92-589: Lan Kwai Fong (often abbreviated as LKF ) is a small square of streets in Central , Hong Kong . The area was dedicated to hawkers before the Second World War , but underwent a renaissance in the mid-1980s. It is now a popular expatriate haunt in Hong Kong for drinking, clubbing, and dining. The street Lan Kwai Fong is L-shaped with two ends joining with D'Aguilar Street . Lan Kwai Fong as an area
184-463: A proposed extradition amendment bill permitting the extradition of fugitives to mainland China. The protests are the largest in Hong Kong's history, with organisers claiming to have attracted more than three million Hong Kong residents. The Hong Kong regional government and Chinese central government responded to the protests with a number of administrative measures to quell dissent. In June 2020,
276-455: A channel, Chung Mun ( 中門 ), with Tsim Sha Tsui , on the sea route along the coast of southern China . The eastern part of Central District has been known as Admiralty since the completion of Admiralty station in the early 1980s. Despite the name Central being synonymous with the Central and Western District, and Central station, there are significant differences. Central and Western
368-537: A city on the north coast of Hong Kong Island, and the present-day Central was chosen to house major military facilities and an administrative centre. Part of these military facilities include the Royal Navy port known as Naval Dockyard, and then later Admiralty. Another area to the north of Admiralty would be named Tamar for the HMS Tamar shore station (named for HMS Tamar, a Royal Navy troopship that arrived and
460-845: A four-year term. Twenty are directly elected from geographical constituencies , thirty-five represent functional constituencies (FC), and forty are chosen by an election committee consisting of representatives appointed by the Chinese central government. Thirty FC councillors are selected from limited electorates representing sectors of the economy or special interest groups, and the remaining five members are nominated from sitting district council members and selected in region-wide double direct elections . All popularly elected members are chosen by proportional representation . The 30 limited electorate functional constituencies fill their seats using first-past-the-post or instant-runoff voting. Twenty-two political parties had representatives elected to
552-491: A neutral zone to safeguard its status as a free port. The colonial government prepared for a possible attack, evacuating all British women and children in 1940. The Imperial Japanese Army attacked Hong Kong on 8 December 1941 , the same morning as its attack on Pearl Harbor . Hong Kong was occupied by Japan for almost four years before the British resumed control on 30 August 1945. Its population rebounded quickly after
644-484: A person with name bearing this character. The second character 港, /hœŋ/, means a branch flow of water body, or a channel for boats to go through. This means the translation to harbour was a modern invention. There were four basic speculations, namely fragrant/incense wood, fragrant river, female pirate named 香, and red incense burner . Not all of them are plausible in face of language, history and geography evidences. The Cantonese name in Chinese character 香港
736-531: A series of protests in 2014 which became known as the Umbrella Revolution. Discrepancies in the electoral registry and disqualification of elected legislators after the 2016 Legislative Council elections and enforcement of national law in the West Kowloon high-speed railway station raised further concerns about the region's autonomy. In June 2019, mass protests erupted in response to
828-411: A sparsely populated area of farming and fishing villages, the territory is now one of the world's most significant financial centres and commercial ports. Hong Kong is the world's third-ranked global financial centre (behind New York City and London ), ninth-largest exporter, and eighth-largest importer. Its currency, the Hong Kong dollar , is the ninth most traded currency in the world. Home to
920-453: Is Government Hill , the site of the government headquarters until 2011. The area, with its proximity to Victoria Harbour, has served as the centre of trade and financial activities from the earliest days of the British colonial era in 1841, and continues to flourish and serve as the place of administration since the handover to China in 1997. The area of Chung Wan (aka Choong Wan in
1012-471: Is a highly developed territory and has a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.956, ranking fourth in the world and currently the only place in Asia to be in the top 5. The city has the highest life expectancy in the world , and a public transport usage exceeding 90 per cent. There is no lack of tales and speculations on the etymology of Hong Kong. It was because the name was mysterious that no longer fitted
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#17327726804521104-610: Is a special administrative region of China . With 7.4 million residents of various nationalities in a 1,104-square-kilometre (426 sq mi) territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the world. Hong Kong was established as a colony of the British Empire after the Qing dynasty ceded Hong Kong Island in 1841–1842 as a consequence of losing the First Opium War . The colony expanded to
