Hong KongBy: Michelle Lee

Name: Hong Kong Special Administrative

Region of the People’s Republic of China

Population: 7,071,600 (2011)

Area: 426.3 sq. miles

Currency: Hong Kong Dollar

Climate: Humid Subtropical

Vegetation: Broadleaf evergreen forest

Profile

History

Colonial Hong Kong era (1800s-1997)

Japanese occupation era (1940s)Modern Hong KongHandover (1997)

Time Line

Colonial Hong Kong era (1800s-1997)

There are wars between China and England. China sign a treaty that they have to cession Hong Kong to the British. After China lost Hong Kong Island, they try to get them back from winning the British so start another wars. At the end, China lost the entire Hong Kong.

Date Treaty Result20 January 1841 Convention of

ChuenpeePreliminary

cession of Hong Kong Island to the United Kingdom

29 August 1842 Treaty of Nanjing Cession of Hong Kong Island, founded as a

crown colony of the United Kingdom

18 October 1860 Convention of Beijing

Cession of Kowloon (south od

the Boundary Street)

1 July 1898 Second Convention of

Beijing

Lease of the New Territories for 99

years.

Hong Kong was occupied by Japan from 23 December 1941 to 15 August 1945. This period also called “3 years and 8 months”. Japan attack Hong Kong 8 hours after they attack the Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. After Japan took control of Hong Kong, everyone in Hong Kong force to learn Japanese and get kill by no reason.

Japanese Occupation Era (1940s)

The manufacturing industry opened a new decade employing large sections of the population. Family values and Chinese tradition were challenged like never before as people spent more time in factories than at home.

Modern Hong Kong Under British Rule (1950s-1997)

Hong Kong is handed over on 1 July 1997.

Handover (1997)

1.    The long-held British practice of no general elections by HK citizens remains unchanged.

2. English is still taught in all schools. However, many schools teach in Mandarin in parallel with Cantonese and English.

3. The border with the mainland continues to be patrolled as before.4. Hong Kong remains an individual member of various international

organizations, such as the IOC, APEC and WTO.5. Hong Kong continues to negotiate and maintain its own aviation

bilateral treaties with foreign countries and territories. Flights between Hong Kong and China mainland are treated as international flights (or more commonly known as inter-territorial flights in China mainland).

6. Hong Kong SAR passport holders have easier access to countries in Europe and North America, while mainland citizens do not. Citizens in mainland China can apply for a visa to Hong Kong only from the PRC Government. Many former colonial citizens can still use British National (Overseas) and British citizen passports after 1997. (Main article: British nationality law and Hong Kong)

7. It continues to have more political freedoms than the mainland China, including freedom of the press.

Unchanged After Handover

8. Motor vehicles in Hong Kong, unlike those in mainland China, continue to drive on the left.

9. Electrical plugs (, TV transmissions (PAL-I) and many other technical standards from the United Kingdom are still utilised in Hong Kong. However, telephone companies ceased installing British Standard BS 6312 telephone sockets in Hong Kong. HK also adopts the digital TV standard devised in mainland China. (Main article: Technical standards in colonial Hong Kong)

10. Hong Kong retains a separate international dialling code (+852) and telephone numbering plan from that of the mainland. Calls between Hong Kong and the mainland still require international dialling.

11. The former British military drill, marching and words of command in English continues in all disciplinary services including all civil organizations. The PLA soldiers of the Chinese Garrison in Hong Kong have their own drills and Mandarin words of command.

12. Hong Kong still uses the British date format.13. All statues of British monarchs like Queen Victoria and King George

remain.14. Road names like “Queen‘s Road”, “King’s Road” remain.

1. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is now elected by a selection committee with 1200 members, who mainly are elected from among professional sectors and pro-Chinese business in Hong Kong.

2. All public offices now fly the flags of the PRC and the Hong Kong SAR. The Union Flag now flies only outside the British Consulate-General and other British premises.

3. Elizabeth II's portrait disappeared from banknotes, postage stamps and public offices. As of 2009, some pre-1997 coins and banknotes are still legal tenders and are in circulation.

4. The 'Royal' title was dropped from almost all organizations that had been granted it, with the exception of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club.

5. Legal references to the 'Crown' were replaced by references to the 'State', and barristers who had been appointed Queen's Counsel were now to be known as Senior Counsel.

6. A local honours system was introduced to replace the British honours system, with the Grand Bauhinia Medal replacing the Order of the British Empire.

7. Public holidays changed, with the Queen's Official Birthday and other British-inspired occasions being replaced by PRC National Day and Hong Kong SAR Establishment Day.

8. Many of the red British style pillar boxes were removed from the streets of Hong Kong and replaced by green Hongkong Postboxes in the Singapore style. A few examples remain, but have been repainted.

9. British citizens (without the right of abode) are no longer able to work in Hong Kong for one year without a visa; the policy was changed on 1 April 1997.

10. Secondary schools must teach in Cantonese, unless approved by the Department of Education. Secondary education will move away from the English model of five years secondary schooling plus two years of university matriculation to the Chinese model of three years of junior secondary plus another three years of senior secondary. University education extends from three years to four.

Changed After Handover

Money

Before handover

After handover

Mailbox before handover Mailbox after handover

Government

Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. Following British rule from 1842 to 1997, China assumed sovereignty under the 'one country, two systems' principle. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's constitutional document, the Basic Law, ensures that the current political situation will remain in effect for 50 years. The rights and freedoms of people in Hong Kong are based on the impartial rule of law and an independent judiciary.

Head of Government: Chief Executive Cabinet: Executive Council Legislature: Legislative Council, 70 seats Highest Court: Court of Final Appeal

Hong Kong Government

The law of Hong Kong is based on the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.

The constitutional framework for the legal system is provided by the “Hong Kong Basic Law”.

Hong Kong is under the principal of “One country, Two system”

Hong Kong’s Law

Before handover, the judges is delegated by Britain.

After handover, the judges is delegated by the Chief Executive.

The legislative council building is old highest court.

Court

Economy

Currency – Hong Kong dollar(HKD) Economic Activities – Trade and

manufacturing, commercial fishing GDP per capita – HK$266,026(US$34,294)

(2011) Unemployment – 3.4% (1/2011-3/2011) Main export partners – mainland China

(45.4%), United States (10.9%), Japan (4.2%) Main import partners – mainland China

(45.4%), Japan (9.1%), Singapore (7.0%), Taiwan (6.7%)

Economy of Hong Kong Profile

As one of the world’s leading international financial centers, Hong Kong’s service-oriented economy is characterised by low taxation, near – free port trade and well-established international financial market. Hong Kong has remained as the world’s freest economy. By the late 20th century, Hong Kong was the 7th largest port in the world and second only to New York and Rotterdam in terms of container throughput.

Economy of Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is the 6th largest in the world, which a market capitalization of about US$2.97 trillion. In 2006, the value of initial public offerings conducted in Hong Kong was second highest in the world after London. In 2009, Hong Kong raised 22% of worldwide initial public offering capital, becoming the largest center of initial public offering in the world. The rival stock exchange of the future is expected to be the Shanghai Stock Exchange. As of 2006, Hong Kong Exchange and Clearing (HKEX) has an average daily turnover of 33.4 billion dollars, which is 12 times that of Shanghai.

Stock Exchange

Hong Kong Stock Exchange Center

Hong Kong has marked as the world’s freest economy in The Wall Street Journal and Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom for 17 consecutive years, since the inception of the index in 1995. The index measures restrictions on business, trade, investment, finance, property rights and labor and considers the impact of corruption, government size and monetary controls in 183 economies. Hong Kong is the only one to have ever scored 90 points or above on the 100 point scale

Economic Freedom

International Finance Center

IFC

The biggest Hong Kong public transportation is Mass Transit Railway (MTR).

Public Transportation

Double Deck Bus

Taxi

Ding Ding Tram

Culture

Hong Kong culture is a hybrid culture of east and west.

Many people in Hong Kong are proud of their culture and generally refer themselves as “Hong Konger” or “Hong Kong Chinese”, to distinct themselves from the Chinese in mainland China

Culture

Cantonese is the most widely spoken language in Hong Kong. Since the 1997 1997 handover, the government has adopted the “biliterate and triligual” policy. Under the principal, Chinese and English must both be acknowledged as the official languages, with Cantonese being acknowledged as the official Chinese language in Hong Kong, while also accepting the use of Mandarin.

Language

A large variety of religious groups are present in Hong Kong, including Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Judaism.

Number “4” is a bad number to Hong Kong people because the pronunciation of “4” in Chinese is similar to word “die” in Chinese so they try to avoid it when possible. Such as many buildings in Hong Kong don’t have the floor end with 4 like 4, 14, 24. Also the number “8” is a lucky number for the Hong Kong people because the pronunciation of “8” is similar to a word which mean “richest and fortune” in Chinese.

Religion and Beliefs

Hong Kong is well known for it’s shopping district with multiple department stores, nicknamed “shopping paradise” many imported good transported to Hong Kong have lower tax duties than the international stranded, making most items affordable for the general public. Hong Kong is identified by its materialistic culture and high levels of consumerism. Shops from the lowest end to the most upscale pack the streets in closer proximity.

Hong Kong has about 100 shopping malls.

Shopping

“Hong Kong Time Square”

Canton Road is where all the well know name branded locate.

Food holds an important place in Hong Kong culture. From dim sum, hot pot, fast food, to the most rare of delicacies, Hong Kong carries the reputable label of “Gourmet Paradise” and “World’s Fair of Food”

Hong Kong cuisine, which is influenced by western and eastern countries, is very diverse. Hong Kong also has its own style too.

You can find as many different country’s food as you can think of.

Food

Breakfast

Dim Sum

Hong Kong people usually go to dim sum restaurant on their family day with their family.

Hot PotHot pot doesn’t mean it is spicy, it is just a pot of soup that is keep boiling and you can put different kind of food in it to cook it. Such as beef, meat ball, vegetables, and seafood. They usually eat hot pot when it is winter to keep your body warm but since it being so common right now, some restaurant have it for dinner at all four season too.

Hong Kong Style Snack

Hong Kong Jockey Club provides a major avenue for horse racing and gambling to locals.

They will donate a lot of money every year to build school, hospital, community center, etc.

Hong Kong Jockey Club

Architecture

The Architecture of Hong Kong features great emphasis on Contemporary architecture, especially Modernism, Postmodernism, Functionalism, etc. Due to the lack of available land, few historical buildings remain in the urban areas of Hong Kong. However, Hong Kong has become a center for modern architecture as older buildings are cleared away to make space for newer, larger buildings. It has more buildings above 100m and more skyscrapers above 150m than any other city. Hong Kong‘s skyline is often considered to be the best in the world,  with the surrounding mountains and Victoria Harbour complementing the skyscrapers.

Hong Kong Architecture

Hong Kong Legislative Council

Old Hong Kong Police Station

Hong Kong Peninsula Hotel

Bank of China Tower

Height: 1205.4 ft

Floors: 72Designer:

I.M.Pei

International Finance Center (IFC)

Height: 1351.7 ft. It was Hong Kong

tallest building until 2011

Floors: 88 Because Hong

Kong luck number is 8

Sky 100

This is Hong Kong tallest building.

There are 100 floors The top floor is an

observation desk. You can see the pretty Hong Kong view

Space Museum

Hong Kong Culture Center

Hong Kong Clock Tower

The Peak Tower

Tsing Ma Bridge

Best Place To Go In

Hong Kong

Peak

Disneyland

Ocean Park

Hong Kong Buddha Statue

Cable Car 360

Hong Kong Star Avenue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vdy3Lm7yjQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoiISzOfWuI

Video of Hong Kong

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Hong_Kong

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Hong_Kong

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Hong_Kong

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_Hong_Kong

http://www.topchinatravel.com/hongkong/best-places-to-visit-in-hong-kong.htm

Resource

http://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/facts.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong https://www.google.com/search?q=hong+ko

ng&hl=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=R4VGUcTmLuSY2wWYlYHIAw&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1152&bih=543

http://www.discoverhongkong.com/tc/index.jsp

Thank You