hood, Citizens Party, Democratic Party,
Frontier Party; pro-Beijing - Democratic Alliance for the Betterment
of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Progressive Alliance, Liberal Party, New
Century Forum

Political pressure groups and leaders: Chinese General Chamber of
Commerce (pro-China); Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong
Kong; Confederation of Trade Unions (pro-democracy) [LAU Chin-shek,
president; LEE Cheuk-yan, general secretary]; Federation of Hong
Kong Industries; Federation of Trade Unions (pro-China) [LEE
Chark-tim, president]; Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the
Patriotic Democratic Movement in China [Szeto WAH, chairman]; Hong
Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Hong Kong General
Chamber of Commerce; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union [CHEUNG
Man-kwong, president]; Liberal Democratic Federation [HU Fa-kuang,
chairman]

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, BIS, CCC,
ESCAP (associate), ICC, ICFTU, IMO (associate), Interpol
(subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMO, WToO (associate),
WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (special administrative
region of China)

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul
General Michael KLOSSON

consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong

mailing address: PSC 464, Box 30, FPO AP 96522-0002

telephone: [852] 2523-9011

FAX: [852] 2845-1598

Flag description: red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia
flower in the center

Hong Kong Economy

Economy - overview: Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy
highly dependent on international trade. Natural resources are
limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Indeed,
imports and exports, including reexports, each exceed GDP in dollar
value. Even before Hong Kong reverted to Chinese administration on 1
July 1997 it had extensive trade and investment ties with China. Per
capita GDP compares with the level in the four big countries of
Western Europe. GDP growth averaged a strong 5% in 1989-97. The
widespread Asian economic difficulties in 1998 hit this
trade-dependent economy quite hard, with GDP down 5%. The economy is
undergoing a rapid recovery, with growth of 10% in 2000 to be
followed by projected growth of 5% in 2001.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $181 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 10% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $25,400 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector