started operating on Hong Kong Island
1898
Lantau Island and the New Territories were leased to the British for 99 years
1900s
Hong Kong became a refuge for exiles from China
1920s-1930s
Western dress began to come in fashion for the locals
1933-1934
Father Daniel Finn began excavations on Lamma Island
1941
Refugees fleeing the Chinese Communist Party came to Hong Kong
Bauhinia × blakeana was adopted as thefloral emblem of Hong Kong by theUrban Council in 1965.The armorial bearings granted by theCollege of Arms, appointed by theBritish Sovereign, a part of theRoyal Household of the United Kingdom.Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China's emblem after it was given to China since 1997. The Chinese name ofBauhinia × blakeana has also been frequently shortened as 紫荊/紫荆 (洋yáng means "foreign" in Chinese, it's also a bit unfriendly, and this would be deemed inappropriate by the PRC government), although 紫荊/紫荆 refers to another genus calledCercis. Astatue of the plant has been erected inGolden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong. Although the flowers are bright pinkish purple in colour, they are depicted in white on the Flag of Hong Kong.
The British authorities surrendered Hong Kong to the Japanese Army
August 1945
Britain reclaimed its territory after Japan's surrender
1949
Double-decker buses were introduced to Hong Kong
1950
Hong Kong became a free port
1953
The Shek Kip Mei Estate was built, establishing the program of public housing
1955
A Han period tomb was discovered near Lei Cheng Uk
1983
The Hong Kong dollar was tied to the US dollar
1984
China and Britain signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration
1990
The Hong Kong Basic Law was confirmed
1997
Asia's financial crisis
Archaeologists discovered 20 graves on the island of Ma Wa
Tung Chee Wa elected as the firstChief Executive of Hong Kong. Voting was conducted by 400 committees of an electoral college whose members are appointed by the Chinese Government.
People occupied the Central region to demanduniversal suffrage for the next chief executive election, to take place in 2017.
2015
The government voted against the universal suffrage demanded by the people.
2016
There were more protests inMong Kok because the government voted against universal suffrage. Police had to usepepper spray andTear gas on the protesters to get them to leave.
2019
Protestors in Hong Kong demonstrated against a newextradition law proposed by the Hong Kong government.[20][21]It was the largestprotest in Hong Kong's history.[22] This law would allow Hong Kong to send people to other jurisdictions where they have committed a crime, including mainland China.[23] People opposed this because of the poor reputation of China due to allegations oftorture, forced confessions and arbitrary detentions. There were fears that the bill would just bring Hong Kong closer under China's control, even though Hong Kong have their own judicial system.[24]
2020
TheHong Kong National Security Law is created. This law will giveBeijing, more power to control Hong Kong. Beijing also put a security office in Hong Kong. The law was created at 11 P.M. on 30 June 2020, Hong Kong Time.[25]
_(%2ball_claims_hatched).svg)
