Council
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council

*Hong Kong, Government

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
Head of Government:
Governor Chris PATTEN (since NA July 1992); Chief Secretary Sir David Robert
FORD (since NA February 1987)
Member of: APEC, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP (associate), GATT, ICFTU, IMO (associate), INTERPOL
(subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
as a dependent territory of the UK, the interests of Hong Kong in the US are
represented by the UK
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Consul General Richard L. WILLIAMS
embassy:
Consulate General at 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong
mailing address:
Box 30, Hong Kong, or FPO AP 96522-0002
telephone:
[852] 239-011
Flag:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with the Hong
Kong coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag;
the coat of arms contains a shield (bearing two junks below a crown) held by
a lion (representing the UK) and a dragon (representing China) with another
lion above the shield and a banner bearing the words HONG KONG below the
shield

*Hong Kong, Economy

Overview:
Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy with few tariffs or nontariff
barriers. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be
imported. Manufacturing accounts for about 18% of GDP, employs 28% of the
labor force, and exports about 90% of its output. Real GDP growth averaged a
remarkable 8% in 1987-88, slowed to 3.0% in 1989-90, and picked up to 4.2%
in 1991 and 5.9% in 1992. Unemployment, which has been declining since the
mid-1980s, is now about 2%. A shortage of labor continues to put upward
pressure on prices and the cost of living. Short-term prospects remain
bright so long as major trading partners continue to be reasonably
prosperous.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $86 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
5.9% (1992)
National product per capita:
$14,600 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.4% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
2% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues $17.4 billion; expenditures $14.7 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (FY92)
Exports:
$118 billion, including reexports of $85.1 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
clothing, t