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Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and
China
Geographic coordinates: 22 15 N, 114 10 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 1,092 sq km
land: 1,042 sq km
water: 50 sq km
Area - comparative: six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 30 km
border countries: China 30 km
Coastline: 733 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot
and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall
Terrain: hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands
in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m
Natural resources: outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 20%
other: 72% (1997 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1997 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons
Environment - current issues: air and water pollution from
rapid urbanization
Geography - note: more than 200 islands
Geography
There are 234 outlying islands, many of them little more than uninhabited
rocks, which surround Hong Kong. However, Cheung Chau (2.5 sq. km)
has 20,000 residents and is fast developing into a mini Honolulu
despite its lack of motor-powered vehicles.
Lantau, the largest island (142 sq. km) has a population of 30,000
and a 70-km long walking trail. This trail offers some of Hong Kong's
most rugged landscape, crossing over two of the island's highest
summits, winding through forests and offering stunning views of
the sea. It also has a 933m peak standing tall as if inviting visitors
to come over, despite the fact that the land has avoided many development
excesses of other islands. It has become a home to several important
monasteries, including Po Lin Monastery with its enormous bronze
Buddha. The new airport development has made it possible for Lantau
to be connected by bridge to the mainland. The other islands of
Hong Kong are also worth visiting. These islands include Lamma,
Peng Chau, Poi Toi and the uninhabited Tung Lung Chau.
Climate
Hong Kong is located just within the tropics and the climate is
monsoonal. Two seasons dominate the year. One consistantly hot,
wet and humid (the Southwest Monsoon, Spring/Summer) and the other
cool and dry ( the Nothern Monsoon, Autumn/Winter). Hong Kong can,
however, experience great variations in the periods between successive
monsoons - and the most dramatic variations occurs during the Typhoon
season.
Generally the dry monsoon season begins in mid to late September
and brings three months of pleasantly warm days and brilliant clear
blue skies. Nights are cool, the humidity low and day-to-day temperature
changes are slight. From December through early January, the weather
normally remains sunny during the day but the nights are considerably
cooler. Hong Kong's rainy season arrives in ernest about the middle
of March. Mid-May to September is high summer in Hong Kong, and
also the unpredictable Typhoon Season.
Background:
Pursuant to the agreement signed by China and the UK on 19 December
1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
(SAR) of China on 1 July 1997.
Under the terms of this agreement, China has promised that under
its "one country, two systems" formula its socialist economic system
will not be practiced in Hong Kong, and that Hong Kong shall enjoy
a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense
affairs.
Occupied by the UK in 1841, Hong Kong was formally ceded by China
the following year; various adjacent lands were added later in the
19th century. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and the UK
on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997.
In this agreement, China has promised that, under its "one country,
two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system will not
be practiced in Hong Kong and that Hong Kong will enjoy a high degree
of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for
the next 50 years.
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