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shanghai | The origin of the name "Hong Kong" is that it used to be a port to ship off spices and fragrant wood ("Hong" means fragrant, and "Kong" means port in Chinese). Hong Kong is in the southeast of Kangtong province. It is made up of main and outlying islands of Hong Kong, and a peninsula connected with China by land. It is less than half as large as the Tokyo metropolitan area. The sea between the center of Hong Kong Island and Kurong, the southern tip of the peninsula, is called Victoria Channel. There is an undersea tunnel below, only for cars. Marvelous night view known as "Pearl of the East", "A Million Dollar View" can be seen around here. As a result of the Opium War, Hong Kong Island and Kurong became a territory of Britain, according to the Beijing and Nanjing Treaty. Besides, New Territories in the peninsula and other islands are leased from China for 99 years from 1898. Now, Hong Kong is under a direct colonial rule of Britain, and directed by a governor-general appointed by British Government. Hong Kong used to develop through relay trade, but now, the processing industries are growing rapidly. There are many banking institutions, and Hong Kong is also a center of international finance. |