Page last updated on January 31, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Occupied by the UK in 1841, Hong Kong was formally ceded by China the following year; various adjacent lands were added later in the 19th century. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and the UK on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China on 1 July 1997. In this agreement, China promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system would not be imposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong would enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
22 15 N, 114 10 E
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Southeast Asia
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1,104 sq km
country comparison to the world: 184
land: 1,054 sq km
water: 50 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 30 km
regional border: China 30 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
733 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 5.05%
permanent crops: 1.01%
other: 93.94% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA; note - included in the total for China
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
occasional typhoons
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
air and water pollution from rapid urbanization
Environment - international agreements:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
party to: Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution (associate member)
Geography - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
composed of more than 200 islands
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Chinese/Hong Konger
adjective: Chinese/Hong Kong
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Chinese 93.6%, Filipino 1.9%, Indonesian 1.9%, other 2.6% (2011 census)
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Cantonese (official) 89.5%, English (official) 3.5%, Putonghua (Mandarin) 1.4%, other Chinese dialects 4%, other 1.6% (2011 census)
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7,082,316 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 11.3% (male 425,289/female 389,622)
15-24 years: 10.7% (male 398,475/female 372,250)
25-54 years: 48.4% (male 1,627,699/female 1,848,730)
55-64 years: 15.1% (male 538,854/female 547,690)
65 years and over: 14.4% (male 486,043/female 548,072) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 34.6 %
youth dependency ratio: 15.8 %
elderly dependency ratio: 18.9 %
potential support ratio: 5.3 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 44.5 years
male: 43.8 years
female: 45 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.39% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.58 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 223
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.39 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 100% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 1.04% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
29.8 (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 2.89 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 219
male: 3.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 82.2 years
country comparison to the world: 9
male: 79.47 years
female: 85.14 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.11 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
79.5% (2007)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.1% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2,600 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.4% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 129
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 93.5%
male: 96.9%
female: 89.6% (2002)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2011)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 9.3%
country comparison to the world: 115
male: 10.9%
female: 7.8% (2012)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
conventional short form: Hong Kong
official long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu
official short form: Xianggang
abbreviation: HK
Dependency status:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
special administrative region of China
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
limited democracy
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none (special administrative region of China)
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 1 July 1997 is celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
several previous (governance documents while under British authority); latest drafted April 1988 to February 1989, approved March 1990, promulgated 4 April 1990 (Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China serves as the constitution); note - since 1990, China's National People's Congress has interpreted specific articles of the Basic Law (2013)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mixed legal system of common law based on the English model and Chinese customary law (in matters of family and land tenure)
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age in direct elections for half the legislature and a majority of seats in 18 district councils; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; note - in indirect elections, suffrage is limited to about 220,000 members of functional constituencies for the other half of the legislature and an 1,200-member election committee for the chief executive drawn from broad sectoral groupings, central government bodies, municipal organizations, and elected Hong Kong officials
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of state: President of China XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013)
head of government: Chief Executive LEUNG Chun-ying [C.Y.LEUNG] (since 1 July 2012)
cabinet: Executive Council or ExCo consists of 15 official members and 16 non-official members
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
elections: chief executive elected for five-year term by a 1,200-member election committee; on 25 March 2012 LEUNG Chun-ying [C.Y.LEUNG] was elected chief executive by a 1,193-member election committee; he took office on 1 July 2012; (next to be held in March 2017)
note: the Legislative Council voted in June 2010 to expand the electoral committee to 1,200 seats for the 2012 selection
election results: LEUNG Chun-ying was selected with 689 votes; Henry TANG received 285 votes, and Albert HO received 76 of the 1,132 votes cast; 82 ballots were deemed invalid; most were blank
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
unicameral Legislative Council or LegCo (70 seats; 35 members indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 35 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms)
note: the LegCo voted in June 2010 to expand to 70 seats for the 2012 election; the measure was approved by the National People's Congress Standing Committee in August 2010
