Editing Hong Kong (section)

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Hong Kong|Environment of Hong Kong}}
[[File:Hong Kong, China.jpg|alt=Satellite image showing areas of vegetation and conurbation.|thumb|Areas of urban development and vegetation are visible in this satellite image.]]

Hong Kong is on China's southern coast, {{convert|60|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of Macau, on the east side of the mouth of the [[Pearl River Delta|Pearl River estuary]]. It is surrounded by the [[South China Sea]] on all sides except the north, which neighbours the [[Guangdong]] city of [[Shenzhen]] along the [[Sham Chun River]]. The territory's {{convert|1110.18|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Survey and Mapping Office – Circulars and Publications|url=https://www.landsd.gov.hk/mapping/en/publications/total.htm|access-date=9 March 2021|website=www.landsd.gov.hk|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308210534/https://www.landsd.gov.hk/mapping/en/publications/total.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> area (2,754.97&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup><ref name=":0" /> if the maritime area is included) consists of [[Hong Kong Island]], the [[Kowloon Peninsula]], the [[New Territories]], [[Lantau Island]], and over 200 other islands. Of the total area, {{convert|1073|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} is land and {{convert|35|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} is water.<ref name="cia">{{cite web |title=Hong Kong |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/hong-kong/ |access-date=2 October 2018 |work=[[The World Factbook]] |publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] |archive-date=10 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610100924/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/hong-kong/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The territory's highest point is [[Tai Mo Shan]], {{convert|957|m|ft}} above sea level.<ref>{{harvnb|Owen|Shaw|2007|p=13}}.</ref> Urban development is concentrated on the Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong Island, and in [[New towns of Hong Kong|new towns]] throughout the New Territories.<ref>{{harvnb|Population By-Census|2021|pp=34–35}}</ref> Much of this is built on [[Land reclamation in Hong Kong|reclaimed land]]; {{convert|70|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} (6% of the total land or about 25% of developed space in the territory) is reclaimed from the sea.<ref name="reclamation">{{harvnb|Land Policy Report|2017|p=1}}.</ref>

