Hong Kong: flag, capital, currency and history

Hong Kong, officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, is a special administrative region of China in Eastern Asia, Asia. Its capital is City of Victoria. The currency is the Hong Kong dollar. Languages spoken include English and Chinese.

Quick facts about Hong Kong

Official name: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
Capital: City of Victoria
Region: Asia, Eastern Asia
Currency: Hong Kong dollar (HKD, $)
Languages: English, Chinese
Calling code: +852
Internet domain: .hk
Area: 1,104 km² (426 sq mi)
Land borders: China
Demonym: Hong Konger

Flag of Hong Kong

Download the flag of Hong Kong as a scalable SVG or as a PNG in three sizes. The flag emoji is 🇭🇰.

SVG (vector)

History of Hong Kong

The area around Hong Kong has been inhabited since prehistoric times and was part of imperial China for many centuries. After the First Opium War, Hong Kong Island was ceded to Britain in 1842, and Kowloon and the New Territories were added in 1860 and 1898, the latter on a 99-year lease. The territory developed as a trading port and was occupied by Japan during the Second World War. Under a 1984 agreement, sovereignty passed to China in 1997, and Hong Kong became a special administrative region with its own legal and economic systems.

Key dates

1842Hong Kong Island is ceded to Britain under the Treaty of Nanking.
1860The Kowloon peninsula is ceded to Britain under the Convention of Peking.
1898Britain obtains a 99-year lease of the New Territories.
1941Japanese forces occupy Hong Kong in December; the occupation lasts until 1945.
1984The Sino-British Joint Declaration sets terms for the transfer of Hong Kong to China.
1997Sovereignty over Hong Kong passes to China on 1 July.

A short overview, not a full history. Dates are given for well-documented events only.