Country name
conventional long form : none
conventional short form: Hong Kong
abbreviation : HK

Data code HK

Dependency status dependent territory of the UK; note - scheduled to revert to China on1 July 1997

Government type NA

National capital Victoria

Administrative divisions none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence none (dependent territory of the UK; the UK signed an agreement withChina on 19 December 1984 to return Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997; inthe joint declaration, China promises to respect Hong Kong's existing socialand economic systems and lifestyle)

National holiday Liberation Day, 29 August (1945)

Constitution the Letters Patent together with the Royal Instructions form the writtenconstitution of Hong Kong; new Basic Law approved in March 1990 in preparationfor scheduled reversion to China on 1 July 1997

Legal system based on English common law

Suffrage direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent residents livingin the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect electionlimited to about 100,000 professionals of electoral college and functional constituencies

Executive branch
chief of state : Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council Christopher FrancisPATTEN (since 9 July 1992); Chief Secretary Anson CHAN Fang On-Sang (since29 November 1993)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor
elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen

Legislative branch unicameral Legislative Council (60 seats; 30 indirectly elected by functionalconstituencies, 20 elected by popular vote, and 10 elected by election committee;members serve four-year terms); note - the Legislative Council will be replacedby a provisional legislature on 1 July 1997
elections: indirect and direct elections last held 17 September 1995; note - electionsfor the first post-reversion Legislative Council are scheduled to be heldin 1998
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 21,Liberal Party 10, Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong 6, otherparties and independents 23; note - subsequent to the election, there hasbeen a change in the distribution of seats; the new distribution is as follows- Democratic Party 19, Liberal Party 10, Democratic Alliance for the Bettermentof Hong Kong 6, other parties and independents 25

Judicial branch Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders Democratic Party, Martin LEE, chairman; Liberal Party, Allen LEE, chairman;Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, TSANG Yuk-shing, chairman;Hong Kong Democratic Foundation, Dr. Patrick SHIU Kin-ying, chairman

Political pressure groups and leaders Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood (ADPL), FrederickFUNG Kin Kee, chairman; Liberal Democratic Federation, HU Fa-kuang, chairman;Federation of Trade Unions (pro-China), LEE Chark-tim, president; Hong Kongand Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Confederation of Trade Unions(pro-democracy), LEE Cheuk-yan, chairman; Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce;Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Federation of Hong Kong Industries;Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Professional Teachers'Union, CHEUNG Man-kwong, president; Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the PatrioticDemocratic Movement in China, Szeto WAH, chairman

International organization participation APEC, AsDB, BIS (pending member), CCC, ESCAP (associate), ICFTU, IMO(associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US none (dependent territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Consul General Richard A. BOUCHER
consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong
mailing address: PSC 464, Box 30, FPO AP 96522-0002
telephone: [852] 2523-9011
FAX : [852] 2845-1598

Flag description blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with theHong Kong coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a shield (bearing two junks below a crown) heldby a lion (representing the UK) and a dragon (representing China) with anotherlion above the shield and a banner bearing the words HONG KONG below the shield
note: to be replaced on 1 July 1997 by a red flag with a stylized, white,five-petal bauhinia flower in the center

NOTE: The information regarding Hong Kong on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Hong Kong Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Hong Kong Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.