Undeveloped terrain is hilly to mountainous, with very little flat land, and consists mostly of grassland, woodland, shrubland, or farmland.<ref>{{harvnb|Owen|Shaw|2007|p=2}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|"Land Use in Hong Kong 2017", Planning Department}}</ref> About 40% of the remaining land area is [[Conservation in Hong Kong|country parks]] and nature reserves.<ref>{{harvnb|Morton|Harper|1995|p=9}}.</ref> The territory has a diverse ecosystem; over 3,000 species of [[vascular plant]]s occur in the region (300 of which are native to Hong Kong), and thousands of insect, avian, and marine species.<ref>{{harvnb|Hu|2003}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.hk/en/residents/environment/conservation/naturalenvplantsanimals.htm |title=The Natural Environment, Plants & Animals in Hong Kong |publisher=Hong Kong Government |access-date=15 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115215525/https://www.gov.hk/en/residents/environment/conservation/naturalenvplantsanimals.htm |archive-date=15 November 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Climate ===
Hong Kong has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cwa''), characteristic of southern China, despite being located south of the [[Tropic of Cancer]], although closely bordering on a [[tropical climate]]. Summers are long, hot and humid, with occasional showers and thunderstorms and warm air from the southwest. The humid nature of Hong Kong exacerbates the warmth of summer. [[Typhoon]]s occur most often then, sometimes resulting in floods or landslides. Also rarely occurring are [[waterspout]]s and [[tornado]]es, which occurred at Hong Kong International Airport on 26 September 2020 and at Victoria Harbour on 28 September 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-26 |title=Small tornado spotted at Hong Kong airport, but no damage reported |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3103172/small-tornado-spotted-hong-kong-airport-rare |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-28 |title=Waterspout spotted over Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour for first time |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3280343/waterspout-spotted-over-hong-kongs-victoria-harbour-weather-forecaster |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> Winters are short, mild and usually sunny at the beginning, becoming cloudy towards February. Frequent cold fronts bring strong, cooling winds from the north and occasionally result in chilly weather. Autumn is the sunniest season, whilst spring is generally cloudy.<ref name="HKClimate">{{cite web |url=http://www.hko.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/climahk.htm |title=Climate of Hong Kong |publisher=[[Hong Kong Observatory]] |access-date=5 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602080336/http://www.hko.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/climahk.htm |archive-date=2 June 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Snowfall has been extremely rare in Hong Kong; the last reported instance was on [[Tai Mo Shan]] in 1975.<ref>{{cite web |title=Last time it snowed in Hong Kong |url=https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/education/climate/general-climatology/00247-last-time-it-snowed-in-hong-kong.html |website=www.hko.gov.hk |language=en |access-date=12 December 2023 |archive-date=12 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212060956/https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/education/climate/general-climatology/00247-last-time-it-snowed-in-hong-kong.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Hong Kong averages 1,709 hours of sunshine per year.<ref>{{harvnb|Geography and Climate|2010}}.</ref> Historic temperature extremes at the [[Hong Kong Observatory]] are {{convert|36.6|°C|°F|sigfig=3}} on 22 August 2017 and {{convert|0.0|°C|°F|sigfig=3}} on 18 January 1893, record highest daily minimum temperature there was {{convert|30.1|°C|°F|sigfig=3}} on 18 August 1990 and the lowest daily maximum temperature there was {{convert|3.2|°C|°F|sigfig=3}} on 16 January 1893.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hko.gov.hk/cis/extreme/mon_extreme_e.htm |title=Extreme Values and Dates of Occurrence of Extremes of Meteorological Elements between 1884 and 1939 and 1947–2017 for Hong Kong |publisher=[[Hong Kong Observatory]] |access-date=25 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324065716/http://www.hko.gov.hk/cis/extreme/mon_extreme_e.htm |archive-date=24 March 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Daily temperature and rainfall extremes at the Hong Kong Observatory (1884–2024) |url=http://hkweather.altervista.org/HKOdobs/2024/HKOclimo-202401.html |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=hkweather.altervista.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Daily temperature and rainfall extremes at the Hong Kong Observatory (1884–2024) |url=http://hkweather.altervista.org/HKOdobs/2024/HKOclimo-202408.html |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=hkweather.altervista.org}}</ref> The highest and lowest recorded temperatures in all of Hong Kong are {{convert|39.0|°C|°F|sigfig=3}} at [[Hong Kong Wetland Park|Wetland Park]] on 22 August 2017,<ref>{{harvnb|"HK records hottest day before typhoon", ''EJ Insight''}}</ref> and {{convert|−6.0|°C|°F|sigfig=3}} at [[Tai Mo Shan]] [[January 2016 East Asia cold wave|on 24 January 2016]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Automatic Weather Observations yearly Extract|url=https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/cis/awsYearlyExtract.htm|access-date=17 January 2021|website=Hong Kong Observatory|language=en|archive-date=10 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310193538/https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/cis/awsYearlyExtract.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Hong Kong ([[Hong Kong Observatory]]), normals 1991–2020,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data in Hong Kong from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1884–1939 and 1947–present
