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60-502: Developed by Cheung Kong Holdings , it comprises 6,016 flats in 19 high rise residential towers developed in 3 phases. It was designed to be a self-contained community and was designed with a shopping arcade and a wet market . The estate was completed between 1987 and 1991. In 2001, the Hang Seng Bank branch at the estate was robbed by Tsui Po-ko , a police officer. According to the 2016 by-census , Belvedere Garden had

120-558: A tropical wet and dry climate , with a wet season from May to October, and a dry season that runs from November to April. Seasonally, there is little temperature change. A major natural hazard is the tropical cyclones that form during the Atlantic hurricane season from June to November. On 11 and 12 September 2004, Hurricane Ivan struck the Cayman Islands. The storm resulted in two deaths and caused significant damage to

180-483: A bank and several hotels, as well as the introduction of a number of scheduled flights and cruise stop-overs. Politically, the Cayman Islands were an internally self-governing territory of Jamaica from 1958 to 1962, but they reverted to direct British rule following the independence of Jamaica in 1962. In 1972, a large degree of internal autonomy was granted by a new constitution, with further revisions being made in 1994. The Cayman Islands government focused on boosting

240-488: A dynamic environment for marine life. While visitors are not allowed to take anything, there are endless sights. Each of the five decks of the ship offers squirrelfish, rare sponges, Goliath groupers, urchins, and more. Experienced and beginner divers are invited to swim around the Kittiwake . Pirates Week is an annual 11-day November festival started in 1977 by the then-Minister of Tourism Jim Bodden to boost tourism during

300-461: A major rebuilding program on Grand Cayman meant that its infrastructure was almost back to its pre-hurricane condition. Due to the tropical location of the islands, more hurricanes or tropical systems have affected the Cayman Islands than any other region in the Atlantic basin. On average, it has been brushed, or directly hit, every 2.23 years. The islands are in the western Caribbean Sea and are

360-659: A major reorganisation, to become part of CK Hutchison Holdings . The Chairman of Cheung Kong Holdings was Li Ka-shing , while his elder son, Victor Li , was Managing Director and Deputy Chairman. Li Ka Shing founded Cheung Kong Industries in 1950s as a plastics manufacturer. Eventually the company evolved into a property investment company. "Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited" was established in 1971. The Cheung Kong Group are developers of residential, office, retail, industrial and hotel properties in Hong Kong. With its history of property development and residential estates, As part of

420-466: A more mixed-race population. The country's demographics are changing rapidly. Immigration plays a large role, and the changing demographics in age have sounded alarm bells in the most recent census. In comparison to the 2010 census, the 2021 census has shown that 36% of Cayman's population growth has been in persons over age 65, while 8% growth was recorded in groups under age 15. This is due to extremely low birth rates among Caymanians, which almost forces

480-458: A permanent English-speaking population in the islands dates from the 1730s. With settlement, after the first royal land grant by the governor of Jamaica in 1734, came the introduction of slaves . Many were purchased and brought to the islands from Africa. That has resulted in the majority of native Caymanians being of African or English descent. On 8 February 1794, the Caymanians rescued

540-420: A population of 18,745. The median age was 43.1 and the majority of residents (92.6 per cent) were of Chinese ethnicity. The average household size was 3.2 people. The median monthly household income of all households (i.e. including both economically active and inactive households) was HK$ 47,500. For the 2019 District Council election , the estate fell within two constituencies. Phase 1 and Phase 2 are located in

600-488: A variety of settlers from various backgrounds eventually arrived, including pirates , shipwrecked sailors, and deserters from Oliver Cromwell 's army in Jamaica . Sir Francis Drake briefly visited the islands in 1586. The first recorded permanent inhabitant, Isaac Bodden, was born on Grand Cayman around 1661. He was the grandson of an original settler named Bodden, probably one of Oliver Cromwell's soldiers involved in

