Hong Kong

Broadcast media

2 commercial terrestrial TV networks each with multiple stations; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems available; 3 radio networks, one of which is government-funded, operate about 15 radio stations (2012)

Internet country code

.hk

Internet hosts

870,041 (2012) country comparison to the world: 48

Internet users

4.873 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 47

Telephone system

general assessment: modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic network international: country code - 852; multiple international submarine cables provide connections to Asia, US, Australia, the Middle East, and Western Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China (2012)

Telephones - main lines in use

4.362 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 39

Telephones - mobile cellular

16.403 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 57

Agriculture - products

fresh vegetables; poultry, pork; fish

Budget

revenues: $57.87 billion expenditures: $49.79 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

3.1% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Central bank discount rate

0.5% (31 December 2012) country comparison to the world: 135 0.5% (31 December 2011)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 158 5% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

$6.064 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 $14.01 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$134.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 $126 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

53.7 (2011) country comparison to the world: 11 53.3 (2007)

Economy - overview

Hong Kong has a free market economy, highly dependent on international trade and finance - the value of goods and services trade, including the sizable share of re-exports, is about four times GDP. Hong Kong levies excise duties on only four commodities, namely: hard alcohol, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil, and methyl alcohol. There are no quotas or dumping laws. Hong Kong's open economy left it exposed to the global economic slowdown that began in 2008. Although increasing integration with China, through trade, tourism, and financial links, helped it to make an initial recovery more quickly than many observers anticipated, it again faces a possible slowdown as exports to the Euro zone and US slump. The Hong Kong government is promoting the Special Administrative Region (SAR) as the site for Chinese renminbi (RMB) internationalization. Hong Kong residents are allowed to establish RMB-denominated savings accounts; RMB-denominated corporate and Chinese government bonds have been issued in Hong Kong; and RMB trade settlement is allowed. The territory far exceeded the RMB conversion quota set by Beijing for trade settlements in 2010 due to the growth of earnings from exports to the mainland. RMB deposits grew to roughly 9.1% of total system deposits in Hong Kong by the end of 2012, an increase of 59% from the previous year. The government is pursuing efforts to introduce additional use of RMB in Hong Kong financial markets and is seeking to expand the RMB quota. The mainland has long been Hong Kong's largest trading partner, accounting for about half of Hong Kong's exports by value. Hong Kong's natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. As a result of China's easing of travel restrictions, the number of mainland tourists to the territory has surged from 4.5 million in 2001 to 34.9 million in 2012, outnumbering visitors from all other countries combined. Hong Kong has also established itself as the premier stock market for Chinese firms seeking to list abroad. In 2012 mainland Chinese companies constituted about 46.6% of the firms listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and accounted for about 57.4% of the Exchange's market capitalization. During the past decade, as Hong Kong's manufacturing industry moved to the mainland, its service industry has grown rapidly. Growth slowed to 5% in 2011, and less than 2% in 2012. Credit expansion and tight housing supply conditions caused Hong Kong property prices to rise rapidly and inflation to rise 4.1% in 2012. Lower and middle income segments of the population are increasingly unable to afford adequate housing. Hong Kong continues to link its currency closely to the US dollar, maintaining an arrangement established in 1983.

Exchange rates

Hong Kong dollars (HKD) per US dollar - 7.76 (2012 est.) 7.78 (2011 est.) 7.77 (2010 est.) 7.75 (2009) 7.75 (2008)

Exports

$466 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $437.7 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel, footwear, watches and clocks, toys, plastics, precious stones, printed material

Exports - partners

China 54.1%, US 9.9%, Japan 4.2% (2012 est.)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate)

$259.7 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$365.6 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 36 $360.2 billion (2011 est.) $343.5 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 63.7% government consumption: 9.1% investment in fixed capital: 26.4% investment in inventories: -0.4% exports of goods and services: 224.8% imports of goods and services: -223.5% (2012 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 0% industry: 7.1% services: 92.8% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$50,900 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 14 $50,600 (2011 est.) $48,700 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.5% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 148 4.9% (2011 est.) 6.8% (2010 est.)

