Small place, including Kowloon peninsula (New territories and tip is Kowloon), Hong Kong Island, and other islands.

Much of the territory is mountainous.  Populated areas are extremely dense, land/housing costs extremely high.
   2003:  6.81 million people
   population growth, 1931-1999 (from .86 million to 6.84 million)  http://www.demographia.com/db-hkhist.htm

skyline:
 

monkok:  http://www.imperialhotel.com.hk/Mong%20Kok.jpg
 

History
    Britain took HK Island in 1841 after Opium war
    Expanded to Kowloon tip around 1859
    Got New Territories on 99 year lease in 1898
        As result, the crown owned land, leased it to people
 

Negotiations began early 1980s, agreed in 1984 that HK would be turned over to China in 1997
    BUT would retain a high degree of autonomy for at least 50 years

Very few a realistic alternative that HK could become independent.  It was too dependent on China for water, power, food, to become like Singapore.  Nervous people emigrated or transferred funds abroad.

Business men saw great opportunities in expanding business ties with China, both manufacturing there with cheap labor and selling products and services (hotel administration, etc.)
 
 

        Hong Kong has been a model of labor utilization, making flowers, jewelry, toys  financial services
        brokering activities in mainland (the "front door" to the factory in China)
        Vigorous entrepreneurs with global vision

        A model of low taxes, low social services, creating incentives for investment, very free market
        before return to China, investments emphasized those with big, short term payoff

Politics
        Colonial administration, with an advisory council
        British tried to create democracy around 1995, but it was too late.

After 1997

        Ruled according to "Basic Law"  summary
        Reasonably stable, mostly local control
 

On what issues does Beijing try to limit Hong Kong's autonomy?
 

• Definition of citizenship. Beijing has exerted power to define citizenship of children of Hong Kong residents.

• Selection of chief executive, transtion from Tung Chee-hwa to Donald Dsang

• Evolution of democracy in Hong Kong.   Beijing tries to block transition to one-person, one-vote democratic rule system
• June 2004 discussion
• Feb 2005
• (Dec. 2005)

• Freedom of speech and organization, demonstrations in Hong Kong, status of Fa Lun Gong, democratic parties, etc.

• Business climate?  Legality?  Violence?  1 |

    Can Hong Kong compete with the new Shanghai?  Photo below is Shanghai, emphasis on new constructioni n PuDong.
 
 
 
 

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