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|collapsed = Y
|Jan record high C = 26.9
|Feb record high C = 28.3
|Mar record high C = 31.5
|Apr record high C = 33.4
|May record high C = 36.1
|Jun record high C = 35.6
|Jul record high C = 36.1
|Aug record high C = 36.6
|Sep record high C = 35.9
|Oct record high C = 34.6
|Nov record high C = 31.8
|Dec record high C = 28.7
|year record high C = 36.6
|Jan avg record high C = 24.0
|Feb avg record high C = 25.1
|Mar avg record high C = 27.5
|Apr avg record high C = 30.2
|May avg record high C = 32.3
|Jun avg record high C = 33.6
|Jul avg record high C = 34.1
|Aug avg record high C = 34.2
|Sep avg record high C = 33.4
|Oct avg record high C = 31.3
|Nov avg record high C = 28.4
|Dec avg record high C = 25.1
|year avg record high C = 34.7
|Jan high C = 18.7
|Feb high C = 19.4
|Mar high C = 21.9
|Apr high C = 25.6
|May high C = 28.8
|Jun high C = 30.7
|Jul high C = 31.6
|Aug high C = 31.3
|Sep high C = 30.5
|Oct high C = 28.1
|Nov high C = 24.5
|Dec high C = 20.4
|year high C = 26.0
|Jan mean C = 16.5
|Feb mean C = 17.1
|Mar mean C = 19.5
|Apr mean C = 23.0
|May mean C = 26.3
|Jun mean C = 28.3
|Jul mean C = 28.9
|Aug mean C = 28.7
|Sep mean C = 27.9
|Oct mean C = 25.7
|Nov mean C = 22.2
|Dec mean C = 18.2
|year mean C = 23.5
|Jan low C = 14.6
|Feb low C = 15.3
|Mar low C = 17.6
|Apr low C = 21.1
|May low C = 24.5
|Jun low C = 26.5
|Jul low C = 26.9
|Aug low C = 26.7
|Sep low C = 26.1
|Oct low C = 23.9
|Nov low C = 20.3
|Dec low C = 16.2
|year low C = 21.6
|Jan avg record low C = 9.1
|Feb avg record low C = 10.2
|Mar avg record low C = 12.2
|Apr avg record low C = 16.3
|May avg record low C = 20.7
|Jun avg record low C = 23.6
|Jul avg record low C = 24.2
|Aug avg record low C = 24.3
|Sep avg record low C = 23.5
|Oct avg record low C = 20.1
|Nov avg record low C = 15.3
|Dec avg record low C = 10.1
|year avg record low C = 7.8
|Jan record low C = 0.0
|Feb record low C = 2.4
|Mar record low C = 4.8
|Apr record low C = 9.9
|May record low C = 15.4
|Jun record low C = 19.2
|Jul record low C = 21.7
|Aug record low C = 21.6
|Sep record low C = 18.4
|Oct record low C = 13.5
|Nov record low C = 6.5
|Dec record low C = 4.3
|year record low C = 0.0
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 33.2
|Feb rain mm = 38.9
|Mar rain mm = 75.3
|Apr rain mm = 153.0
|May rain mm = 290.6
|Jun rain mm = 491.5
|Jul rain mm = 385.8
|Aug rain mm = 453.2
|Sep rain mm = 321.4
|Oct rain mm = 120.3
|Nov rain mm = 39.3
|Dec rain mm = 28.8
|year rain mm = 2431.2
|unit rain days = 0.1 mm
|Jan rain days = 5.70
|Feb rain days = 7.97
|Mar rain days = 10.50
|Apr rain days = 11.37
|May rain days = 15.37
|Jun rain days = 19.33
|Jul rain days = 18.43
|Aug rain days = 17.50
|Sep rain days = 14.90
|Oct rain days = 7.83
|Nov rain days = 5.70
|Dec rain days = 5.30
|year rain days = 139.90
|Jan humidity = 74
|Feb humidity = 79
|Mar humidity = 82
|Apr humidity = 83
|May humidity = 83
|Jun humidity = 82
|Jul humidity = 81
|Aug humidity = 81
|Sep humidity = 78
|Oct humidity = 73
|Nov humidity = 72
|Dec humidity = 70
|year humidity = 78
 | Jan dew point C = 11.7
 | Feb dew point C = 13.2
 | Mar dew point C = 16.1
 | Apr dew point C = 19.7
 | May dew point C = 23.0
 | Jun dew point C = 24.9
 | Jul dew point C = 25.2
 | Aug dew point C = 25.1
 | Sep dew point C = 23.6
 | Oct dew point C = 20.2
 | Nov dew point C = 16.7
 | Dec dew point C = 12.4
 | year dew point C = 19.3
|Jan sun = 145.8
|Feb sun = 101.7
|Mar sun = 100.0
|Apr sun = 113.2
|May sun = 138.8
|Jun sun = 144.3
|Jul sun = 197.3
|Aug sun = 182.1
|Sep sun = 174.4
|Oct sun = 197.8
|Nov sun = 172.3
|Dec sun = 161.6
|year sun = 1829.3
|Jan percentsun = 43
|Feb percentsun = 32
|Mar percentsun = 27
|Apr percentsun = 30
|May percentsun = 34
|Jun percentsun = 36
|Jul percentsun = 48
|Aug percentsun = 46
|Sep percentsun = 47
|Oct percentsun = 55
|Nov percentsun = 52
|Dec percentsun = 48
|year percentsun = 41
|source 1 = [[Hong Kong Observatory]]<ref name="met_norms">{{cite web |url=https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/cis/normal/1991_2020/normals.htm |title=Monthly Meteorological Normals for Hong Kong (1991–2020) |publisher=Hong Kong Observatory |access-date=7 February 2021 |archive-date=8 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208043254/https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/cis/normal/1991_2020/normals.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="extremeshko">{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.gov.hk/en/cis/extreme/mon_extreme.htm |title=Extreme Values of Meteorological Elements in Hong Kong and their Occurrence Dates (1884–1939, 1947–2024) |publisher=Hong Kong Observatory |access-date=7 February 2021 |archive-date=8 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208053745/http://www.weather.gov.hk/en/cis/extreme/mon_extreme.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="meanmaxmin">{{cite web |url=https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/cis/monthlyElement.htm |title=Monthly Data for Single Element |publisher=Hong Kong Observatory |access-date=16 February 2022 |archive-date=9 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209091006/https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/cis/monthlyElement.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

