Natural hazards: occasional typhoons

Environment-current issues: air and water pollution from rapid urbanization

Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography-note: more than 200 islands

@Hong Kong:People

Population: 6,706,965 (July 1998 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 637,808; female 591,900) 15-64 years: 71% (male 2,360,878; female 2,425,291) 65 years and over: 11% (male 312,033; female 379,055) (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.24% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: 12.85 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate: 5.87 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)