No. 1
BACKGROUND NOTES
FACT SHEENT
The land area of Hong Kong is approximately 400 sq. miles.
Hong Kong Island (29 sq. miles) was ceded to Britain as a trading station
in 1841. The Kowloon Peninsula together with Stonecutters' Island,
Green Island and Ap Lei Chau Island (34 sq. miles) were added in 1860
under the Convention of Peking. In 1898 the New Territories, which
consist of the rural areas north of Kowloon and the other Islands, were
leased to Great Britain for 99 years.
Land Policy
All land is owned by the Crown.
Government policy is to sell
leases to the highest bidder by public auction or by tender, except
in the case of land required for public, charitable or non-profit making
purposes when grants are made, usually on favourable terms, by private
treaty.
Population
Total population at the end of 1966 was estimated to be 3,785,300
about 98% of whom are Chinese. Population has increased from 1,600,000
in 1946 largely owing to immigration from mainland China. A high
proportion of the population (up to 50% in some urban areas) are
not British subjects.
Economy
Hong Kong is now firmly established as a light industrial economy
based on exports. It nevertheless retains a very considerable entrepot
trade serving South East Asia and the Far East. It is the fifth
largest port in the world.
Domestic exports in 1966 totalled HK$5730 million (£358 m.) and
re-exports totalled HK$2123 million (£133 m.). Imports were
HK$10382 million (£649 m.).
136%