Geography of Hong Kong

Location

Hong Kong is on China's southern coast, 60 km (37 mi) east of Macau, on the east side of the mouth of the 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 2,755-square-kilometre (1,064 sq mi) area consists of Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories, Lantau Island, and over 200 other islands. Of the total area, 1,073 km² (414 sq mi) is land and 35 km² (14 sq mi) is water.^[17] The territory's highest point is Tai Mo Shan, 957 metres (3,140 feet) above sea level.^[18] Urban development is concentrated on the Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong Island, and in new towns throughout the New Territories.^[19] Much of this is built on reclaimed land, due to the lack of developable flat land; 70 km² (27 sq mi) (six per cent of the total land or about 25 per cent of developed space in the territory) is reclaimed from the sea.^[20]

Undeveloped terrain is hilly to mountainous, with very little flat land, and consists mostly of grassland, woodland, shrubland, or farmland.^[21][22] About 40 per cent of the remaining land area is country parks and nature reserves.^[23] The territory has a diverse ecosystem; over 3,000 species of vascular plants occur in the region (300 of which are native to Hong Kong), and thousands of insect, avian, and marine species.^[24][25]

Land boundaries

Total: 30 km (19 mi)
Border city: Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, Guangdong Province
Figures published by the United States Central Intelligence Agency^[26]

Coastline

Total: 733 km (455 mi)
Maritime claims:
Territorial sea: 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi)
Figures published by the United States Central Intelligence Agency^[26]

Islands

Hong Kong has 263 islands over 500 m² (5,400 sq ft),^[27] including Hong Kong Island, Lantau Island, Cheung Chau, Lamma Island, Peng Chau and Tsing Yi Island.

Terrain

Hong Kong's terrain is hilly and mountainous with steep slopes. There are lowlands in the northern part of Hong Kong. A significant amount of land in Hong Kong, especially on the Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon peninsula, is reclaimed.

Extreme points

The lowest elevation in Hong Kong is in the South China Sea (0 m)^{[dubious – discuss]} while the highest elevation is at Tai Mo Shan (957 m (3,140 ft)) in Tsuen Wan, the New Territories.

Principal peaks of Hong Kong

1. Tai Mo Shan – 957 m (3,140 ft), Tsuen Wan
2. Lantau Peak (Fung Wong Shan) – 934 m (3,064 ft) on Lantau Island
3. Sunset Peak (Tai Tung Shan) – 869 m (2,851 ft), on Lantau Island
4. Sze Fong Shan – 785 m (2,575 ft)
5. Lin Fa Shan – 766 m (2,513 ft), on Lantau Island
6. Nei Lak Shan – 751 m (2,464 ft), on Lantau Island
7. Yi Tung Shan – 747 m (2,451 ft), on Lantau Island
8. Ma On Shan – 702 m (2,303 ft)
9. The Hunch Backs (Ngau Ngak Shan) – 674 m (2,211 ft)
10. Grassy Hill – 647 m (2,123 ft)
11. Wong Leng – 639 m (2,096 ft)
12. Buffalo Hill – 606 m (1,988 ft)
13. West Buffalo Hill – 604 m (1,982 ft)
14. Kowloon Peak (Fei Ngo Shan) – 602 m (1,975 ft)
15. Shun Yeung Fung – 591 m (1,939 ft)
16. Tiu Shau Ngam – 588 m (1,929 ft)
17. Kai Kung Leng – 585 m (1,919 ft)
18. Castle Peak – 583 m (1,913 ft)
19. Lin Fa Shan, Tsuen Wan – 578 m (1,896 ft)
20. Tate's Cairn (Tai Lo Shan) – 577 m (1,893 ft)

Victoria Peak, the highest point on Hong Kong Island, at 552 m (1,811 ft) is the 24th highest peak in Hong Kong.

Natural resources

The natural resources of Hong Kong can be divided into three main categories:

• Metalliferous minerals and non-metalliferous industrial minerals in the onshore area;
• Quarried rock and building stone;
• Offshore sand deposits.

Despite its small size, Hong Kong has a relatively large number of mineral occurrences. Some mineral deposits have been exploited commercially. Metalliferous mineral occurrences are grouped into four broad categories: tin-tungsten-molybdenum mineralisation, copper-lead-zinc mineralisation, iron mineralisation and placer deposits of tin and gold. Mesozoic igneous activity is largely responsible for this diversity of mineral deposits and the mineral concentrations have been variably enhanced by hydrothermal activity associated with faulting. Concentrations of non-metalliferous minerals that have been commercially exploited include kaolin clay, feldspar, quartz, beryl and graphite.^[28]

For many years, granite and volcanic rocks have been quarried locally for road base metal, riprap, armour stone and asphalt, although the main purpose now is for concrete aggregates. At present, there are three quarries operating in Hong Kong. These are principally in granite and are located at Lam Tei, Shek O and Anderson Road. All the quarries are in the process of rehabilitation and have a life expectancy of between two and eight years.^[28]

Offshore sand bodies have been dredged for aggregate sand and reclamation fill in Hong Kong as the rate of urban development has increased.^[29]

Additional natural resources include forest and wildlife.

Land use

Arable land: 2.95%
Permanent crops: 0.95%
Other: 96.10% (2012 est.)
Figures published by the United States Central Intelligence Agency^[26] Big 22

Natural hazards

Tropical cyclones are frequent in Hong Kong during the summer months between July and September.^[30] Landslides are common after rainstorms.