1196-431: Is a special administrative region of China , with executive, legislative, and judicial powers devolved from the national government . The Sino-British Joint Declaration provided for economic and administrative continuity through the handover, resulting in an executive-led governing system largely inherited from the territory's history as a British colony. Under these terms and the "one country, two systems" principle,
1288-500: Is a administrative district with strict boundaries, legislative representation, and elections for its legislators. Central station (more commonly referred to as Central) is a stop along the MTR Island Line , but is not the only station within the Central and Western District. Other stops include Hong Kong, Admiralty, Sheung Wan and more. The Central area is a loosely defined area within the Central and Western district defined by
1380-564: Is defined by D'Aguilar Street and the smaller lane, Lan Kwai Fong, an L-shaped, cobble-stoned lane. Both streets turn 90 degrees to form a rectangle. It is near the Mid-Levels . Its eating and drinking establishments are considered upmarket in price and the area is also considered a tourist spot. From the west side of the rectangle, Wo On Lane and Wing Wah Lane extend to host several more spots for drinks and food. The area arguably extends to Wellington Street and Wyndham Street , through to
1472-402: Is employed at such times, to manage the crowds. In recent years, street performing has become a new scene in Hong Kong's street culture. Some of the performers decide to set their stages at Lan Kwai Fong, usually with the medium of singing and playing guitar in an acoustic setting. On 1 January 1993, 21 people were killed and 62 injured in a large-scale human crush incident whilst celebrating
1564-468: Is generally believed to be an early phonetic rendering of the Cantonese (or Tanka Cantonese ) of characters 香港. Sir John Davis , the second colonial governor, offered an alternative origin; Davis said that the name derived from "Hoong-keang" ("red torrent"), reflecting the colour of soil over which a waterfall on the island flowed. The simplified name Hong Kong was frequently used by 1810. The name
1656-410: Is governed by a hybrid regime that is not fully representative of the population. Legislative Council members elected by functional constituencies composed of professional and special interest groups are accountable to these narrow corporate electorates and not the general public. This electoral arrangement has guaranteed a pro-Beijing camp majority in the legislature since the handover. Similarly,
1748-757: Is in the New World Tower [ zh ] in Central. HKR International has its head office in Shun Tak Centre . Before 1999, Cathay Pacific had its head office in the Swire House in Central. In 1999, the airline relocated its head office to the Hong Kong International Airport . Nord Anglia Education , which operates international schools in various countries, formerly had its head office in Central. The head office moved to Hong Kong in 2012. In 2018
1840-511: Is located in the northeastern corner of the Central and Western District , on the north shore of Hong Kong Island , across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui , the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula . The area was the heart of Victoria City , although that name is rarely used today. As the central business district of Hong Kong, it is the area where many multinational financial services corporations have their headquarters. Consulates of many countries are also located in this area, as
1932-724: The Bank of China Tower . The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation , a subsidiary of HSBC , has its head office in the HSBC Main Building . Bank of East Asia and Hang Seng Bank have their head offices in Central. Standard Chartered Bank is also located in Central. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority is based in IFC 2 . Chu Kong Passenger Transport is headquartered in the Chu Kong Shipping Tower (珠江船務大廈) in Central. The head office of New World Development
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#17327726804522024-542: The Basic Law of Hong Kong for 50 years after the handover. It does not specify how Hong Kong will be governed after 2047, and the central government's role in determining the territory's future system of government is the subject of political debate and speculation. Hong Kong's political and judicial systems may be integrated with China's at that time, or the territory may continue to be administered separately. However, in response to large-scale protests in 2019 and 2020 ,
2116-591: The Basic Law of Hong Kong is the regional constitution. The regional government is composed of three branches: The chief executive is the head of government and serves for a maximum of two five-year terms. The State Council (led by the Premier of China ) appoints the chief executive after nomination by the Election Committee , which is composed of 1500 business, community, and government leaders. The Legislative Council has 90 members, each serving
