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Hongkong
Hongkong
Hiangkiang, as it is called in China, consists of the
islands Hongkong, Lantao, Kowloon and the “New Territories”; its 6
million inhabitants resident in an area of 1045 km². Former refugees are
the greatest part of the population, 166 000 inhabitants live on only one
km², therefore they have the highest population density.
Hongkong is also known as the biggest textile exporter and
is famous for its second largest container port. Its leading exports are textile
and clothing, electronic products, watches and clocks; Hongkong export more than
95 % of its products.
After the opium – wars in 1842 Hongkong became a
colony of Great Britain and a few years later the British extended their colony,
they got Kowloon.
1898 they expanded their colony for the second time and got
the new territories for 99 years. After 99 years they had to hand this district
back to China within the other territories. So the first of July became a magic
date for all inhabitants.
Between 1945 and 1949 the most refugees arrived at Hongkong
because of the communists. In 1953 53 000 people became homeless because of a
big fire, after that they started to build skyscrapers and now there are nearly
all houses skyscrapers.
Nowadays 40 % of the population live in the new territories.
It’s no problem to get there because the transport is very efficient.
People have a lot of opportunities in travelling:
- Light Rail Transit -
it’s like an automatic tram
- Mass Transit Railway
– it’s the underground
- Busses
- Star Ferry
Ships
- By car through the port
tunnel
But the most famous way to get around is the Peak Tram,
which is going up to the so called peak tower. The peak is the highest point of
this isle.
From this point of view people can see the skyline of
Hongkong, people can also see the bank of China.
The Bank of China, Hongkong Bank and the Standard Chartered
Bank are the three biggest banks in Hongkong and they can print and publish
their own banknote as they do it in Scotland.
If anybody wants to live in the central area he has to pay
about 60 000 shillings and for a free parking place he has to pay million
shillings. Now they build so called “Social Skyscrapers” , which are
not as expensive as the normal apartments but they are very small; 4 persons
live on an area of 36 km².
Kai – Tak – Airport, the only airport till 1998,
had only one runway and it was very difficult to land a plane there. Last year
they opened the new Chep – Lap – Kok – Airport near the
largest island Lantau. But there are only 16 000 people living on, but this will
change because of the tunnels and bridges, which were built to get to the
airport.
On Lantau island there is the Po – Lin –
Monastery (Kloster) with its 34 metres high and 250 000 tons heavy Buddha
– statue, made out of bronze.
Back on Hongkong Island you can enjoy a ride on the Mid
– Level – Escalator. It is 1700 metres long and people can see old
houses and newer ones; at the beginning of the escalator it is like a lower
social class and as higher as you get you will see the higher standard social
classes.
Today Hongkong is not any longer under the influence of
Great Britain, it is the so called “one country, two systems”.
Hongkong will remain a free port and a separate customs entity. The free flow of
foreign exchange will continue and the territory will have independent finances
and its own system of taxation. In the next 50 years Hongkong´s social and
economic status will remain unchanged.
But the queen has already been removed from all stamps and
so on.
Macao
Macao, the first and last European colony , is owned by Portugal till the 20 of
December 1999, then China will get this territory. After that Macao will be a
special administrative region for 50 years like Hongkong. Macao with its 450 000
inhabitants is also situated on the isle Taipa where the new airport was built
during 1995.
The main state income is based on gambling which is forbidden in Hongkong and so
a lot of people come to Macao on a one day trip for gambling. The gambling tax
is exactly the half of the whole state income. Casinos like the Oriental
Mandarin, Kingsway and Lisboa are the most famous ones and are most attended.
Official the Governor Vasco Rocha Vieira is governing Macao, but some
multimillionaires are more important than him and have more influence.
A lot of skyscrapers have been built in the last few years but there are also a
few old buildings of the colony’s time left. These buildings are situated
around the “Largo de Senado”. One landmark of Macao is the church of
Sao Paulo. It has been the centre of the religion in the East. Another famous
church is the temple of the A – MA, she is a Chinese god and she gave the
name to Macao.
But on the other hand Macao has its own beach (Hoc Sa Beach) and this is very
rare in this territory; the beach is on Colonae, the second isle of Macao.
Colonae and Taipa are connected by two bridges, they are about 2 – 3 km
long.
Macao will remain the last European colony till the 20 of December 1999.
© Grangl Gernot
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