660-476: Is George Town on Grand Cayman, which is the most populous of the three islands. The Cayman Islands is considered to be part of the geographic Western Caribbean zone as well as the Greater Antilles . The territory is a major offshore financial centre for international businesses and the rich mainly due to the state charging no tax on income earned or stored. With a GDP per capita of US$ 109,684

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720-632: Is Stingray City, Grand Cayman . Stingray City is a top attraction in Grand Cayman and originally started in the 1980s when divers started feeding squid to stingrays. The stingrays started to associate the sound of the boat motors with food, and thus visit this area year-round. There are two shipwrecks off the shores of Cayman Brac, including the MV Captain Keith Tibbetts ; Grand Cayman also has several shipwrecks off its shores, including one deliberate one. On 30 September 1994,

780-414: Is indirect taxation : there is no income tax , capital gains tax , or corporation tax . An import duty of 5% to 22% (automobiles 29.5% to 100%) is levied against goods imported into the islands. Few goods are exempt; notable exemptions include books, cameras, and perfume. One of Grand Cayman 's main attractions is Seven Mile Beach , site of a number of the island's hotels and resorts. Named one of

840-478: Is $ 6 KYD for standard positions, and $ 4.50 for workers in the service industry, where tips supplement income. This contributes to wealth disparity. A small segment of the population lives in condemned properties lacking power and running water. The government has established a Needs Assessment Unit to relieve poverty in the islands. Local charities, including Cayman's Acts of Random Kindness (ARK) also provide assistance. The government's primary source of income

900-569: Is Caymanian. According to the Economics and Statistics Office of the Government of the Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands had a population of 71,432 at the Census of 10 October 2021, but was estimated by them to have risen to 81,546 as of December 2022, making it the most populous British Overseas Territory. It was revealed in the 2021 census that 56% of the workforce is Non-Caymanian; this is

960-737: Is a Hong Kong-based diversified infrastructure company, focused on the development, investment and operation of infrastructure businesses in many countries such as China, Australia, and the United Kingdom. CK Hutchison holds a 75.67% stake in the company. The Chairman of Power Assets Holdings Limited is Canning Fok Kin-ning. The listed Hongkong Electric group of companies are The Hongkong Electric Company Limited mainly concentrates on generation and supply of electricity on Hong Kong Island and Lamma Island . Hongkong Electric International Limited pursues overseas investment opportunities and Associated Technical Services Limited's principal activity

1020-522: Is believed that the first European to sight the islands was Christopher Columbus , on 10 May 1503, during his final voyage to the Americas. He named them "Las Tortugas", after the large number of turtles found there (which were soon hunted to near-extinction). However, in succeeding decades, the islands began to be referred to as "Caimanas" or "Caymanes", after the caimans present there. No immediate colonisation followed Columbus's sighting, but

1080-489: Is by far the largest, with an area of 197 km (76 sq mi). Grand Cayman's two "sister islands", Cayman Brac and Little Cayman , are about 120 km (75 mi) east north-east of Grand Cayman and have areas of 38 and 28.5 km (14.7 and 11.0 sq mi) respectively. The nearest land mass from Grand Cayman is the Canarreos Archipelago (about 240 km or 150 miles away), whereas

1140-715: Is engineering consultancy and project management. CK Hutchison holds a 38.87% stake in the company. CK Life Sciences is engaged in the business of research and development, commercialisation, marketing and sale of biotechnology products. Products developed by CK Life Sciences are categorised into two areas: CK Hutchison holds a 45.32% stake in the company. Apart from the core business of property development, CK Hutchison' ventures include TOM Group Limited. iMarkets Ltd, iBusiness Corporation Limited, CK Communications Ltd, Excel Technology International Holdings Ltd, mReferral Corporation (HK) Ltd and Beijing Net-Infinity Technology Development Co., Ltd. Hutchison Whampoa's 34% stake in

1200-500: The 3 brand in 10 countries, inherited from Hutchison Whampoa. CK Hutchison's telecommunications subsidiaries in Hong Kong and Australia are listed companies; the company holds 66.09% and 87.87% stakes in these respectively. The Chairman of Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Limited (CKI) is Victor Li Tzar Kuoi. CKI is the largest diversified infrastructure company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange . It

1260-581: The Canadian energy company Husky Energy passed to CK Hutchison on completion of the merger. Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands ( / ˈ k eɪ m ən / ) is a self-governing British Overseas Territory , and the largest by population. The 264-square-kilometre (102-square-mile) territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman , Cayman Brac and Little Cayman , which are located south of Cuba and north-east of Honduras , between Jamaica and Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula . The capital city

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1320-696: The Cayman Islands dollar (KYD), which is pegged to the US dollar US$ 1.227 to 1 KYD. However, in many retail stores throughout the islands, the KYD is typically traded at US$ 1.25. Cayman Islands have a high cost of living, even when compared to UK and US. For example, a loaf of multigrain bread is $ 5.49 (KYD), while a similar loaf sells for $ 2.47 (KYD) in the US and $ 1.36 (KYD) in the UK. The minimum wage (as of February 2021)

1380-744: The Lai To constituency, which was formerly represented by Ronald Tse Man-chak until July 2021, while Phase 3 falls within the Tsuen Wan West constituency, which was formerly represented by Angus Yick Shing-chung until July 2021. Belvedere Garden is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 62, which includes schools in Tsuen Wan and areas nearby. The net includes multiple aided schools and one government school, Hoi Pa Street Government Primary School. Block 4, Belvedere Garden Phase 2

1440-652: The Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park on the Grand Cayman. Among other notable fauna at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park is the critically threatened blue iguana , which is also known as the Grand Cayman iguana ( Cyclura lewisi ). The blue iguana is endemic to the Grand Cayman particularly because of rocky, sunlit, open areas near the island's shores that are advantageous for the laying of eggs. Nevertheless, habitat destruction and invasive mammalian predators remain

1500-622: The USS ; Kittiwake was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register. In November 2008 her ownership was transferred for an undisclosed amount to the government of the Cayman Islands, which had decided to sink the Kittiwake in June 2009 to form a new artificial reef off Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman. Following several delays, the ship was finally scuttled according to plan on 5 January 2011. The Kittiwake has become

1560-546: The Cayman Islands has the highest standard of living in the Caribbean, and one of the highest in the world. Immigrants from over 140 countries and territories reside in the Cayman Islands. As of 2017 , no evidence has been found that the islands had been occupied before their discovery by Europeans. The Cayman Islands got their name from the word for crocodile ( caiman ) in the language of the Arawak-Taíno people. It

1620-537: The Cayman Islands is Christianity (67% in 2021, down from over 80% in 2010). Religions practised include United Church, Church of God, Anglican Church, Baptist Church, Catholic Church, Seventh-day Adventist Church, and Pentecostal Church. Roman Catholic churches are St. Ignatius Church, George Town, Christ the Redeemer Church, West Bay and Stella Maris Church, Cayman Brac. Many citizens are deeply religious, regularly going to church, however, atheism has been on

1680-637: The Cayman Islands is English (90%). Islanders' accents retain elements passed down from English, Scottish, and Welsh settlers (among others) in a language variety known as Cayman Creole. Caymanians of Jamaican origin speak in their own vernacular (see Jamaican Creole and Jamaican English ). It is quite common to hear residents converse in Spanish as many citizens have relocated from Latin America to work and live on Grand Cayman. The Latin American nations with

1740-651: The Cayman Islands provides guided tours weekly on the Mastic Trail and other locations. Another attraction to visit on Grand Cayman is the Observation Tower, located in Camana Bay. The Observation Tower is 75 feet tall and provides 360-degree views across Seven Mile Beach, George Town, the North Sound, and beyond. It is free to the public and climbing the tower has become a popular thing to do in

1800-534: The Cayman Islands was officially declared and administered as a dependency of the Crown Colony of Jamaica. The islands continued to be governed as part of the Colony of Jamaica until 1962, when they became a separate Crown colony , after Jamaica became an independent Commonwealth realm . In the 1950s, tourism began to flourish, following the opening of Owen Roberts International Airport (ORIA), along with

