ENG-1954 — Page 294

Chapter 19

The Geographical Setting

Topography

Hong Kong lies just within the tropics on the south-eastern coast of the Chinese province of Kwang- tung, and east of the Pearl River estuary. The Colony includes:

(a) Hong Kong Island (area 32 square miles) on which is situated the capital city of Victoria, with an estimated population of 1 million. (b) The ceded territory of Kowloon (area 31 square miles) with an estimated population of over 1 million.

(c) Stonecutters Island (area square mile). (d) The New Territories, with an estimated popul- ation of about 250,000 lying behind Kowloon which, together with numerous islands (a total area of 355 square miles) comprises the territory leased from China on 1st July, 1898 for 99 years.

The total area of the Colony is thus roughly 391 square miles, a large proportion of which is steep and unproductive hillside. The leased territories include also the waters of Deep Bay to the west and Mirs Bay to the east. (The population figures given above include the floating population, but it should be noted that the figures are only approximate and are not based on statistical evidence).

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