Brief information about Hong Kong
Hong Kong's contradictory and complicated history is baffling. Many people still don’t know what country this is and what relation it has to China. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China (香港 or Hong Kong) is one of the world's leading financial and business centers. Conventionally, the capital of Hong Kong was called Victoria City, but officially Hong Kong SAR does not have a capital.
According to the joint Sino-British declaration, Hong Kong was granted autonomy until 2047. This means that the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China decides only on issues of defense and foreign policy of Hong Kong, while the Hong Kong government retains control over the police, legislation, financial and customs systems, immigration policy, and also has representation in international organizations. This whole incomprehensible situation with Hong Kong began back in 1842, when Britain won the so-called. "The Second Opium War" and as a result received a part of China - Hong Kong - on a 99-year lease. However, China managed to regain Hong Kong only in 1997 through complex political negotiations, which went down in history as the “war of words.” But even here, not everything is so smooth - they returned it, but with the condition that for another 50 years (until 2047) Hong Kong will be an autonomous (i.e. quite independent) part of the Middle Kingdom.
As of 2016, Hong Kong ranks 5th in the global ranking of ease of doing business, as well as 4th in the ranking of global tax systems. There are only two main taxes in Hong Kong, of which income tax is 17.6% and labor tax is 5.1%, with other taxes accounting for 0.1%. The total tax rate is 22.8%.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region consists of Hong Kong Island, Lantau Island and 260 smaller islands, as well as the Kowloon Peninsula and the so-called New Territories, which adjoin the Kowloon Peninsula to the north.
However, about 20% of Hong Kong residents live below the poverty line - the gap between rich and poor is huge. All sorts of social benefits are provided for the latter, but this does little to improve the general situation. Most often, families with children and people of retirement age fall into the category of poor citizens. Another serious social problem of the city is the catastrophic lack of living space. The area of a standard apartment for a family of five is just over 25 square meters. In this case, the kitchen and bathroom are allocated 2-3 m² each. Despite this, housing prices are high, as a result, half of the city’s residents occupy social housing (rooms with an area of 1-2 sq.m.) and their number is constantly increasing.
Despite Hong Kong's reputation as a highly urbanized area, the city authorities pay a lot of attention to natural resources and the environment. A huge part of the islands' area (more than 75%) still remains undeveloped, dominated by steep mountains and hills. About 40% of Hong Kong's islands are nature reserves and cultural recreation areas. The bulk of the development is located on the Kowloon Peninsula, as well as in settlements scattered throughout the New Territories and on the northern coast of Hong Kong Island.
Hong Kong has won the title of the place on the globe where “East meets West”, which is expressed in culture and architecture, education and economy. The official languages of Hong Kong territory are English and Chinese. Government institutions, police, transport and most shops are bilingual. Western culture took deep roots in Hong Kong through British rule. Hong Kong is a major global exporter of film entertainment, namely the martial arts genre. Hollywood actors such as Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan are from Hong Kong. Hong Kong directors are also world famous: Wong Kar Wai, Yuan Hepin, John Woo and Tsui Hark.
I’m talking about Hong Kong, so today we will talk not so much about the features of the city, but about the relations of this territory with China.
So, yesterday morning I left Guangzhou for Hong Kong. The train takes two hours. Pass the Chinese border and customs directly at the Eastern Station. Then two hours to Hong Kong, and again the border with customs. A first class ticket costs 170 yuan.
01. An interesting way to queue for boarding. Chinese trains board at a specific time. That is, approximately like our airplane. First, you wait in the waiting room, and then 10 minutes before departure everyone is abruptly let out. There are people waiting in line with their suitcases! As I understand it, some trains have tickets without a seat, so it’s important to be the first to board the car. 
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04. Previously, there was Hong Kong Airport, one of the most dangerous in the world. But it was closed a long time ago, and now this territory is being built up. 
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09. Hong Kong is a very bold city. In addition, it is cut by overpasses. Walking around the city is not always convenient, and if you have a stroller or suitcases, sometimes it is impossible to move around at all. But this is a very special case, I would not compare Hong Kong with other cities now. And don’t forget: there should be no off-street crossings! 
10. Residents of Hong Kong, as well as our compatriots who often visit here, are delighted with the Hong Kong metro. But it seems inconvenient to me. Clean, modern, trains run on time. But the network itself is small, you have to make a lot of transfers. With ground transport it is even worse. He is stuck in traffic jams, no dedicated lanes were noticed (perhaps they exist somewhere). And they really love these little buses here. They only have seats, there are a lot of them, a couple of times I saw a woman with a stroller trying to get on such a bus. It’s a pity I didn’t have time to film it, otherwise all the questions about why it was bad would have immediately disappeared. 
11. Let's open the website of the leading newspaper in Hong Kong, South China Morning Post! It was once a very sophisticated Hong Kong newspaper, but then it was bought by Alibaba founder Jack Ma, after which it may not have completely lost its independence, but it began to regularly publish rather slippery articles in support of the communist regime. However, it is still one of the largest publications in Hong Kong and exists in both print and electronic form. 
12. As soon as I opened the HK section (that is, Hong Kong news), what immediately caught my eye was that local residents have big problems with national identity. There are many articles about how Hong Kong people perceive themselves, whether they associate themselves with China, whether they consider themselves Chinese, and so on. 
13. Here, written in 2014, during (Occupy Central) in Hong Kong. Then Hong Kongers practically ceased to consider themselves residents of China. Only 8.9% of participants in the corresponding opinion poll in Hong Kong said that they considered themselves Chinese. Almost a third considered themselves Hong Kongers, and the rest described themselves as “part Hong Kong, part Chinese” (or vice versa). 
14. Since 1996, this was the 10th survey on the national identity of Hong Kongers. That is, such studies are carried out regularly, but their results are not always easy to predict. And here (from April 11) about the reason that young Hong Kongers do not like mainland China. 
15. It is noted that the study was sponsored by a political party that is favorable to the PRC. 1,300 respondents in secondary schools were surveyed. Many of those who took part in the survey have either been to China (9 out of 10 people), or use Chinese applications, or can read simplified hieroglyphs (they are not used in Hong Kong, but are used in China). 
16. The authors of the study make an interesting conclusion. Young Hong Kongers' identification problem is not due to lack of familiarity with China. They just feel that Chinese culture is alien to them. 
17. 65% of respondents rated the similarity of the two cultures, Chinese and Hong Kong, as 5 or less points on a 10-point scale. A lot of people, almost every 10th, gave a 0. That is, Hong Kongers believe that China is a completely different culture. 
18. Of course, this is a problem for a country that wants to create a single market and a single political space. 
19. We all remember that Hong Kong returned to China in 1997. Then a program was adopted called “One country – two systems”. She meant that two different regimes, pseudo-communist and capitalist-democratic, were to coexist for 50 years. 
20. Don’t forget that more than 20 years have passed. In principle, we just have to wait a little; half the way has already been passed. But what happens next? How can Hong Kong integrate into China, given that the current younger generation does not see themselves as Chinese? 
21.
22. And this is a huge construction site for a new station. 
23. When it is completed, the Chinese-Hong Kong border will be here. The station and the tracks from here to China are being built on Chinese soil. That is, once you cross the border in the center of Hong Kong, you will formally find yourself in China. 
24. Hong Kong is very different. In terms of the variety of buildings, it resembles New York. There are skyscrapers: 
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26. There are old houses of different levels, they are dirty and gloomy. Pay attention to the signature Hong Kong feature - rounded corners of the facades. 
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28. Real estate here is very expensive, and not everyone can afford to live in their own house. Some people have to spend the night under an overpass. 
29.
30. Hong Kong homeless people. This particular couple is from Thailand. 
31. Basically, these are people who have sunk to the bottom, they literally live in a landfill that they have created around themselves. 
32. Someone else's house. Although Hong Kong is far from reaching American standards. 
33. Someone's living room. 
34. And this is the most expensive housing. The house that stands on the hill above the others is the Opus Hong Kong residential complex, built in 2012 by architect Frank Gary. It consists of several twisted 12-story towers. 
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38. Market 
39. Prices in Hong Kong dollars. As in China, they indicate the price per pound (about 500 grams). 
40. Fish are sold individually. 
41. Fire 
42. Before 1840, there was nothing in what is now Hong Kong except a few temples and villages. The history of modern Hong Kong began with the First Opium War: the British declared to China that the island of the same name now belonged to them. After some time, China had to agree to this. 
43. From 1841 to 1997, with short interruptions - for example, during the Second World War, when Hong Kong was occupied by the Japanese - it was a British colony. By the way, the Japanese administration partly contributed to the Sinicization of Hong Kong, because during World War II it massively resettled residents of mainland China here. 
44. Somewhere in the early 70s, when China was returned to membership in the UN, the PRC began to hint that it was time for the British and Portuguese to return Hong Kong and Macau. It soon became clear that Hong Kong's transition to Beijing's rule was inevitable. In 1984, Thatcher signed a declaration in Beijing on the transfer of Hong Kong to China. 
45. During the 1980s, tens of thousands of highly skilled professionals who feared the communist regime left Hong Kong - mainly to the United States, Canada and Australia.