1860-599: The Cayman Islands. Points of interest include the East End Light (sometimes called Gorling Bluff Light), a lighthouse at the east end of Grand Cayman island. The lighthouse is the centrepiece of East End Lighthouse Park, managed by the National Trust for the Cayman Islands ; the first navigational aid on the site was the first lighthouse in the Cayman Islands. As of 31 December 2015 , 360 commercial vessels and 1,674 pleasure craft were registered in

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1920-611: The Ultimate Beaches by Caribbean Travel and Life, Seven Mile Beach (due to erosion over the years, the number has decreased to 5.5 miles) is a public beach on the western shore of Grand Cayman Island. Historical sites in Grand Cayman, such as Pedro St. James Castle in Savannah, also attract visitors. All three islands offer scuba diving , and the Cayman Islands are home to several snorkelling locations where tourists can swim with stingrays . The most popular area to do this

1980-469: The capture of Jamaica from Spain in 1655. England took formal control of the Cayman Islands, along with Jamaica, as a result of the Treaty of Madrid of 1670 . That same year saw an attack on a turtle fishing settlement on Little Cayman by the Spanish under Portuguese privateer Manuel Ribeiro Pardal . Following several unsuccessful attempts at settlement in what had by then become a haven for pirates,

2040-464: The country's infrastructure and services cannot cope with the surging population. It is believed that given current trends, the population will reach 100,000 before 2030. According to the Economics and Statistics Office, the final result of the 20 October 2021 Census was 71,432; however, according to a late 2022 population report by the same body, the estimated population at the end of 2022 was 81,546, broken down as follows: The predominant religion on

2100-469: The country's tourism slow season. Other Grand Cayman tourist attractions include the ironshore landscape of Hell ; the 23-acre (93,000 m ) marine theme park " Cayman Turtle Centre : Island Wildlife Encounter", previously known as "Boatswain's Beach"; the production of gourmet sea salt ; and the Mastic Trail , a hiking trail through the forests in the centre of the island. The National Trust for

2160-560: The crews of a group of ten merchant ships , including HMS Convert , an incident that has since become known as the Wreck of the Ten Sail . The ships had struck a reef and run aground during rough seas. Legend has it that King George III rewarded the islanders for their generosity with a promise never to introduce taxes, because one of the ships carried a member of the King's family. Despite

2220-598: The discovery of the islands by Europeans. Marine life around the island of the Grand Cayman includes tarpon , silversides ( Atheriniformes ), French angelfish ( Pomacanthus paru ), and giant barrel sponges . A number of cetaceans are found in offshore waters. These species include the goose-beaked whale ( Ziphius cavirostris ), Blainville's beaked whale ( Mesoplodon densirostris ) and sperm whale ( Physeter macrocephalus ). Cayman avian fauna includes two endemic subspecies of Amazona parrots: Amazona leucocephala hesterna or Cuban amazon , presently restricted to

2280-403: The first marine protected areas were designated in the Cayman Islands, making them the first islands in the Caribbean to protect their fragile marine life. The constitution was further modified in 2001 and 2009, codifying various aspects of human rights legislation. On 11 September 2004, the island of Grand Cayman, which lies largely unprotected at sea level, was battered by Hurricane Ivan ,

2340-414: The first time in the territory's history that the number of working immigrants has overtaken the number of working Caymanians. Most Caymanians are of mixed African and European ancestry. Slavery occurred but was not as common compared to other Caribbean islands, and once it was abolished, black and white communities seemed to integrate more compliantly than other Caribbean nations and territories resulting in

2400-454: The government to seek workers from overseas to sustain the country's economy. This has raised concerns among many young Caymanians, who worry about the workforce becoming increasingly competitive with the influx of workers, as well as rent and property prices going up. Because the population has skyrocketed over the last decade, former government officials have stressed that the islands need more careful and managed growth. Many have worried that

