dquarters of British Forces, Army, Royal Navy, Royal
Air Force, Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, Royal Hong Kong
Police Force

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 1,895,535
males fit for military service: 1,442,072
males reach military age (18) annually: 46,248 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $207 million,
0.2% of GDP (FY92/93); this represents 65% of the total cost of
defending the colony, the remainder being paid by the UK

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the UK until 1 July
1997, when China will assume command

======================================================================

@Howland Island
--------------

(territory of the US)

Map
---

Location: 0 48 N, 176 38 W -- Oceania, island in the North Pacific
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Flag
----

Description: the flag of the US is used

Geography
---------

Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Geographic coordinates: 0 48 N, 176 38 W

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total area: 1.6 sq km
land area: 1.6 sq km
comparative area: about three times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 6.4 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

Terrain: low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded
by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 5%
other: 95%

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

Environment:
current issues: no natural fresh water resources
natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
be a maritime hazard
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate
vines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center;
primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds,
shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats

People
------

Population: uninhabited; note - American civilians evacuated in
1942 after J