TNAG-0120-FCO40-156-Lord-Shepherd-s-visit-1969 — Page 3

Hong Kong

FACT SHEET

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 (3 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 1968 was estimated to be 3,971,500 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. Some 55% of the uroan

population is now of Hong Kong birth.

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 1968 totalled HK8428 million (£510 m. } and re-exports totalled HK$2306 million (£158 m.). Imports were HK$12,726 million (£875 m)

41% of all exports in 1968 went to the U.S.A. and 16% to the U.K. In the same year 19% of all imports came from China, 22% from Japan, 14% from the U.S.A. and 9% from the U.K.

Public Finance

Estimate Revenue, 1969-70 Estimated Expenditure, 1969-70

Currency

HK$2182 m. (£150 m.

HK$2118 m. (£146 m.)

One Hong Kong dollar = 1s. 41⁄2d.

(14.55 dollars = £1).

Hong Kong Department

May, 1969