=== Environment ===
{{Main|Air pollution in Hong Kong}}
[[Air pollution in Hong Kong]] is considered a serious problem. It becomes a concern soon after the start of 2000s. According to the [[Environmental Protection Department]] (EPD), the major air [[pollutant]]s in Hong Kong include [[nitrogen oxides]] (NO<sub>x</sub>), [[sulphur dioxide]] (SO<sub>2</sub>), respirable suspended [[particulates]] (RSP or PM<sub>10</sub>), fine suspended particulates (FSP or PM<sub>2.5</sub>), [[volatile organic compound]]s (VOC), [[carbon monoxide]] (CO),<ref name="emissioninventory">{{cite web | title=Environmental Protection Department | website=epd.gov.hk | date=28 Jun 2024 | url=https://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/data/emission_inve.html | access-date=28 Nov 2024}}</ref> [[ozone]] and [[lead]].<ref name=AQOs>{{cite web | publisher=Environmental Protection Department | website=epd.gov.hk |title=Air Quality Objectives | date=1 Jan 2022 | url=https://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/air_quality_objectives/air_quality_objectives.html | access-date=29 Dec 2024}}</ref>

=== Architecture ===
{{Main|Architecture of Hong Kong}}
[[File:Yick Cheong Building View 2015.jpg|thumb|[[Monster Building]], a famous group of residential buildings in [[Quarry Bay]]]]