2208-604: The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference appointed by the central government. Chinese national law does not generally apply in the region, and Hong Kong is treated as a separate jurisdiction. Its judicial system is based on common law , continuing the legal tradition established during British rule. Local courts may refer to precedents set in English law and overseas jurisprudence. However, mainland criminal procedure law applies to cases investigated by
2300-563: The Chinese central government 's adherence to the "one country, two systems" principle. After reversal of the last colonial era Legislative Council democratic reforms following the handover, the regional government unsuccessfully attempted to enact national security legislation pursuant to Article 23 of the Basic Law . The central government decision to implement nominee pre-screening before allowing chief executive elections triggered
2392-606: The Hong Kong Fringe Club . It is also home to a small number of art galleries . Before the Second World War, Lan Kwai Fong was dedicated to hawkers . In early days, the square housed many mui yan ( 媒人 ), female marriage arrangers who were intermediaries between two families in traditional times. It was consequently known as Mui Yan Hong or Hung Leung Hong . After the opening of the disco club "Disco Disco" by Gordon Huthart on 23 December 1978 in
2484-646: The Kowloon Peninsula in 1860 and was further extended when the United Kingdom obtained a 99-year lease of the New Territories in 1898. Hong Kong was occupied by Japan from 1941 to 1945 during World War II . The territory was handed over from the United Kingdom to China in 1997. Hong Kong maintains separate governing and economic systems from that of mainland China under the principle of one country, two systems . Originally
2576-589: The New Year's Day in Lan Kwai Fong. More than 15,000 people were crammed into the area for the New Year countdown at the time. As midnight approached there was a crowd collapse. The Hong Kong government appointed Court of First Instance judge Kemal Bokhary to conduct an inquest into the disaster. The stringent crowd control measures now in force at major holidays and events are a direct consequence of
2668-734: The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the CPG in the HKSAR . Interpretative and amending power over the Basic Law and jurisdiction over acts of state lie with the central authority, making regional courts ultimately subordinate to the mainland's socialist civil law system. Decisions made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress override any territorial judicial process. Furthermore, in circumstances where
2760-670: The Paleolithic period. The claim is based on an archaeological investigation in Wong Tei Tung , Sai Kung in 2003. The archaeological works revealed knapped stone tools from deposits that were dated using optical luminescence dating . During the Middle Neolithic period, about 6,000 years ago, the region had been widely occupied by humans. Neolithic to Bronze Age Hong Kong settlers were semi-coastal people. Early inhabitants are believed to be Austronesians in
2852-717: The People's Liberation Army is responsible for the region's defence. Although the Chairman of the Central Military Commission is supreme commander of the armed forces, the regional government may request assistance from the garrison. Hong Kong residents are not required to perform military service, and current law has no provision for local enlistment, so its defence is composed entirely of non-Hongkongers. The central government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs handle diplomatic matters, but Hong Kong retains
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2944-595: The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance was passed by the Legislative Council to grant officials "even more powers to crack down on opposition to Beijing and the Hong Kong government" and includes penalties such as life imprisonment for political crimes such as treason and insurrection . Critics state that this expansion "will strike a lasting blow to the partial autonomy the city had been promised by China [in
3036-502: The Sino-British Joint Declaration ]." Hong Kong's administrative divisions are divided into three levels: Areas (區域), Districts (地區), and Sub-districts (分區). Hong Kong is administratively divided into three areas: Hong Kong Island , Kowloon , and the New Territories . They are further divided into 18 districts. The area of Hong Kong Island has four districts, the area of Kowloon has five districts, and
3128-457: The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress passed the controversial Hong Kong national security law . The law criminalises secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign elements and establishes the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the CPG in the HKSAR, an investigative office under Central People's Government authority immune from HKSAR jurisdiction. Some of
3220-617: The central government in Beijing in June 2020 resulted in the suspension of bilateral extradition treaties by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, and Ireland. The United States ended its preferential economic and trade treatment of Hong Kong in July 2020 because it was no longer able to distinguish Hong Kong as a separate entity from the People's Republic of China. In 2024,
