Once the home of pirates who took advantage of its numerous islands and bays to attack ships carrying goods from Guangzhou (Canton), Hong Kong was established by the British as a major east-west trading center after the first Opium War. Since that time Hong Kong has grown into a major economic power fueled by one of the finest deep water harbors in the world and its strategic position at the entrance to the Pearl River and south China. In 1997 Hong Kong reverted to the Peoples Republic of China and became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

This image covers Hong Kong Island, Kowloon (on the north side of Victoria Harbor), and the New Territories. Prominently visible is Hong Kong's airport located on landfill extending north from Lantau island. Also seen here are many ships that carry trade goods from China to the rest of the world.

This image is part of an image that includes all of the Pearl River estuary and Macao, and a larger version that also includes Guangzhou.