Hong Kong/China

Abstract

The 5.7 million residents of Hong Kong are primarily Chinese (98%), and while Cantonese is prevalently spoken, the official language is English. The larger part of the work force is concentrated in the area of industry and commerce (71%) with most of the remaining work force concentrated in the area of services (28%). The literacy rate is 90%. Hong Kong is ruled by a governor appointed by the British monarch. Hong Kong is a free market open to trade and commerce; the GDP (1987) is 45 billion dollars. In 1997, Hong Kong will return to Chinese rule, but it will remain a Special Administrative Region of China and will keep its political, economic and judicial systems. The infant mortality rate is 9.9/1000 and life expectancy is 76 years. The median age has increased from 20.7 in 1970 to 26 today.