Land and Resources of Hong Kong

The total land area of Hong Kong is small, comprising only 1,092 sq km (422 sq mi). The surrounding territorial waters cover 1,830 sq km (707 sq mi).

Hong Kong’s mainland portion consists of the urban area of Kowloon and a portion of the New Territories, a large area that became part of Hong Kong in 1898.

Lantau Island (also called Tai Yue Island), ceded to Hong Kong as part of the New Territories but often considered separate from that region, is the largest island. Located about 10 km (6 mi) east of Lantau Island and across Victoria Harbor from Kowloon is Hong Kong Island.

The city of Hong Kong (also known as Victoria) faces the harbor on the northern part of the island. The city is the site of the SAR government offices and the chief business district, known as Central.

( Tai Mo Shan )
Despite the small size of the Hong Kong SAR, the topography is varied and rugged because it is largely folded mountains. There are more than 20 peaks over 500 m (1,640 ft), and the tallest, Tai Mo Shan in the New Territories, rises to 957 m (3,140 ft).

Hong Kong’s greatest asset is its deep and well-protected harbor between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Level land for development is scarce. Less than 15 percent of the land is developed because of the rugged terrain.

( Victoria Harbour )
Land reclamation schemes began in the mid-19th century and they continue to be important means of acquiring new land for urban development. Examples of reclaimed land include stretches of coastline on either side of Victoria Harbor.

( Sham Chun )
The only significant river is the Sham Chun, a small river that forms the northern border with Guangdong; all other drainage is small streams. The lack of sufficient drinking water is a serious problem; more than 80 percent of Hong Kong’s potable water comes from Guangdong.

Hong Kong’s climate is subtropical and monsoonal. The average daily temperature range is 26° to 31°C (78° to 87°F) in July and 13° to 17°C (55° to 63ºF) in February.

Rainfall averages 2,159 mm (85 in) a year. Summers, which last from May to September, are long, hot, and humid.

Typhoons regularly cross Hong Kong in summer and autumn. These powerful storms bring violent winds and extremely heavy rains that occasionally cause flooding and landslides.

The winter, lasting from December to March, is cool and drier.

The heavy rainfall washes away many nutrients from the soil, making it generally thin, poor, and unsuitable for intensive agriculture. Moreover, there is little available land for farm cultivation.

Most of the original forest vegetation was long ago cut or burned and replaced with grasses or planted tree species such as pine and eucalyptus.

Wooded hills now account for about one-fifth of the land area, whereas grasslands, badlands, and swamps make up more than one-half.



( Mai Po )
Hong Kong, in association with the World Wide Fund for Nature, maintains an important marsh reserve for birds, Mai Po, along Hau Hoi Bay (also called Deep Bay) and the river boundary with Guangdong.

Mai Po attracts about 260 bird species, among them numerous ducks, wading birds, kingfishers, warblers, and marsh harriers. The reserve is an important stopping point for migratory birds flying between Siberia and tropical Southeast Asia and Australia. In addition to birds, Hong Kong has numerous small mammals and reptiles.