3312-409: The seventh-highest number of billionaires of any city in the world, Hong Kong has the largest number of ultra high-net-worth individuals . Although the city has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, severe income inequality exists among the population. Despite being the city with the most skyscrapers in the world , housing in Hong Kong is consistently in high demand . Hong Kong
3404-591: The 1920s, Hong Kong was able to push far ahead economically, because of the cohesive collaboration between Central and all waterfront commerce. The military structures survived until the 1980s. Only Flagstaff House remains as Museum of Tea Ware in Hong Kong Park . City Hall sat on the present premises of the HSBC Hong Kong headquarters . Hong Kong's first road, Queen's Road (subdivided into Queen's Road East , Central , and West ), passes through
3496-571: The Central and Western District. As such, Admiralty is sometimes considered a part of Central. Central is bordered in the south by Mid-Levels , an affluent residential area halfway up Victoria Peak . The boundary between Central and Mid-Levels is not clearly defined. For district council elections purposes, the area, together with Admiralty, correspond roughly to the " Chung Wan " constituency. The boundaries of such constituencies may be subject to modification. The British landed on Possession Point of Sheung Wan in 1841. They soon decided to build
3588-498: The Hong Kong Island and thus Hong Kong was named after her. But she was born around 1775, not even close Ming Dynasty, that it is impossible as etymology of Hong Kong. Hung-heung-lo , 紅香爐, red incense burner, was a station of Ch'ing Dynasty coastal defense. The name once used to refer the whole Hong Kong Island after the station was established. It was too late to be the etymology of Hong Kong. Some points fragrant to
3680-406: The Legislative Council and the requirement that all candidates be vetted and approved by a Beijing-appointed Candidate Eligibility Review Committee . In May 2023, the Legislative Council also introduced legislation to reduce the number of directly elected seats in the district councils, and a District Council Eligibility Review Committee was similarly established to vet candidates. Hong Kong
3772-548: The Legislative Council in the 2016 election . These parties have aligned themselves into three ideological groups: the pro-Beijing camp (the current government), the pro-democracy camp , and localist groups . The Chinese Communist Party does not have an official political presence in Hong Kong, and its members do not run in local elections. Hong Kong is represented in the National People's Congress by 36 deputies chosen through an electoral college and 203 delegates in
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3864-562: The Legislative Council passed the National Anthem Ordinance , which criminalised "insults to the national anthem of China". The Chinese central government meanwhile enacted the Hong Kong national security law to help quell protests in the region. Nine months later, in March 2021, the Chinese central government introduced amendments to Hong Kong's electoral system , which included the reduction of directly elected seats in
3956-587: The Middle Neolithic period and later the Yue people. As hinted by the archaeological works in Sha Ha, Sai Kung, rice cultivation had been introduced since Late Neolithic period. Bronze Age Hong Kong featured coarse pottery, hard pottery, quartz and stone jewelry, as well as small bronze implements. The Qin dynasty incorporated the Hong Kong area into China for the first time in 214 BCE, after conquering
4048-503: The New Territories. Much of this is built on reclaimed land ; 70 km (27 sq mi) (6% of the total land or about 25% of developed space in the territory) is reclaimed from the sea. Undeveloped terrain is hilly to mountainous, with very little flat land, and consists mostly of grassland, woodland, shrubland, or farmland. About 40% of the remaining land area is country parks and nature reserves. The territory has
4140-478: The Philippines and Indonesia, have little protection under regional law. Although they live and work in Hong Kong, these workers are not treated as ordinary residents and do not have the right of abode in the territory. Sex trafficking is also an issue, local, mainland Chinese, and foreign women have been trafficked for sex in brothels , homes, and businesses in the city. The Joint Declaration guarantees
4232-538: The Standing Committee declares a state of emergency in Hong Kong, the State Council may enforce national law in the region. The territory's jurisdictional independence is most apparent in its immigration and taxation policies. The Immigration Department issues passports for permanent residents which differ from those of the mainland or Macau, and the region maintains a regulated border with
