Hong Kong
Updated: Oct 1, 2022
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Country Name
Hong Kong, or officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (HKSAR).
Location
Hong Kong is located in eastern Asia.
It borders the South China Sea to the south, west, and east, and shares a land border with mainland China to the north.
Reason Of Naming
The name translates as "fragrant harbor" or "incense harbor". "Fragrant" may refer to the sweet taste of the harbor's freshwater influx from the Pearl River or to the odor from incense factories lining the coast of northern Kowloon. The incense was stored near Aberdeen Harbour for export before Victoria Harbour developed. Sir John Davis (the second colonial governor) offered an alternative origin; Davis said that the name derived from "Hoong-keang" ("red torrent"), reflecting the color of soil over which a waterfall on the island flowed.
Flag
The Hong Kong flag was adopted on 1 July 1997.
The flag is composed of a red background with a white stylized five-petal
Hong Kong orchid tree (Bauhinia blakeana) flower in the center of the flag.
The red color is a festive color for the Chinese people, used to carry a sense of celebration and nationalism, it also signifies the link re-established between post-colonial Hong Kong and Mainland China.
The red flag represents the motherland and the bauhinia represents Hong Kong.
The position of red and white on the flag symbolizes the "one country two systems" political principle applied to the region.
Language
Chinese & English are the official languages of Hong Kong.
English was the official language and the language of business in Hong Kong in 1974.
There are several Chinese language dialects in Hong Kong though Cantonese and Mandarin are the most commonly used in urban centers while others may be found in interior areas. The two dialects are tonal languages that are not mutually intelligible.
Other International Languages French and Japanese are the most studied foreign languages.
Religion
Most of the people in Hong Kong consider themselves irreligious,
Despite having a high percentage of atheists (34%), Hong Kong allows every citizen to practice their religion without state interference in the same aspect of life.
Currency
Hong Kong dollar (HK$) (HKD).
Time Zone
+08:00 GMT.
Government Regime
Devolved executive-led system within a socialist republic.
Climate
Hong Kong has a humid subtropical climate, characteristic of southern China, despite being located south of the Tropic of Cancer. Summer is hot and humid, with occasional showers and thunderstorms and warm air from the southwest. Winters are mild and usually sunny at the beginning, becoming cloudy towards February; an occasional cold front brings strong, cooling winds from the north. The most temperate seasons are spring and autumn, which are generally sunny and dry. The highest and lowest recorded temperatures in Hong Kong are 36.6 °C (97.9 °F) and 0.0 °C (32.0 °F). The best time to visit Hong Kong in winter & Spring All in all, the best times are from mid-March to mid-April and from mid-October to late November.