Main page Compare countries Index countries Index fields

Query:
##ciekawa_strona##

Compare Hong Kong (2007) - Christmas Island (2008)

Compare Hong Kong (2007) z Christmas Island (2008)

 Hong Kong (2007)Christmas Island (2008)
 Hong KongChristmas Island
Administrative divisions none (special administrative region of China) none (territory of Australia)
Age structure 0-14 years: 13% (male 476,089/female 434,326)


15-64 years: 74% (male 2,515,518/female 2,652,660)


65 years and over: 12.9% (male 419,479/female 482,340) (2007 est.)
0-14 years: NA


15-64 years: NA


65 years and over: NA
Agriculture - products fresh vegetables; poultry, pork; fish NA
Airports 2 (2007) 1 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


over 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Area total: 1,092 sq km


land: 1,042 sq km


water: 50 sq km
total: 135 sq km


land: 135 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative six times the size of Washington, DC about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
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. Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement began by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.
Birth rate 7.34 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) NA
Budget revenues: $35.18 billion


expenditures: $32.18 billion (2006 est.)
revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA
Capital - name: The Settlement


geographic coordinates: 10 25 S, 105 43 E


time difference: UTC+7 (12 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 with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Coastline 733 km 138.9 km
Constitution Basic Law, approved in March 1990 by China's National People's Congress, is Hong Kong's "mini-constitution" Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992
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: Territory of Christmas Island


conventional short form: Christmas Island
Death rate 6.45 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) NA
Debt - external $72.79 billion (2006 est.) -
Dependency status special administrative region of China non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department
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
none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US none (special administrative region of China) none (territory of Australia)
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient - $NA
Economy - overview Hong Kong has a free market economy highly dependent on international trade. The territory has become more closely linked to mainland China over the past few years. Even before Hong Kong reverted to Chinese administration on 1 July 1997, it had extensive trade and investment ties with China. Hong Kong's service industry over the past decade has grown rapidly as its manufacturing industry has moved to the mainland. Hong Kong also has stepped up its efforts to gain approval to offer more mainland financial services in a bid to remain competitive with China's growing financial centers. Hong Kong's natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Gross imports and exports (including reexports to and from third countries) each exceed GDP in dollar value. Per capita GDP exceeds that of the four big economies of Western Europe. GDP growth averaged a strong 5% from 1989 to 2006, but Hong Kong suffered two recessions in the past eight years because of the Asian financial crisis in 1997-98 and the global downturn in 2001-02. 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 2006. Moreover, several large initial public offerings of Chinese companies on the Hong Kong stock exchange since late 2005 have helped to boost Hong Kong's status as a financial hub and have contributed to the improved performance of the market in late 2006. Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993, but closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, expected to begin operations in the near future.
Electricity - consumption 37.74 billion kWh (2005) -
Electricity - exports 4.498 billion kWh (2005) -
Electricity - imports 11 billion kWh (2005) -
Electricity - production 36.14 billion kWh (2005) -
Elevation extremes lowest point: South China Sea 0 m


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


highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
Environment - current issues air and water pollution from rapid urbanization loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining
Environment - international agreements party to: Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution (associate member) -
Ethnic groups Chinese 94.9%, Filipino 2.1%, other 3% (2001 census) Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%


note: no indigenous population (2001)
Exchange rates Hong Kong dollars per US dollar - 7.7678 (2006), 7.7773 (2005), 7.788 (2004), 7.7868 (2003), 7.7989 (2002) Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)
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: chief executive elected for five-year term by 800-member electoral committee; last held on 25 March 2007 (next to be held in 2012)


election results: Donald TSANG elected chief executive receiving 84.1% of the vote; Alan LEONG received 15.9%
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general


head of government: Administrator Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006)


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
Exports 26,090 bbl/day (2004) $NA
Exports - commodities electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel, footwear, watches and clocks, toys, plastics, precious stones, printed material phosphate
Exports - partners China 47%, US 15.1%, Japan 4.9% (2006) Australia, NZ (2006)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March 1 July - 30 June
Flag description red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in the center territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper hoist to lower fly; the upper triangle is green with a yellow image of the Golden Bosun Bird superimposed, while the lower triangle is blue with the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia, superimposed; a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the island


note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 0.1%


industry: 8.6%


services: 91.3% (2006 est.)
-
GDP - real growth rate 6.9% (2006 est.) -
Geographic coordinates 22 15 N, 114 10 E 10 30 S, 105 40 E
Geography - note more than 200 islands located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
Heliports 5 (2007) -
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
-
Illicit drugs despite strenuous law enforcement efforts, 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 344,200 bbl/day (2004) $NA
Imports - commodities raw materials and semi-manufactures, consumer goods, capital goods, foodstuffs, fuel (most is re-exported) consumer goods
Imports - partners China 45.9%, Japan 10.3%, Taiwan 7.5%, Singapore 6.3%, US 4.8%, South Korea 4.6% (2006) principally Australia (2006)
Independence none (special administrative region of China) none (territory of Australia)
Industrial production growth rate 4% (2006 est.) -
Industries textiles, clothing, tourism, banking, shipping, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Infant mortality rate total: 2.94 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 3.12 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 2.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
total: NA


