seats; 30 indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 20
elected by popular vote, and 10 elected by an 800-member election
committee; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 25 May 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Democratic Party 13, Liberal Party 9, Democratic Alliance for
the Betterment of Hong Kong 9, Hong Kong Progressive Alliance 5,
Frontier Party 3, Citizens Party 1, independents 20
Judicial branch: The Court of Final Appeal in the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [Martin LEE,
Political pressure groups and leaders: Association for Democracy
Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Confederation of Trade
Chamber of Commerce; Chinese General Chamber of Commerce
(pro-China); Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Chinese
Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Professional
chairman]
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, BIS, CCC,
ESCAP (associate), ICFTU, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau),
IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (special administrative
region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General Richard A. BOUCHER
consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong
mailing address: PSC 464, Box 30, FPO AP 96522-0002
Flag description: red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia
flower in the center
Economy
Economy--overview: Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy
highly dependent on international trade. Natural resources are
limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Indeed,
imports and exports, including reexports, each exceed GDP in dollar
value. Even before Hong Kong reverted to Chinese administration on 1
July 1997 it had extensive trade and investment ties with China.
Real GDP growth averaged a remarkable 8% in 1987-88 and a still
strong 5% in 1989-97. The widespread Asian economic difficulties in
1998 hit this trade-dependent economy quite hard, with GDP down 5%.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$168.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$25,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 15.9%
services: 84% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.9% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 3.216 million (1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: wholesale and retail trade,
restaurants, and hotels 31.9%, social services 9.9%, manufacturing
9.2%, financing, insurance, and real estate 13.1%, transport and
communications 5.7%, construction 2.6%, other 27.6% (October 1998)
Unemployment rate: 5.5% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $30.1 billion
expenditures: $26 billion, including capital expenditures of $289
million (FY97/98)
Industries: textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics,
toys, watches, clocks
Industrial production growth rate: -3.7% (1998)
Electricity--production: 27 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 28.598 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--exports: 1.483 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 5.875 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: fresh vegetables; poultry
Exports: $188.08 billion (including reexports; f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: clothing, textiles, yarn and fabric,
footwear, electrical appliances, watches and clocks, toys
Exports--partners: China 35%, US 22%, Japan 6%, Germany 4%, UK 4%
(1997)
Imports: $208.63 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw
materials, semimanufactures, petroleum; a large share is reexported
Imports--partners: China 38%, Japan 14%, Taiwan 8%, US 8%,
Singapore 5% (1997)
Debt--external: none (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: none
Currency: 1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$--7.74 (1997-99),
7.730 (1996), 7.800 (1995), 7.800 (1994); note--linked to the US
dollar at the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 4.47 million (1998)
Telephone system: modern facilities provide excellent domestic
and international services
domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic
network
international: satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean
and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; access to 5
international submarine cables providing connections to ASEAN member
nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 3 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (in addition, there are two
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 1.75 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 34 km
standard gauge: 34 km 1.435-m gauge (all electrified) (1996 est.)
Highways:
total: 1,831 km
paved: 1,831 km
unpaved: 0 km (1997)
Ports and harbors: Hong Kong
Merchant marine:
total: 195 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,075,304
GRT/10,133,186 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 117, cargo 18, chemical tanker
2, combination bulk 2, container 40, liquefied gas tanker 1,
multifunction large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 6, refrigerated cargo
1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 3
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 13
countries among which are UK 16, South Africa 3, China 9, Japan 6,
Bermuda 2, Germany 3, Canada 2, Cyprus 1, Belgium 1, and Norway 1
(1998 est.)
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Hong Kong garrison of the PLA including
elements of the PLA Army, the PLA Navy and PLA Air Force; these
forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military
Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the
adjacent Guangzhou Military Region
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,924,304 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,452,110 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 45,656 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of China
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade;
transshipment and money-laundering center; increasing indigenous
amphetamine abuse
======================================================================
@Howland Island
--------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 0 48 N, 176 38 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 1.6 sq km
land: 1.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about three times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 6.4 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
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
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 5%
other: 95%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)
Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island
can be a maritime hazard
Environment--current issues: no natural fresh water resources
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate
vines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center;
primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds,
shorebirds, and marine wildlife
People
Population: uninhabited
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 from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and
generally restricted to scientists and educators; visited annually
by US Fish and Wildlife Service
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Howland Island
Data code: HQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US;
administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service
of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National
Wildlife Refuge system
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy
Economy--overview: no economic activity
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only; note--there is
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
Transportation--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; named in memory of famed
aviatrix Amelia Earhart
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited
annually by the US Coast Guard
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Hungary
-------
Introduction
Background: After World War II Hungary became part of
Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe, and its government and economy were
refashioned on the communist model. Increased nationalist
opposition, which culminated in the government's announcement of
withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact in 1956, led to massive military
intervention by Moscow and the swift crushing of the revolt. In the
more open GORBACHEV years, Hungary led the movement to dissolve the
Warsaw Pact and steadily moved toward multiparty democracy and a
market-oriented economy. Following the collapse of the USSR in 1991,
Hungary has developed close political and economic relations with
western Europe and is now being considered a possible future member
of the European Union.
Geography
Location: Central Europe, northwest of Romania
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 93,030 sq km
land: 92,340 sq km
water: 690 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 2,009 km
border countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 151 km (all with Serbia), Slovakia 515 km,
Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains
on the Slovakian border
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Tisza River 78 m
highest point: Kekes 1,014 m
Natural resources: bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils
Land use:
arable land: 51%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 19%
other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,060 sq km (1993 est.)
