CITY INFORMATION  
Countries | HONG KONG
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Hong Kong works as a useful gateway into Southeast Asia and into China. It is also an interesting place in its own right - an extraordinary, complex territory of seven million people that's repository of traditional Chinese culture, a recently relinquished British outpost, and one of the key economies of the Pacific Rim.

Hong Kong's dynamism is unforgettable. From the vantage point of Victoria Peak, overlooking the world's busiest deepwater port, you can see a city geared not only to making money but feeling good about it. At night, it's like looking down into a volcano. Despite its British colonial past, Hong Kong has always stuck to its roots and the culture beneath the glitz is pure Chinese. That didn't stop locals from feeling apprehensive about being re-united with the motherland when the British handed the colony back to China in 1997, but their unease has largely evaporated. Visitors often find it takes a few days in Hong Kong to get accustomed to the whirlwind pace. If you need some respite, check out the Outlying Islands for a change of tempo and scene.

 

 

Major Tourist Cities/Areas Information
Visa Requirement
HONG KONG Map

Contry Facts*:
Area:
1098 sq km (424 sq mi)
Population: 6.7 million
People: 95% Chinese, 1.5% European
Language: Cantonese is the national language, with Mandarin a fast-growing second. English is widely spoken among the well-educated and many in the tourist trade. Otherwise, people speak only basic English; the standard has dropped noticeably since 1997 handover when English was scrapped as the medium of instruction in most school
Religion: The most prevalent religion in Hong Kong are Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism
Business Hours:
Office are in Hong Kong more or less the same as in the West, operating between 09.00 and 17.30. Some offices are also open on Saturday mornings. Lunch hour is from 13.00 to 14.00 when most offices close completely. In Hong Kong, banks are open weekdays from 09.00 to 16.30 and Saturday between 09.00 and 12.30

Calendar of Events*:

January/February:
1st - New Year's Day
Chinese New Year
March/April:
Good Friday and Easter
Ching Ming
Buddha's Birthday
May:
1st - Labor Day
June:
Dragon Boat/Tuen Ng Festival
July:
1st - Hong Kong SAR Establishment Day
September:
Mid- Autumn Festival
October:
1st - National Day
Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival
Cheung Yeung
December:
25th - Christmas Day
26th - Boxing Day

*Information is subject to change. For further update, please check these websites : www.bbc.com, www.cia.gov