Part 38

Long-form name: none; abbreviated HK Type: dependent territory of the UK; scheduled to revert to China in 1997 Capital: Victoria Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK) Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK); the UK signed an agreement with China on 19 December 1984 to return Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Hong Kong's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 years after transition Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice; new Basic Law approved in March 1990 in preparation for 1997 Legal system: based on English common law National holiday: Liberation Day, 29 August (1945) Executive branch: British monarch, governor, chief secretary of the Executive Council Legislative branch: Legislative Council Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) Head of Government: Governor-designate Chris PATTEN (since July 1992); Chief Secretary Sir David Robert FORD (since February 1987) Suffrage: direct election - universal at age 21 as a permanent resident living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect election - limited to about 100,000 professionals of electoral college and functional constituencies Elections: Legislative Council: indirect elections last held 12 September 1991 and direct elections were held 15 September 1991 (next to be held for the first time in September 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total; 21 indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 18 directly elected, 18 appointed by governor, 3 ex officio members); indirect elections - number of seats by functional constituency NA; direct elections - UDHK 12, Meeting Point 3, ADPL 1, other 2 Communists: 5,000 (est.) cadres affiliated with Communist Party of China Other political or pressure groups: Federation of Trade Unions (pro-China), Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan), Confederation of Trade Unions (prodemocracy), Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China), Federation of Hong Kong Industries, Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union, Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China Member of: APEC, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP (associate), GATT, ICFTU, IMO (associate), IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMO

:Hong Kong Government

Diplomatic representation: as a dependent territory of the UK, the interests of Hong Kong in the US are represented by the UK US: Consul General Richard L. WILLIAMS; Consulate General at 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong (mailing address is Box 30, Hong Kong, or FPO AP 96522-0002); telephone [852] 239-011 Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with the Hong Kong coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a shield (bearing two junks below a crown) held by a lion (representing the UK) and a dragon (representing China) with another lion above the shield and a banner bearing the words HONG KONG below the shield

:Hong Kong Economy

Overview: Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy with few tariffs or nontariff barriers. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Manufacturing accounts for about 18% of GDP, employs 28% of the labor force, and exports about 90% of its output. Real GDP growth averaged a remarkable 8% in 1987-88, then slowed to 2.5-3.0% in 1989-90. Unemployment, which has been declining since the mid-1980s, is now about 2%. A shortage of labor continues to put upward pressure on prices and the cost of living. Short-term prospects remain solid so long as major trading partners continue to be reasonably prosperous. The crackdown in China in 1989-91 casts a shadow over the longer term economic outlook. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $80.9 billion, per capita $13,800; real growth rate 3.8% (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12.0% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: 2.0% (1991 est.) Budget: $8.8 billion (FY90) Exports: $82.0 billion (f.o.b., 1990), including reexports of $53.1 billion commodities: clothing, textiles, yarn and fabric, footwear, electrical appliances, watches and clocks, toys partners: China 25%, US 24%, Germany 7%, Japan 6%, UK 2%, (1990) Imports: $82.4 billion (c.i.f., 1990) commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials, semimanufactures, petroleum partners: China 37%, Japan 16%, Taiwan 9%, US 8% (1990) External debt: $9.5 billion (December 1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 4% 1991 (est) Electricity: 8,600,000 kW capacity; 25,637 million kWh produced, 4,378 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks Agriculture: minor role in the economy; rice, vegetables, dairy products; less than 20% self-sufficient; shortages of rice, wheat, water Illicit drugs: a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade; transshipment and major financial and money-laundering center Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $152 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $923 million Currency: Hong Kong dollar (plural - dollars); 1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$ - 7.800 (1991), 7.790 (1990), 7.800 (1989), 7.810 (1988), 7.760 (1987); note - linked to the US dollar at the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$ since 1985 Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

:Hong Kong Communications

Railroads: 35 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, government owned Highways: 1,484 km total; 794 km paved, 306 km gravel, crushed stone, or earth Ports: Hong Kong Merchant marine: 142 ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 5,035,223 GRT/8,598,134 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger, 15 cargo, 5 refrigerated cargo, 26 container, 13 petroleum tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 6 combination ore/oil, 5 liquefied gas, 68 bulk, 1 combination bulk; note - a flag of convenience registry; ships registered in Hong Kong fly the UK flag, and an estimated 500 Hong Kong - owned ships are registered elsewhere Civil air: 16 major transport aircraft Airports: 2 total; 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; none with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services; 3,000,000 telephones; microwave transmission links and extensive optical fiber transmission network; broadcast stations - 6 AM, 6 FM, 4 TV; 1 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) repeater station and 1 British Forces Broadcasting Service repeater station; 2,500,000 radio receivers; 1,312,000 TV sets (1,224,000 color TV sets); satellite earth stations - 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT; coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; links to 5 international submarine cables providing access to ASEAN member nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe

:Hong Kong Defense Forces

Branches: Headquarters of British Forces, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, Royal Hong Kong Police Force Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,732,360; 1,334,923 fit for military service; 46,285 reach military age (18) annually Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $300 million, 0.5% of GDP (1989 est.); this represents one-fourth of the total cost of defending itself, the remainder being paid by the UK Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

:Howland Island Geography

Total area: 1.6 km2 Land area: 1.6 km2 Comparative area: about 2.7 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 6.4 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 12 nm Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: none Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun Terrain: low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s) Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 5%; other 95% Environment: almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; lacks fresh water; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats Note: remote location 2,575 km southwest of Honolulu in the North Pacific Ocean, just north of the Equator, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia

:Howland Island People

Population: uninhabited Population: note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit only and generally restricted to scientists and educators

:Howland Island Government

Long-form name: none Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC

:Howland Island Economy

Overview: no economic activity

:Howland Island Communications

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only, one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast Airports: airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan - they left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable Note: Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart

:Howland Island Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard

:Hungary Geography

Total area: 93,030 km2 Land area: 92,340 km2 Comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana Land boundaries: 2,113 km; Austria 366 km, Slovenia 82 km, Czechoslovakia 676 km, Romania 443 km, Croatia 292 km, Serbia and Montenegro 151 km, Ukraine 103 km Coastline: none - landlocked Maritime claims: none - landlocked Disputes: Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Czechoslovakia Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains Natural resources: bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils Land use: arable land 54%; permanent crops 3%; meadows and pastures 14%; forest and woodland 18%; other 11%; includes irrigated 2% Environment: levees are common along many streams, but flooding occurs almost every year Note: landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin

:Hungary People

Population: 10,333,327 (July 1992), growth rate - 0.1% (1992) Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 14 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 75 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Hungarian(s); adjective - Hungarian Ethnic divisions: Hungarian 96.6%, Gypsy 5.8%, German 1.6%, Slovak 1.1%, Southern Slav 0.3%, Romanian 0.2% Religions: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20.0%, Lutheran 5.0%, atheist and other 7.5% Languages: Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8% Literacy: 99% (male 99%, female 98%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980) Labor force: 5.4 million; services, trade, government, and other 43.2%, industry 30.9%, agriculture 18.8%, construction 7.1% (1991) Organized labor: 45-55% of labor force; Central Council of Hungarian Trade Unions (SZOT) includes 19 affiliated unions, all controlled by the government; independent unions legal; may be as many as 12 small independent unions in operation

:Hungary Government

Long-form name: Republic of Hungary Type: republic Capital: Budapest Administrative divisions: 19 counties (megyek, singular - megye) and 1 capital city* (fovaros); Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Budapest*, Csongrad, Fejer, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Komarom-Esztergom, Nograd, Pest, Somogy, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala Independence: 1001, unification by King Stephen I Constitution: 18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised 19 April 1972; 18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime minister and also established the principle of parliamentary oversight Legal system: in process of revision, moving toward rule of law based on Western model National holiday: October 23 (1956); commemorates the Hungarian uprising Executive branch: president, prime minister Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Orszaggyules) Judicial branch: Supreme Court, may be restructured as part of ongoing government overhaul Leaders: Chief of State: President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990; previously interim President from 2 May 1990) Head of Government: Prime Minister Jozsef ANTALL (since 23 May 1990) Political parties and leaders: Democratic Forum, Jozsef ANTALL, chairman; Dr. Lajos FUR, acting president; Free Democrats, Peter TOLGYESSY, chairman; Independent Smallholders, Jozsef TORGYAN, president; Hungarian Socialist Party (MSP), Gyula HORN, chairman; Young Democrats, Gabor FODOR, head; Christian Democrats, Dr. Lazlo SURJAN, president; note - the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers' Party (MSZMP) renounced Communism and became the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSP) in October 1989; there is still a small (fringe) MSZMP Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: President: last held 3 August 1990 (next to be held August 1994); results - President GONCZ elected by popular vote; note - President GONCZ was elected by the National Assembly with a total of 294 votes out of 304 as interim President from 2 May 1990 until elected President National Assembly: last held on 25 March 1990 (first round, with the second round held 8 April 1990); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (386 total) Democratic Forum 162, Free Democrats 90, Independent Smallholders 45, Hungarian Socialist Party (MSP) 33, Young Democrats 22, Christian Democrats 21, independents or jointly sponsored candidates 13 Communists: fewer than 100,000 (December 1989)

:Hungary Government

Member of: BIS, CCC, CE, CSCE, ECE, FAO, G-9, GATT, HG, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NACC, NSG, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Pal TAR; Chancery at 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 362-6730; there is a Hungarian Consulate General in New York US: Ambassador Charles THOMAS; Embassy at V. Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest (mailing address is APO AE 09213-5270); telephone [36] (1) 112-6450; FAX 132-8934 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green

