(2000), 7.76 (1999), 7.75 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Hong Kong
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.839 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.7 million (December 1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern facilities provide excellent domestic
and international services
domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic
network
international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific
Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; access
to 5 international submarine cables providing connections to ASEAN
member nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western
Europe
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
4.45 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (plus two repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
1.84 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.hk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
17 (2000)
Internet users:
4.35 million (2002)
Transportation Hong Kong
Railways:
total: 34 km
standard gauge: 34 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified and double-tracked)
note: connects to China railway system at Hong Kong-China border
(2001)
Highways: total: 1,831 km paved: 1,831 km unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Hong Kong
Merchant marine:
total: 549 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 16,176,728 GRT/27,119,764 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 315, cargo 66, chemical tanker
15, combination bulk 2, container 86, liquefied gas 16,
multi-functional large-load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 40,
refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 2, short-sea passenger 1,
vehicle carrier 2, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here
as a flag of convenience: Belgium 5, Belize 1, British Virgin
Islands 1, China 115, Denmark 2, Germany 19, Greece 2, India 8,
Japan 8, Liberia 1, Malaysia 7, Norway 1, Panama 2, Philippines 5,
Singapore 7, South Korea 2, Taiwan 1, UK 27, Virgin Islands (UK) 1
note: (2002 est.)
Airports:
3 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2002)
Heliports: 2 (2002)
Military Hong Kong
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong garrison of
China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) including elements of the PLA
Ground Forces, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are under
the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing
and under administrative control of the adjacent Guangzhou Military
Region
Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15–49: 2,033,716 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15–49: 1,524,903 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 47,477 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA% (FY02)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of China
Transnational Issues Hong Kong
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
Makes strenuous law enforcement efforts, but faces serious
challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to
regional and world markets; modern banking system provides a conduit
for money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs,
especially among young people
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Howland Island
Introduction Howland Island
Background:
Discovered by the US early in the 19th century, the island was
officially claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British companies
mined for guano until about 1890. Earhart Light is a day beacon near
the middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during
World War II, but has since been rebuilt; it is named in memory of
the famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART. The island is administered by the
US Department of the Interior as a National Wildlife Refuge.
Geography Howland Island
Location:
Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between
Hawaii and Australia
Geographic coordinates:
0 48 N, 176 38 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 1.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1.6 sq km
Area - comparative:
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
6.4 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain:
low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow