Special Administrative Region

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Hong Kong was established as a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China on 1 July 1997.

Hong Kong's constitutional document, the Basic Law, guarantees that the principles and policies regarding Hong Kong will remain unchanged for 50 years, and designates a system of governance led by a Chief Executive and an Executive Council, with a two-tiered system of representative government and an independent judiciary.

Since 1997, Hong Kong has continued to prosper, full of dynamism and opportunities, and has grown in importance in the international arena under the auspices of the "one country, two systems" and "Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong" principles.

Location

Situated at the south-eastern tip of China, Hong Kong is ideally positioned at the centre of East Asia, one of the world's most dynamic economic regions. Hong Kong includes Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories, including 262 outlying islands. Hong Kong Island lies just south of Kowloon, separated by Victoria Harbour; the New Territories lie north of Kowloon and run up to the border with Mainland China. A map of Hong Kong can be found here.

Population, geography, languages

Hong Kong has a population of over 7.5 million living on 1 105.7 square kilometres of land. More than 75% of the total area is undeveloped land with great natural beauty and biodiversity. Both English and Chinese are the official languages and many people are fluent in Cantonese and Putonghua. English is widely used in the Government and by the legal, professional and business sectors.