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Introduction
City of Life: Hong Kong is it! is a two-year celebration
co-ordinated by the Hong Kong Tourism Commission and Hong
Kong’s 18 District Councils, and sponsored by the Hong Kong
Jockey Clubs Charities Trust.
The programme showcases the events, festivals and activities
that have helped to make Hong Kong the most popular destination
in Asia. Both visitors and residents can explore Hong Kong’s
18 Districts, which will highlight local events and attractions
as well as international standard events.
From now until March 2003, you are invited to participate
in this celebration of our lifestyle, culture and traditions
- a Living Fusion of East and West. You’ll want to stay
here for Life
Geography
Hong Kong lies at the southeastern tip of China, Hong Kong
adjoins the province of Guangdong (Canton). The total land
area of Hong Kong is 1,078 square kilometers, the New Territories,
including 235 outlying islands, occupy the largest part
of this (955 square kilometers), whereas Hong Kong Island
is only 77.5 square kilometers large and Kowloon, the peninsula
north of Hong Kong Island, only 45.5 square kilometers.
The terrain is hilly to mountainous with steep slopes. The
highest mountain is Tai Mo Shan in the New Territories with
958 metres altitude.
Population
Hong Kong’s population is roughly 6.4 million, making it
one of the most densely populated places in the world. The
overall density of the population works out to about 5800
people per sq.km, but this figure is deceiving since there
is a wide variation from area to area. The urban areas of
Hong Kong Island and Kowloon pack in over 25,000 people
per sq.km, compared with only 2860 in the rural New Territories.
About 98% of Hong Kong’s population is ethnic Chinese, most
of whom are Cantonese. About 60% were born in the territory.
About 30% of population lives in Kowloon, 22% on Hong Kong
Island and 45% in the New Territories, with around 2% of
the latter living in the Outlying Islands.
Electricity
The voltage in Hong Kong is 200/220 volts, so cycles. Most
hotels provide adaptors.
Local Time : GMT + 0080
Languages
Language is no barrier to fantastic shopping experiences
in Hong Kong.
Chinese and English are Hong Kong's official languages and
English is widely spoken. More and more Hong Kong people
are learning Mandarin to supplement their native Cantonese
dialect and an increasing number of retail outlets are employing
Japanese speakers.
Weather and what to
wear?
Spring (March to mid-May)
Temperatures and humidity rise gradually in spring. Evenings
can be cool but lightweight jackets suffice. The average
temperature ranges from 18°C to 27°C (64°F-80°F),
humidity about 82 per cent.
Summer (late May to mid-September)
Hot and humid with temperatures ranges from 26°C to
33°C (78°F-91°F) and humidity nears 86 per cent.
Short sleeves and cotton clothes work best, with a lightweight
sweater for indoors and restaurants tend to set air-conditioning
on high. An umbrella or hat works well to ward off the sun.
Autumn (late September to early December)
Clear and sunny days are the norm in autumn. Short sleeves
and light jackets are most suitable at this time of year.
The average temperature ranges from 18°C to 28°C
(64°F-82°F), humidity about 72 per cent.
Winter (mid-December to February)
Winters are mild with low humidity at 72 per cent. Though
the temperature ranges from 14°C to 20°C (57°F-68°F),
the mercury can drop to 10 °C (50 °F). Occasional
chills make woolens and overcoats.
Weather Signals
Hong Kong can sometimes be affected by extreme weather.
The government has issued a simple but effective warning
system. There are five grades of Tropical Cyclone Warning
Signals (signals 1, 3, 8, 9 and 10 with 10 being the highest).
However, typhoons rarely pass directly over Hong Kong. In
addition, there are three Rainstorm Warning Signals (amber,
red and black, with black being the highest). When the typhoon
signal is 8 or above and/or the rain signal is black, visitors
are advised to stay in their hotels.
History
Hong Kong’s English name is derived from two Chinese characters,
Heung and Gong (“fragrant harbour”). Originally this was
only the name of a small settlement near Aberdeen, the main
fishing and entry port for pre-colonial Hong Kong Island.
Some historians suggest Hong Kong’s Chinese name was inspired
by its export of fragrant incense.
The explanation for Kowloon’s name is even more romantic.
In Chinese, the peninsula’s name is Kow Lung (“Nine Dragons”).
It is believed this dates back as far as eight centuries
to Emperor Ping, one of two boy-emperors of the doomed Sung
Dynasty whose court felt to Hong Kong. He is said to have
counted eight mountains in the area, and decided to name
it “Eight Dragons” based on the belief that a dragon inhabits
every mountain. His tally was corrected by a quick-witted
courtier who pointed out that as emperors were also believed
to be dragons, there were nine dragons- Emperor Ping being
the ninth.
Pre-colonial Hong Kong
While many history books began the story of Hong Kong with
the British colonial presence, the area has been inhabited
for millennia. Recently, a 4,500 year-old burial ground
was unearthed on Lantau Island and archaeological rock carvings
can be found on several sites around Hong Kong. Much evidence
of Hong Kong’s early period can be found in its fishing
communities and small villages, many of which are still
protected by defensive walls, moats and gatehouses.
About 2,000 years ago, during the Han Dynasty, China claimed
Hong Kong and the surrounding area. The Cantonese migrated
during the 14th Century and were followed closely by the
Hakka people. Traditional customs and beliefs from these
distinct and fascinating Chinese cultures can still be observed
throughout modern Hong Kong. Many people continue to pay
rent to descendants of the dominant settler families of
those times, known as the “Five Great Clans”.
Some of the earliest written references to Hong Kong predict
its destiny as an economic center. Imperial records state
that troops were garrisoned at Tuen Mun and Tai Po - now
major New Territories town developments - to guard the pearls
harvested from Tolo harbour by aboriginal Tanka divers.
By the 17th Century, the region was infamous for rebellion
and piracy. To solve the problem, the ruling Manchus evacuated
the coastal area. A new group of emigrants arrived from
the north: the Hakka- “guest” people - a clan who farmed
rice, pineapples, tea and incense.
The Opium Wars and their aftermath
The arrival of the British in the 19th Century marked Hong
Kong’s emergence in world affairs.
British traders originally made their fortunes in the opium
trade. They exchanged the infamous commodity for China’s
silver, silk, tea and spices. Eventually the Chinese Imperial
Government, worried about the drug’s effects on its population,
sought to ban the import of opium.
Britain deemed this ban against its interests in the region.
It wanted to strengthen its foothold with a port, free of
Imperial control, which led to the Opium Wars (1840-42).
Queen Victoria’s gunboats triumphed and Hong Kong Island
was ceded to Britain under the Treaty of Nanking in 1842.
Sir Henry Pottinger was its first governor.
The Territory Expands
The Chinese continued trading actively in Hong Kong which
resulted in intermittent hostilities between the two nations.
Britain’s response was to seek protection by taking more
territory for itself. The Kowloon Peninsula and Stonecutter’s
Island were handed over to Britain in 1860 and in 1898 a
99-year lease wan granted for the area known as the New
Territories.
History in the Making
Britain’s 99-year lease on the New Territories expired at
midnight on 30 June 1997. Thirteen years earlier, in 1984
the Sino-British Joint Declaration made history by stating
that Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories would
all revert to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, to become an
autonomous Special Administrative Region (SAR). On that
landmark date, 1 July 1997, the Crown Colony once more became
a part of China, the largest nation on earth. It’s an unprecedented
event in the 20th Century, and another fascinating chapter
in Hong Kong’s exceptional history |
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