TNAG-0289-FCO40-325-Departmental-briefs-on-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 105

6 comes

(36559. miles)

Some 235 adjacent

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 (34 sq. miles) were

In 1898 the New added in 1860 under the Convention of Peking. 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

(as given in preliminary 1971 census

વડ

Conta

figures?

Total population/ at the beginning of 1970 was estimated to 3,950,802 be about 98% of whom are Chinese Population has

O

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. urban population is now of Hong Kong birth.

Economy

Some 55% of the

Hong Kong is now firmly established as a light industrial

It nevertheless retains a very economy based on exports. considerable entrepot trade serving South East Asia and the Far East. It is the fifth largest port in the world.

12,347

199

1848

Domestic exports in 1979 totalled HK$10,548 million (£725 m.) and re-exports totalled HK$2 million (£84 m.). HK 17,697 million (£4 m.).

2/0

Imports were

12

42% of all exports in 1990 went to the U.S.A. and 4% to the U.K. In the same year 16% of all imports came from China, 24% from Japan, 16% from the U.S.A.

Public Finance

1971-72

(£214m)

Estimate Revenue,

1969-70

1971-74 970

1182530 m.

(£150 m.)

200 m

HK$2393 m. f3146 m.

Estimated Expenditure,

Currency

One Hong Kong dollar = 1s. 4a.

Hong Department

monah, 1970.

August 197!

(14.55 dollars = £1).

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