The tourism industry has been an important part of the economy of Hong Kong since it shifted to a service sector model in the late 1980s and early 90s. There has been a sharp increase of tourists from Mainland China, due to the introduction of the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) in 2003.
Culture
The culture of Hong Kong can best be described as a foundation that began with China, and became more influenced by British colonialism. Despite the 1997 transfer of sovereignty to the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong continues to hold an identity of its own.
Climate
The climate of Hong Kong is a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cwa), just short of being a tropical wet-and-dry climate.
Cuisine
Language
In Hong Kong, English and Chinese are the official languages as defined in the Basic Law of Hong Kong. Since Britain's arrival in 1842, English became the sole official language of Hong Kong until 1974. The majority of the population in Hong Kong are descendants of migrants from mainland China. Smaller minority groups include expatriates, immigrants from Western and Asian countries such as the Indian subcontinent, United Kingdom and the Philippines, and their descendants. The diverse population directly results in the rich variety of languages heard.
