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Hong Kong Island

island, Hong Kong, China

Quick Summary

Hong Kong Island is a key part of the Hong Kong special administrative region of China. Originally ceded to Great Britain in 1842, it was part of the territory returned to China in 1997. The island, along with the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories, forms the region of Hong Kong.1

Hong Kong Island itself has an area of about 31 square miles (81 square km). The city of Victoria, the administrative and economic center, is located on its northwestern coast. Before British arrival, the island was sparsely populated by fishing communities and was known as a pirate haven. However, its deep, sheltered harbor was recognized for its strategic and commercial importance, lying on major Far East trade routes. This natural harbor, meaning "fragrant harbor" in Chinese, was crucial for Hong Kong's development as a major trade and financial center.12

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