Statistics Hong Kong 
Hong Kong in the World
Hong Kong - Introduction 1992
top of pageBackground: Pursuant to the agreement signed by China and the UK on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong will become a special administrative region of China on 1 July 1997. Under the terms of this agreement, China has promised that Hong Kong shall enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs.
Area
Total: 1,040 km²
Land: 990 km²
Comparative: slightly less than six times the size of Washington, DC
Climate: tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall
Land use: arable land: 7%; permanent crops: 1%; meadows and pastures 1%; forest and woodland 12%; other 79%; includes irrigated 3%
Hong Kong - People 1992
top of pageHong Kong - Government 1992
top of pageIndependence:
none (dependent territory of the UK); the UK signed an agreement with China on 19 December 1984 to return Hong Kong to China on 1
July 1997; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Hong Kong's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 years after transition
July 1997; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Hong Kong's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 years after transition
Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice; new Basic Law approved in March 1990 in preparation for 1997
Suffrage: direct election - universal at age 21 as a permanent resident living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect election - limited to about 100,000 professionals of electoral college and functional constituencies
Legislative Council:
indirect elections last held 12 September 1991 and direct elections were held 15 September 1991 (next to be held for the first time in September 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total; 21 indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 18 directly elected, 18 appointed by governor, 3 ex officio members); indirect elections - number of seats by functional constituency NA; direct elections - UDHK 12,
Meeting Point 3, ADPL 1, other 2
Meeting Point 3, ADPL 1, other 2
Communists: 5,000 (est.) cadres affiliated with Communist Party of China
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP (associate), GATT, ICFTU, IMO (associate), IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMO
Diplomatic representation: as a dependent territory of the UK, the interests of Hong Kong in the US are represented by the UK
US:
Consul General Richard L. WILLIAMS; Consulate General at 26 Garden
Road, Hong Kong (mailing address is Box 30, Hong Kong, or FPO AP 96,522-0002); telephone 852 239-011
Road, Hong Kong (mailing address is Box 30, Hong Kong, or FPO AP 96,522-0002); telephone 852 239-011
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with the Hong Kong coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a shield (bearing two junks below a crown) held by a lion (representing the UK) and a dragon (representing China) with another lion above the shield and a banner bearing the words HONG KONG below the shield
Hong Kong - Economy 1992
top of pageEconomy overview:
Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy with few tariffs or nontariff barriers. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Manufacturing accounts for about 18% of GDP, employs 28% of the labor force, and exports about 90% of its output. Real
GDP growth averaged a remarkable 8% in 1987-88, then slowed to 2.5-3.0% in 1989-90. Unemployment, which has been declining since the mid-1980s, is now about 2%. A shortage of labor continues to put upward pressure on prices and the cost of living. Short-term prospects remain solid so long as major trading partners continue to be reasonably prosperous. The crackdown in
China in 1989-91 casts a shadow over the longer term economic outlook.
GDP growth averaged a remarkable 8% in 1987-88, then slowed to 2.5-3.0% in 1989-90. Unemployment, which has been declining since the mid-1980s, is now about 2%. A shortage of labor continues to put upward pressure on prices and the cost of living. Short-term prospects remain solid so long as major trading partners continue to be reasonably prosperous. The crackdown in
China in 1989-91 casts a shadow over the longer term economic outlook.
GDP: exchange rate conversion - $80.9 billion, per capita $13,800; real growth rate 3.8% (1991 est.)
Agriculture products: minor role in the economy; rice, vegetables, dairy products; less than 20% self-sufficient; shortages of rice, wheat, water
Labor force: 2,800,000 (1990); manufacturing 28.5%, wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 27.9%, services 17.7%, financing, insurance, and real estate 9.2%, transport and communications 4.5%, construction 2.5%, other 9.7% (1989)
Organized labor: 16% of labor force (1990)
Exports: $82.0 billion (f.o.b., 1990), including reexports of $53.1 billion
Commodoties: clothing, textiles, yarn and fabric, footwear, electrical appliances, watches and clocks, toys
Partners: China 25%, US 24%, Germany 7%, Japan 6%, UK 2%, (1990)
Imports: $82.4 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
Commodoties: foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials, semimanufactures, petroleum
Partners: China 37%, Japan 16%, Taiwan 9%, US 8% (1990)
Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$ - 7.800 (1991), 7.790 (1990), 7.800 (1989), 7.810 (1988), 7.760 (1987; note - linked to the US dollar at the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$ since 1985
Hong Kong - Energy 1992
top of pageElectricity
Production: 8,600,000 kW capacity; 25,637 million kWh produced, 4,378 kWh per capita (1991)
Hong Kong - Communication 1992
top of pageHong Kong - Military 1992
top of pageMilitary expenditures
Percent of gdp:
exchange rate conversion - $300 million, 0.5% of
GDP (1989 est.); this represents one-fourth of the total cost of defending itself, the remainder being paid by the UK
GDP (1989 est.); this represents one-fourth of the total cost of defending itself, the remainder being paid by the UK
Percent of gdp note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Hong Kong - Transportation 1992
top of pageAirports:
2 total; 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; none
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; none
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Merchant marine:
142 ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 5,035,223
GRT/8,598,134 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger, 15 cargo, 5 refrigerated cargo, 26 container, 13 petroleum tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 6 combination ore/oil, 5 liquefied gas, 68 bulk, 1 combination bulk; note - a flag of convenience registry; ships registered in Hong Kong fly the UK flag, and an estimated 500 Hong Kong - owned ships are registered elsewhere
GRT/8,598,134 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger, 15 cargo, 5 refrigerated cargo, 26 container, 13 petroleum tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 6 combination ore/oil, 5 liquefied gas, 68 bulk, 1 combination bulk; note - a flag of convenience registry; ships registered in Hong Kong fly the UK flag, and an estimated 500 Hong Kong - owned ships are registered elsewhere
Civil air: 16 major transport aircraft
Hong Kong - Transnational issues 1992
top of pageIllicit drugs: a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade; transshipment and major financial and money-laundering center
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