Hong Kong

0-14 years:

17.5% (male 679,311; female 599,811)

15-64 years:

71.6% (male 2,587,509; female 2,641,418)

65 years and over:

10.9% (male 364,864; female 430,421) (2002 est.)

at birth:

1.07 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.13 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.85 male(s)/female

total population:

0.99 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

noun:

Chinese

adjective:

Chinese

conventional long form:

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

conventional short form:

Hong Kong

local short form:

Xianggang

local long form:

Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu

abbreviation:

HK

• 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

• direct election 18 years of age;
• universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years;
• indirect election limited to about 100,000 members of functional constituencies and an 800-member election committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies

chief of state:

President of China JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993)

head of government:

Chief Executive TUNG Chee-hwa (since 1 July 1997)

cabinet:

• Executive Council consists of three ex-officio members and 10 appointed members;
• ex-officio members are: Chief Secretary Donald TSANG Yam-kuen (since 1 May 2001), Financial Secretary Antony LEUNG (since 1 May 2001), and Secretary of Justice Elsie LEUNG (since 1 July 1997)

elections:

NA

• Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood [Frederick FUNG Kin-kee, chairman];
• Citizens Party [Alex CHAN Kai-chung];
• Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong [Jasper TSANG Yok-sing, chairman];
• Democratic Party [Martin LEE Chu-ming, chairman];
• Frontier Party [Emily LAU Wai-hing, chairwoman];
• Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood [leader NA];
• Hong Kong Progressive Alliance [Ambrose LAU Hon-chuen];
• Liberal Party [James TIEN Pei-chun, chairman];
• New Century Forum [NQ Ching-fai, chairman]

note: political blocs include: pro-democracy - Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood, Citizens Party, Democratic Party, Frontier Party;

pro-Beijing - Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Progressive Alliance, Liberal Party, New Century Forum

• Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China);
• Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong;
• Confederation of Trade Unions (pro-democracy) [LAU Chin-shek, president; LEE Cheuk-yan, general secretary];
• Federation of Hong Kong Industries;
• Federation of Trade Unions (pro-China) [LEE Chark-tim, president];
• Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China [Szeto WAH, chairman];
• Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan);
• Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce;
• Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union [CHEUNG Man-kwong, president];
• Liberal Democratic Federation [HU Fa-kuang, chairman]

chief of mission:

Consul General Michael KLOSSON

consulate(s) general:

26 Garden Road, Hong Kong

mailing address:

PSC 464, Box 30, FPO AP 96522-0002

telephone:

[852] 2523-9011

FAX:

[852] 2845-1598

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

• Hong Kong dollars per US dollar - 7.798 (January 2002), 7.7994 (2001), 7.7918 (2000), 7.7589 (1999), 7.7462 (1998), 7.7425 (1997);
• note - the Hong Kong dollar is linked to the US dollar at a rate of about 7.8 Hong Kong dollars per US dollar

general assessment:

modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services

domestic:

microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic network

international:

• satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean);
• coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China;
• access to 5 international submarine cables providing connections to ASEAN member nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe

total:

34 km

standard gauge:

34 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified and double-tracked)

note: connects to China railway system at Hong Kong-China border (2001)

total:

1,831 km

paved:

1,831 km

unpaved:

0 km (1997)

• no regular indigenous military forces;
• Hong Kong garrison of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) including 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

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