46. On July 1, 1997, Hong Kong was finally returned to the PRC. In accordance with the principle of “One country, two systems”, proposed by Deng Xiaoping, Hong Kong (this is the Chinese name for Hong Kong) can maintain the capitalist system for 50 years, that is, until 2047. In addition, legally Hong Kong has enormous political autonomy. The Special Administrative Region is governed by the Chief Minister of Administration (something like a Governor-General), and Hong Kong also has its own Legislative Assembly. Hong Kong retains its own currency (Hong Kong dollar), an independent passport system and visa policy - it even has its own police force! 
47. In theory, Hong Kong has no right except to conduct an independent foreign policy (and then with a number of reservations), and also trusts China with defense issues. But in fact, Beijing has almost eliminated this freemen. 
48. The problem is that the Chief Minister of Hong Kong is appointed by a special elected committee from a huge number of deputies (800-1200). And the candidacies of these electors must actually be approved by Beijing. This means that the head of Hong Kong inevitably becomes a puppet of Beijing. 
49. Many Hong Kong residents are very sensitive to attacks on the territory's political autonomy, arguing that Beijing is violating the Basic Law (an analogue of the Constitution agreed upon before the transfer of Hong Kong to the PRC). In Beijing, dignified party members are twirling their fingers at their temples and saying that they never even had anything like that in their minds! 
50. This soft takeover does not only occur at the administrative level. Let's not forget that Hong Kongers are the "wrong" Chinese. They even speak a different language - Cantonese, which... From the point of view of official Beijing, this language is clumsy and not particularly needed: everyone should speak Putonghua, as is customary among decent communists of the North. By the way, in Western countries, Putonghua is denoted by the word mandarin, but in Russia, out of respect for China, the word “Mandarin” was somehow forgotten... 
51. What else is China doing? Hong Kong is actively populating with immigrants from the mainland! The same thing that Israel is doing in the West Bank. As a result, more and more supporters of Beijing, the CCP and personally dear ones are settling in Hong Kong. Every year, a landing force of 50 thousand ideologically savvy immigrants from the Middle Kingdom lands in this capitalist cesspool. 
52. The opposition free spirits are being diluted by patriotic people. Every year there will be more and more correct Chinese in Hong Kong, and fewer and fewer incorrect ones. This is also facilitated by the fact that Hong Kongers are very reluctant to reproduce. The city's population is growing mainly due to migrants: not only the Chinese, but also residents of almost all of Southeast Asia are happy to come here. 
53. It is very likely that a few more decades will pass and the Hong Kong problem will disappear by itself. Some dissenters will assimilate, others will disperse to barbarian countries. Cantonese speakers will die out. Ridiculous riots with umbrellas will become a thing of the past, titans will stop shouting in the streets “Hong Kong is ours!”, and only the eternal Chairman Xi will look favorably on his subjects from the jade rostrum. 
54.
55. The famous Hong Kong tram 
56. This is the only tram system in the world where all the cars are double-decker! In addition to Hong Kong, double-decker trams can be found on the streets of Alexandria (Egypt) and Blackpool (UK). 
57. This is not only a public transport system operating since 1904, but also a tourist attraction: double-decker trams attract foreigners. 
58. The first tram cars in Hong Kong were the most ordinary. Double-deckers began to be produced on the line in 1912, when the ever-increasing flow of passengers required it. Well, then double deckers simply became a good tradition. 
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62. Old ticket machines 
63. New machines 
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Tomorrow we will continue to walk around Hong Kong, and then to Moscow! I'll be in Krasnoyarsk soon - tell me what to look for?
Another special administrative region of China, and in fact an independent state. A former British colony, returned to its historical owner almost 20 years ago.
1. Hong Kong leaves a strange feeling. On the one hand - China. On the other hand, it’s not China at all. On the one hand, both here and there are Chinese. On the other hand, there are some other completely Chinese people here, although they look similar. 
2. On the one hand, there are skyscrapers here and there. On the other hand, they are somehow different here, but still different. There is some invisible difference. 
3. Both here and there, not just the Chinese. But also a very high population density. In Hong Kong it is even higher than in China. 7 million inhabitants live here, and the territory is almost equal to the area of Moscow (1.1 thousand sq. km). 
4. Hong Kong is a place for business people. The city center is simply buzzing with their activity. 
5. To talk about Hong Kong, you still need to imagine it on the map. It consists of Hong Kong Island, where the center of Hong Kong is located. Opposite it is the Kowloon region, and to the north of it are the “New Territories” adjacent to China. Shenzhen is already a Chinese city, which has developed over the past 20 years precisely due to trade with Hong Kong.
There are numerous islands to the west and south. The largest of which is Lantau, on which we see the Hong Kong airport. From the center to the Chinese border it is approximately 15-20 km. In this connection, it is definitely difficult to say whether all these territories can be considered one city. or administratively, these are, after all, different cities within the same district.