4324-606: The Yuan Dynasty. By the end of the Yuan dynasty , seven large families had settled in the region and owned most of the land. Settlers from nearby provinces migrated to Kowloon throughout the Ming dynasty . The earliest European visitor was Portuguese explorer Jorge Álvares , who arrived in 1513. Portuguese merchants established a trading post called Tamão in Hong Kong waters and began regular trade with southern China. Although
4416-747: The ability to maintain separate economic and cultural relations with foreign nations . The territory actively participates in the World Trade Organization , the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, the International Olympic Committee , and many United Nations agencies. The regional government maintains trade offices in Greater China and other nations. The imposition of the Hong Kong national security law by
4508-586: The aforementioned acts were previously considered protected speech under Hong Kong law. The United Kingdom considers the law to be a serious violation of the Joint Declaration. In October 2020, the Hong Kong Police arrested seven pro- democracy politicians over tussles with pro-Beijing politicians in the Legislative Council in May. They were charged with contempt and interfering with members of
4600-635: The agreement. After more than a year of further hostilities, Hong Kong Island was formally ceded to the United Kingdom in the 1842 Treaty of Nanking . Administrative infrastructure was quickly built by early 1842, but piracy, disease, and hostile Qing policies initially prevented the government from attracting commerce. Conditions on the island improved during the Taiping Rebellion in the 1850s, when many Chinese refugees, including wealthy merchants, fled mainland turbulence and settled in
4692-579: The area and the business centre has continued to expand the Hong Kong shoreline into Victoria Harbour. The Hong Kong Garrison was home to the British Forces in Hong Kong , until the handover in 1997 , since then it has been occupied by the People's Liberation Army of China . Central has been the site of a number of major political protests. From October 2011 to September 2012, the Occupy Central movement against global economic inequality
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#17327726804524784-399: The area of the New Territories has nine districts. Each district is represented by a district council . The district councils advise the government on local issues such as public facility provisioning, community programme maintenance, cultural promotion, and environmental policy. As of 2024, there are a total of 470 district council seats, 88 of which are directly elected. In May 2023,
4876-465: The basement of 40 D'Aguilar Street , the development of the Lan Kwai Fong area accelerated, and it became known worldwide. The disco club was popular among celebrities and expats until it closed in 1986. Inspired by Montreal 's Crescent Street , the Montreal-raised businessman Allan Zeman opened a restaurant called "California" on Lan Kwai Fong in 1983, as a place for expats, earning him
4968-1165: The chief executive is selected by establishment politicians and corporate members of the Election Committee rather than directly elected. Despite universal suffrage being established as ultimate goals for the election of the chief executive and all members of the Legislative Council in Articles 45 and 68 of the basic law, the legislature is only partially directly elected, and the executive continues to be nominated by an unrepresentative body. The government has been repeatedly petitioned to introduce direct elections for these positions, but has not introduced these direct elections as of 2024. Ethnic minorities (except those of European ancestry) have marginal representation in government and often experience discrimination in housing, education, and employment. Employment vacancies and public service appointments frequently have language requirements which minority job seekers do not meet, and language education resources remain inadequate for Chinese learners. Foreign domestic helpers , mostly women from
5060-635: The colony. Further tensions between the British and Qing over the opium trade escalated into the Second Opium War . The Qing were again defeated and forced to give up Kowloon Peninsula and Stonecutters Island in the Convention of Peking . By the end of this war, Hong Kong had evolved from a transient colonial outpost into a major entrepôt . Rapid economic improvement during the 1850s attracted foreign investment, as potential stakeholders became more confident in Hong Kong's future. The colony
5152-608: The company announced it was returning its head office to the United Kingdom. Central, together with Tsim Sha Tsui and Tsim Sha Tsui East , is home to many hotels. It provides alternative options for those who do not want to stay in Hotels, but looking for flexible lease terms, below are some examples: Central is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 11. Within the school net are multiple aided schools (operated independently but funded with government money) and
5244-590: The council, while none of the pro-Beijing lawmakers were detained. Annual commemorations of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre were also cancelled amidst fears of violating the national security law. In March 2021, the Chinese central government unilaterally changed Hong Kong's electoral system and established the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee , which would be tasked with screening and evaluating political candidates for their "patriotism", effectively crushing
