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Socio-economic Systems - Part 2
Economic Services
Air Services
Air services between
the HKSAR and foreign countries are governed by bilateral air services
agreements (ASAs) which are international treaties. The main objectives of
the HKSAR's policy on air services are to maintain the status of Hong Kong
as a centre of international and regional aviation and to ensure the
provision of air links to a wide range of destinations to meet the needs of
the travelling public and shippers. So far, the HKSAR has signed ASAs with
55 aviation partners, providing air links to nearly all major cities in the
world.
Hong Kong
International Airport (HKIA), a 570,000 sq m. ultra-modern facility, is among the busiest airports
in the world (it holds a record of handling 117,000 passengers on the day
of February 21, 1999). The passenger terminal is perhaps the world's largest
enclosed space and is certainly one of the most energy efficient buildings
yet created.
HKIA is one of the
few airports with an integrated underground rail network. An Automated
People Mover swiftly transports passengers from the furthermost gates in about
70 seconds. Adjacent to the terminal building is the transportation center
where fast transfers to urban Hong Kong can be made via the Airport Express
Line (trains leaving every 10 minutes - a 23-minute journey from airport to
HK Station in Central), airport buses and taxis.
More information on HKIA
Tourism in Hong
Kong
Tourism is one of the
most valuable service industries in Hong Kong. Situated at the centre of
the Pacific rim in southern China, where East meets West, Hong Kong has
always been a popular destination for tourists all over the world. In 2004,
some 21.8 million visitors came to HK.
HK has many
attractions to tourists. In terms of transport, Hong Kong is conveniently
linked by air to all major cities worldwide and serves as the major gateway
for travel to the Mainland of China. Hong Kong's free port status also
makes it a shopper's paradise. During the year 2005, several tourist
attractions were newly opened, namely the Hong Kong Disneyland, the Wisdom
Path in Lantau Island, and “A Symphony of Lights” Phase II.
Hong Kong Disneyland Wisdom
Path A Symphony of Lights
In May 2006, the
newly added tourist attraction, the Hong Kong Wetland Park, was opened. The
61-hectare Hong Kong Wetland Park demonstrates the diversity of the Hong
Kong's wetland ecosystem and highlights the need to conserve them. It
presents an opportunity to provide an educational and recreational venue
with a theme on the functions and values of wetlands for use by local
residents and overseas visitors. Further this year, the “Ngong Ping 360”
will be opened in the mid of 2006. This
dynamic new tourism experience combines a spectacular 5.7km cable car
journey with an impressive cultural themed village, and easy access to the
Tian Tan Buddha Statue, the world's largest, seated, outdoor, bronze Buddha
statue.
Hong Kong Wetland Park Ngong
Ping 360
More:
Fact about Hong Kong’s Tourism
Hong Kong Tourism Board
Consumer
Protection
The Hong Kong SAR
Government is committed to enhancing consumer protection. We have laws that
seek to ensure that goods and services available are safe, of reasonable
quality and offered on fair terms. We also provide aggrieved consumers
access to relevant legal remedies. Our consumer-related laws are
comprehensive, covering the following:
- Consumer goods safety;
- Safety of toys and
children's products;
- Consumer protection
against unconscionable terms in consumer contracts;
- Supply of services;
- Sales of goods
- Trade descriptions; and
- Weights and measures
The Customs
and Excise Department is the major enforcement agency for a number of
consumer protection laws. The Consumer Council is a statutory body
established in 1974 with a mandate to protect and promote the interests of
consumers of goods, services and immovable property. The Council's
activities range from developing new consumer protection initiatives to
conducting studies on the state of competition and trade practices of
various business sectors. It mediates in consumer disputes, disseminates
information and advice, organizes consumer education activities and test
products. With a $10 million grant from the Government, the Council
established the Consumer Legal Action Fund in 1994 to assist consumers to
take legal action against unscrupulous traders.
More...
Port Development
Hong Kong has an
excellent natural, deep and sheltered harbour, at the mouth of the Pearl
River. It is also strategically located on Far East trade routes, as well
as at the entrance to the booming Guangdong Province. In 2004, the port of
Hong Kong handled 22 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) of
containers, making it the world’s busiest container port. In the same year,
we have recorded 35,901 ocean-going vessels and 117,544 river cargo vessels
calling at Hong Kong.
The design,
financing, construction and operation of port facilities have been largely
achieved by the private sector. This will ensure a rapid response to the
needs of the trade. With the Container Terminal 9 (CT9) coming into
operation at the end of 2004, Hong Kong’s container port at Kwai Chung and
Tsing Yi has a total of nine container terminals with 24 berths and a
handling capacity of over 18 million TEU. The container terminal facilities
are able to cope with the forecast growth in demand to the end of this
decade.
Fact about Port and maritime
development
Education
Education takes up
the largest share of the Government's Budget - over one-fifth in terms of
recurrent expenditure. The Hong Kong SAR Government provides 9 years of
free and universal basic education from Primary One to Secondary Three.
Schooling until age 15 is compulsory. With effect from the 2002/03 school
year, we have enabled all Secondary Three students who have the ability and
wish to continue their study to receive highly subsidized Senior Secondary
education or vocational training.
At present, about 48%
of the 17-20 age group have access to higher education, including
public-funded and self-financing places. Our target is that by 2010/11, 60%
of our secondary school graduates will have access to post-secondary
education.
Many people in Hong
Kong are engaged in continuing and professional education at the higher
education level in institution such as the Open University.
More…
Emigration
The estimated number
of emigrants in 2004 is 9,800, at similar level as in 2003
For nine
executive years (1995-2003), we have had a drop in emigration estimates.
The leaving figures for 2003 and 2004 demonstrate that the confidence of
people in the HK Special Administrative Region has been stabilized.
Environment
Action against Environmental
Pollution
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Ordinance, enacted in 1998,
provides the legal framework which requires that every designated project
must include an EIA and obtain an environmental permit before works can
commence. There are also administrative procedures requiring the assessment
of environmental implications of proposals at the policy level.
Fact
about Environmental protection in Hong Kong
More...
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