6. Hong Kong has its own visa regime. To visit it you do not need a Chinese visa; with a Russian passport you can stay here for two weeks without a visa. Moreover, if you come here from China, then your Chinese visa expires. Therefore, if you want to go to China, you need to play it safe and do what I did - a double-entry visa. Check the “two entries” box on your form, and the embassy employee will ask you, “Do you want to go to Hong Kong?” So, the complete impression is that this is a different state. 
7. Therefore, many more tourists travel to Hong Kong than to China. One of the fundamental differences between the area and the metropolis is that you constantly see a bunch of foreigners here, both European and Asian. The former travel mainly as tourists (this is facilitated by numerous cheap flights), while the latter travel in search of a better life. Indonesians, Filipinos, Thais, Vietnamese, etc. 
8. About tourism. To be honest, it’s completely unclear to me why everyone is going to Hong Kong. He is very interesting for an amateur, like me, for example. There are definitely no special antiquities, fortresses, temples, or ruins here. Hong Kong is skyscrapers, skyscrapers, skyscrapers. Concrete jungle in all its glory. 
9. Do not think in any way that Hong Kong is not interesting in principle. It is precisely in skyscrapers, in high-tech, in the business rhythm that his main feature is! A city that is growing upward everywhere! There is little space, very little, so the top is the only possible direction for development. 
10. Everywhere you look, there is such a building everywhere. Office buildings, residential buildings - all contain dozens of floors. 
11. Is anyone bothered by our high-rise Brezhnev 16-story buildings? Ha ha! The building is less than 40 floors in Hong Kong - these are some kind of miserable shacks. High-rise buildings are moving deeper into the continent and covering more and more new territories (where such construction had not been observed before). 
12. At some point, you still start thinking. “Well, it’s true. In modern China, there are also many such high-rise buildings? Why do they create some completely different environment here, a different reality?” I understood the answer to this question when I returned to China. Look, for example, at the center of Shenzhen, the city that is adjacent to Hong Kong. 
13. As you can see, there are quite a lot of tall pieces of glass, but there are quite large distances between them. Yes, all the Chinese love to build high! But the Chinese really have a lot of space, a lot of room to expand.
And here is the Hong Kong urban landscape. You can immediately see what kind of concrete jungle there is; the sky in the city center is practically invisible. 
14. The point here is that Hong Kong high-rise buildings, not only are they tall, but they are also packed almost right next to each other. The distance between our Brezhnevkas is much higher, there is at least somewhere to walk. 
15. And a unique situation arises that even if you buy an apartment on the 40th floor, from the window you will not be looking down on the city, but on the neighboring skyscraper. The same 40th floor. 
16. And here, by the way, is how modern housing is built in China, the city Kunming. It can be seen that here the distances between the houses are much higher (although, to put it mildly, they are also not a fountain at all). Well, because land is not so scarce. 
17. The most unrealistic thing I came across in Hong Kong was the 76-storey residential complex LOHAS Park, which I went to see on the advice of Ali Rez ( yezdigerd
). About a dozen towers rising into the sky are located almost in an open field: immediately behind them the wild forest begins. 
18. The complex offers stunning views of the surrounding area. However, Hong Kong is generally very photogenic in the dark. 
19. Despite the fact that there are so many floors in the buildings, the demand for housing here is still very high. Hong Kong real estate is one of the most expensive in the world. To rent a small apartment here will cost at least a thousand dollars. Some skyscrapers, by the way, are completely full of holes. 
20. The center of Hong Kong is located on the island of the same name. The main development stretches in a long line between the hills and the strait. In the very center there is a business district. 
21. A pile of glass and concrete. However, the clutter looks stylish. 
22. The second tallest building of the ex-colony (415 m) is the international financial center. 
23. On the other side of the strait is the mainland. Kowloon area. The same multi-story, high-rise building. There is a response high-rise building there. This is already the tallest building in Hong Kong, 484 m. International Commercial Center. 
24. Consider the business center of Hong Kong. Pedestrian galleries like these, located approximately at the level of the 2nd floor, are popular there. 
25. The galleries stretch for many blocks. You can walk along them almost through the entire center without going down onto the sidewalks. 
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27. View of Hong Kong from the main mountain of the city, Victoria Peak. A very popular place among tourists. 
28. Hong Kong Bay. Ships in the roadstead! 
29. Signs. Hong Kong is famous for their abundance. Such that behind them, sometimes nothing is visible at all. 
30. 
31. Space, lack of space. Every inch is worth crazy money. That’s why, for example, the tram depot here is located under a highway overpass. 