5336-505: The east end of the district. Between 1860 and 1880 the construction of City Hall , Theatre Royal and other financial structures made Central the heart of Hong Kong. In 1904, the Praya Reclamation Scheme added 59 acres (24 ha) of land to Central's waterfront. Many of the proposals came from Sir Paul Chater and James Johnstone Keswick , the founders of Hongkong Land , a modern property development group. During
5428-404: The end of the New Territories lease approached, and Governor Murray MacLehose raised the question of Hong Kong's status with Deng Xiaoping in 1979. Diplomatic negotiations with China resulted in the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration , in which the United Kingdom agreed to the handover of the colony in 1997 and China would guarantee Hong Kong's economic and political systems for 50 years after
5520-637: The environment on the eve of colonisation by the British. It was because the name was on a remote island that was somehow far from the attention of administration and hence lack of documentation or documentation was destroyed easily year by year. The name of Hong Kong comes from Cantonese name 香港, /hœŋ kɔŋ/, in Chinese character. The name commonly translates as "fragrant harbour" or alternatively "incense harbour". The first character 香, /hœŋ/, means any pleasant or sweet smell , namely fragrant , or materials that could produce pleasant smell, usually comes from plants or animals, including incense . But it could
5612-565: The following government schools: Bonham Road Government Primary School and Li Sing Primary School [ zh ] (李陞小學). The area is a major transport hub for Hong Kong (see also Transport in Hong Kong ). The film The Dark Knight takes place in part in Central, Hong Kong, specifically at the Mid-Levels escalator , on the top of IFC (International Finance Centre) 2 , and crashing into IFC 1 . 22°16′55″N 114°09′29″E / 22.28194°N 114.15806°E / 22.28194; 114.15806 Hong Kong Hong Kong
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#17327726804525704-572: The government proposed reforms to the District Council electoral system which further cut the number of directly elected seats from 452 to 88, and total seats from 479 to 470. A requirement that district council candidates be vetted and approved by the District Council Eligibility Review Committee was also proposed. The Legislative Council approved the reforms in July 2023. Hong Kong
5796-418: The handover. The impending handover triggered a wave of mass emigration as residents feared an erosion of civil rights, the rule of law, and quality of life. Over half a million people left the territory during the peak migration period, from 1987 to 1996. The Legislative Council became a fully elected legislature for the first time in 1995 and extensively expanded its functions and organisations throughout
5888-732: The indigenous Baiyue . The region was consolidated under the Nanyue kingdom (a predecessor state of Vietnam ) after the Qin collapse and recaptured by China after the Han conquest . During the Mongol conquest of China in the 13th century, the Southern Song court was briefly located in modern-day Kowloon City (the Sung Wong Toi site) before its final defeat in the 1279 Battle of Yamen by
5980-403: The inquest's recommendations. There are several ways to access Lan Kwai Fong other than taxi, which include: Public transport 22°16′51.5″N 114°9′19.9″E / 22.280972°N 114.155528°E / 22.280972; 114.155528 Central, Hong Kong Central (Chinese: 中環), also known as Central District , is the central business district of Hong Kong . It
6072-401: The last years of the colonial rule. The handover of Hong Kong to China was at midnight on 1 July 1997, after 156 years of British rule. Immediately after the handover, Hong Kong was severely affected by several crises. The Hong Kong government was forced to use substantial foreign exchange reserves to maintain the Hong Kong dollar's currency peg during the 1997 Asian financial crisis , and
6164-468: The maritime area is included) consists of Hong Kong Island , the Kowloon Peninsula , the New Territories , Lantau Island , and over 200 other islands. Of the total area, 1,073 km (414 sq mi) is land and 35 km (14 sq mi) is water. The territory's highest point is Tai Mo Shan , 957 metres (3,140 ft) above sea level. Urban development is concentrated on the Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong Island, and in new towns throughout
6256-518: The name of Hong Kong was referring to Aberdeen Channel associating with once flourishing incense industry in Ming Dynasty. It could be where the incense was manufactured, stored or exported but there are no evidences to support it. Another speculation is that "fragrant" may refer to the sweet taste of the harbour's freshwater influx from the Pearl River. It is very unlikely the etymology relating to fragrant river. The whole territories of Hong Kong are surrounded by sea, namely salt water. Aberdeen Channel