2460-470: The greatest representation are Honduras, Cuba, Colombia, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. Spanish speakers comprise approximately between 10 and 12% of the population and are predominantly of the Caribbean dialect. Tagalog is spoken by about 8% of inhabitants, most of whom are Filipino residents on work permits. According to Forbes , the Cayman Islands has the 7th strongest currency in

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2520-525: The highest point on the islands. The terrain is mostly a low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs . The portions of prehistoric coral reef that line the coastline and protrude from the water are referred to as ironshore . In Cayman Islands forest cover is around 53% of the total land area, equivalent to 12,720 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, down from 13,130 hectares (ha) in 1990. In 2020, naturally regenerating forest covered 12,720 hectares (ha) and planted forest covered 0 hectares (ha). Of

2580-473: The infrastructure on the islands. The total economic impact of the storms was estimated to be $ 3.4 billion. While there are a large number of generational Caymanians, many Caymanians today have roots in almost every part of the world. Similarly to countries like the United States, the Cayman Islands is a melting pot with citizens of every background. 52.5% of the population is Non-Caymanian, while 47.5%

2640-570: The island of Cayman Brac , but formerly also on Little Cayman , and Amazona leucocephala caymanensis or Grand Cayman parrot , which is native to the Cayman Islands, forested areas of Cuba, and the Isla de la Juventud . Little Cayman and Cayman Brac are also home to red-footed and brown boobies. Although the barn owl ( Tyto alba ) occurs in all three of the islands they are not commonplace. The Cayman Islands also possess five endemic subspecies of butterflies. These butterfly breeds can be viewed at

2700-573: The legend, the story is not true. The first census taken in the islands, in 1802, showed the population on Grand Cayman to be 933, with 545 of those inhabitants being slaves. Slavery was abolished in the Cayman Islands in 1833, following the passing of the Slavery Abolition Act by the British Parliament . At the time of abolition, there were over 950 slaves of African ancestry, owned by 116 families. On 22 June 1863,

2760-525: The naturally regenerating forest 0% was reported to be primary forest (consisting of native tree species with no clearly visible indications of human activity). For the year 2015, 0% of the forest area was reported to be under public ownership , 12% private ownership and 88% with ownership listed as other or unknown. The mammalian species in the Cayman Islands include the introduced Central American agouti and eight species of bats . At least three now extinct native rodent species were present until

2820-596: The nearest from the easternmost island Cayman Brac is the Jardines de la Reina archipelago (about 160 km or 100 miles away) – both of which are part of Cuba. All three islands were formed by large coral heads covering submerged ice-age peaks of western extensions of the Cuban Sierra Maestra range and are mostly flat. One notable exception to this is The Bluff on Cayman Brac's eastern part, which rises to 43 m (141 ft) above sea level,

2880-816: The peaks of an undersea mountain range called the Cayman Ridge (or Cayman Rise). This ridge flanks the Cayman Trough , 6,000 m (20,000 ft) deep which lies 6 km (3.7 mi) to the south. The islands lie in the northwest of the Caribbean Sea, east of Quintana Roo , Mexico and Yucatán State , Mexico, northeast of Costa Rica, north of Panama, south of Cuba and west of Jamaica. They are situated about 700 km (430 mi) south of Miami , 750 km (470 mi) east of Mexico, 366 km (227 mi) south of Cuba, and about 500 km (310 mi) northwest of Jamaica . Grand Cayman

2940-413: The population itself. The Cayman Islands have come under criticism for allegations of money laundering and other financial crimes, including a 2016 statement by then US president Barack Obama that described a particular building which was the registered address of over 12,000 corporations as a "tax scam". The Cayman Islands holds a relatively low unemployment rate of about 4.24% as of 2015, lower than

3000-455: The primary reasons that blue iguana hatchlings do not survive naturally. The Cuban crocodile ( Crocodylus rhombifer ) once inhabited the islands. And the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) is also believed to be slowly repopulating the islands from Cuba. The name "Cayman" is derived from a Carib word for the various crocodilians that inhabited the islands. The Cayman Islands has

