Brief Introduction To Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR)

Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea

Area: 1,092 sq km

Climate: tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

Terrain: hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north

Population: 6.78 millions

Religions: eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%

Languages: Chinese (Cantonese), English Literacy: definition

   The third annual session of the 7th National Peoples' Congress (NPC) adopted a decision on April 4, 1990, on establishing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) as of July 1, 1997.

   A preparatory committee for the SAR was established in 1996 by the NPC, to prepare the establishment of the region. The preparatory committee was composed of mainland members and of Hong Kong members who constitute not less than 50 percent  of its membership. Its chairman and members were appointed by the NPC Standing Committee.

   The first government and the first legislative council, the Provisional LegislativeCouncil, were formed in December of 1996, in accordance with the principles of state sovereignty and smooth transition. The preparatory committee shall be  responsible for preparing the establishment of the SAR. The selection committee, set up in November of 1996, were composed entirely of permanent residents of Hong Kong and must be broadlyrepresentative, including Hong Kong deputies to NPC, representatives of Hong Kong members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference CPPCC), persons with practical experience who have served in Hong Kong's executive, legislative and advisory organs prior to the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR, and persons representative of various sectors of society.