Imports - partners:
China 43.5%, Japan 12.1%, Taiwan 7.3%, US 5.3%, Singapore 5.3%,
South Korea 4.8% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$123.6 billion (31 December 2004 est.)
Debt - external:
$66.94 billion (2004 est.)
Currency (code):
Hong Kong dollar (HKD)
Currency code:
HKD
Exchange rates:
Hong Kong dollars per US dollar - 7.788 (2004), 7.7868 (2003),
7.7989 (2002), 7.7988 (2001), 7.7912 (2000)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Hong Kong
Telephones - main lines in use:
3,801,300 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
7,241,400 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern facilities provide excellent domestic
and international services
domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic
network
international: country code - 852; 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 5, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:
4.45 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (2004)
Televisions:
1.84 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.hk
Internet hosts:
591,993 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
17 (2000)
Internet users:
3,212,800 (2003)
Transportation Hong Kong
Highways: total: 1,831 km paved: 1,831 km unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:
Hong Kong
Merchant marine:
total: 837 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 20,478,042 GRT/34,554,455 DWT
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 446, cargo 119, chemical
tanker 44, combination ore/oil 2, container 105, liquefied gas 20,
passenger 6, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 75, roll on/roll
off 5, vehicle carrier 8
foreign-owned: 453 (Australia 1, Bahamas 1, Belgium 3, Canada 9,
China 246, Denmark 3, France 5, Germany 13, Greece 19, India 1,
Indonesia 1, Israel 1, Japan 51, Norway 16, Philippines 13,
Singapore 17, South Korea 8, Taiwan 5, Thailand 4, UAE 1, United
Kingdom 32, United States 3)
registered in other countries: 373 (2005)
Airports:
4 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Hong Kong
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong garrison of
China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) includes 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 service age and obligation:
18 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18–49: 1,743,972 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18–49: 1,403,088 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 40,343 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
Hong Kong garrison is funded by China; figures are NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of China
Transnational Issues Hong Kong
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
makes strenuous law enforcement efforts, but faces difficult
challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to
regional and world markets; modern banking system provides conduit
for money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs,
especially among young people
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
======================================================================
@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
land: 1.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about three times the size of The Mall in