Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. With 7.4 million people of different nationalities living in an area of 1,104 square kilometers, Hong Kong is among the most populated areas in the world. Hong Kong was founded as a colony of the British Empire following the cession of Hong Kong Island by the Qing Empire in 1841-1842. In 1860, the colony extended to the Kowloon Peninsula, and was expanded further when Britain leased the New Territories for 99 years in 1898. During World War II, Hong Kong was briefly occupied by Japan between 1941 and 1945. Then in 1997 the whole area was transferred from Britain to China. While Hong Kong is known as a compact urban center, it has thousands of square kilometers of rugged coastline, mountain ranges and country parks, so it comes as no surprise that it is home to an amazing wildlife. As it lies in the transition zone from tropical to temperate, its biodiversity is more diverse than is normally typical for such a small area. It is home to nearly 3,300 plant species, 55 terrestrial mammal species, 115 amphibian and reptile species, 194 freshwater fish species, 130 dragonfly species and 245 butterfly species. With over 560 species, Hong Kong also boasts one third of the bird species found in China. One particular aspect of Hong Kong's environment that is attracting increasing attention is the wide variety of butterfly species in its urban parks.