6348-412: The nickname "the Father of Lan Kwai Fong" ( 蘭桂坊之父 ). Between 2011 and 2015, a massive change was underway, following Zeman's decision to replace his block in Lan Kwai Fong, which led to a substantial area of Lan Kwai Fong becoming a construction site. The crowds during special occasions such as Halloween or New Year's Eve put the place at a literal standstill with the large numbers. Police control
6440-426: The opium trade. The commissioner destroyed opium stockpiles and halted all foreign trade, triggering a British military response and the First Opium War . The Qing surrendered early in the war and ceded Hong Kong Island in the Convention of Chuenpi . British forces began controlling Hong Kong shortly after the signing of the convention, from 26 January 1841. However, both countries were dissatisfied and did not ratify
6532-482: The past; 中環 ), a direct translation of Central in English, was one of the districts ( 四環九約 ) in Victoria City. The English name Central became prevalent after the Island line of the MTR metro system was built in the early 1980s, and the connected stations of Pedder and Chater (named after major streets in the area) were renamed as Central . On some older maps, Central and the area to its west are named Kwan Tai Lo ( 羣帶路 ) below Victoria Peak . It formed
6624-440: The post-war decades to provide safer housing, integrity in the civil service, and more reliable transportation. Nevertheless, widespread public discontent resulted in multiple protests from the 1950s to 1980s, including pro- Republic of China and pro- Chinese Communist Party protests. In the 1967 Hong Kong riots , pro- PRC protestors clashed with the British colonial government. As many as 51 were killed and 802 were injured in
6716-428: The presence of major banks, sky scrapers, and multi-modal transportation nodes. Central is located on the north shore of Hong Kong Island , across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui , the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula . It is bordered in the west by Sheung Wan , with the border being along Aberdeen Street (also called Wing Kut Street ). It is bordered in the east by Admiralty , an eastern extension of
6808-476: The recovery from this was muted by an H5N1 avian-flu outbreak and a housing surplus. This was followed by the 2003 SARS epidemic , during which the territory experienced its most serious economic downturn. Chinese communists portrayed the return of Hong Kong as key moment in the PRC's rise to great power status. Political debates after the handover have centred around the region's democratic development and
6900-543: The region into a wasteland. The Kangxi Emperor lifted the maritime trade prohibition, allowing foreigners to enter Chinese ports in 1684. Qing authorities established the Canton System in 1757 to regulate trade more strictly, restricting non-Russian ships to the port of Canton . Although European demand for Chinese commodities like tea, silk, and porcelain was high, Chinese interest in European manufactured goods
6992-731: The remainder of the Pro-Democracy camp . Hong Kong is on China's southern coast, 60 km (37 mi) east of Macau, on the east side of the mouth of the Pearl River estuary . It is surrounded by the South China Sea on all sides except the north, which neighbours the Guangdong city of Shenzhen along the Sham Chun River . The territory's 1,110.18 km (428.64 sq mi) area (2,754.97 km if
7084-412: The rest of the country. All travellers between Hong Kong and China and Macau must pass through border controls, regardless of nationality. Mainland Chinese citizens do not have right of abode in Hong Kong and are subject to immigration controls. Public finances are handled separately from the national government; taxes levied in Hong Kong do not fund the central authority. The Hong Kong Garrison of
7176-407: The shore region was in deprived state. Few people came back to rebuilt the region and the government at that time introduced Hakka migrants to refill the region. New migrants knew nothing about the incense industry and marked its end. From 2000s onward, the remainants of incense trees in Hong Kong were recurrently being chopped down by cross-border illegal loggers. These are strong indicators that
7268-467: The smell of opium, but it is impossible as there was no opium trade in Ming Dynasty. The first romanisation came as "He-Ong-Kong" in 1780, originally referred to a small inlet located between Aberdeen Island and the southern coast of Hong Kong Island. Aberdeen was an initial point of contact between British sailors and local fishermen. Although the source of the romanised name is unknown, it
7360-525: The traders were expelled after military clashes in the 1520s, Portuguese-Chinese trade relations were re-established by 1549 . Portugal acquired a permanent lease for Macau in 1887. After the Qing conquest , maritime trade was banned under the Haijin policies. From 1661 to 1683, the population of most of the area forming present day Hong Kong was cleared under the Great Clearance , turning
7452-440: The village was marked as Little Hong Kong in a map of 1899. Regarding fragrant/incense wood, historian professor Lo Hsiang-lin was the one first exploring the etymology of Hong Kong with incense tree. The whole territory of Hong Kong, being part of Tung Kwun County, once cultivated incense trees, Aquilaria sinensis , in industrial scale during Ming Dynasty. The county incense was known as kwun-heung , 莞香 in character, which
