Hongkong
Hongkong
Hiangkiang, as it is called in China, consists of the islands Hongkong, Lantao, Kowloon and the “New Territories”; its 6 million inhabitants resident in an area of 1045 km². Former refugees are the greatest part of the population, 166 000 inhabitants live on only one km², therefore they have the highest population density.
Hongkong is also known as the biggest textile exporter and is famous for its second largest container port. Its leading exports are textile and clothing, electronic products, watches and clocks; Hongkong export more than 95 % of its products.
After the opium – wars in 1842 Hongkong became a colony of Great Britain and a few years later the British extended their colony, they got Kowloon.
1898 they expanded their colony for the second time and got the new territories for 99 years.
After 99 years they had to hand this district back to China within the other territories. So the first of July became a magic date for all inhabitants.
Between 1945 and 1949 the most refugees arrived at Hongkong because of the communists. In 1953 53 000 people became homeless because of a big fire, after that they started to build skyscrapers and now there are nearly all houses skyscrapers.
Nowadays 40 % of the population live in the new territories. It’s no problem to get there because the transport is very efficient.
People have a lot of opportunities in travelling:
Light Rail Transit - it’s like an automatic tram
Mass Transit Railway – it’s the underground
Busses
Star Ferry Ships
By car through the port tunnel
But the most famous way to get around is the Peak Tram, which is going up to the so called peak tower. The peak is the highest point of this isle.
From this point of view people can see the skyline of Hongkong, people can also see the bank of China.
The Bank of China, Hongkong Bank and the Standard Chartered Bank are the three biggest banks in Hongkong and they can print and publish their own banknote as they do it in Scotland.
If anybody wants to live in the central area he has to pay about 60 000 shillings and for a free parking place he has to pay million shillings. Now they build so called “Social Skyscrapers” , which are not as expensive as the normal apartments but they are very small; 4 persons live on an area of 36 km².
Kai – Tak – Airport, the only airport till 1998, had only one runway and it was very difficult to land a plane there. Last year they opened the new Chep – Lap – Kok – Airport near the largest island Lantau. But there are only 16 000 people living on, but this will change because of the tunnels and bridges, which were built to get to the airport.
On Lantau island there is the Po – Lin – Monastery (Kloster) with its 34 metres high and 250 000 tons heavy Buddha – statue, made out of bronze.
Back on Hongkong Island you can enjoy a ride on the Mid – Level – Escalator. It is 1700 metres long and people can see old houses and newer ones; at the beginning of the escalator it is like a lower social class and as higher as you get you will see the higher standard social classes.
Today Hongkong is not any longer under the influence of Great Britain, it is the so called “one country, two systems”. Hongkong will remain a free port and a separate customs entity. The free flow of foreign exchange will continue and the territory will have independent finances and its own system of taxation. In the next 50 years Hongkong`s social and economic status will remain unchanged.
But the queen has already been removed from all stamps and so on.
Macao
Macao, the first and last European colony , is owned by Portugal till the 20 of December 1999, then China will get this territory.
After that Macao will be a special administrative region for 50 years like Hongkong. Macao with its 450 000 inhabitants is also situated on the isle Taipa where the new airport was built during 1995.
The main state income is based on gambling which is forbidden in Hongkong and so a lot of people come to Macao on a one day trip for gambling. The gambling tax is exactly the half of the whole state income. Casinos like the Oriental Mandarin, Kingsway and Lisboa are the most famous ones and are most attended.
Official the Governor Vasco Rocha Vieira is governing Macao, but some multimillionaires are more important than him and have more influence.
A lot of skyscrapers have been built in the last few years but there are also a few old buildings of the colony’s time left. These buildings are situated around the “Largo de Senado”. One landmark of Macao is the church of Sao Paulo. It has been the centre of the religion in the East. Another famous church is the temple of the A – MA, she is a Chinese god and she gave the name to Macao.
But on the other hand Macao has its own beach (Hoc Sa Beach) and this is very rare in this territory; the beach is on Colonae, the second isle of Macao.
Colonae and Taipa are connected by two bridges, they are about 2 – 3 km long.
Macao will remain the last European colony till the 20 of December 1999.
© Grangl Gernot
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