32. And under one of the residential complexes there is a metro depot! Well, because there is nowhere else! 
33. Imagine how nice it is: right under your apartment, trains not only constantly travel back and forth and rumble, but also spend the night. :) There is probably a secret passage from the house to the depot especially for metro fans. 
34. Pedestrian gallery directly above the toll collection point for travel through the underwater tunnel. 
35. Every millimeter here is painted. There is an interchange here, there is an overpass, there is a residential area, there is a metro line above it, etc. 
36. Hong Kongers are forced to swim on luxurious beaches in the immediate vicinity of the port. And there was nowhere else to make a beach. It’s great to swim among the stains of fuel oil and diesel fuel :) 
37. In the New Territories, where housing costs are lower, low-rise buildings have also been preserved. 
38. There is also one in Kowloon, not far from the center. 
39. I even lived in one of these neighborhoods. Yuen-lon region in the north-west of the New Territories. 
39 Hong Kong has its own political system, completely different from China. In China itself it is called “One country - two systems”. The logic of the Chinese is this: “we will have socialism, but for the good of the cause in Hong Kong and Macau we will maintain the capitalist system.” In general, this works, but Hong Kongers still accuse the Chinese authorities of constantly interfering in their internal affairs. However, in everything except the defense of the country and its foreign policy, Hong Kong and Macau are independent. Elections are taking place here, and you can see a picture atypical for China - election posters! 
40. Official languages of Hong Kong: Chinese Cantonese, English, Chinese Mandarin. Traditional hieroglyphs are used as writing (as opposed to simplified ones in China itself). Almost all inscriptions are duplicated in English; the level of knowledge among the population is quite high. Audio announcements (for example, in the subway) are also dubbed into Mandarin. 
41. Mandarin (a dialect of Chinese, widespread as official in China itself except in the southern regions) also has official status in Hong Kong and is studied in schools. Few people know him, though. And the writing of different dialects is the same. More precisely, as I wrote, there are two systems of hieroglyphs - traditional and simplified, but both of them are applicable to any dialects. Simplified language is not used in the Civil Code. 
42. Oh, well, yes, I completely forgot about the money. It also has its own currency, the Hong Kong dollar. Costs approximately 1.22 yuan. 1 US dollar = 6 Hong Kong. 
43. At the same time, Hong Kong residents complain that it is through teaching Mandarin that the Chinese are imposing their policies on them. They spread pro-Chinese propaganda among young people in institutions. At the same time, objectively speaking, I doubt that this is easy to do. The standard of living, civil liberties and everything else is much better understood where. 
44. Hong Kong is multi-religious. Unlike, again, China, where, as you know, religion is the opium of the people, and they don’t even have much room for their own faith.
There are also Taoist temples here. 
45. Catholic cathedrals. 
46. And mosques. In this mosque, by the way, one of the employees clung to me and began to agitate me to accept Islam: “You are a believer, right? Orthodox! It is very good to be a believer. But I hope that the day will come when you will become a Muslim.” 
47. I tried to change the topic with questions: “Why can’t you sleep here, and how can I fit in, if necessary?” But the man tried to tell me about how good the prophet Muhammad was, and that their religion recognizes all the prophets who came before him, including Jesus. He was so eloquent that at some point I began to look for a reason to leave there, so that it would be as polite as possible. 
48. It cannot be said that Hong Kong is completely urbanized. No, if we look at the Google image, we will be surprised to find that a smaller part of the territory is inhabited. About a quarter! The rest is wild forests and jungles. 
49. This matter is especially good in the New Territories. There in the east there is a huge national park where you can walk for several days. Authentic villages have been preserved closer to the center. 
50. But you already have to look for them. At least, everything that is adjacent to metro stations (and the Hong Kong subway is a separate world, about which there will be a whole post), is actively being built up with skyscrapers..
55. Lives from 4 to 20 thousand people. No cars or skyscrapers for you. Just bicycles and fishing boats. 
56. If you go to Hong Kong, I highly recommend checking out at least one of the islands. 
57. This is how wild and urban Hong Kong can be. There doesn’t seem to be anything outstanding here, but you can spend two weeks here, and even longer if you wish. There is always something to see. 
58. Next time we’ll talk specifically about different areas, islands, Lojas Park, and, of course, the metro with trams and other transport. 
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China. It has one of the largest ports in the world, is one of the leading financial centers in Asia and the world, and represents a fusion of Eastern and European cultures. Hong Kong is also called Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is located in southern China, 32 km east of the mouth of the Pearl River and 135 km southeast of Guangdong Province. The city is washed from the west, south and east by the South China Sea. Hong Kong is separated from the mainland by a natural harbor. To the north, Hong Kong borders the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone.
