Hong Kong, at roughly 1,104 sq km, is home to an estimated 7.4 million people.
Hong Kong is the world’s fourth-most densely populated region.
It is situated at the eastern side of the Pearl River estuary in southern China.
It was a British colony from 1842 (at the end of the First Opium War in 1842) until sovereignty was returned to China in 1997.
Hong Kong is now part of China under the “one country, two systems” principle.
The city of Hong Kong remains a semi-autonomous region with the Basic Law (the city’s mini-constitution) for 50 years.
Hong Kong keeps its own judicial independence, its own legislature and economic system.
It has its own laws and courts, and allows its residents a range of civil liberties.
The Chief Executive is the head of government, and serves for a maximum of two five-year terms.
The Umbrella Revolution/Umbrella Movement/ Occupy Movement refers to a series of sit-in street protests in Hong Kong in Sep-Dec 2014. It was triggered over a decision regarding proposed reforms to the Hong Kong electoral system, and is largely a movement for democracy and autonomy.