elections: last held on 9 September 2012 (next to be held in September 2016)
election results: percent of vote by block - pro-democracy 56%; pro-Beijing 41%, independent 3%; seats by parties - (pro-Beijing 43) DAB 13, BRA 7, FTU 6, Liberal Party 5, others 10; (pro-democracy 27) Democratic Party 6, Civic Party 6, Labor Party 4, People Power 3, Professional Commons 3, League of Social Democrats 1, ADPL 1, PTU 1, Neo Democrats 1, NWSC 1; independent 1
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
highest court(s): Court of Final Appeal (consists of the chief justice, 3 permanent judges and 20 non-permanent judges); note - a sitting bench consists of the chief justice and 3 permanent and 1 non-permanent judges
judge selection and term of office: all judges appointed by the Hong Kong Chief Executive upon the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission, an independent body consisting of the Secretary for Justice and other judges, judicial and legal professionals; permanent judges appointed until normal retirement at age 65, but can be extended; non-permanent judges appointed for renewable 3-year terms without age limit
subordinate courts: High Court (consists of the Court of Appeal and Court of First Instance); District Courts (includes Family and Land Courts); magistrates' courts; specialized tribunals
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
parties:
others:
note: political blocs include: pro-democracy - ADPL, Civic Party, Democratic Party, Labor Party, League of Social Democrats, People Power, Professional Commons; pro-Beijing - DAB, FTU, Liberal Party, New People's Party, The Business and Professional Alliance; there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Confederation of Trade Unions or CTU (pro-democracy) [LEE Cheuk-yan, general secretary]; Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Federation of Trade Unions or FTU (pro-China) [CHENG Yiu-tong, executive councilor]; Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China [LEE Cheuk-yan, chairman]; Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union [FUNG Wai-wah, president]; Neighborhood and Workers' Service Center or NWSC [LEUNG Yiu-chung, LegCo member] (pro-democracy); Civic Act-up [Cyd HO Sau-lan, LegCo member] (pro-democracy)
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
ADB, APEC, BIS, FATF, ICC (national committees), IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITUC (NGOs), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none (Special Administrative Region of China); Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) carries out normal liaison and communication with the US Government and other US entities
commissioner: Donald TONG
office: 1520 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] 202 331-8947
FAX: [1] 202 331-8958
HKETO offices: New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Consul General Clifford A. HART Jr. (since 30 July 2013); note - also accredited to Macau
consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong
mailing address: Unit 8000, Box 1, DPO AP 96521-0006
telephone: [852] 2523-9011
FAX: [852] 2845-1598
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
red with a stylized, white, five-petal Bauhinia flower in the center; each petal contains a small, red, five-pointed star in its middle; the red color is the same as that on the Chinese flag and represents the motherland; the fragrant Bauhinia - developed in Hong Kong the late 19th century - has come to symbolize the region; the five stars echo those on the flag of China
National symbol(s):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
orchid tree flower
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
note: as a Special Administrative Region of China, "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" is the official anthem (see China)
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Hong Kong has a free market economy, highly dependent on international trade and finance - the value of goods and services trade, including the sizable share of re-exports, is about four times GDP. Hong Kong levies excise duties on only four commodities, namely: hard alcohol, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil, and methyl alcohol. There are no quotas or dumping laws. Hong Kong's open economy left it exposed to the global economic slowdown that began in 2008. Although increasing integration with China, through trade, tourism, and financial links, helped it to make an initial recovery more quickly than many observers anticipated, it again faces a possible slowdown as exports to the Euro zone and US slump. The Hong Kong government is promoting the Special Administrative Region (SAR) as the site for Chinese renminbi (RMB) internationalization. Hong Kong residents are allowed to establish RMB-denominated savings accounts; RMB-denominated corporate and Chinese government bonds have been issued in Hong Kong; and RMB trade settlement is allowed. The territory far exceeded the RMB conversion quota set by Beijing for trade settlements in 2010 due to the growth of earnings from exports to the mainland. RMB deposits grew to roughly 9.1% of total system deposits in Hong Kong by the end of 2012, an increase of 59% from the previous year. The government is pursuing efforts to introduce additional use of RMB in Hong Kong financial markets and is seeking to expand the RMB quota. The mainland has long been Hong Kong's largest trading partner, accounting for about half of Hong Kong's exports by value. Hong Kong's natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. As a result of China's easing of travel restrictions, the number of mainland tourists to the territory has surged from 4.5 million in 2001 to 34.9 million in 2012, outnumbering visitors from all other countries combined. Hong Kong has also established itself as the premier stock market for Chinese firms seeking to list abroad. In 2012 mainland Chinese companies constituted about 46.6% of the firms listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and accounted for about 57.4% of the Exchange's market capitalization. During the past decade, as Hong Kong's manufacturing industry moved to the mainland, its service industry has grown rapidly. Growth slowed to 5% in 2011, and less than 2% in 2012. Credit expansion and tight housing supply conditions caused Hong Kong property prices to rise rapidly and inflation to rise 4.1% in 2012. Lower and middle income segments of the population are increasingly unable to afford adequate housing. Hong Kong continues to link its currency closely to the US dollar, maintaining an arrangement established in 1983.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$365.6 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$259.7 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$50,900 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
