| Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated | | | | least 50 years. Because of this stipulation, China |
| places in the world, and this adds to its charm and | | | | made Hong Kong its 'Special Administrative |
| colorful culture. Here you will find a dichotomous | | | | Region,' and unlike mainland China, it continues to |
| way of life - its society is largely modern and | | | | enjoy free enterprise to this day. It has very |
| capitalistic, but its people still maintain Chinese | | | | lenient import and export controls, and a |
| traditions. It is indeed one of the world's most | | | | maximum tax rate of only 15 percent. |
| dynamic cities, and it looks likes it will live up to | | | | Hong Kong is known for its booming service |
| this reputation for a very long time. | | | | industry. A majority of Hong Kong residents are |
| The story of Hong Kong is the story of the | | | | employed in either telecommunications, banking, |
| Opium War. Great Britain successfully colonized | | | | insurance, or tourism. Hong Kong is also celebrated |
| the island in the middle of the nineteenth century, | | | | for its entertainment industry, and is in fact |
| when it won against the Chinese fleet. In 1898 a | | | | considered to be the 'Movie Capital of Asia.' Most |
| 99-year 'lease' was signed, stating that the British | | | | of the industrial factories present during the British |
| has possession of Hong Kong (and the Kowloon | | | | time have all been transferred to Shenzhen and |
| Peninsula). But in 1984, Britain agreed to hand | | | | other such regions in the mainland. |
| back Hong King to China over a 13-year period. | | | | Despite the British occupation, Hong Kong has |
| The agreement stated that China could take over | | | | managed to maintain a culture consistent with |
| the entire colony by July 1, 1997, but Hong Kong's | | | | Chinese traditions. |
| free market economy would be sustained for at | | | | |