Hong Kong: Development
Hong Kong, meaning "Fragrant Harbour," is one of the economic crossroads of the world. It began as a small center near Aberdeen Harbor, the main harbor of pre-colonial Hong Kong. It is still inhabited by Boat People. Hong Kong is actually a number of islands, including Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, 235 outlying islands, including Lantau which is actually larger than Hong Kong isaland, and The New Territories. Its total area is approximately 1,079 sq. kilometers; it is 38 kilometers from the north to the south and 50 kilometers from the east to the west.
Commerce of all sorts and from all over the world occurs here; skyscapers abound reflecting the presence of big business, from banking firms such as CityBank and high tech industries. Horse Racing and other sports generate millions of dollors in income annually. The streets are lit at night by thousands of neon lights; thousands of tourists flock here to shop. There are famous western chains here, as well as many more traditonal Asian stores. Hong Kong is also renowned for its Arts Center and its Museum of History. Controlled by the British from the Opium War in the nineteenth century until 1997, Hong Kong is a mixture of European and Asian influences. Chinese and English are the official languages of the 6,159,000 (1995) people that live in Hong Kong, although there are a total of seven languages spoken. The following Quicktime movie offers a panoramic tour of the Hong Kong skyline.
Hong Kong is growing so fast that Shenzhen, a city on the border of the New Territories and China, has literally arisen from dust in only seventeen years. The New Territories account for most of the land area of Hong Kong. The skyline of Szenchen is beginning to resemble that of Hong Kong itself in terms of numbers of skyscapers.
This closeup of the photo illustrates the fact that the New Territories are still primarily rural. This is an old fisherman's hut on stilts, right in the shadow of the ultra modern skyscapers.
Nevertheless, the New Territories are predominatly rural. Despite the rapid growth of the New Territories and Hong Kong in general, one still finds lingering traces of the past. There are still traditional walled family compounds in the New Territories. I They are surrounded by walls with watchtowers; the ancient Chinese word for city meant "wall." Extended families still live within the compounds, just as they have for hundreds of years.
Another example of the juxtaposition of modern culture with more traditional elements of the past is Repulse Bay. Repulse Bay is one of the most famous resort areas of Hong Kong. Here, the "lifestyles of the rich and famous" are intermingled with traditional Asian influences. The following Quicktime video takes you on a virtual tour of one of the many Buddhist temples that dot the landscape of Hong Kong. The quicktime movie is a virtual tour of a temple at Repulse Bay, complete with the "laughing Buddha" and a bridge which the Chinese walk across in the belief that each trip will lengthen one's life.
Click here for the video tour.
For further exploration, try the following sites:
From the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Information on the handover, Chep La Kok airport, and many other items.
Live broadcasts. This is a must-visit.
Map of Hong Kong from the University of Texas
The sport of the rich and famous.
Hong Kong's leading English language newspaper
Updates on Hong Kong Stock Market, currency conversion rates, articles for pop culture.
Hong Kong Government Info Site
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices on the US
Lots of articles and other items of interest on the economic and business climate of Hong Kong.
Created by Dr. Deborah Vess, copyright 1998. All rights reserved.
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