Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China, located to the east of the Pearl River estuary on the south coast of China. It is one of the most densely populated places in the world and is known for its skyline and deep natural harbor.

History

Hong Kong became a colony of the British Empire after the First Opium War (1839–42). The Hong Kong Island was first ceded to the UK in perpetuity, followed by Kowloon Peninsula in 1860 and then the New Territories was put under lease in 1898. It remained a British colony with some special exceptions until 1997, when it was returned to China. The region espoused minimum government intervention under the ethos of positive non-interventionism during the colonial era. The time period greatly influenced the current culture of Hong Kong, often described as "East meets West", and the educational system, which used to loosely follow the system in England until reforms implemented in 2009.

Geography

Hong Kong is located on China's south coast, 60 km (37 mi) east of Macau on the opposite side of the Pearl River Delta. It is surrounded by the South China Sea on all sides except the north, which neighbors the Guangdong city of Shenzhen along the Sham Chun River.

Economy

Hong Kong is one of the world's most significant financial centres, with the highest Financial Development Index score and consistently ranks as the world's most competitive and freest economic entity. As the world's 8th largest trading entity, its legal tender, the Hong Kong dollar, is the world's 13th most traded currency.

Culture

Hong Kong is characterized as a hybrid of East and West. Traditional Chinese values emphasizing family and education blend with Western ideals, including economic liberty and the rule of law.

Healthcare

Hong Kong has a highly developed and sophisticated healthcare system, comparable to that in the developed world. The region has high standards of medical practice and a well-established system for the regulation of healthcare professionals and services.

Education

Education in Hong Kong is largely modelled on that of the United Kingdom, particularly the English system. It is overseen by the Education Bureau and the Social Welfare Department.

See Also

• China
• Macau
• Shenzhen
• Pearl River
• British Empire
• First Opium War
• Hong Kong Island
• Kowloon Peninsula
• New Territories
• South China Sea
• Hong Kong dollar

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