Hong Kong is located on China's south coast and is surrounded by the South China Sea to the south, east, and west.

Hong Kong became a colony of the United Kingdom during the Treaty of Nanking in 1842. The transfer of authority over Hong Kong from the UK to The People's Republic of China (PRC), occurred on July 1, 1997.

Hong Kong's years as a Crown Colony of the United Kingdom solidified its position as a Global Trade|global center of trade. Even under Chinese rule, Hong Kong enjoys a high level of freedom over its own economy, politics, education, religion, and way of life. Hong Kong is a city that benefits from a smooth combination of traditions, values, and influences from different societies. It is often referred to as the prime example of East meets West.