male: NA


female: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2% (2006 est.) -
International organization participation APEC, AsDB, BIS, ICC, IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITUC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO, WTO none
Irrigated land 20 sq km (1998 est.) NA
Judicial branch Court of Final Appeal in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Labor force 3.583 million (2006 est.) NA
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.)
-
Land boundaries total: 30 km


regional border: China 30 km
0 km
Land use arable land: 5.05%


permanent crops: 1.01%


other: 93.94% (2001)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park) (2005)
Languages Chinese (Cantonese) 89.2% (official), other Chinese dialects 6.4%, English 3.2% (official), other 1.2% (2001 census) English (official), Chinese, Malay
Legal system based on English common law under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
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 63%, pro-Beijing 37%; seats by party - (pro-Beijing 34) DAB 12, Liberal Party 10, FTU 1, independents 11; (pro-democracy 25) Democratic Party 9, CTU 2, ADPL 1, Frontier Party 1, NWSC 1, independents 11; non-voting LEGCO president 1
unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 20 October 2007 (next to be held in 2009)


election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
Life expectancy at birth total population: 81.68 years


male: 78.99 years


female: 84.6 years (2007 est.)
total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
Literacy definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school


total population: 93.5%


male: 96.9%


female: 89.6% (2002)
NA
Location Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Map references Southeast Asia Southeast Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea: 3 nm territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine total: 1,009 ships (1000 GRT or over) 34,556,075 GRT/57,423,309 DWT


by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 499, cargo 135, chemical tanker 51, combination ore/oil 3, container 173, liquefied gas 24, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 91, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 8, vehicle carrier 8


foreign-owned: 617 (Belgium 4, Canada 39, China 309, Denmark 12, France 1, Germany 10, Greece 30, Indonesia 7, Japan 78, South Korea 6, Lebanon 1, Norway 30, Pakistan 1, Philippines 10, Portugal 1, Singapore 11, Syria 1, Taiwan 11, UAE 1, UK 32, US 22)


registered in other countries: 275 (Bahamas 3, Belize 5, Bermuda 4, Cambodia 11, China 6, Cyprus 2, Honduras 1, India 1, Liberia 21, Malaysia 14, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 4, Mongolia 1, Norway 5, Panama 137, Philippines 2, Seychelles 1, Singapore 37, St Vincent and The Grenadines 7, Tuvalu 10, UK 2, unknown 7) (2007)
-
Military - note defense is the responsibility of China defense is the responsibility of Australia
Military branches no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong garrison of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) includes elements of Ground Forces, Navy, and 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 -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA -
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 Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Nationality noun: Chinese/Hong Konger


adjective: Chinese/Hong Kong
noun: Christmas Islander(s)


adjective: Christmas Island
Natural hazards occasional typhoons the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Natural resources outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar phosphate, beaches
Net migration rate 4.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) NA
Political parties and leaders Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood or ADPL [Frederick FUNG Kin-kee]; Citizens Party [Alex CHAN Kai-chung]; Civic Party [KUAN Hsin-chi]; Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong or DAB [MA Lik]; Democratic Party [Albert HO]; 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
none
Political pressure groups and leaders 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] none
Population 6,980,412 (July 2007 est.) 1,402 (July 2006 est.) (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% -
Population growth rate 0.561% (2007 est.) 0% (2007 est.)
Radio broadcast stations AM 5, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2004) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2006)
Religions eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10% Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.096 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.948 male(s)/female


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


total population: 0.956 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
NA
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 -
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; 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
general assessment: service provided by the Australian network


domestic: GSM mobile telephone service replaced older analog system in February 2005


international: country code - 61-8; satellite earth stations - 1 INTELSAT earth station provides telephone and telex service (2005)
Telephones - main lines in use 3.85 million (2006) NA
Telephones - mobile cellular 9.356 million (2006) -
Television broadcast stations 55 (2 TV networks, each broadcasting on 2 channels) (2006) 0 (TV broadcasts received via satellite from mainland Australia) (2006)
Terrain hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Total fertility rate 0.98 children born/woman (2007 est.) NA
Unemployment rate 4.9% (2006 est.) -
Sitemap: Compare countries listing (map site) | Country listing (map site)
Links: Add to favorites | Information about this website | Stats | Polityka prywatnosci
This page was generated in ##czas## s. Size this page: ##rozmiar_strony## kB.