Gross national saving

28.3% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 29.7% of GDP (2011 est.) 30.9% of GDP (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$487.4 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 10 $445.1 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

raw materials and semi-manufactures, consumer goods, capital goods, foodstuffs, fuel (most is reexported)

Imports - partners

China 46.9%, Japan 8.4%, Taiwan 7.5%, South Korea 5%, US 4.7% (2012 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

5.9% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 44

Industries

textiles, clothing, tourism, banking, shipping, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.1% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 127 5.3% (2011 est.)

Labor force

3.792 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Labor force - by occupation

manufacturing: 4% construction: 2.7% wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels: 40.9% financing, insurance, and real estate: 12.5% transport and communications: 9.9% community and social services: 16.9% note: above data exclude public sector (2012 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$2.81 trillion (31 December 2012) country comparison to the world: 6 $2.24 trillion (31 December 2011) $2.711 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

37.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 39% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$317.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 10 $285.4 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.148 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 $1.033 trillion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$1.31 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 6 $1.129 trillion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$1.422 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 2 $1.185 trillion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$714 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 $651.4 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$177.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 $145.2 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

22.3% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Unemployment rate

3.3% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 28 3.4% (2011 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

92.91 million Mt (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 199

Crude oil - production

100 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 143

Electricity - consumption

45.07 billion kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Electricity - exports

497.4 million kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Electricity - imports

11.15 billion kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Electricity - installed generating capacity

10.66 million kW (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Electricity - production

41.3 billion kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

Natural gas - consumption

2.79 billion cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Natural gas - imports

2.79 billion cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 149

Refined petroleum products - consumption

337,600 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Refined petroleum products - exports

16,520 bbl/day (2012) country comparison to the world: 76

Refined petroleum products - imports

354,100 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 18

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Area

total: 1,104 sq km country comparison to the world: 184 land: 1,054 sq km water: 50 sq km

Area - comparative

six times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

Coastline

733 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m

Environment - current issues

air and water pollution from rapid urbanization

Environment - international agreements

party to: Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution (associate member)

Geographic coordinates

22 15 N, 114 10 E

Geography - note

composed of more than 200 islands

Irrigated land

NA; note - included in the total for China

Land boundaries

total: 30 km regional border: China 30 km

Land use

arable land: 5.05% permanent crops: 1.01% other: 93.94% (2011)

Location

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 3 nm

Natural hazards

occasional typhoons

Natural resources

outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar

Terrain

hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north

Administrative divisions

none (special administrative region of China)

Constitution

several previous (governance documents while under British authority); latest drafted April 1988 to February 1989, approved March 1990, promulgated 4 April 1990 (Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China serves as the constitution); note - since 1990, China's National People's Congress has interpreted specific articles of the Basic Law (2013)

Country name

conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region conventional short form: Hong Kong official long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu official short form: Xianggang abbreviation: HK

Dependency status

special administrative region of China

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Consul General Clifford A. HART Jr. (since 30 July 2013); note - also accredited to Macau consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong mailing address: Unit 8000, Box 1, DPO AP 96521-0006 telephone: [852] 2523-9011 FAX: [852] 2845-1598

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (Special Administrative Region of China); Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) carries out normal liaison and communication with the US Government and other US entities commissioner: Donald TONG office: 1520 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] 202 331-8947 FAX: [1] 202 331-8958 HKETO offices: New York, San Francisco

