Hong Kong

or Hong·kong

[ hong kong ]

noun

1. a special administrative region of China, formerly a British colony, comprising Hong Kong Island (29 sq. mi.; 75 sq. km), the southern part of Kowloon peninsula, nearby islands, and the New Territories in adjacent mainland southeast China: reverted to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. 427 sq. mi. (1,106 sq. km).

Hong Kong

/ ˌhɒŋ ˈkɒŋ /

noun

1. a Special Administrative Region of China, in the south of the country, with some autonomy; formerly a British Crown Colony: consists of Hong Kong Island, leased by China to Britain from 1842 until 1997, Kowloon Peninsula, Stonecutters Island, the New Territories (mainland), leased by China in 1898 for a 99-year period, and over 230 small islands; important entrepôt trade and manufacturing centre, esp for textiles and other consumer goods; university (1912). It retains its own currency, the Hong Kong dollar. Administrative centre: Victoria. Pop: 7 182 724 (2013 est). Area: 1046 sq km (404 sq miles)
2. an island in Hong Kong region, south of Kowloon Peninsula: contains the capital, Victoria. Pop: 1 337 800 (2001). Area: 75 sq km (29 sq miles)

Hong Kong

1. Now a special administrative region of China ; formerly a British colony, located on the south coast of China on the South China Sea, part of the Pacific Ocean .

Notes

One of the world's leading commercial centers, Hong Kong is home to many international corporate offices and a world-famous tailoring industry. China has given assurances that it will maintain Hong Kong's capitalistic ( see capitalism ) and democratic ( see democracy ) institutions.

China ceded the island of Hong Kong to Britain in the nineteenth century. Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule in 1997, when Britain's lease expired.

Other Words From

• Hong Konger Hongkongite noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Hong Kong¹

First recorded in 1840–45; possibly from Chinese (Guangdong dialect) Hēung Góng “Fragrant Harbor, Incense Harbor” (the two syllables do not rhyme in Guangdong dialect)

Example Sentences

HONG KONG—Last year, I met a Chinese graduate student on a tour of the northeastern United States before his first day at Harvard.

From The Daily Beast

Memes that ridiculed political leaders and the Hong Kong Police Force shot through fiber optic cables at light speed.

From The Daily Beast

The past two months have been a war of attrition between the Hong Kong government and pro-democracy protestors.

From The Daily Beast

What convinced you to make the trip to Hong Kong to first meet Snowden?

From The Daily Beast

I stayed longer in Hong Kong than Glenn and Ewen, and was hoping to film Snowden one more time where he was hiding out.

From The Daily Beast

The foster-father, who was an American resident in Hong-Kong, found his eyesight gradually failing him.

From Project Gutenberg

The most important piece of intelligence from Hong-Kong is the continuation of the fearful mortality among the British troops.

From Project Gutenberg

A few days were thus pleasantly spent; I then returned to duty at Hong-Kong.

From Project Gutenberg

And the women with children strapped on their backs while they steer boats and handle passengers and traffic about Hong Kong!

From Project Gutenberg

She was quite used to the dancing-girls at Calcutta, and when they were at Hong Kong or other ports.

From Project Gutenberg