VIBRANT HORIZONS

Nestled along the southern coast of China, Hong Kong stands as a special administrative region, its boundaries defined by the Guangdong province to the north and the vast expanse of the South China Sea to the east, south, and west.

- ANITHYA BALACHANDRAN

The region’s narrative is intertwined with a complex history of territorial acquisition and leasing agreements. The New Territories, extending predominantly to the north, along with a multitude of offshore islands, further enrich this tapestry, all leased from China for a span of 99 years, from 1898 to 1997. A pivotal moment arrived with the signing of the Chinese-British joint declaration in December 1984, heralding the eventual return of the entire territory to Chinese sovereignty, a transition that occurred on July 1, 1997.

At the genesis of Hong Kong’s development lies its prized natural harbour, from which its name, “fragrant harbour,” emanates. Positioned at the northern periphery of the tropical belt, the region experiences distinct monsoonal seasons, characterised by sultry summers and brisk, arid winters. These climatic oscillations are orchestrated by the interplay of atmospheric pressure systems spanning the adjacent Asian landmass and oceanic realms. The onset of winter heralds the arrival of dry, northeasterly monsoons, originating from a vast thermal anticyclone over Inner Mongolia. Conversely, the summer months usher in warm, moisture-laden southeasterly winds, a consequence of the North Pacific Ocean’s gradual heat accumulation. Amidst this atmospheric ballet, Chinese and English reign as official languages, with Cantonese prevailing as the lingua franca, serving as a testament to Hong Kong’s multicultural ethos.