Hong Kong

“Best of it all, it’s in Hong Kong”

Overview of Hong Kong

History

Hong Kong as we know it today has existed for a mere blink of an eye. But there was a lot going on in the region before that wintry morning in 1841 when a contingent of British marines clambered ashore and planted the Union flag on the western part of Hong Kong Island, claiming it for the British Crown.

Hong Konghŏng kŏng [key], Mandarin Xianggang, special administrative region of China, formerly a British crown colony (2015 est. pop. 7,246,000), land area 422 sq mi (1,092 sq km), adjacent to Shenzhen, Guangdong prov., SE China, on the estuary of the Pearl River, 40 mi (64 km) E of Macau and 90 mi (145 km) SE of Guangzhou (Canton). The region comprises Hong Kong island, ceded by China in 1842 under the Treaty of Nanjing; Kowloon (Mandarin Jiulong) peninsula, ceded (with Stonecutters Island) in 1860 under the Beijing Convention; and the New Territories, a mountainous mainland area adjoining Kowloon, which, with Deep Bay on the west and Mirs Bay on the east and some 235 offshore islands, was leased from China in 1898 for 99 years. China regained sovereignty over the colony on July 1, 1997. The capital, officially named Victoria but commonly called Hong Kong, is on the northwest shore of Hong Kong island.

Geography

The Geography of Hong Kong is surprisingly varied, beyond the compact jungle of the high-rises and the busy retail and entertainment districts, lie large expanses of greenery, rugged mountain peaks, marshes and natural reserves in the lowlands and over 260 islands.

Hong Kong is located in Asia, clinging to the southern tip of China's Guangdong Province (Canton) and bordering the city of Shenzhen.

Hong Kong lies on the eastern edge of the Pearl River Estuary surrounded by the South China Sea.

The Shenzhen and Sha Tau Kok Rivers serve as the natural border between Hong Kong and Mainland China.

Hong Kong's Land Area amounts to merely 426 square miles. This scarce availability of land is a contributing factor in making it one of the most densely populated cities in the world.

Land Area: 1,104 km2 or 426 mi2

Sea Area: 1,650 km2 or 640 mi2

Total Area: 2,754 km2 or 1,063 mi2

"Hong Kong– Country Quick-facts
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Area: 1,104 km².

Capital: Hong Kong has no capital. Major areas include: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, New Territories and 365 outlying islands.

Country Code: 852

Country Population: 7,234,800

Credit Cards: All major credit cards are widely accepted.

Currency: Hong Kong Dollar (HKD = 100 cents)

Departure Tax: HK$150 (Appox. CAD$22 / US$19)

Drives on the: Left

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz

Ethnic Groups: Chinese 93.6%, other 6.4%

Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Official Language(s): Chinese (Cantonese), English; both are official.

Religion: Eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%

Time Zone: UTC+8

Tipping: Hong Kong is not as much of a tipping culture in comparison to mainland China, but for tour guides, we suggest you leave a gratuity of between 10 to 90 HKD per person (to be split between the guide and the driver). Due to the higher cost of private tours, private tour guides do not expect a fee. If using the services of a hotel porter, it’s customary to tip them at least HK$10. There is no obligation to tip taxi drivers, just round the fare up a little. It is recommended you tip hotel staff HK$10-20. Most restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill.

Language

Mandarin is the official language of China and is spoken by most of its population. While most hotels in the country employ staff who are fluent in other languages, visitors cannot count on communicating in English with people they meet outside of tourist facilities. It’s advisable to have addresses or instructions written down in Chinese to show to taxi drivers. All major streets have signposts in pinyin (the Romanisation system for Chinese characters), which make it easier to get around with the help of a map.

Many people in China, especially young people, study English and welcome the opportunity to practise with foreigners. Don't be afraid to ask for directions in English from people on the street. You’ll usually be rewarded with a polite and often heroic attempt to help.

Customs

Visitors entering Mainland China must follow the regulations of the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China. For details, please check the China National Tourism Administration website.

Transportation

There is a whole host of transport options connecting Hong Kong to Mainland China and Macao.

Air

There are frequent daily flights between Hong Kong and major cities in Mainland China. Please check with your local airline for details, or you can find contact information for multiple airlines by using our search service.

Train

The MTR runs regular high speed rail services to Mainland China, connecting Hong Kong to 58 Mainland stations without interchange. Travellers clear both Hong Kong and China immigration at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station. Other than high speed rail, the MTR also runs through-train intercity services to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong. The through-train terminus is Hung Hom Station in Kowloon, where travellers pass through Hong Kong immigration.

Ferry

There are fast ferries to and from Macao and destinations along the coast of Mainland China. These services operate from the Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island; the China ferry terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon and Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal in New Territories.