:Hungary Economy

Overview: Hungary is in the midst of a difficult transition between a command and a market economy. Agriculture is an important sector, providing sizable export earnings and meeting domestic food needs. Industry accounts for about 40% of GDP and 30% of employment. Hungary claims that less than 20% of foreign trade is now with former CEMA countries, while about 70% is with OECD members. Hungary's economic reform programs during the Communist era gave it a head start in creating a market economy and attracting foreign investment. In 1990, Hungary received half of all foreign investment in Eastern Europe and in 1991 received the largest single share. The growing private sector accounts for one-quarter to one-third of national output according to unofficial estimates. Privatization of state enterprises is progressing, although excessive redtape, bureaucratic oversight, and uncertainties about pricing have slowed the process. Escalating unemployment and high rates of inflation may impede efforts to speed up privatization and budget reform, while Hungary's heavy foreign debt will make the government reluctant to introduce full convertability of the forint before 1993. GDP: purchasing power equivalent - $60.1 billion, per capita $5,700; real growth rate - 7% (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 34% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: 8.0% (1991) Budget: revenues $12.7 billion; expenditures $13.6 billion (1992 planned) Exports: $10.2 billion (f.o.b. 1991) commodities: capital goods 25.9%, foods 23%, consumer goods 16.5%, fuels 2.4%, other 32.2% partners: USSR and Eastern Europe 31.9%, EC 32.2%, EFTA 12% (1990) Imports: $11.7 billion (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: capital goods 31.6%, fuels 13.8%, manufactured consumer goods 14.6%, agriculture 6%, other 34.0% partners: USSR and Eastern Europe 34%, EC 31%, EFTA 15.4% External debt: $22.7 billion (January 1991) Industrial production: growth rate - 20% (1991 est.) Electricity: 6,967,000 kW capacity; 28,376 million kWh produced, 2,750 kWh per capita (1990) Industries: mining, metallurgy, engineering industries, processed foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), trucks, buses Agriculture: including forestry, accounts for about 15% of GDP and 19% of employment; highly diversified crop-livestock farming; principal crops - wheat, corn, sunflowers, potatoes, sugar beets; livestock - hogs, cattle, poultry, dairy products; self-sufficient in food output Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southeast Asia heroin transiting the Balkan route

:Hungary Economy

Economic aid: recipient - $9.1 billion in assistance from OECD countries (from 1st quarter 1990 to end of 2nd quarter 1991) Currency: forint (plural - forints); 1 forint (Ft) = 100 filler Fiscal year: calendar year

:Hungary Communications

Railroads: 7,765 km total; 7,508 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 222 km narrow gauge (mostly 0.760-meter), 35 km 1.520-meter broad gauge; 1,147 km double track, 2,161 km electrified; all government owned (1991) Highways: 130,014 km total; 29,715 km national highway system - 26,834 km asphalt, 142 km concrete, 51 km stone and road brick, 2,276 km macadam, 412 km unpaved; 58,495 km country roads (66% unpaved), and 41,804 km (est.) other roads (70% unpaved) (1988) Inland waterways: 1,622 km (1988) Pipelines: crude oil 1,204 km; petroleum products 630 km; natural gas 3,895 km (1986) Ports: Budapest and Dunaujvaros are river ports on the Danube; maritime outlets are Rostock (Germany), Gdansk (Poland), Gdynia (Poland), Szczecin (Poland), Galati (Romania), and Braila (Romania) Merchant marine: 14 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) and 1 bulk totaling 85,489 GRT/119,520 DWT Civil air: 28 major transport aircraft Airports: 90 total, 90 usable; 20 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 10 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 15 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: automatic telephone network based on radio relay system; 1.9 million phones; telephone density is at 17 per 100 inhabitants; 49% of all phones are in Budapest; 12-15 year wait for a phone; 16,000 telex lines (June 1990); broadcast stations - 32 AM, 15 FM, 41 TV (8 Soviet TV repeaters); 4.2 million TVs (1990); 1 satellite ground station using INTELSAT and Intersputnik

:Hungary Defense Forces

Branches: Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard, Territorial Defense Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,619,277; 2,092,867 fit for military service; 87,469 reach military age (18) annually Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - 60.8 billion forints, 1.7% of GNP (1992 est.); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate would produce misleading results

:Iceland Geography

Total area: 103,000 km2 Land area: 100,250 km2 Comparative area: slightly smaller than Kentucky Land boundaries: none Coastline: 4,988 km Maritime claims: Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area) Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers Terrain: mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords Natural resources: fish, hydroelectric and geothermal power, diatomite Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 23%; forest and woodland 1%; other 76% Environment: subject to earthquakes and volcanic activity Note: strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country

:Iceland People

Population: 259,012 (July 1992), growth rate 0.9% (1992) Birth rate: 18 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: -2 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 4 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 76 years male, 81 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Icelander(s); adjective - Icelandic Ethnic divisions: homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and Celts Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 96%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, none 1% (1988) Languages: Icelandic Literacy: 100% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1976 est.) Labor force: 134,429; commerce, finance, and services 55.4%, other manufacturing 14.3%., agriculture 5.8%, fish processing 7.9%, fishing 5.0% (1986) Organized labor: 60% of labor force

:Iceland Government