Hong Kong

at birth:

1.08 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.1 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.87 male(s)/female

total population:

0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

noun:

Chinese/Hong Konger

adjective:

Chinese/Hong Kong

conventional long form:

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

conventional short form:

Hong Kong

local long form:

Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu

local short form:

Xianggang

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 for a number of non-executive positions;
• universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years;
• indirect election - limited to about 220,000 members of functional constituencies and an 800-member election committee drawn from broad regional groupings, central government bodies, and municipal organizations

• Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood or ADPL [Frederick FUNG Kin-kee];
• Citizens Party [Alex CHAN Kai-chung];
• Civic Party [KUAN Hsin-chi];
• Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong or DAB [TAM Yiu Cheng];
• Democratic Party [Albert HO];
• Frontier Party [Emily LAU Wai-hing];
• League of Social Democrats [Raymond WONG];
• Liberal Party [James TIEN Pei-chun]

note: political blocs include: pro-democracy - ADPL, Democratic Party, Frontier Party, League of Social Democrats; pro-Beijing - DAB, Liberal Party, The Alliance (a group of five generally pro-government and pro-business Legco members from functional constituencies);

there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies

• Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China);
• Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong;
• Confederation of Trade Unions or CTU (pro-democracy) [LAU Chin-shek, president; 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 [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];
• Neighborhood and Workers' Service Center or NWSC (pro-democracy);
• The Alliance [Bernard CHARNWUT, executive committee member]

• none (special administrative region of China);
• Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Washington and two other cities carries out normal liaison and communication with the US Government and other US entities

chief of mission:

Consul General Joseph A. DONOVAN, Jr.

consulate(s) general:

26 Garden Road, Hong Kong

mailing address:

PSC 461, Box 1, FPO AP 96521-0006

telephone:

[852] 2523-9011

FAX:

[852] 2845-1598

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

• fresh vegetables;
• poultry, pork;
• fish

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

total:

2,009 km

paved:

2,009 km (2007)

• 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 (2007)

males age 16-49:

1,772,820

females age 16-49:

1,941,448 (2008 est.)

males age 16-49:

1,438,165

females age 16-49:

1,561,252 (2008 est.)

male:

42,173

female:

38,753 (2008 est.)

• 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