Hongkong, China

    Hong Kong is situated in the south of China's mainland. It is separated by a river in the north, neigbouring Shenzhen city, Guangdong Province. To the west, it is separated by the Pearl River estuary, facing Macau and Zhuhai cities and to the east and south it is overlooking the vast South China Sea. Relying on such advantageous geographical position, Hong Kong has now developed into an economic centre in Asia.
    Hong Kong is mainly composed of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, the area of which is 1084 square kilometers. The Hong Kong Island (otherwise known as Gang Island) is the most thriving place of the whole of Hong Kong and is also the seat of the Hong Kong Government bodies. On both sides of the streets, there are flourishing commercial towers and shopping centers, offices of the world famous financial bodies, shipping institutions and the headquarters of trade companies, and consulate of various countries and regions. The topography in the southern part of the Hong Kong Island is relatively low. The renowned Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay are all located here, which are Hong Kong's mainly tourist area and residential quarters of the first class. Kowloon is one of the centers of industrial and commercial activities. The Victoria Harbour, one of the three natural deep water harbours of the world is situated between the Kowloon Peninsula and the Hong Kong Island.
    By utilizing the excellent advantages, Hong Kong has gradually developed into one of the world shipping centers.
    The total population of Hong Kong is over 6.3 million, among which, 97.5% are Chinese. And among the aliens, the Philipino constitutes the overwhelming majority, the Americans, British and Indian and others come second. The daily language used among the Hong Kong residents is mainly Cantonese (Guangdong dialect). The official languages being used are Chinese and English.
    Hong Kong belongs to the monsoon climate of the subtropical zone; the annual average temperature is 22.8C, and the annual rainfall is 2220 mm. There have always been tropical storms in Summer and Autumn (mid-September to mid-November) which prove to be the most comfortable seasons of the year. During this time of the year, several millions of tourists come to Hong Kong for visits and shopping.
    From 1842 to 1898, the British aggressors forcibly occupied the Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories one after another and the Hong Kong region became a British colony and was ruled by the British. On 19 December 1984, the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland signed the 'Joint Declaration on the
Question of Hong Kong'. And on 1 July 1997, China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, thus Hong Kong has returned anew to the embrace of the motherland.
    During the past several decades, the economy of Hong Kong has undergone an extremely rapid development and its economic strength is getting momentum with each passing day, thus forming six great pillars of industries' trade, finance, manufacture, shipping, real estate and tourism. Big companies and banking corporations of many countries throughout the world have come to Hong Kong for trade.
    Every year there are several million tourists come to Hong Kong for visits and thousands of huge ships coming in and out of Hong Kong harbours and everyday there are hundreds of airplanes taking off and landing in Hong Kong international airport.
    Hong Kong today is a flourishing international metropolis, which is well run, clean and beautiful.
    In the commercial towers and shopping centers, you will find exquisite merchandise, a feast for the eyes. It looks as if international fairs of merchandise from various countries throughout the world were held here everyday.
    Hong Kong's communications are highly developed, subway and ground railway, highway, undersea tunnels, motorway interchange, viaduct, ferry, airport and what not radiating in all directions, like a piece of huge network knitting the whole city together.
    Hong Kong is a city for tourism, which is known as a fine place for 'visits, shopping and recreation'.