28.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 63.7%
government consumption: 9.1%
investment in fixed capital: 26.4%
investment in inventories: -0.4%
exports of goods and services: 224.8%
imports of goods and services: -223.5%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 0%
industry: 7.1%
services: 92.8% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
fresh vegetables; poultry, pork; fish
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
textiles, clothing, tourism, banking, shipping, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.792 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
manufacturing: 4%
construction: 2.7%
wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels: 40.9%
financing, insurance, and real estate: 12.5%
transport and communications: 9.9%
community and social services: 16.9%
note: above data exclude public sector (2012 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
53.7 (2011)
country comparison to the world: 11
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $57.87 billion
expenditures: $49.79 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
22.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
37.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.5% (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 135
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$177.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.148 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$714 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2.81 trillion (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 6
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$6.064 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$466 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel, footwear, watches and clocks, toys, plastics, precious stones, printed material
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
China 54.1%, US 9.9%, Japan 4.2% (2012 est.)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$487.4 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
raw materials and semi-manufactures, consumer goods, capital goods, foodstuffs, fuel (most is reexported)
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
China 46.9%, Japan 8.4%, Taiwan 7.5%, South Korea 5%, US 4.7% (2012 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$317.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$134.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.422 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.31 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Hong Kong dollars (HKD) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
41.3 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
45.07 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
497.4 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11.15 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10.66 million kW (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
100 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 143
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
337,600 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16,520 bbl/day (2012)
country comparison to the world: 76
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
354,100 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.79 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.79 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 149
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
92.91 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.362 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 39
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16.403 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 57
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
general assessment: modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services
domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic network
international: country code - 852; multiple international submarine cables provide connections to Asia, US, Australia, the Middle East, and Western Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China (2012)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2 commercial terrestrial TV networks each with multiple stations; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems available; 3 radio networks, one of which is government-funded, operate about 15 radio stations (2012)
Internet country code:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.hk
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
870,041 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 48
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.873 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 47
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 201
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
Heliports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9 (2013)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 2,090 km
country comparison to the world: 174
paved: 2,090 km (2012)
Merchant marine:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1,644
country comparison to the world: 5
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 785, cargo 198, carrier 10, chemical tanker 149, container 288, liquefied gas 31, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 156, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 7
foreign-owned: 976 (Bangladesh 1, Belgium 26, Bermuda 20, Canada 77, China 500, Cyprus 3, Denmark 42, France 4, Germany 10, Greece 27, Indonesia 10, Iran 3, Japan 79, Libya 1, Norway 48, Russia 1, Singapore 13, South Korea 3, Switzerland 5, Taiwan 25, UAE 1, UK 33, US 44)
registered in other countries: 341 (Bahamas 3, Bermuda 4, Cambodia 10, China 18, Curacao 1, Cyprus 2, Georgia 3, India 2, Kiribati 2, Liberia 48, Malaysia 8, Malta 4, Marshall Islands 3, NZ 1, Panama 144, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Seychelles 1, Sierra Leone 7, Singapore 46, Thailand 1, UK 12, unknown 16) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
major seaport(s): Hong Kong
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong garrison of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) includes elements of the PLA Ground Forces, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the adjacent Guangzhou Military Region (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 1,704,090
females age 16-49: 1,873,175 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 1,387,213
females age 16-49: 1,505,875 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 39,579
female: 36,554 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
defense is the responsibility of China
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none