Executive branch

chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003) head of government: Chief Executive LEUNG Chun-ying [C.Y.LEUNG] (since 1 July 2012) cabinet: Executive Council or ExCo consists of 15 official members and 16 non-official members (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: chief executive elected for five-year term by a 1,200-member election committee; on 25 March 2012 LEUNG Chun-ying [C.Y.LEUNG] was elected chief executive by a 1,193-member election committee; he took office on 1 July 2012; (next to be held in March 2017) note: the Legislative Council voted in June 2010 to expand the electoral committee to 1,200 seats for the 2012 selection election results: LEUNG Chun-ying was selected with 689 votes; Henry TANG received 285 votes, and Albert HO received 76 of the 1,132 votes cast; 82 ballots were deemed invalid; most were blank

Flag description

red with a stylized, white, five-petal Bauhinia flower in the center; each petal contains a small, red, five-pointed star in its middle; the red color is the same as that on the Chinese flag and represents the motherland; the fragrant Bauhinia - developed in Hong Kong the late 19th century - has come to symbolize the region; the five stars echo those on the flag of China

Government type

limited democracy

Independence

none (special administrative region of China)

International organization participation

ADB, APEC, BIS, FATF, ICC (national committees), IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITUC (NGOs), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Court of Final Appeal (consists of the chief justice, 3 permanent judges and 20 non-permanent judges); note - a sitting bench consists of the chief justice and 3 permanent and 1 non-permanent judges judge selection and term of office: all judges appointed by the Hong Kong Chief Executive upon the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission, an independent body consisting of the Secretary for Justice and other judges, judicial and legal professionals; permanent judges appointed until normal retirement at age 65, but can be extended; non-permanent judges appointed for renewable 3-year terms without age limit subordinate courts: High Court (consists of the Court of Appeal and Court of First Instance); District Courts (includes Family and Land Courts); magistrates' courts; specialized tribunals

Legal system

mixed legal system of common law based on the English model and Chinese customary law (in matters of family and land tenure)

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Council or LegCo (70 seats; 35 members indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 35 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms) note: the LegCo voted in June 2010 to expand to 70 seats for the 2012 election; the measure was approved by the National People's Congress Standing Committee in August 2010 elections: last held on 9 September 2012 (next to be held in September 2016) election results: percent of vote by block - pro-democracy 56%; pro-Beijing 41%, independent 3%; seats by parties - (pro-Beijing 43) DAB 13, BRA 7, FTU 6, Liberal Party 5, others 10; (pro-democracy 27) Democratic Party 6, Civic Party 6, Labor Party 4, People Power 3, Professional Commons 3, League of Social Democrats 1, ADPL 1, PTU 1, Neo Democrats 1, NWSC 1; independent 1

National anthem

note: as a Special Administrative Region of China, "Yiyonggjun Jinxingqu" is the official anthem (see China)

National holiday

National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 1 July 1997 is celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day

National symbol(s)

orchid tree flower

Political parties and leaders

parties: Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood or ADPL [LIU Sung Lee] Business and Professional Alliance [Andrew LEUNG] Civic Party [EU Audrey] Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong or DAB [TAM Yiu-cheng] Democratic Party [Emily LAU] Labor Party [LEE Cheuk-yan] League of Social Democrats or LSD [LEUNG Kwok-hung] Liberal Party [Selina CHOW] Neo Democrats [joint leaders] New People's Party [Regina IP Lau Su-yee] People Power [Raymond WONG Yuk-man] others: Confederation of Trade Unions or CTU Federation of Trade Unions or FTU Neighborhood and Workers Service Center or NWSC Professional Commons (think tank) [Charles MOK] Professional Teachers Union or PTU note: political blocs include: pro-democracy - ADPL, Civic Party, Democratic Party, Labor Party, League of Social Democrats, People Power, Professional Commons; pro-Beijing - DAB, FTU, Liberal Party, New People's Party, The Business and Professional Alliance; there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies

Political pressure groups and leaders

Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Confederation of Trade Unions or CTU (pro-democracy) [LEE Cheuk-yan, general secretary]; Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Federation of Trade Unions or FTU (pro-China) [CHENG Yiu-tong, executive councilor]; Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China [LEE Cheuk-yan, chairman]; Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union [FUNG Wai-wah, president]; Neighborhood and Workers' Service Center or NWSC [LEUNG Yiu-chung, LegCo member] (pro-democracy); Civic Act-up [Cyd HO Sau-lan, LegCo member] (pro-democracy)

