Hong Kong Country & Tourist Information

Location
East Asia.

Area
1,098 sq km (424 sq miles).

Population
7 million (Hong Kong Government estimate 2006).

Population Density
6,375.2 per sq km.

Government
Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China since 1997.

Language
Chinese and English are the official languages, with Cantonese most widely spoken. English is spoken by many, particularly in business circles.

Religion
Buddhist, Confucian and Taoist, with Christian and Muslim minorities, but there are also places of worship for most other religious groups.

Time
GMT + 8.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Head of Government
Chief Executive Donald Tsang since 2005.

Recent History
The pro-Beijing Democratic Party for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) took control of the Legislative Council (LegCo) after the first election held under Chinese rule in May 1998. Beijing selected shipping tycoon Tung Chee Hwa to fill the new post of Chief Executive. He resigned in March 2005 during his second term after criticism of his rule, citing ill health. Donald Tsang was appointed Chief Executive in June 2005.

Since 2003, there have been protests calling for more democracy. In March 2006, Bishop Joseph Zen, the pro-democracy leader of Hong Kong’s Catholics, was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI but was warned by Beijing to stay out of politics. More protests followed in July 2006.

Telephone
Country code: 852. Local public telephone calls can be made either with phonecards or coins. Local calls are free from private phones.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Mobile telephones also function all over the underground network, thanks to transmitters installed in the tunnels. It is possible to hire a mobile phone at the international airport.

Internet
Internet facilities are available at libraries and Internet cafes are plentiful. Many cafes and hotels offer Wi-Fi access.

Media
Hong Kong has one of the world’s largest film industries and is a major center for broadcasting and publishing. Hong Kong’s media are a lot more editorially free than the rest of China. However, there is still reported self-censorship and pressure on editorial policies. Many international and pan-Asian broadcasters are based in the territory. Hong Kong’s terrestrial commercial TV networks, TVB and ATV, can also be received in neighboring Guangdong province. Public broadcaster Radio-TV Hong Kong (RTHK) operates several radio and TV networks. There are scores of Chinese-language newspapers and a handful of English-language dailies.

Post
Regular postal services are available. Airmail to Europe takes three to five days. 

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1800; Sat 0800-1400.

Press
• Renmin Ribao (People’s Daily) is the Communist party daily newspaper.
• English-language dailies include Asian Wall Street Journal, International Herald Tribune, South China Morning Post and Hong Kong Standard.

Radio
• Radio-TV Hong Kong (RTHK) operates seven networks in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
• Commercial Radio operates CR1, CR2 networks in Cantonese and medium-wave (AM) station AM 864.
• Metro Broadcast operates Metro Showbiz, Metro Finance and the English-language Metro Plus.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day. 
26-28 Jan Chinese New Year. 
4 Apr Ching Ming Festival.
10 Apr Good Friday. 
13 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day. 
2 May Lord Buddha's Birthday. 
28 May Tuen Ng (Dragon Boat) Festival.
1 Jul Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day.
1 Oct National Day.
3 Oct Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.
26 Oct Chung Yeung Festival.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day. 
14-16 Feb Chinese New Year. 
2 Apr Good Friday. 
5 Apr Easter Monday.
Apr* Ching Ming Festival.
1 May Labor Day. 
May* Lord Buddha's Birthday. 
May/Jun* Tuen Ng (Dragon Boat) Festival.
1 Jul Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day.
Sep/Oct* Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.
1 Oct National Day.
Oct* Chung Yeung Festival.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

*Date to be confirmed.

Note
Religious festivals are timed according to the lunar calendar and variations may occur. The above represent all holidays on which banks, schools, public offices and government departments close. There are also statutory holidays on which all employees receive a day’s holiday. For further details of these dates, contact the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Contact Information:

Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in the UK
6 Grafton Street, London W1S 4EQ, UK
Tel: (020) 7499 9821.
Website: www.hketolondon.gov.hk

Hong Kong Tourism Board in the UK
6 Grafton Street, London W1S 4EQ, UK
Tel: (020) 7533 7100.
Website: www.discoverhongkong.com

Hong Kong Tourism Board in the USA
115 East 54th Street, Second Floor, New York, NY 10022, USA
Tel: (212) 421 3382.
Website: www.discoverhongkong.com


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