Hong Kong

American  

[hong kong] / ˈhɒŋ ˈkɒŋ /

Or Hongkong

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 British  

/ 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 Cultural  

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.

---

Discover More

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 Word Forms

• Hong Konger
  noun
• Hongkongite
  noun

Etymology

Origin of Hong Kong

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

Rai won his first European Tour title at the Hong Kong Open in 2018 and his choice of wearing gloves on both hands was soon noticed.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

Hong Kong and Macau were once the only places in China where people could publicly mourn Beijing's deadly crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

In Asia, Tokyo stocks closed two percent lower, while Hong Kong and Shanghai fell more than one percent.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

The same attributes that made Hong Kong an attractive place for business under British colonial rule now make it a hub for terror financing.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

Andy traveled frequently and was currently in Hong Kong, working on a construction project.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers