aters) (1997)

Televisions: 1.84 million (1997)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 49 (1999)

@Hong Kong:Transportation

Railways:
total: 34 km
standard gauge: 34 km 1.435-m gauge (all electrified) (1996 est.)

Highways:
total: 1,831 km
paved: 1,831 km
unpaved: 0 km (1997)

Ports and harbors: Hong Kong

Merchant marine:
total: 271 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,942,646 GRT/13,101,275
DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 157, cargo 28, chemical tanker 5,
combination bulk 2, container 53, liquified gas 5, multi-functional
large load carrier 2, petroleum tanker 14, short-sea passenger 1,
vehicle carrier 3 (1999 est.)
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 13 countries
among which are UK 16, South Africa 3, China 9, Japan 6, Bermuda 2,
Germany 3, Canada 2, Cyprus 1, Belgium 1, and Norway 1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 3 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Heliports: 2 (1999 est.)

@Hong Kong:Military

Military branches: Hong Kong garrison of China's People's Liberation
Army (PLA) including elements of the PLA Ground Forces, PLA Navy, and
PLA Air Force; these forces are under the direct leadership of the
Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative
control of the adjacent Guangzhou Military Region

Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,012,203 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,516,533 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 46,485 (2000 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA; note - separate budget for
Hong Kong not established by China

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of China

@Hong Kong:Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: none

Illicit drugs: a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade; transshipment
and money-laundering center; increasing indigenous amphetamine abuse

______________________________________________________________________

HOWLAND ISLAND

@Howland Island: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: 1.6 sq km
land: 1.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative: about three times