ABC Country Book of Hong Kong - government Flag, Map, Economy, Geography, Climate, Natural Resources, Current Issues, International Agreements, Population, Social Statistics, Political System
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Hong Kong


    • Names:

        conventional long form:
        none

        conventional short form:
        Hong Kong

    • Abbreviation:
      HK

    • Digraph:
      HK

    • Type:
      dependent territory of the UK scheduled to revert to China in 1997

    • Capital:
      Victoria

    • Administrative divisions:
      none (dependent territory of the UK)

    • Independence:
      none (dependent territory of the UK; the UK signed an agreement with China on 19 December 1984 to return Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Hong Kong's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle)

    • National holiday:
      Liberation Day, 29 August (1945)

    • Constitution:
      unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice; new Basic Law approved in March 1990 in preparation for 1997

    • Legal system:
      based on English common law

    • Suffrage:
      direct election 21 years of age; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect election limited to about 100,000 professionals of electoral college and functional constituencies

    • Executive branch:

        chief of state:
        Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

        head of government:
        Governor Chris PATTEN (since 9 July 1992); Chief Secretary Anson CHAN Fang On-Sang (since 29 November 1993)

        cabinet:
        Executive Council; appointed by the governor

    • Legislative branch:
      unicameral

        Legislative Council:
        indirect elections last held 12 September 1991 and direct elections were held for the first time 15 September 1991 (next to be held 17 September 1995 when the number of directly-elected seats increases to 50); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total; 21 indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 18 directly elected, 18 appointed by governor, 3 ex officio members); indirect elections - number of seats by functional constituency NA; direct elections - UDHK 12, Meeting Point 3, ADPL 1, other 2

    • Judicial branch:
      Supreme Court

    • Political parties and leaders:
      Democratic Party, Martin LEE, chairman; Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, TSANG Yuk-shing, chairman; Hong Kong Democratic Foundation, Dr. Patrick SHIU Kin-ying, chairman

        note:
        in April 1994, the United Democrats of Hong Kong (UDHK) and Meeting Point merged to form the Democratic Party; the merger became effective in October 1994

    • Other political or pressure groups:
      Liberal Party, Allen LEE, chairman; Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood (ADPL), Frederick FUNG Kin Kee, chairman; Liberal Democratic Federation, HU Fa-kuang, chairman; Federation of Trade Unions (pro-China), LEE Chark-tim, president; Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Confederation of Trade Unions (pro-democracy), LAU Chin-shek, chairman; Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union, CHEUNG Man-kwong, president; Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China, Szeto WAH, chairman

    • Member of:
      APEC, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP (associate), GATT, ICFTU, IMO (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMO

    • Diplomatic representation in US:
      none (dependent territory of the UK)

    • US diplomatic representation:

        chief of mission:
        Consul General Richard W. MUELLER

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

        mailing address:
        PSC 464, Box 30, Hong Kong, or FPO AP 96522-0002

        telephone:
        [852] 523-9011

        FAX:
        [852] 845-4845

    • Flag:
      blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with the Hong Kong coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a shield (bearing two junks below a crown) held by a lion (representing the UK) and a dragon (representing China) with another lion above the shield and a banner bearing the words HONG KONG below the shield


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