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Socio-economic Systems - Part 2
Economic 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 around over 50 countries, providing air links to nearly all major cities in the world. Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), a 710,000 sq. m. ultra-modern facility, is among the busiest airports in the world. Annual passenger and cargo throughput reached 47.8 million and 3.74 million tonnes in 2007. 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 24-minute journey from airport to HK Station in Central), airport buses and taxis.
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 2005, some 23 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. Hong Kong's major tourist attractions include the Hong Kong Disneyland, the Wisdom Path in Lantau Island, and A Symphony of Lights, the Hong Kong Wetland Park and the Ngong Ping 360 cable cars etc. 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 recreatiional venue with a theme on the functions and values of wetlands for use by local residents and overseas visitors. The Ngong Ping 360 combines a spectacular 5.7 km 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. More: Facts on Hong Kong's Tourism
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:
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.
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 2005, the port of Hong Kong handled some 22.6 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) of containers, making it the world's busiest container port. In the same year, we have recorded 39,140 ocean-going vessels and 192,680 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. The nine container terminals at Kwai Chung-Tsing Yi are under the management of five operators, and have 24 berths with a handling capacity of over 18 million TEUs. The container terminal facilities are able to cope with the forecast growth in demand to the end of this decade. More facts 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. 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 57% of the 17-20 age group have access to higher education, including public-funded and self-financing places. Starting from the 2008/09 school year, senior secondary education will also be provided free through public sector schools. Many people in Hong Kong are engaged in continuing and professional education at the higher education level in institution such as the Open University. Emigration The number emigrating from Hong Kong per year has declined from 66 200 in 1992 to just 10 500 in 2002. The accuracy of these figures have to be treated with caution as an unknown but certainly significant number have since returned, and these Hong Kong residents can readily re-emigrate as they already have their foreign passports or permanent resident status elsewhere. Another outflow is the growing number of Hong Kong residents living, working or retiring in the Mainland, particularly in the Pearl River Delta. But there is no evidence that retiring across the boundary has become a significant trend, although this may change in the future. Environment
Action against Environmental Pollution
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