Hong Kong
Hong Kong
- Capital
- City of Victoria
- Population
- 7,481,800
- Region
- Asia
- Languages
- English, Chinese
Despite its reputation as a global concrete jungle, about forty percent of the territory is actually protected country parkland and nature reserves. This unique urban planning ensures that most residents are only a short hike away from lush mountains, waterfalls, and diverse wildlife like wild boar and monkeys. The city also boasts the world's longest outdoor covered escalator system, which helps thousands of commuters navigate the steep terrain of Victoria Peak every day. Additionally, the local obsession with feng shui is so significant that many skyscrapers are built with hollow 'dragon holes' to allow mystical energy to flow through the buildings to the water.
Currency
The official currency is the Hong Kong Dollar, denoted by the ISO code HKD. Interestingly, the notes are issued by three different private banks rather than a single central bank, which is why bills of the same denomination can have vastly different designs and colors.
Flag symbolism
The flag features a white, five-petaled Hong Kong orchid tree flower, known as the Bauhinia blakeana, set against a vibrant red background. The red color matches the national flag of China, symbolizing the link between the territory and the mainland. Each of the flower's petals contains a small red star, which mirrors the five stars on the Chinese national flag and represents the residents' loyalty to the country. The spinning motion of the flower design is intended to harmonize the 'one country, two systems' principle through a dynamic visual balance.
Emblem history
The regional emblem mirrors the design of the flag, consisting of a white Bauhinia flower set within a red circular border. Encircling the floral center are the words 'Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China' written in traditional Chinese characters and English. Before 1997, the territory used a colonial coat of arms that featured a lion and a dragon supporting a shield with local trade vessels. The current emblem was adopted to mark the transition of sovereignty and to simplify the symbolic identity of the region under a single floral motif.