Occupied by the UK in 1841, Hong Kong was formally ceded by
China the following year; various adjacent lands were added
later in the 19th century. Pursuant to an agreement signed by
China and the UK on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July
1997. In this agreement, China has promised that, under its "one
country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system
will not be imposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong will enjoy a
high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and
defense affairs for the next 50 years. Detail Map and Info on
Hong Kong Return to Visiting Locations Eastern Asia, bordering
the South China Sea and China Area: Total: 1,092 sq km, water:
50 sq km, land: 1,042 sq km. Area - comparative: Six times the
size of Washington, DC. Land boundaries: Total: 30 km, border
countries: China 30 km. Coastline: 733 km. Climate and Terrain:
Climate: Tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and
rainy from spring through s