7544-485: The violence, including dozens killed by the Royal Hong Kong Police via beatings and shootings. Although the territory's competitiveness in manufacturing gradually declined because of rising labour and property costs, it transitioned to a service-based economy. By the early 1990s, Hong Kong had established itself as a global financial centre and shipping hub. The colony faced an uncertain future as
7636-756: The war, as skilled Chinese migrants fled from the Chinese Civil War and more refugees crossed the border when the Chinese Communist Party took control of mainland China in 1949. Hong Kong became the first of the Four Asian Tiger economies to industrialise during the 1950s. With a rapidly increasing population, the colonial government attempted reforms to improve infrastructure and public services. The public-housing estate programme , Independent Commission Against Corruption , and Mass Transit Railway were all established during
7728-520: Was also commonly written as the single word Hongkong until 1926, when the government officially adopted the two-word name. Some corporations founded during the early colonial era still keep this name, including Hongkong Land , Hongkong Electric Company , Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels and the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC). Earliest known human traces in what is now Hong Kong are dated by some to 35,000 and 39,000 years ago during
7820-642: Was based in front of the HSBC Main Building . Two years later, in September 2014, democratic activists initiated Occupy Central with Love and Peace , demanding universal suffrage for the election of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong , eventually contributing to the Umbrella Revolution . There are many Grade-A commercial buildings in Central , a prime commercial district in Hong Kong. Bank of China (Hong Kong) has its head office in
7912-542: Was first mentioned a book Yuet Tai Kei (粵大記) written between 1577 and 1595, that means it was in 16th century when Hong Kong was ruled by Ming Dynasty , that means any speculations do not fit the background could be ruled out. The location is on the north shore of Aberdeen Island, or Ap Lei Chau natively, next to Aberdeen Channel . Hong Kong Tsuen, 香港村, namely the village of Hong Kong, was recorded on San On County Gazetteer of 1819, situated near Shouson Hill . When Hong Kong became well-known colonial name under British rule,
8004-538: Was further expanded in 1898 when the United Kingdom obtained a 99-year lease of the New Territories. The University of Hong Kong was established in 1911 as the territory's first institution of higher education. Kai Tak Airport began operation in 1924, and the colony avoided a prolonged economic downturn after the 1925–26 Canton–Hong Kong strike . At the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937, Governor Geoffry Northcote declared Hong Kong
8096-531: Was insignificant, so that Chinese goods could only be bought with precious metals. To reduce the trade imbalance, the British sold large amounts of Indian opium to China. Faced with a drug crisis, Qing officials pursued ever more aggressive actions to halt the opium trade. In 1839, the Daoguang Emperor rejected proposals to legalise and tax opium and ordered imperial commissioner Lin Zexu to eradicate
8188-476: Was largely dominated by the presence of Victoria City. The popularity of this area would also boost the population of Hong Kong from 5,000 in 1841 to 24,000 in 1848. Government House and other Hong Kong Government buildings were completed during this period on Government Hill . Various barracks , naval bases and the residence of the Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong , Flagstaff House were built on
8280-419: Was luxury and worth silver of the same weight, says one gram of kwun-heung worth one gram of silver. Once flourishing incense industry came to the end due to Manchu invasion. The new Manchu rulers ordered all people to evacuate from shore region to eradicate all resistance of Ming from the sea in 1661. Villages and properties were burnt and many people died during this period. The order was revolted in 1683 but
8372-565: Was used as a shore base during the second opium war ). The area soon attracted both Westerners and Chinese to trade and live in the area, and a Canton Bazaar (the precursor of the Central Market ) was built between Cochrane Street and Graham Street in 1842. The area was soon zoned for Westerners only, and Chinese residents were restricted to Sheung Wan. It was zoned for "Western-style buildings," meaning buildings with space requirements and hygiene standards similar to European. The area
8464-431: Was very far from any river. Hsu Ti-shan was the proponent of heung kong, 香江, namely fragrant river, but of different explanation. He refers the freshwater of a waterfall near Aberdeen Channel with sweet taste. But the character 江 never refers to any streams, creeks or brooks in Hong Kong. Famous female pirate, Heung-kwu , 香姑, literally fragrant-girl, was the youth name of Cheng I Sao . Legend had it that she occupied
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