HongKong - officially The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region [pronunciation], is one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the other being Macau.
Hong Kong was a crown colony of the United Kingdom from 1842 until the transfer of its sovereignty to the People's Republic of China in 1997.
Geography
Hong Kong consists primarily of Hong Kong Island, Lantau Island, Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories as well as some 260 other islands.
The name "Hong Kong", which literally translates to mean "fragrant harbour", is derived from the area around present-day Aberdeen on Hong Kong Island. This is an area where fragrant wood products and fragrant incense were once traded. The narrow body of water which separates Hong Kong Island from the Kowloon Peninsula is known as Victoria Harbour and is one of the deepest natural maritime ports in the world.
Climate
Its climate is subtropical and, for nearly half the year, tends toward temperate. The region is cloudy in January and February, meeting with the occasional cold fronts. In March and April, it is pleasant, with occasional high humidity. From May to August, the region is hot and humid, occasionally confronted with showers and thunderstorms. During November and December, there are pleasant breezes, with plenty of sunshine and comfortable temperatures.
Economy
It maintains a highly capitalist economy built on a policy of free market, low taxation and government non-intervention. It is an important centre for international finance and trade, with the greatest concentration of corporate headquarters in the Asia-Pacific region. In terms of gross domestic product per capita and gross metropolitan product, Hong Kong is the wealthiest urban centre in the People's Republic of China. The GDP (PPP) per capita of Hong Kong even exceeded the four big economies in Western Europe (UK, France, Germany, Italy) and Japan in Asia.
Culture
Hong Kong is frequently described as a place where East meets West, a meeting reflected in its economic infrastructure, education and street culture. On one street corner, there may be traditional Chinese shops selling Chinese herbal medicine, Buddhist paraphernalia or bowls of synthetic shark fin soup. But around the next, one may find theatres showing the latest Hollywood blockbuster, an English-style pub, a Catholic Church or a McDonald's.
Architecture
It is a centre for modern architecture, especially in and around Central. Dense commercial skyscrapers between Central and Causeway Bay lining the coast of Victoria Harbour is one of Hong Kong's most famous tourist attractions and ranked the best skyline in the world. Four of the top 15 tallest skyscrapers in the world are in Hong Kong.
One of the largest construction projects in Hong Kon g and the world was the new Hong Kong International Airport on Chek Lap Kok near Lantau, a huge land reclamation project linked to the centre of Hong Kong by the Lantau Link, which features three new major bridges: Tsing Ma, the world' s sixth largest suspension bridge; Kap Shui Mun, the world's longest cable-stayed bridge carrying both road and railway traffic; and Ting Kau, the world's first major four-span cable-stayed bridge.
Regularly notable about Hong Kong's skyline and streetscape is the omnipresence of public housing estates, which began as a squatter resettlement program in the 1950s, and now houses close to 50% of the population. These estates have evolved from seven-storey walk-up apartments with public toilets and minimal amenities, allocated on a basis of 24 square feet (2 m²) per adult, half of that for a child, to high-quality high-rises. The public rental program has been supplemented with a government-subsidised Home Ownership Scheme.
Transportation
HongKong has a highly developed and sophisticated transport network, encompassing both public and private transport. The Octopus card stored value smart card payment system can be used to pay for fares on almost all railways, buses and ferries in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong has several different modes of public rail transport. The two metro systems for the city are the MTR (Mass Transit Railway) and KCR which acts as a link between Hong Kong and mainland China (KCR also operates a light rail system in northwest New Territories). These are operated by the MTR Corporation Limited and the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation respectively. The tramway system covers the northern parts of Hong Kong Island and is the only tram system in the world run exclusively by double deckers.
There are also ferry services. The oldest service, the legendary Star Ferry, operates four lines between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island and has provided cost-effective transport for over a century. Popular with tourists desiring a panoramic view of Hong Kong's skyline and harbour, many Hong Kong residents consider the Star Ferry as one of the city's most treasured cultural icons. Additionally, 78 "kai-to" ferries are licensed to serve remote coastal settlements.
International Airport now serves as a transport hub for Southeast Asia. Additionally, both Hong Kong International Airport and Cathay Pacific Airways have been voted best in the world, in the airport and airline criteria respectively, by Skytrax from 2001 to 2005, and again in 2007.
While the traffic in mainland China drives on the right, Hong Kong still maintains its own road rules, with traffic continuing to drive on the left. There are about 517,000 registered vehicles in Hong Kong, 64% of which are privately owned passenger cars. As a metropolis for luxury in Asia, Hong Kong is world famous for having the most Rolls-Royce cars per capita in the world. Note that the Hong Kong highway code uses the same road sign system as Great Britain whereas the Chinese system is different.