The Pearl of the Orient is the most common title used to describe Hong Kong. This city-state is sometimes called Asian New York. It’s difficult to call Hong Kong a Chinese city; it doesn’t look like a Chinese city, if only because almost all the residents speak English. At the same time, Hong Kongers, despite the colonial history of the city, never became British, but they still ceased to be Chinese.
Hong Kong is far from the largest city on earth, and not even the largest city in China - only (by regional standards) 7.5 million people. However, Hong Kong is an important destination in the financial world; National Geographic magazine calls Hong Kong "the third largest financial center in the world and the eleventh largest industrial zone." Hong Kong is famous for its gold and foreign exchange markets, trade, manufacturing, film industry and much more. By the way, the port in Hong Kong is the third largest in the world. More than 7,000 ships from all over the world arrive at the Hong Kong pier every year.
Hong Kong earns and spends money with an inexplicable gluttony: b O More Rolls-Royces per square kilometer than anywhere else.
However, Hong Kong also has another claim to fame: being the most populous city in the world. About 7 million Hong Kongers live on 1,106.4 square kilometers of land, with a population density of approximately 6,732 people per square kilometer. However, such statistics can be misleading since the city is unevenly populated. Only 10 percent of the area is inhabited, which means that on average there are more than 54,000 inhabitants per square kilometer! And in the Mang Gok region there are 140,000 people per square kilometer! And although Hong Kong has reclaimed a lot of land from the sea, there are still areas called “dangas” where people live in junks or boats.
Based: 1841
Square: 1,106.4 km 2
Population: 7,448,900 people (2018)
Currency: Hong Kong dollar
Language: Chinese, English
Official website: https://www.gov.hk
Current time in Hong Kong:
(UTC +8)
The majority of Hong Kong residents are Cantonese (95%), mostly speaking Cantonese. The country officially has two languages: Cantonese Chinese and English. Many Chinese have moved to the city from the mainland, especially Shanghai, as well as immigrants from India, Pakistan and Nepal, many of whom have lived in Hong Kong for generations. Recently, more and more immigrants from the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand have been coming to Hong Kong, most of whom work as domestics. Moreover, Hong Kong is also home to a significant number of people from North America, Japan and Europe, making the city truly international. Although Hong Kong is legally part of China, the former British colony has its own laws. The country has all the rights and freedoms characteristic of a democratic state.
How to get there
Airplane
Aeroflot flies from Moscow to Hong Kong 4 times a week, the travel time is 9 hours 50 minutes.
A number of airlines also offer flights with connections in other cities, for example:
- "Emirates" (in Dubai),
- "Qatar Airways" (in Doha),
- Etihad (in Abu Dhabi),
as well as in Beijing, Bangkok, Delhi and other major hubs. Planes arrive at Chek Lap Kok airport.
Train
There is a daily train from mainland China to Hong Kong. The train consists of two parts: one departs from Beijing (26 hours), the other from Shanghai (24 hours). In addition to this rather long train, there are also commuter trains from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, and to Guangzhou.
Bus
The bus, paradoxically, is a good way to cross the border into mainland China without queuing. Hourly buses go to Guangzhou. There are also at least 6 bus routes that run between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
- Jordan, Kowloon District, bus departs from Scout Centre, Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui (5 minutes walk from Jordan MRT).
- Mongkok, Kowloon departs from Portland Street, near Metropark Hotel Mongkok (departure from Prince Edward Hotel).
- Wanchai, Hong Kong Island departs from the Bus Station.
- Kuan Tong, Kowloon departs from the bus station and from the Kwun Tong Shopping Plaza.
- Tsuen Wan departs from the bus station (10 minutes walk from Tsuen Wan station).
- Kam Shen Road branches off to Western Railway Station.
Buses run every 20-30 minutes. Lok Ma Chau crossing - with 24-hour border crossing.
Helicopter and ferry
You can also use Macau International Airport, and if you're flying there, you can easily get there by ferry from Macau. Or even by helicopter. Company helicopter « Sky Shuttle operates short flights every 30 minutes from the Marítimo terminals in Macau to the pier in Hong Kong. The flight takes 16 minutes and costs about HK$3,000.
On foot
You can cross the border from mainland China to Hong Kong in Shenzhen. There are six checkpoints between Hong Kong and mainland China. Pedestrian crossings are: Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau. One of the crossings is located in the center of Shenzhen, the other at the railway station.
Visa to Hong Kong
Russian citizens do not require visas to visit Hong Kong for a period not exceeding 14 days. The purpose of travel must be tourism, transit, visiting friends or relatives, or a short-term business visit not related to making a profit in Hong Kong. You can read more detailed information in our special material “Visa to Hong Kong”.