Hong Kong has the world's [[List of cities with the most skyscrapers|largest number of skyscrapers]], with 554 towers taller than {{convert|150|m|ft}},<ref name="SkyscraperCenter">{{cite web |title=Hong Kong |url=https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/city/hong-kong |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111114955/http://www.skyscrapercenter.com/city/hong-kong |archive-date=11 November 2017 |access-date=15 January 2018 |website=The Skyscraper Center |publisher=[[Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat]]}}</ref> and the third-largest number of high-rise buildings in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.emporis.com/statistics/skyline-ranking |title=Skyline Ranking |publisher=[[Emporis]] |access-date=24 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623034606/https://www.emporis.com/statistics/skyline-ranking |archive-date=23 June 2018 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> The lack of available space restricted development to high-density residential [[tenement]]s and commercial complexes packed closely together on buildable land.<ref>{{harvnb|Tong|Wong|1997}}.</ref> [[Single-family detached home]]s are uncommon and generally only found in outlying areas.<ref>{{harvnb|Forrest|La Grange|Yip|2004|pp=215, 222}}</ref> The [[International Commerce Centre]] and [[International Finance Centre (Hong Kong)|Two International Finance Centre]] are the [[List of tallest buildings in Hong Kong|tallest buildings in Hong Kong]] and are among the tallest in the Asia-Pacific region.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.emporis.com/statistics/worlds-tallest-buildings |title=The World's Tallest Buildings |publisher=[[Emporis]] |access-date=24 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624121309/https://www.emporis.com/statistics/worlds-tallest-buildings |archive-date=24 June 2018 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> Other distinctive buildings lining the Hong Kong Island skyline include the [[HSBC Building (Hong Kong)|HSBC Main Building]], the [[anemometer]]-topped triangular [[Central Plaza (Hong Kong)|Central Plaza]], the circular [[Hopewell Centre (Hong Kong)|Hopewell Centre]], and the sharp-edged [[Bank of China Tower (Hong Kong)|Bank of China Tower]].<ref name="FengShui">{{harvnb|Kohlstedt|2016}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Hollingsworth|Zheng|2017}}.</ref>

Demand for new construction has contributed to frequent demolition of older buildings, freeing space for modern high-rises.<ref>{{harvnb|Zheng|2017}}.</ref> However, many examples of European and [[Lingnan architecture]] are still found throughout the territory. Older government buildings are examples of colonial architecture. The 1846 [[Flagstaff House, Hong Kong|Flagstaff House]], the former residence of the [[British Forces Overseas Hong Kong|Commander of the British forces in Hong Kong]], is the oldest Western-style building in Hong Kong.<ref>{{harvnb|McKercher|Ho|du Cros|2004}}.</ref> Some buildings, such as the [[Court of Final Appeal Building]] and the [[Hong Kong Observatory]] retain their original functions, and others have been [[Adaptive reuse|adapted and reused]]; the [[Former Marine Police Headquarters]] was redeveloped into a commercial and retail complex,<ref name="TourismFacts">{{harvnb|Tourism Facts|2016}}.</ref> and [[Béthanie (Hong Kong)|Béthanie]] (built in 1875 as a [[sanatorium]]) houses the [[Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts]].<ref>{{harvnb|Béthanie|2015|p=3}}.</ref> The [[Tin Hau Temple, Joss House Bay|Tin Hau Temple]], dedicated to the sea goddess [[Mazu]] (originally built in 1012 and rebuilt in 1266), is the territory's oldest existing structure.<ref>{{harvnb|Ingham|2007|p=225}}.</ref> The [[Ping Shan Heritage Trail]] has architectural examples of several imperial Chinese dynasties, including the [[Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda]] (Hong Kong's only remaining pagoda).<ref>{{harvnb|Declared Monuments|2007|pp=5–6}}.</ref>

''[[Tong lau]]'', mixed-use tenement buildings constructed during the colonial era, blended southern Chinese architectural styles with European influences. These were especially prolific during the immediate post-war period, when many were rapidly built to house large numbers of Chinese migrants.<ref>{{harvnb|Xue|2016|p=99}}.</ref> Examples include [[Lui Seng Chun]], the [[Blue House (Hong Kong)|Blue House]] in [[Wan Chai]], and the [[Nos. 600–626 Shanghai Street|Shanghai Street shophouses]] in [[Mong Kok]]. Mass-produced [[Public housing in Hong Kong|public-housing estates]], built since the 1960s, are mainly constructed in [[Modern architecture|modernist style]].<ref>{{harvnb|Xue|2016|p=41}}.</ref>

{{wide image|Hong Kong at night.jpg|1150px|align-cap=center|alt=Skyline at night, with building lights reflected in water|The Hong Kong Island skyline, viewed from the [[Victoria Harbour]] waterfront}}
{{wide image|Kowloon Panorama by Ryan Cheng 2010.jpg|1600px|align-cap=center|City view of Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, and the Hong Kong skyline}}