Hong Kong is Chinese gateway to South
China Sea. It is a free port in the Far East, a trade and shipping center of Asia
and Pacific region, and also one of the world financial centers. Hong Kong falls
into Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories and the outlying islands. The bustling
Victoria Harbor between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon peninsula is one of the three
fine natural harbors in the world (the other tow being San Francisco in the US and
Rio de Janeiro in Brazil). Superior geographic position and good harbors make Hong
Kong the shipping center of Asia.
Hong Kong airport is the second largest aviation port in Asia, next to the of Tokyo
in Japan. Hong Kong International Airport on Chek Lap Kok Island is well designed
to accommodate large aircrafts taking off and landing day and night. It is one of
the busiest airport in the world. Every 5 minutes, there is and airplane taking
off or landing.
Hong Kong rivals New York, London and Zurich as the world most important gold market
and financial center. Finance is considered the number one business in Hong Kong,
having a great influence on Hong Kong and even the neighboring Asian countries economic
development.
Hong Kong has a well-developed tourism trade. It is called "shoppers paradise" and
"gourmet metropolis". Tourism is the third largest source of foreign exchange income.
More and more Hong Kong people go out to travel, and many choose Chinese mainland
as their destination.
Hong Kong entertainment and movie industries are especially flourishing. Action
movies are a unique genre that Hong Kong has contributed to world movies. Some Hong
Kong actors, like Jackie Chan, have become international famous big stars.
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Around 4,000 BC, Chinese ancestors had already inhabited Hong Kong. Chinese troops
were stationed there in Tang Dynasty. In 1842, Great Britain forced Qing government
to sign the Treaty of Nanjing, ceding Hong Kong Island to Britain. In 1860, the
Treaty of Beijing was signed to cede Kowloon peninsula. On July 1, 1997, Chinese
government resumed sovereignty over Hong Kong and established the PRC's Hong Kong
Special Administrator Region.
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