Hong Kong is officially known as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
Other names of Hong Kong:
Chinese: 香港
Traditional Chinese: 中華人民共和國香港特別行政區
Simplified Chinese: 中华人民共和国香港特别行政区
Hanyu Pinyin: Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Xiānggǎng Tèbié Xíngzhèngqū
It is a territory located on China's south coast, bordering Guangdong in the north and the South China Sea in the east, west and south. Along with Macau, Hong Kong is one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China.
Hong Kong was a dependent territory of the United Kingdom from 1842 until the transfer of its sovereignty to the People's Republic of China in 1997. The Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law of Hong Kong stipulate that Hong Kong operate with a high degree of autonomy until 2047, fifty years after the transfer. Under the one country, two systems policy, the Chinese government is responsible for the territory's defense and foreign affairs, while Hong Kong maintains its own legal system, police force, monetary system, customs policy, immigration policy, and delegates to some international organizations and events.
Beginning as a trading port, Hong Kong emerged as a leading financial center in the late 20th century. Its highly capitalist economy is heavily based on service industries, and thrives under a long-standing policy of government non-intervention. Although the population is predominantly Chinese, residents and expatriates of other ethnicities form a small but significant segment of society. Influenced by both Eastern and Western cultures, Hong Kong's multicultural identity is reflected in its cuisine, cinema and music.
