ens 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, IHO, 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: Consul General Michael KLOSSON
consulate(s) general: 96522-0002 telephone: [852] 2523-9011 FAX:
[852] 2845-1598

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

Economy Hong Kong

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 economies 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, with growth of 10% in 2000, recovered rapidly from the Asian
financial crisis. The recent global downturn has badly hurt Hong Kong's
exports and GDP growth is estimated to be 0% in 2001. Private sector
analysts project 2002 GDP growth to be 1.8%.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $180 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 0% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $25,000 (2001 es