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Compare Hong Kong (2006) - Sierra Leone (2006)

Compare Hong Kong (2006) z Sierra Leone (2006)

 Hong Kong (2006)Sierra Leone (2006)
 Hong KongSierra Leone
Administrative divisions none (special administrative region of China) 3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western*
Age structure 0-14 years: 13.5% (male 488,607/female 445,593)


15-64 years: 73.7% (male 2,495,679/female 2,620,336)


65 years and over: 12.8% (male 413,031/female 477,186) (2006 est.)
0-14 years: 44.8% (male 1,321,563/female 1,370,721)


15-64 years: 52% (male 1,494,502/female 1,625,733)


65 years and over: 3.2% (male 90,958/female 101,773) (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products fresh vegetables; poultry, pork; fish rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Airports 3 (2006) 10 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


over 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2006)
total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 9


914 to 1,523 m: 7


under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Area total: 1,092 sq km


land: 1,042 sq km


water: 50 sq km
total: 71,740 sq km


land: 71,620 sq km


water: 120 sq km
Area - comparative six times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than South Carolina
Background 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 China on 1 July 1997. In this agreement, China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system will not be imposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years. The government is slowly reestablishing its authority after the 1991 to 2002 civil war that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about one-third of the population). The last UN peacekeepers withdrew in December 2005, leaving full responsibility for security with domestic forces, but a new civilian UN office remains to support the government. Mounting tensions related to planned 2007 elections, deteriorating political and economic conditions in Guinea, and the tenuous security situation in neighboring Liberia may present challenges to continuing progress in Sierra Leone's stability.
Birth rate 7.29 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) 45.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Budget revenues: $31.31 billion


expenditures: $32.3 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.9 billion (2005 est.)
revenues: $96 million


expenditures: $351 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Capital - name: Freetown


geographic coordinates: 8 30 N, 13 15 W


time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
Coastline 733 km 402 km
Constitution Basic Law, approved in March 1990 by China's National People's Congress, is Hong Kong's "mini-constitution" 1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times
Country name conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region


conventional short form: Hong Kong


local long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu


local short form: Xianggang


abbreviation: HK
conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone


conventional short form: Sierra Leone


local long form: Republic of Sierra Leone


local short form: Sierra Leone
Death rate 6.29 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) 23.03 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Debt - external $72.04 billion (2005 est.) $1.61 billion (2003 est.)
Dependency status special administrative region of China -
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Consul General James B. CUNNINGHAM


consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong


mailing address: PSC 461, Box 1, FPO AP 96521-0006


telephone: [852] 2523-9011


FAX: [852] 2845-1598
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas N. HULL


embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown


mailing address: use embassy street address


telephone: [232] (22) 226481 through 226485


FAX: [232] (22) 225471
Diplomatic representation in the US none (special administrative region of China) chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahim M. KAMARA


chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009


telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261 through 9263


FAX: [1] (202) 483-1793
Disputes - international none domestic fighting among disparate rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone perpetuate insurgencies, street violence, looting, arms trafficking, ethnic conflicts, and refugees in border areas; UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) has maintained over 4,000 peacekeepers in Sierra Leone since 1999; Sierra Leone pressures Guinea to remove its forces from the town of Yenga occupied since 1998
Economic aid - recipient - $297.4 million (2003 est.)
Economy - overview Hong Kong has a free market, entrepot economy, highly dependent on international trade. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Gross imports and exports (i.e., including reexports to and from third countries) each exceed GDP in dollar value. Even before Hong Kong reverted to Chinese administration on 1 July 1997, it had extensive trade and investment ties with China. Hong Kong has been further integrating its economy with China because China's growing openness to the world economy has made manufacturing in China much more cost effective. Hong Kong's reexport business to and from China is a major driver of growth. Per capita GDP is comparable to that of the four big economies of Western Europe. GDP growth averaged a strong 5% from 1989 to 2005, but Hong Kong suffered two recessions in the past eight years because of the Asian financial crisis in 1997-1998 and the global downturn in 2001-2002. Although the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003 also battered Hong Kong's economy, a solid rise in exports, a boom in tourism from the mainland because of China's easing of travel restrictions, and a return of consumer confidence resulted in the resumption of strong growth from late 2003 through 2005. Sierra Leone is an extremely poor African nation with tremendous inequality in income distribution. While it possesses substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources, its economic and social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development. About two-thirds of the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture. Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. Alluvial diamond mining remains the major source of hard currency earnings, accounting for nearly half of Sierra Leone's exports. The fate of the economy depends upon the maintenance of domestic peace and the continued receipt of substantial aid from abroad, which is essential to offset the severe trade imbalance and supplement government revenues. The IMF has completed a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility program that helped stabilize economic growth and reduce inflation. A recent increase in political stability has led to a revival of economic activity, such as the rehabilitation of bauxite mining.
Electricity - consumption 39.22 billion kWh (2004) 242.4 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports 3.086 billion kWh (2004) 0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports 9.84 billion kWh (2004) 0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - production 37.3 billion kWh (2004) 260.6 million kWh (2003)
Elevation extremes lowest point: South China Sea 0 m


highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
Environment - current issues air and water pollution from rapid urbanization rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing
Environment - international agreements party to: Marine Dumping (associate member) party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Ethnic groups Chinese 95%, other 5% 20 African ethnic groups 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole (Krio) 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century), refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians
Exchange rates Hong Kong dollars per US dollar - 7.7773 (2005), 7.788 (2004), 7.7868 (2003), 7.7989 (2002), 7.7988 (2001) leones per US dollar - 2,889.6 (2005), 2,701.3 (2004), 2,347.9 (2003), 2,099 (2002), 1,986.2 (2001)
Executive branch chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)


head of government: Chief Executive Donald TSANG (since 24 June 2005)


cabinet: Executive Council consists of 14 official members and 15 non-official members


elections: previous chief executive TUNG Chee-hwa was elected to second five-year term in March 2002 by 800-member election committee dominated by pro-Beijing forces, resignation accepted 12 March 2005; Donald TSANG acted as chief executive between 12 March 2005 and 25 May 2005; Henry TANG acted as chief executive between 25 May 2005 and 24 June 2005; TSANG was elected on 16 June 2005 to fill final two years of TUNG's term (next election to be held in March 2007)
chief of state: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible to the president


elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held 28 July 2007)


election results: Ahmad Tejan KABBAH reelected president; percent of vote - Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (SLPP) 70.6%, Ernest KOROMA (APC) 22.4%
Exports NA bbl/day NA bbl/day
Exports - commodities electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel, footwear, watches and clocks, toys, plastics, precious stones, printed material diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish
Exports - partners China 45%, US 16.1%, Japan 5.3% (2005) Belgium 66.2%, Germany 13.5%, US 4.6% (2005)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March calendar year
Flag description red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in the center three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 0.1%


industry: 9.2%


services: 90.6% (2005 est.)
agriculture: 49%


industry: 31%


services: 21% (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 7.3% (2005 est.) 7.5% (2005 est.)
Geographic coordinates 22 15 N, 114 10 E 8 30 N, 11 30 W
Geography - note more than 200 islands rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa
Heliports 3 (2006) 2 (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: 0.5%


highest 10%: 43.6% (1989)
Illicit drugs makes strenuous law enforcement efforts, but faces difficult challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to regional and world markets; modern banking system provides conduit for money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs, especially among young people -
Imports NA bbl/day NA bbl/day
Imports - commodities raw materials and semi-manufactures, consumer goods, capital goods, foodstuffs, fuel (most is re-exported) foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals
Imports - partners China 45%, Japan 11%, Taiwan 7.2%, Singapore 5.8%, US 5.1%, South Korea 4.4% (2005) Germany 18.9%, Cote d'Ivoire 11.2%, UK 8.5%, US 6.9%, China 5.6%, Netherlands 5.4%, South Africa 4.1% (2005)
Independence none (special administrative region of China) 27 April 1961 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate -0.6% (2005 est.) NA%
Industries textiles, clothing, tourism, banking, shipping, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks diamond mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining, small commercial ship repair
Infant mortality rate total: 2.95 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 3.13 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 2.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
total: 160.39 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 177.47 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 142.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 0.9% (2005 est.) 1% (2002 est.)
International organization participation APEC, AsDB, BIS, ICC, ICFTU, IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), IOC, ISO (correspondent), UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTO ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Irrigated land 20 sq km (1998 est.) 300 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch Court of Final Appeal in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High Court
Labor force 3.61 million (October 2005) 1.369 million (1981 est.)
Labor force - by occupation manufacturing 7.5%, construction 2.9%, wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 43.9%, financing, insurance, and real estate 19.6%, transport and communications 7.1%, community and social services 18.8%


note: above data exclude public sector (2005 est.)
agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
Land boundaries total: 30 km


regional border: China 30 km
total: 958 km


border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km
Land use arable land: 5.05%


permanent crops: 1.01%


other: 93.94% (2001)
arable land: 7.95%


permanent crops: 1.05%


other: 91% (2005)
Languages Chinese (Cantonese), English; both are official English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)
Legal system based on English common law based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (60 seats; in 2004 30 seats indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 30 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 12 September 2004 (next to be held in September 2008)


