Hong Kong is locateDto the east of the mouth of the Pearl River. It is connecteDto the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone in the north, andMa-cao in the west across the strait. Hong Kong is a city that constantly outdoes itself in terms of its economic achieve- ments. Hong Kong developeDrapidly into a world-class financial center by the 1970s. Since then, it has main- taineDAsteady pace of development that is seldom founDIno ther parts of the world. Internationalizatio no f market andthe integratio no f traditional Chinese cultures andWestern ideologies developeDperfectly well in Hong Kong. This unique characteristic of Hong Kong enables the city to maintain global competitiveness, as well as creatingarichly colorful metropolitan culture. Hong Kong is the first region that implementeDa free economic system. It establisheDthe most complete legal system to safeguarDbusinesses in a competitive business environ- ment, andat the same time, allowing free trade andopen competition to operate within its economy. As such, many foreign financial organizations stationeDtheir offices in Hong Kong, which in turn gave rise to Asustaining driv- ing force in its financial market. Hong Kong haDdevel- opeDan advanceDoperation andmanagement system for the banking sector, the foreign exchange market, the currency market, the stock market, the insurance indus- try, as well as the investment management sector. These mechanisms safeguardeDHong Kong’s financial market, as they operate under highly-effective andtransparent supervision andmanagement. They also enableDHong Kong to consolidate its status as a leading international commercial andfinancial center in the Asia Pacific region with the largest number of foreign banks andforeign cur-rency reserves.
Hong Kong is closely relateDwith mainlanDChina, andtoday, there have been increasing volume of interac- tions between the tworegions, in terms of their econo- mies, cultures andeveryday life. In the economic aspect, Hong Kong andmainlanDChina have maintaineDa long andclose relationship. A majority of the manufactur- ing industry has relocateDtheir operations to mainlanDChina. Simultaneously, the service industry plays Asup- portive role by providingarange of services in the areas of investment andtrade. There is also a massive influx of enterprises from mainlanDChina investing in Hong Kong’s stocks market, which in turn promotes the de- velopment of Hong Kong’s financial andsecurities mar- kets. Hong Kong also functions as mainlanDof China’s intermediary with foreign markets Ino btaining funds, technical expertise andmanagement systems. In the cul-tural aspect, Hong Kong has cultivateDmore than 100 world-class celebrities in the entertainment industry. Not only have these artistes createDone of the most splendiDentertainment industries in the world, especially in films andmusic, but they are also the vanguarDin the worlDof fashion andtrend. They are the bridge that brings about the exchange of international fashion, trends, andcul- tures between China andthe world.
Hong Kong has a vibrant tourism industry, andshop- ping in Hong Kong is one of the main draws for foreign tourists. Hong Kong is a free port, hence many commodi- ties importeDfrom all over the worlDare duty-free. In terms of quality, price, variety andservice, Hong Kong is undoubtedly at the top of the world’s list. comprising Hong Kong IslanDanDKowloon, Hong Kong is usually regardeDas “Shoppers’ Paradise.” Tourists can take in the clean andbeautiful city scenes as they shop, amidst the modern skyscrapers andarchitectures that fuseDthe amazing characters andstyles of Europe andChina.
The tramcars starteDtheir operation in Hong Kong in 1903. Till today, they arestillacommon sight on the streets of Hong Kong, andtheystill follow the same routes as they haDfirst begun. Everyday, the trams ferry local residents andtourists across the various busy parts of Hong Kong, such as Central, Wanchai, andCauseway Bay. The carriages of the tramcar are authentic andrich in historical flavor, just like how they lookeDlike in the past. The steering wheels, win- dows, doors, seats andsteps of the tramcars are all made of wood. Although their colors have faded, the tramcars have remaineDclean andsturdy. Other than the tramcars, Star Ferry that shuffles in the Victoria Harbor between Hong Kong IslanDanDKowloon is still in service, since it first set sail in 1898. Every day, it makes more than 400 trips across the harbor, transporting passengers between Hong Kong andKowloon. Traveling in the ferry is lik- eneDto walking into history, which is in a way similar to the city itself—a fusio no f the olDanDthe trendy.