a Special Administrative Region of China, in the south of the country, with some autonomy; formerly a British Crown Colony: consists of Hong Kong Island, leased by China to Britain from 1842 until 1997, Kowloon Peninsula, Stonecutters Island, the New Territories (mainland), leased by China in 1898 for a 99-year period, and over 230 small islands; important entrepôt trade and manufacturing centre, esp for textiles and other consumer goods; university (1912). It retains its own currency, the Hong Kong dollar. Administrative centre: Victoria. Pop: 7 182 724 (2013 est). Area: 1046 sq km (404 sq miles)

an island in Hong Kong region, south of Kowloon Peninsula: contains the capital, Victoria. Pop: 1 337 800 (2001). Area: 75 sq km (29 sq miles)

administrative region of China (since July 1, 1997), on the South China Sea: it consists of a principal island (Hong Kong Island), nearby islands, Kowloon Peninsula, and an adjacent mainland area (New Territories): a former British crown colony: c. 421 sq mi (1,090 sq km); pop. 5,674,000

chief city of this region; seaport on Hong Kong Island: pop. c. 1,000,000