var q computerhorseprogramracinguktvHong Kong Wikitravel. Hong Kong. Location. Flag. Quick Facts. Capital. Victoria CentralGovernment Parliamentary System. Currency Hong Kong dollar, HKD. Area 1,0. 92kmwater 5. Population 7,0. 71,5. Jul 2. 01. 1. Language. Cantonese, English. Religion mix of local religions Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism 8. Christian. Electricity 2. V, 5. 0Hz UK plug. Country code 8. 52. Internet TLD. hk. Time Zone UTC 8. Emergencies dial 9. Hong Kong Heng Gng in Cantonese, meaning Fragrant Harbor is a Special Administrative Region SAR of the Peoples Republic of China. It is a place with multiple personalities as a result of being both Cantonese Chinese and having been under British colonization. Today, the former British colony is a major tourism destination for Chinas increasingly affluent mainland population. It is an important hub in East Asia with global connections to many of the worlds cities. It is a unique destination that has absorbed people and cultural influences from places as diverse as Vietnam and Vancouver and proudly proclaims itself to be Asias World City. UnderstandeditHong Kong is one of the two Special Administrative Regions SAR of China the other being Macau. Before the transfer of sovereignty to China in 1. Hong Kong had been a British colony for nearly 1. As a result, most infrastructure inherits the design and standards of Britain. A list of orders, medals, prizes, and other awards, of military, civil and ecclesiastical conferees. The Coconut Effect describes any sound effect, special effect, or design feature that is unrealistic, but is still required to be included because viewers. Offers news, comment and features about the British arts scene with sections on books, films, music, theatre, art and architecture. Requires free registration. During the 1. 95. Four Asian Tigers through the development of a strong manufacturing base and later a financial sector. Hong Kong is now famous for being a leading financial center in East Asia, with the presence of local and some of the most recognized banks from around the world. Hong Kong is also famous for its transition port, transporting a significant volume of exports from China to the rest of the world. With its political and legal independence, Hong Kong is known as the Oriental Pearl with a twist of British influence in the culture. Hong Kong is much more than a harbor city. The traveler weary of its crowded streets may be tempted to describe it as Hong Kongcrete. Yet, this territory with its cloudy mountains and rocky islands is mostly a rural landscape. Much of the countryside is classified as Country Park and, although 7 million people are never far away, it is possible to find pockets of wilderness that will reward the more intrepid tourist. HistoryeditArchaeological findings date the first human settlements in the area back to more than 3. It was first incorporated into China during the Qin Dynasty and largely remained under Chinese rule until 1. Adam and Victoria Garnade took over The Black Horse Inn in late December 2015. Adam is a classically trained chef and has worked throughout the UK and Europe. Watch breaking news videos, viral videos and original video clips on CNN. com. Latest trending topics being covered on ZDNet including Reviews, Tech Industry, Security, Hardware, Apple, and Windows. Qing Dynasty, with a brief interruption at the end of the Qin Dynasty, when a Qin official established the kingdom of Nam Yuet, which later fell to the Han Dynasty. In January 1. 84. Qing Dynasty of China in the First Opium War, the Chinese government were forced into ceding Hong Kong Island in perpetuity to the British Crown under the Convention of Chuanpee, beginning the British administration of Hong Kong. The agreement was later rectified in August 1. Treaty of Nanking, after which the Crown Colony of Hong Kong was established with Victoria City present day Central as the capital. After the defeat of China in the Second Opium War, the Kowloon Peninsula was occupied by Britain in 1. Convention of Peking, adding to the Crown Colony. A 9. 9 year lease of additional land on the mainland the New Territories and surrounding islands for defense and further development was granted in 1. When World War II broke out, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill declared that Hong Kong was an impregnable fortress. However, it was only a reality check for the British as most of their troops were tied down fighting the Germans in Europe, and Hong Kong was not given enough resources for its defense. As a result, after just slightly more than two weeks of fighting, Hong Kong was surrendered to the Japanese on 2. December 1. 94. 1, making it the first time the British lost a colony to an invading force. After the war, despite American assurances that Hong Kong would be restored to China, the British moved quickly to regain control of Hong Kong. However, they had lost their aura of invincibility and could not continue to rule Hong Kong the way they used to before the war and all racist restrictions on non Europeans owning property on prime real estate land were lifted. Hong Kongs post war recovery was astonishingly swift and within 2 3 months all post war economic restrictions were lifted and Hong Kong became a free market once again. After the communists took control of mainland China in 1. Chinese people, especially businessmen, fled to Hong Kong due to persecution by the communist government. Unlike the restrictive policies imposed by the communists in China, the British government took a rather hands off approach in Hong Kong, as proposed by former financial secretary John James Cowperthwaite, which led to a high degree of economic freedom. Under such conditions, businesses flourished in Hong Kong and its economy grew rapidly, earning it a place as one of the East Asian Tigers. In 1. 