Hongkong

Hong Kong officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a largely self-governing territory of the People's Republic of China (PRC), located south of Guangdong province and facing the South China Sea to the east, west and south. A British dependent territory until 1997, Hong Kong has a highly developed capitalist economy and enjoys a high degree of autonomy from the PRC under the "one country, two systems" policy.

Beginning as a trading port, Hong Kong became a crown colony (later British overseas territories) of the United Kingdom in 1842, and remained so until its transfer of sovereignty to the People's Republic of China in 1997.


Along with Macau, Hong Kong is one of the two special administrative regions under the "one country, two systems" policy. As a result, Hong Kong is largely self-governing, has a high degree of autonomy in all areas except foreign affairs and defence, which are the responsibility of Government of the PRC. As part of this arrangement, Hong Kong maintains its own currency, separate legal and political systems, and is generally not considered part of mainland China.


Renowned for its expansive skyline and natural setting, its identity as a cosmopolitan centre where east meets west is reflected in its cuisine, cinema, music and traditions, Although the population is predominantly Chinese, residents and expatriates of other ethnicities form a small but significant segment of society. With a population of 7 million people, but only 1,108 km2 (428 sq mi) of land, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

The name "Hong Kong" in the English language is an approximate phonetic rendering of the Cantonese or Hakka pronunciation of the Chinese name "香港", meaning "fragrant harbour".

Before 1842, the name Hong Kong originally referred colloquially to a small inlet (now Aberdeen Harbour/Little Hong Kong) between the island of Ap Lei Chau and the south side of the island which later became known as Hong Kong. The inlet was one of the first points of contact between British sailors and local fishermen.The reference to fragrance may refer to the harbour waters sweetened by the fresh water esturine influx of the Pearl River, or to the incense factories lining the coast to the north of Kowloon which was stored around Aberdeen Harbour for export, before the development of Victoria Harbour.


In 1842, the Treaty of Nanking was signed, and the name Hong Kong was first recorded on official documents to encompass the entirety of the Island. The Convention of Peking (1860) and Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory (1898) added the Kowloon peninsula and New Territories into Hong Kong's territory, which has remained unchanged until the present.