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Time: UTC+8 (Moscow +5 hours in winter, Moscow +4 hours in summer)
Telephone code: +852
Currency: Hong Kong dollar
Hong Kong Country: SAR China
Population: 7,389,500 people (2017 estimate)
GDP: 429 billion (2016)
Territory: 1.104 km²
Geographical position
Hong Kong (Hong Kong) is located on the southeastern coast of the South China Sea near the mouth of the Dongjiang River and includes Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories. In addition, Hong Kong also includes a number of small islands in the South China Sea, of which there are about 260.
The largest island is Lantau Island, and the most populous is Hong Kong Island. Much of Hong Kong's territory remains undeveloped due to the abundance of mountains and steep hills.
The city center is located mainly on the Kowloon Peninsula and on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island (see). Also, a number of settlements are dispersed throughout the New Territories. The rest of the territory is covered with greenery, a little less than half of it is nature reserves and recreation areas.
Hong Kong shares a border with the People's Republic of China (PRC).
The total area including all the islands is 1104 square kilometers.
The time difference with Hong Kong in Moscow is 4 hours. And the time difference between Hong Kong and Greenwich is eight hours.
History of Hong Kong
The territory of Hong Kong became part of China at the end of the 3rd millennium BC, but the first settlements appeared only in the 11th century AD. By the time the British arrived in Hong Kong, about 5,000 people lived in the territory, mainly engaged in fishing, cattle breeding and farming.
In history, the first mention of Hong Kong appears in the 17th century. Hong Kong's location near the Dongjiang River made it a convenient port for ships from all over the world. Although China did not encourage trade with foreigners, the Portuguese established a colony in nearby Macau in 1550 and traded in Chinese goods. Guangzhou (Canton) on the Dongjiang River became accessible to traders from other countries in 1685. Although uninterested in imports, China has been very successful in exporting tea, porcelain and silk. This changed in the 18th century when the British discovered that opium could be imported into China.
During the First Opium War in 1840-1842. It was in Hong Kong that the English stronghold was established. At the end of the war in 1842, according to the Treaty of Nanjing, Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula became the property of Britain. After the Second Opium War of 1856-1860. England annexed some surrounding islands and a small part of the Kowloon Peninsula to Hong Kong. And finally, in 1898, Britain received a 99-year lease on the entire Kowloon Peninsula, as well as the New Territories.
Today, Hong Kong is one of the ten largest world trading powers and financial centers, which makes the standard of living in the state one of the highest in Asia.
Developing in an almost complete absence of natural resources, Hong Kong has achieved high economic development thanks to its favorable geographical location, developed legislative framework and perfect infrastructure.
Hong Kong attracts the attention of tourists from all over the world. This is not surprising, because this is an unusual country, striking both with the beauty of its almost untouched nature, and with the abundance of skyscrapers, the mass of people, cars and neon signs.
The city is a real paradise for nightlife lovers, and the city is legendary. Local stores with famous brands such as Prada, Gucci, etc. have low prices, and clubs, bars, restaurants and discos are often open 24 hours a day.
Connoisseurs of cultural recreation will not be disappointed either. After all, they will have the opportunity not only to visit numerous and see the world’s greatest Buddha statue, but also to visit ancient temples and ancient settlements.
In Hong Kong, colonial architecture is surprisingly combined with ultra-modern skyscrapers, creating a unique contrast.
You just need to look at photos of Hong Kong to make you want to visit and come here.
Some people unknowingly write the name of Hong Kong separately: “Hong Kong”, “Hong Kong”, “Hong Kong” - partly due to ignorance of spelling, and partly remembering the English name Hong Kong. However, it is correct to write exactly Hong Kong.
The official languages are Chinese and English.
Capital of Hong Kong
At its core, Hong Kong is a city-state and does not have a capital in the usual sense. At the same time, if we take into account the fact that this state contains only one city of the same name, then it can be argued that the capital of Hong Kong is Hong Kong itself.
In addition, you can find references to the capital of Hong Kong, called Victoria or Victoria City (an area of the city in which administrative buildings were concentrated during the colonization of Hong Kong). This name is obsolete - it belonged to the city founded by Great Britain during the period when the territory was a British colony. The city of Victoria was subsequently renamed Hong Kong, but the outdated name is still sometimes given as the English version of the state's name. Accordingly, the statement that the capital of Hong Kong is Victoria is incorrect.
The center is Hong Kong Island, administratively united with the Kowloon Peninsula into two districts, which are separated by a bay. Between Hong Kong Island and the mainland there are 3 underground tunnels under the Victoria Strait. Ferries operate for pedestrian travelers.
Hong Kong Island is also home to most of the administrative and business institutions, including the world-famous International Financial Complex, the Exhibition Center and both buildings (old and new) of the Bank of China. Hong Kong Island is also considered a historical center.
