Hong Kong, officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a located at the southern-east tip of China, bordering the mainland province of Guangdong to the north and surrounded by the South China Sea to the east, west and south. With an area of just over one thousand square kilometers, Hong Kong has a relatively large population of 7 million people, making it one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

Hong Kong became the territory of the central plains of China as early as Qing Dynasty, though was leased to the United Kingdom as a dependent territory in 1842, after losing the Opium War. From then on it remained so, until 1997 when the sovereignty of Hong Kong was successfully transferred back to the People’s Republic of China, after a century and a half of British administration. From then on, Hong Kong became a special administrative region under the “one country, two systems” policy, along with Macau. Being a Special Administrative Region, it retains its own currency, legal and political system, and enjoys a high degree of autonomy on all areas except defense and foreign affairs.

After the Second World War, Hong Kong has made great progress in both economic and social development. Today it is one of the richest, economically developed areas in the world, with a high standard of living, and is also the leading center for shipping, the service industry and Asian finance. Moreover, it is well known for its superior government, well policed, free economic system, and the complete rule of law. Hong Kong, a “barren rock” over 150 years ago, has indeed become a great world city.