Suffrage

18 years of age in direct elections for half the legislature and a majority of seats in 18 district councils; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; note - in indirect elections, suffrage is limited to about 220,000 members of functional constituencies for the other half of the legislature and an 1,200-member election committee for the chief executive drawn from broad sectoral groupings, central government bodies, municipal organizations, and elected Hong Kong officials

Background

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 the People's Republic of China on 1 July 1997. In this agreement, China promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system would not be imposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong would enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,704,090 females age 16-49: 1,873,175 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,387,213 females age 16-49: 1,505,875 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 39,579 female: 36,554 (2010 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of China

Military branches

no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong garrison of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) includes elements of the PLA Ground Forces, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the adjacent Guangzhou Military Region (2012)

Military expenditures

NA

Age structure

0-14 years: 11.3% (male 425,289/female 389,622) 15-24 years: 10.7% (male 398,475/female 372,250) 25-54 years: 48.4% (male 1,627,699/female 1,848,730) 55-64 years: 15.1% (male 538,854/female 547,690) 65 years and over: 14.4% (male 486,043/female 548,072) (2013 est.)

Birth rate

7.58 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 223

Contraceptive prevalence rate

79.5% (2007)

Death rate

7.39 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 34.6 % youth dependency ratio: 15.8 % elderly dependency ratio: 18.9 % potential support ratio: 5.3 (2013)

Education expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 129

Ethnic groups

Chinese 93.6%, Filipino 1.9%, Indonesian 1.9%, other 2.6% (2011 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2,600 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Infant mortality rate

total: 2.89 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 219 male: 3.06 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

Languages

Cantonese (official) 89.5%, English (official) 3.5%, Putonghua (Mandarin) 1.4%, other Chinese dialects 4%, other 1.6% (2011 census)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 82.2 years country comparison to the world: 9 male: 79.47 years female: 85.14 years (2013 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 93.5% male: 96.9% female: 89.6% (2002)

Median age

total: 44.5 years male: 43.8 years female: 45 years (2013 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

29.8 (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Chinese/Hong Konger adjective: Chinese/Hong Kong

Net migration rate

3.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

Population

7,182,724 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Population growth rate

0.39% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Religions

eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2011)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.11 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 221

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 9.4% country comparison to the world: 109 male: 11% female: 7.9% (2011)

Urbanization

urban population: 100% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 1.04% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

despite strenuous law enforcement efforts, faces difficult challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to regional and world markets; modern banking system provides conduit for money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs, especially among young people

Airports

2 (2013) country comparison to the world: 201

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)

Heliports

9 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 1,644 country comparison to the world: 5 by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 785, cargo 198, carrier 10, chemical tanker 149, container 288, liquefied gas 31, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 156, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 7 foreign-owned: 976 (Bangladesh 1, Belgium 26, Bermuda 20, Canada 77, China 500, Cyprus 3, Denmark 42, France 4, Germany 10, Greece 27, Indonesia 10, Iran 3, Japan 79, Libya 1, Norway 48, Russia 1, Singapore 13, South Korea 3, Switzerland 5, Taiwan 25, UAE 1, UK 33, US 44) registered in other countries: 341 (Bahamas 3, Bermuda 4, Cambodia 10, China 18, Curacao 1, Cyprus 2, Georgia 3, India 2, Kiribati 2, Liberia 48, Malaysia 8, Malta 4, Marshall Islands 3, NZ 1, Panama 144, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Seychelles 1, Sierra Leone 7, Singapore 46, Thailand 1, UK 12, unknown 16) (2010)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Hong Kong

Roadways

total: 2,090 km country comparison to the world: 174 paved: 2,090 km (2012)