In Hong Kong, there is no clear division of the city into administrative, business and entertainment districts, but most government buildings are located in the Central-West region of the city.
Flag and coat of arms of Hong Kong
The main symbols of the state are the flag and coat of arms.
The flag of Hong Kong was adopted on February 16, 1990. However, it was first officially raised on July 1, 1997. Today, the description of the flag is enshrined in the Basic Law of the State of Hong Kong. The coat of arms of Hong Kong was adopted on July 1, 1997 and is the emblem of the special administrative region to this day.
The flag is a rectangular panel, in the center of which is a white Bauhinia flower with five petals that curve clockwise. On each petal there is a pentagonal star, from which a curved red line extends towards the center.
The coat of arms features the same elements as the Hong Kong flag, but in a circular frame with a white border.
The flag of Hong Kong symbolizes the political, cultural and historical significance of the country, and the red colors of the flag, as well as the five stars in the petals, remind us that Hong Kong is an integral part of the People's Republic of China. The combination of white and red colors on the flag symbolizes the principle of “One Country, Two Systems”, which is a policy principle that applies to Hong Kong. The stylized image of the white Bauhinia flower, which grows in Hong Kong, serves as a harmonizing symbol, the meaning of which can only be understood by representatives of the local culture.
Listen Hong Kong anthem:
Government and politics of Hong Kong
Until 1 July 1997, while Hong Kong was a British colony, the Governor was appointed by the Queen. After the territory was returned to China, the Chief Minister of the Hong Kong Administration began to govern, who is elected by a special Committee for the Election of the Chief Minister of the Hong Kong Administration, which includes representatives of the business elite of 800 people.
The direct administration of Hong Kong is carried out by the Executive Council, consisting of the Chief Secretary, the Secretaries for Justice and Finance and ten appointed secretaries. The Legislative Council of Hong Kong is elected for a term of 4 years and includes 60 members. In order for a law to be passed, the support of a simple majority of members of the Legislative Assembly is required. In terms of local government, Hong Kong is divided into 18 administrative districts, each with its own council.
Civil servants of the legislative and executive branches are either elected through voting or appointed by the Chief Minister.
The role of the constitution is performed by the so-called basic law, thanks to which Hong Kong has autonomy in the areas of legislative, legal, customs and monetary systems. The Basic Law guarantees the independence of all Hong Kong infrastructure from mainland China, except for foreign policy and defense.
Hong Kong currency
The official currency of Hong Kong is the Hong Kong dollar ( HKD), which is pegged to US currency. Today, banknotes in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 Hong Kong dollars are in circulation. They all have three different patterns. Hong Kong coins are issued in denominations of 10 and 50 Hong Kong cents, as well as 1, 2, 5 and 10 Hong Kong dollars.
Hong Kong dollars are issued by three banks. Currency production occurs under the supervision of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.
There are no exchange controls or restrictions in Hong Kong. In the country you can easily buy any world currency.
It is best to exchange currency in banks. However, in the evening and night hours, when banks are closed, in the center of Hong Kong you can find exchange offices, which, however, do not have the most favorable rates.
The most common bank in Hong Kong (HSBC) opens branches at 9:30 am and closes at 4:30 pm.
Hong Kong Climate
The climate in Hong Kong is marine tropical monsoon. The summer monsoons, which last from May to September, often bring heavy rains. Air humidity is about 80%, and the wettest and most rainy months are June, July and August. The average daytime temperature in summer is 25-35C, and the night temperature is 25-26C.
Unlike summer, winter in Hong Kong is warm and dry. The average daytime temperature in winter is 20C, and the night temperature is +15C. On rare cold days, daytime temperatures can drop to +15C.
The highest temperature recorded in Hong Kong in the history of observation is plus 38C, the lowest is minus 4C.
The best time to travel to Hong Kong is from early September to May.
Industry and economy of Hong Kong
Despite the relatively high level of development of the electronic, electrical, clothing and textile industries, industry in Hong Kong is rather poorly developed.
Hong Kong is dominated by banking, finance and trading activities, particularly trade with China. Thus, most of the state’s national wealth is produced in the “tertiary” sector of the economy, which includes trade, finance, business services, export-import relations, restaurant and hotel business, etc. 63% of Hong Kong’s working population works in the above areas. The largest partners in foreign trade are China, Taiwan, Japan, USA, UK and Singapore.
Agriculture is poorly developed. However, to some extent, poultry production and fishing allow Hong Kong to slightly reduce its dependence on other countries for agricultural products.
Hong Kong is an amazing country where everyone will find exactly what they like. Here, modernity is intertwined with history, and the vibrant life of megacities with the untouched beauty of nature.