International Rankings
Year Contest Host Organizations Ranking
2006 World Competitiveness IMD International 2/61 economies
Yearbook 2006
Corruption Perception Transparency Int'l 15/163 countries
Index
Access Index FedEx: The Power 1/ 75 countries
of Access
Potential Competitiveness Japan Center for 1/ 50 countries
of Access
Potential Competitiveness Japan Center for 1/ 50 countries
Economic Research
2007 World's Best Airport Skytrax 1/ 155 countries
World's Most Expensive ECA Int'l 1/92 countries
City for Rental Accomodation
Index of Economic Freedom Heritage Foundation 1/ 157 countries
World's Competitives IMD International 3/ 55 economies
E-readiness Economist Intelligence 4/ 69 countries
Unit
Leading Centers for MasterCard Study 5/ 63 countries
Commerce
Commerce
World's Most Expensive Mercer Human Resource 5/ 143 cities
Cost of Living Consulting
Cost of Living Consulting
Travel and Tourism World Economic Forum 6/ 124 countries
Competitiveness Index
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I could say my days in HongKong was an awesome experience. It was a country to see --- busy city life with lots of lots of lights at night.
This is the first time that I stepped in the soil of HongKong. I praised God for that this opportunity that He brought me in this country -- be out of the country for the second time. Like the first trip I'd got this was also a blessing -- God used people to allow me to travel to this country where East meets West.
I arrived in the airport -- amazed and overwhelmed. Still on the plane my eyes was welcomed by the skycrappers in the city where trees are still everywhere. The airport was so huge and very modern. Somehow my loneliness of missing my SO was lessened :-)
I could say my days in HongKong was an awesome experience. It was a country to see --- busy city life with lots of lots of lights at night.
This is the first time that I stepped in the soil of HongKong. I praised God for that this opportunity that He brought me in this country -- be out of the country for the second time. Like the first trip I'd got this was also a blessing -- God used people to allow me to travel to this country where East meets West.
I arrived in the airport -- amazed and overwhelmed. Still on the plane my eyes was welcomed by the skycrappers in the city where trees are still everywhere. The airport was so huge and very modern. Somehow my loneliness of missing my SO was lessened :-)
I was picked up by my friend (was the reason I was there) and it was great seei ng him after two months (I guess). Hmmm... he let me wait for an hour =( but truth it was okay, I enjoyed the people around and what was on my surrounding. Somehow, I wish my country has this kind of airport and modern transportation.
I arrived at 11am.. then in the afternoon after a few hours of rest, I and my friend went to Central. He showed what the city looks like and we just enjoyed window shopping (or just me). We bumped into so many Filipinas and they are nice enough to help us with the direction
I arrived at 11am.. then in the afternoon after a few hours of rest, I and my friend went to Central. He showed what the city looks like and we just enjoyed window shopping (or just me). We bumped into so many Filipinas and they are nice enough to help us with the direction
Second day after lunch, we went to macau. In the morning, I went to church in Kowloon where I saw and witnessed God's faithfulness.
The rest of the days I was there -- I just did stroll around -- sight seeing and enjoying the culture that the country has. I travelled alone since my friend had to work. Somehow, it felt good to go around on your own but there were times I wished I had someone with me to laugh and take picture with. Oh, I bumped into an American-Chinese doctor who was nice enough to show me around. He was a tourist too and attending a convention. Sadly, I wasn't able to meet him again because of the conflicting schedule (all because of the cancelling schedule of my friend... grrrr.... ;-)) but it was okay ;-)
I'm thankful to my friend for that experience though sometimes I wish he gave himself an off to accompany me even a day -- or half -- or that we never disagreed on many accounts and he didnt cancel on things that he made me look forward to -- but despite of that -- I could say I really had fun and that experience was something I will always cherish and always be thankful to my friend for that experience.
I'm thankful to my friend for that experience though sometimes I wish he gave himself an off to accompany me even a day -- or half -- or that we never disagreed on many accounts and he didnt cancel on things that he made me look forward to -- but despite of that -- I could say I really had fun and that experience was something I will always cherish and always be thankful to my friend for that experience.
The HongKong Bay
The Bay Bridge.jpg)
View at the Back of Bay Bridge where I stay
Cultural Center
At the Avenue of Stars
Chi Lin Nunnerry
Nan Lian Garden