election results: percent of vote by party - pro-democracy group 62%; seats by party - (pro-Beijing 34) DAB 12, Liberal Party 10, independents 11, FTU 1; (pro-democracy 25) independents 11, Democratic Party 9, CTU 2, ADPL 1, Frontier Party 1, NWSC 1; non-voting LEGCO president 1
unicameral Parliament (124 seats - 112 elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held May 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - SLPP 70.06%, APC 22.35%, PLP 3%, others 4.59%; seats by party - SLPP 83, APC 27, PLP 2
Life expectancy at birth total population: 81.59 years


male: 78.9 years


female: 84.5 years (2006 est.)
total population: 40.22 years


male: 38.05 years


female: 42.46 years (2006 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school


total population: 93.5%


male: 96.9%


female: 89.6% (2002)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic


total population: 29.6%


male: 39.8%


female: 20.5% (2000 est.)
Location Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia
Map references Southeast Asia Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea: 3 nm territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 24 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm
Merchant marine total: 924 ships (1000 GRT or over) 30,838,025 GRT/51,957,682 DWT


by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 495, cargo 121, chemical tanker 44, container 133, liquefied gas 22, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 76, roll on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 7, vehicle carrier 8


foreign-owned: 562 (Australia 1, Belgium 3, Canada 28, China 274, Denmark 6, Germany 6, Greece 27, Indonesia 4, Japan 67, South Korea 6, Norway 26, Philippines 16, Portugal 1, Singapore 24, Syria 1, Taiwan 6, UAE 2, UK 43, US 21)


registered in other countries: 417 (Bahamas 8, Belize 8, Bermuda 10, Cambodia 15, China 7, Cyprus 1, France 1, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 2, Greece 1, Honduras 2, India 1, Liberia 37, Malaysia 14, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 7, Norway 55, Panama 169, Philippines 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6, Singapore 50, Taiwan 3, Tuvalu 8, unknown 7) (2006)
total: 54 ships (1000 GRT or over) 185,037 GRT/249,996 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 36, chemical tanker 3, combination ore/oil 3, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2


foreign-owned: 14 (China 2, Cyprus 1, Egypt 1, Russia 1, Syria 1, UAE 3, Ukraine 4, US 1) (2006)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of China -
Military branches 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 Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): Army (includes Air Wing, Maritime Wing)
Military expenditures - dollar figure Hong Kong garrison is funded by China; figures are NA $14.25 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA 1.7% (2005 est.)
National holiday 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 Independence Day, 27 April (1961)
Nationality noun: Chinese/Hong Konger


adjective: Chinese/Hong Kong
noun: Sierra Leonean(s)


adjective: Sierra Leonean
Natural hazards occasional typhoons dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms
Natural resources outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
Net migration rate 4.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.) 0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population


note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning (2006 est.)
Political parties and leaders Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood or ADPL [Frederick FUNG Kin-kee]; Citizens Party [Alex CHAN Kai-chung]; Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong or DAB [MA Lik]; Democratic Party [LEE Wing-tat]; Frontier Party [Emily LAU Wai-hing]; Liberal Party [James TIEN Pei-chun]


note: political blocs include: pro-democracy - ADPL, Democratic Party, Frontier Party; pro-Beijing - DAB, Liberal Party
All People's Congress or APC [Ben KANU]; Peace and Liberation Party or PLP [Darlington MORRISON, interim chairman]; Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP [Sama BANYA]; numerous others
Political pressure groups and leaders Article 45 Concern Group (pro-democracy); Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Confederation of Trade Unions or CTU (pro-democracy) [LAU Chin-shek, president; 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 [Szeto WAH, chairman]; Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union [CHEUNG Man-kwong, president]; Neighborhood and Workers' Service Center or NWSC (pro-democracy); The Alliance [Bernard CHAN, exco member] trade unions and student unions
Population 6,940,432 (July 2006 est.) 6,005,250 (July 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 68% (1989 est.)
Population growth rate 0.59% (2006 est.) 2.3% (2006 est.)
Radio broadcast stations AM 5, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2004) AM 1, FM 9, shortwave 1 (1999)
Religions eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10% Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female


total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Suffrage direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect election limited to about 200,000 members of functional constituencies and an 800-member election committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services


domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic network


international: country code - 852; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; access to 5 international submarine cables providing connections to ASEAN member nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe
general assessment: marginal telephone and telegraph service


domestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema


international: country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 3,794,600 (2005) 24,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 8.693 million (2005) 113,200 (2003)
Television broadcast stations 55 low power stations


note: two TV networks, each one broadcasting on two channels (2006)
2 (1999)
Terrain hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east
Total fertility rate 0.95 children born/woman (2006 est.) 6.08 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate 5.5% (2005 est.) NA%
Waterways - 800 km (600 km year round) (2005)
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