Hiangkiang, as it is called in China, consists of the islands Hongkong, Lantao, Kowloon and the "New Territories"; its 6 million inhabitants resident in an area of 1045 km². Former refugees are the greatest part of the population, 166 000 inhabitants live on only one km², therefore they have the highest population density.
Hongkong is also known as the biggest textile exporter and is famous for its second largest container port. Its leading exports are textile and clothing, electronic products, watches and clocks; Hongkong export more than 95 % of its products.
After the opium - wars in 1842 Hongkong became a colony of Great Britain and a few years later the British extended their colony, they got Kowloon.
1898 they expanded their colony for the second time and got the new territories for 99 years. After 99 years they had to hand this district back to China within the other territories. So the first of July became a magic date for all inhabitants.
Between 1945 and 1949 the most refugees arrived at Hongkong because of the communists. In 1953 53 000 people became homeless because of a big fire, after that they started to build skyscrapers and now there are nearly all houses skyscrapers.
Nowadays 40 % of the population live in the new territories. It's no problem to get there because the transport is very efficient. People have a lot of opportunities in travelling:
. Light Rail Transit - it's like an automatic tram
. Mass Transit Railway - it's the underground
. Busses
. Star Ferry Ships
. By car through the port tunnel
But the most famous way to get around is the Peak Tram, which is going up to the so called peak tower. The peak is the highest point of this isle.
From this point of view people can see the skyline of Hongkong, people can also see the bank of China.
The Bank of China, Hongkong Bank and the Standard Chartered Bank are the three biggest banks in Hongkong and they can print and publish their own banknote as they do it in Scotland.
If anybody wants to live in the central area he has to pay about 60 000 shillings and for a free parking place he has to pay million shillings. Now they build so called "Social Skyscrapers" , which are not as expensive as the normal apartments but they are very small; 4 persons live on an area of 36 km².
Kai - Tak - Airport, the only airport till 1998, had only one runway and it was very difficult to land a plane there. Last year they opened the new Chep - Lap - Kok - Airport near the largest island Lantau. But there are only 16 000 people living on, but this will change because of the tunnels and bridges, which were built to get to the airport.
On Lantau island there is the Po - Lin - Monastery (Kloster) with its 34 metres high and 250 000 tons heavy Buddha - statue, made out of bronze.
Back on Hongkong Island you can enjoy a ride on the Mid - Level - Escalator. It is 1700 metres long and people can see old houses and newer ones; at the beginning of the escalator it is like a lower social class and as higher as you get you will see the higher standard social classes.
Today Hongkong is not any longer under the influence of Great Britain, it is the so called "one country, two systems". Hongkong will remain a free port and a separate customs entity. The free flow of foreign exchange will continue and the territory will have independent finances and its own system of taxation. In the next 50 years Hongkong`s social and economic status will remain unchanged.
But the queen has already been removed from all stamps and so on.
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