Hong Kong

Hong Kong

British colony from 1842, returned to China in 1997, Hong Kong remains fundamentally different from the rest of the People's Republic of China. A fundamental law determines its particular political regime. It follows the principle "one country, two systems", which allows Hong Kong to retain its legal system, its currency, its political system, its sports teams and its immigration laws. Under the terms of the Sino-British Joint, China promised that Hong Kong would keep certain autonomy until at least 2047, 50 years after the transfer of sovereignty.

Geography
Area: 1104 km2

Hong Kong is the largest and most populated of the two special administrative regions (SARs) of China (PRC), the other being Macau.
Hong Kong is situated on the eastern bank of the Pearl River on the south coast of China and is washed by the South China Sea. It adjoins Guangdong Province in the north.

Demography
Population (2008): 6,977,700 inhabitants. (Hong Kong) ref. donnees.banquemondiale.org
Density: 6320 inhab./km2
Language (s): The official languages are English and Cantonese, Cantonese (Industry), English (commercial and political context)

The city has 20,500 UK residents (up from 25,500 in 1996).
The majority is made up of expatriates employed by multinational companies or contractors settled with their families.
Since the handover, the streets have kept their two names in English and Cantonese.

Climate
Hong Kong has a subtropical climate with dry winter

Winter (January and February) is cloudy but the rain is very rare, with temperatures generally range between 13 ° and 22 °.
Spring and summer (March to October) are hot, humid and rainy with average temperatures ranging from 17-21 ° C (March) to 26-32 ° C (July).
Summer (June-September) the temperature exceeds 30 ° C almost every day and rain is plentiful.
Autumn (October to December) is considered the most pleasant time: the weather is sunny and mild temperatures (15-30 degrees C).

Hong Kong often experiences typhoons. On 18 September 1906, a typhoon or large (Tai) wind (Foun) and tsunami were 10,000 victims.

Other
Time Zone UTC +8
Internet domain. Hk
Calling code 852

Administration
Political status: Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China

Government
Chief Executive Donald Tsang
Political Structure: Hong Kong maintains its own legislature and its own structure.

Under the philosophical principle of "one country - two systems", the SAR has the power to the executive, legislative and independent judicial power. The capitalist system, legal structure and lifestyle remain unchanged. Hong Kong remains a free port with free movement of capital.

Currency
The Hong Kong Dollar, which is officially pegged to the U.S. dollar.
(Approx: U.S. $ 1 = HK $ HK $ 7.74 to 7.82)
Exchange Control: None.
Type of law: Common Law based on English Common Law.
Laws on firms: Companies Ordinance (Cap 32).

Economy
GDP (2008): $ 215 355 000 000 ref. donnees.banquemondiale.org
GDP per capita. (2008): $ 31 420 ref. donnees.banquemondiale.org

Tax rate of corporate profits: 24.2% (2009) ref. donnees.banquemondiale.org.

Hong Kong is the richest city in China.
Its economy is among the most liberal in the world.

Hong Kong has communication facilities and excellent major international airport. It is a financial and commercial centers with global reach. In fact, it ranks fifth largest financial center in the world. The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong is the most active in Asia excluding Japan.

Hong Kong is a major transshipment center, and re-export business as demand for fuel-dependent business support services such as banking and finance.
With China pushed ahead with the modernization of its economy, the People's Republic of China expressed the wish that Hong Kong should contribute to this effort. He stated that future development will be based on market reforms and this has led to the opening of its economy to foreign investment. It is widely recognized that Hong Kong is and will be an important gateway to China.