There is no doubt that Hong Kong is seen as one of the most exciting cities in the world. The view across the harbour at night looking towards the neon lights, a silhouette of a junk against the setting sun, or the hubbub of lively business and commerce in a 24-hour city are quintessential images conjured up in the mind when one thinks of this exotic location. The self-portrait of Hong Kong as presented on the official government internet website describes it as ‘a vibrant city, and a major gateway to China’. Indeed, the geographic location of Hong Kong has unequivocally placed it as an entry port to greater China. The historical development of the city as well as the cultural composition of its population have provided the dynamics necessary for Hong Kong to thrive as a cosmopolitan urban centre in the Pearl River Delta region.

Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), is located adjacent to the Pearl River Delta, in the south-eastern region of China's Guangdong province, facing the South China Sea. Contrary to popular belief, Hong Kong is not just a single island territory comprising a built-up urban cityscape, but includes three major parts: Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories. It is replete with country parks, sandy beaches and outlying islands large and small. Along the northern part of the New Territories is the border between Hong Kong and China. South of the New Territories is Boundary Street, which used to mark the boundary between Kowloon and the New Territories.