Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, situated at the mouth of the Pearl River in southern China. It consists of Hong Kong, Lamma, Lantau and various smaller islands, and Kowloon and the New Territories on the Chinese mainland.

History

Previous to 1997, Hong Kong was a British crown colony. The islands and Kowloon had been ceded to Britain in perpetuity after the Opium war, but the New Territories had only been leased; with their return, the remaining possessions lacked a viable water supply and without Chinese acquiescence their continued retention by the UK became impractical.

World War II

During World War II Hong Kong was invaded and occupied by Japan.

Trade and Industry

Hong Kong has an excellent deep-water harbour, and is one of the worlds largest and busiest ports.

It is a major manufacturing centre.

It is also a major drug-smuggling hub.

The arts

Hong Kong has the world's third largest film industry after Bollywood and Hollywood.