3060-477: The reorganisation of the group, a new company composed of the group's property assets was spun-off in June 2015 as Cheung Kong Property Holdings . The market capitalisation of the Cheung Kong Group's Hong Kong listed companies amounted to HK$ 1,148 billion on 31 January 2015. The Group operated in over 50 countries and employs over 240,000 staff worldwide. The Group had nine companies. The company

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3120-506: The rest of the market occupied by other very large firms, is attributed to the government's policy of auctioning land in expensively large blocks, squeezing out small and mid-sized firms, according to the Consumer Council . In January 2015, Li Ka Shing confirmed the business would be restructured and its property business spun-off as a separately listed company, Cheung Kong Property. Under the plans, Cheung Kong Holdings purchased

3180-554: The rise throughout the islands since 2000, with 16.7% now identifying with no religion, according to the 2021 census. Ports are closed on Sundays and Christian holidays. There is also an active synagogue and Jewish community on the island as well as places of worship in George Town for Jehovah's Witnesses and followers of the Bahá'í faith. In 2020, there were an estimated 121 Muslims in the Cayman Islands. The official language of

3240-565: The shares in Hutchison Whampoa that it did not already own, and merged the companies under a new single holding company, CK Hutchison Holdings. The new holding company was established on 18 March 2015, based in the Cayman Islands , but listed in Hong Kong. Hutchison Whampoa was delisted on 3 June 2015, on the same day that a new company comprising the group's existing property assets, Cheung Kong Property Holdings , began trading. The company operates mobile telephone services under

3300-404: The territory's economy via tourism and the attraction of off-shore finance, both of which mushroomed from the 1970s onwards. Historically, the Cayman Islands has been a tax-exempt destination, and the government has always relied on indirect and not direct taxes. The territory has never levied income tax , capital gains tax , or any wealth tax , making it a popular tax haven . In April 1986,

3360-518: The value of 4.7% that was recorded in 2014. With an average income of US$ 109,684 Caymanians have the highest standard of living in the Caribbean. According to the CIA World Factbook , the Cayman Islands' real GDP per capita is the tenth highest in the world, but the CIA's data for Cayman dates to 2018 and is likely to be lower than present-day values. The territory prints its own currency,

3420-453: The world (the CI dollar or KYD), with US$ 1.00 equivalent to CI$ 0.80. The economy of the Cayman Islands is dominated by financial services and tourism, together accounting for 50–60% of Gross Domestic Product . The nation's zero tax rate on income and storage of funds has led to it being used as a tax haven for corporations; there are 100,000 companies registered in the Cayman Islands, more than

3480-562: The worst hurricane to hit the islands in 86 years. It created an 8-foot (2.4 m) storm surge which flooded many areas of Grand Cayman. An estimated 83% of the dwellings on the island were damaged, with 4% requiring complete reconstruction. A reported 70% of all dwellings suffered severe damage from flooding or wind. Another 26% sustained minor damage from partial roof removal, low levels of flooding, or impact with floating or wind-driven hurricane debris. Power, water, and communications were disrupted for months in some areas. Within two years,

3540-526: Was first listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1972 as Cheung Kong Holdings, and developed into a property development and strategic investment company, with interests in life sciences and other businesses. The company and Sun Hung Kai Properties together became increasingly dominant in the development of new private homes, accounting for 70% of the market in 2010, up from around half of that in 2003. This concentration, with much of

3600-512: Was placed under lockdown on 19 April 2021 for mandatory testing. 22°22′19″N 114°06′07″E  /  22.3719°N 114.1020°E  / 22.3719; 114.1020 Cheung Kong Holdings Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited , is a multinational conglomerate , based in Hong Kong . It was one of Hong Kong's leading multi-national conglomerates . The company merged with its subsidiary Hutchison Whampoa on 3 June 2015, as part of

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