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Official Name: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
Capital: Victoria
Official Languages: Chinese and English
Spoken Languages: Chinese, English and Cantonese
Population: 7,234,800 (2014 est.)
Currency: Hong Kong dollar (HKD)
Time Zone: UTC+8
Hong Kong is a territory within China. It is located on the southern coast of China, leading into the South China Sea. Hong Kong has over 7 million people living in the country, these are all of various ethnicity groups. With the large scale of people living in such a confined country, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated countries in the world.
Get travel insurance to Hong Kong from Direct Travel Insurance. We offer low cost and high quality travel insurance to Hong Kong and most of the world.
Hong Kong only shares its borders with China due to where it is geographically situated. Most of Hong Kong is hilly and mountainous. Even though there is a large scale of people living in the country, 40% of the land is for nature. This 40% are covered with country parks or nature reserves. Hong Kong has a subtropical climate. Summers are usually hot and humid with winters being rather dry and cooler. Temperatures can be as high as 36°C (97.3°F) or as low as 0°C (32°F).
Geographic data: 22.3°N 114.2°E
Natural hazards: Typhoons, flooding and landslides are all risks.
Birth rate: 9 births/1000 people (2014 est.)
Death rate: 3 deaths/1000 people (2014 est.)
Life expectancy: 83.48 years (2012 est.)
You are allowed to drive within Hong Kong and car hire is available. You must drive on the left. You will have to apply for a Hong Kong driving license, if you already have a UK driving license then should be able to obtain one fairly quick and easy.
Crime is low, and Hong Kong is a very safe destination. Petty crimes have been reported, these include pickpocketing. Take care with important documents, make copies before you travel. Do not leave possessions without supervision, keep an eye on these at all times. Take extra care when walking through parks, follow guided routes and avoid travelling through these at night.
You can visit Hong Kong without a visa for up to 6 months. You will only require a visa if you intend to stay longer than 6 months or work in Hong Kong. You will need a Chinese visa if you plan on travelling to China from Hong Kong.
Your passport needs to be valid for your trip, it will only need to be valid for this time as no extended requirements are needed.
Currency: Hong Kong dollar (HKD)
Currently, FCDO have not advised to avoid travelling to Hong Kong. There is a low threat from terrorism. However, this information could change at any time.
It is advised that you check the FCDO website before you travel: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
Direct Travel Insurance cannot offer cover for any areas or countries to which the FCDO advise against travel.
Hong Kong has two different sides to its culture, western influences and local influences, it has been described as ‘East meets West’ due to its mixed culture. Architecture, sport and film are all key aspects of Hong Kong. Hong Kong is known for its martial art films, casting famous actors such as Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. These have become highly popular within the western world. Hong Kong has a large supply of skyscrapers, the country is packed with buildings reaching as high as 484m, making for a modern unique experience.