99. 0, Hong Kongs GDP per capita surpassed that of Britain, the first time a colonys GDP per capita surpassed that of its colonial masters. Hong Kong is now the worlds fourth largest financial centre after London, New York and Tokyo. The first Boundary Stone along the Anglo Chinese Boundary at Chung Ying Street. The massive influx of mainland Chinese refugees led to the rise of the Kowloon Walled City, which was a convolution of maze like alleys, utter darkness, cramped space, and unsanitary conditions. Reports claim that dog meat was served something which is quite common in Mainland China, but considered intolerable by the British and that unlicensed physicians practised there. The Walled City was evacuated and subsequently demolished in 1. Kowloon Walled City Park was built on the site. After negotiations between China and Britain in 1. New Territories and outlying islands were to be given back to China in 1. As Hong Kong developed, these regions became heavily integrated with the permanent cession. As a result, by the time the lease was approaching expiration, it was considered highly impractical to separate the colony into two. Initial British proposals for joint administration of the entire colony were rejected by China and the international community, and in 1. Sino British Joint Declaration created a one country, two systems policy on the Question of Hong Kong, giving Hong Kong back to China on 1 July 1. Hong Kong thus became a SAR of the Peoples Republic of China. Under the principle One Country, Two Systems, Hong Kong is to be granted a high degree of autonomy for at least 5. China, and not being affected by various restrictions that apply in mainland China such as news censorship and foreign exchange controls. In accordance with the Joint Declaration, the Basic Law was enacted to serve in effect as a mini constitution for the Hong Kong SAR. In theory, Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of autonomy in most matters except foreign affairs and defense. In practice, it is more complex than that. On the one hand, Beijing exerts much influence, on the other, there are increasing calls pushing for a more democratic regime and universal suffrage. NASCARs Newest Top Level Driver Learned How To Race On His Computer. A few weeks after winning one of NASCARs biggest races, the Brickyard 4. Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne got booted from one of the seriess best teams a year early. His teenage replacement in 2. William Byron, whos only been in a real race car for four yearstotal. Thats because Byron spent his early yearswhich werent long agoracing behind a computer screen. Byron was born in NASCAR central, Charlotte, North Carolina, but never got in a race car himself when he was a child. Hed been a fan of racing since that age, watching on television and not quite understanding what was going on. He told Jalopnik last year that it took going to a race at Martinsville Speedway, the shortest track on the NASCAR circuit, for things to really click with him. Vice reports that Byron got a racing simulator at 1. Racing career rather than running laps on a real, physical race track. But dont let that put you on your turning left is so easy soapbox. Professional drivers use i. Racing to practice. Its not some kind of grown up version of Mario Karti. Racing goes out and scans real tracks, trying to make feedback for all of its cars and racing conditions as realistic and detailed as possible for those racing on the game. It isnt easy. Byron also raced all the time, Vice reports. His father told Vice that Byron ran about 5. His parents told Vice they thought he was just spending time on video games. Byrons father was a wealth management adviser at the time, and his mom stayed home to take care of the kids. Byron told Jalopnik last year he didnt think racing would be an option for him, since he didnt come from a family that had roots in the sport. It didnt take long for that to change. At 1. 5, Byron got in a real race cara small Legends car, which is rather early on the stock car ladder. Heres how he described it to Vice It was so different, he said. It was so intense. Youre going so much faster than what you assume. When youre on a computer you just have no idea howI hadnt driven a street car, either. The speed and everything was so different and new. It took a little bit of learning but when I got used to it I was pretty decent. For a year, Byrons parents paid for him to race. Byron picked up a sponsor in Liberty University after a meeting with the schools chancellor, Jerry Falwell Jr. Byron was full time in NASCARs lowest tier of its top three national series by 1. He probably should have won the title, but bad luck and NASCARs new championship format left him out of the final round of four drivers at Homestead Miami Speedway. The new format calls for the highest finisher of the remaining four drivers in the final race of the season at Homestead to win the championship. Johnny Sauter finished third and got the title. Byron won the race. JR Motorsports, a feeder team for Hendrick Motorsports Cup Series team, picked up Byron to race in the middle tier Xfinity Series for the 2. Hes won three of the series 2. Cup Series drivers are fond of dropping down into the Xfinity level and racking up race wins. Now, at 1. 9 years old, the kid who can say he learned how to race on a computer as a teenager can say hes a Cup Series racer at one of NASCARs top race teams, which currently has the likes of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jimmie Johnson in its lineup. Hell race the No. Weve come a long way from the moonshine and run what you brung days in this technology filled world, havent we