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Hong
Kong, described as a 'barren rock' over 150 years ago,
has become a world-class financial, trading and business
centre and, indeed, a great world city. Hong Kong has
no natural resources, except one of the finest deep-water
ports in the world. A hardworking, adaptable and well-educated
workforce of about 3.58 million, coupled with entrepreneurial
flair, is the bedrock of Hong Kong's productivity and
creativity.
Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region (SAR)
of the People's Republic of China on July 1, 1997, after
a century and a half of British administration. Under
Hong Kong's constitutional document, the Basic Law,
the existing economic, legal and social systems will
be maintained for 50 years. The SAR enjoys a high degree
of autonomy except in defence and foreign affairs.
The
name "Hong Kong" is an approximate phonetic
rendering of the pronunciation of the spoken Cantonese
or Hakka name , meaning "fragrant harbour"
in English. Before 1842, the name referred to a small
inlet – now Aberdeen Harbour/Little Hong Kong –
between the island of Ap Lei Chau and the south side
of Hong Kong Island, which was one of the first points
of contact between British sailors and local fishermen.
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