At a Glance

With more than 7.3 million people, Hong Kong is a vibrant city, and a major gateway to China. This page will give you the facts about Hong Kong – from the form of government to the languages used.

On 1 July 1997, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law, the HKSAR’s constitutional document, took effect.

The Chief Executive is the head of the HKSAR. The Executive Council assists the Chief Executive in policy-making and advises on matters relating to the introduction of bills and subsidiary legislation. Policy bureaus and departments carry out the main administrative and executive functions of the government. Learn more here.

Hong Kong’s economy is characterized by free trade, low taxation and minimum government intervention. Hong Kong is a major service economy, with particularly strong links to mainland China and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region. The Mainland of China, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the European Union, and the United States are among Hong Kong's major trading partners. Learn more here.

The Basic Law is the constitutional document of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region which enshrines within a legal document the important concepts of “one country, two systems,” “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong,” and a high degree of autonomy. It prescribes the various systems to be practiced in Hong Kong and sets out the blueprint for the city’s development. Learn more about the Basic Law.

Click here for the facts, statistics and yearbooks of Hong Kong.