Environment--current issues: the approximation of Hungary's
standards in waste management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and
water pollution with environmental requirements for EU accession
will require large investments, estimated by the Government of
Hungary at $4 billion over six years; the 1997 budget allocated $9.7
million for this purpose; the 1998 budget allocated $11.3 million;
the Central Environmental Fund, which collects monies from product
charges, environmental fines, and mining taxes, provided
approximately $76.2 million in 1997 and is expected to provide
$109.5 million in 1998
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography--note: landlocked; strategic location astride main land
routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as
between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin
People
Population: 10,186,372 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 908,434; female 865,621)
15-64 years: 68% (male 3,406,512; female 3,524,260)
65 years and over: 15% (male 552,337; female 929,208) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.2% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.8 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 13.29 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.46 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.18 years
male: 66.85 years
female: 75.74 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.45 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Hungarian(s)
adjective: Hungarian
Ethnic groups: Hungarian 89.9%, Gypsy 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%,
Slovak 0.8%, Romanian 0.7%
Religions: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%,
atheist and other 7.5%
Languages: Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Hungary
conventional short form: Hungary
local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag
local short form: Magyarorszag
Data code: HU
Government type: republic
Capital: Budapest
Administrative divisions: 19 counties (megyek, singular--megye),
20 urban counties* (singular--megyei varos), and 1 capital city**
(fovaros); Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Bekescsaba*,
Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Budapest**, Csongrad, Debrecen*, Dunaujvaros*,
Eger*, Fejer, Gyor*, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves,
Hodmezovasarhely*, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Kaposvar*, Kecskemet*,
Komarom-Esztergom, Miskolc*, Nagykanizsa*, Nograd, Nyiregyhaza*,
Pecs*, Pest, Somogy, Sopron*, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Szeged*,
Szekesfehervar*, Szolnok*, Szombathely*, Tatabanya*, Tolna, Vas,
Veszprem, Veszprem*, Zala, Zalaegerszeg*
Independence: 1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
National holiday: St. Stephen's Day, 20 August (commemorates the
coronation of King Stephen in 1000 AD)
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; 1997 amendment streamlined the judicial system
Legal system: in process of revision, moving toward rule of law
based on Western model
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990;
previously interim president since 2 May 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN (since 6 July 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly on
the recommendation of the president
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
four-year term; election last held 19 June 1995 (next to be held NA
1999); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the
recommendation of the president
election results: Arpad GONCZ reelected president; a total of 335
votes were cast by the National Assembly, Arpad GONCZ received 259;
Viktor ORBAN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules
(386 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of
proportional and direct representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 10 and 24 May 1998 (next to be held May/June
2002)
election results: percent of vote by party (5% or more of the vote
required for parliamentary representation in the first round)--MSZP
32.0%, FIDESZ 28.2%, FKGP 13.8%, SZDSZ 7.9%, MIEP 5.5%, MMP 4.1%,
MDF 2.8%, KDNP 2.3%, MDNP 1.5%; seats by party--MSZP 134, FIDESZ 148,
FKGP 48, SZDSZ 24, MDF 17, MIEP 14, independent 1; note--the MDF won
17 single-member district seats
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the
National Assembly for a nine-year term
Political parties and leaders: Hungarian Democratic Forum or MDF
GICZY, president]; Hungarian Democratic People's Party or MDNP
note: the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers' Party or MSZMP
renounced communism and became the Hungarian Socialist Party or MSZP
in October 1989; the MDNP was formed in March 1996 by breakaway
members of the Hungarian Democratic Forum
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUA, MTCR, NAM
(guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UNU,
UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Geza JESZENSZKY
chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter F. TUFO
embassy: V. 1054 Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest
mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Budapest, Department of
State, Washington, DC 20521-5270
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top),
white, and green
Economy
Economy--overview: Hungary has consolidated its March 1995
stabilization program and undergone enough restructuring to become
an established market economy. The country appears to have entered a
period of sustainable growth, gradually falling inflation, and
stable external balances. The government's main economic priorities
are to complete structural reforms, particularly the implementation
of the 1997 pension reform act (the first in the region), taxation
reform, and planning for comprehensive health care, local government
finance reform, and the reform of education at all levels. Foreign
investment has totaled more than $17 billion through 1998. In
recognition of Hungary's improved macroeconomic situation, all major
credit-rating agencies listed the country's foreign currency debt
issuances as investment grade in 1996. The current IMF stand-by
arrangement expired in February 1998, and Budapest and the IMF agree
that there is no need to renew it. The OECD welcomed Hungary as a
member in May 1996, and in December 1997 the EU invited Hungary to
begin the accession process. Forecasters expect 4%-5% growth in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$75.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$7,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 30.3%
services: 66.7% (1996)
Population below poverty line: 25.3% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 24% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 4.2 million (1997)
Labor force--by occupation: services 65%, industry 26.7%,
agriculture 8.3 (1996)
Unemployment rate: 10.8% (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $11.2 billion
expenditures: $13.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed
foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor
vehicles
Industrial production growth rate: 11.1% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 33.162 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 58.76%
hydro: 0.62%
nuclear: 40.62%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 35.362 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 2.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 4.4 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes,
sugar beets; pigs, cattle, poultry, dairy products
Exports: $20.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: machinery and equipment 51.9%, other
manufactures 32.7%, agriculture and food products 10.5%, raw
materials 2.9%, fuels and electricity 1.9% (1998)
Exports--partners: Germany 37.3%, Austria 11.4%, Italy 6.1%,
Russia 5.0% (1997)
Imports: $22.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment 46.5%, other
manufactures 40.2%, fuels and electricity 6.6%, agricultural and
food products 3.7%, raw materials 3.0% (1998)
Imports--partners: Germany 26.7%, Austria 10.5%, Italy 9.5%,
Russia 7.4% (1997)
Debt--external: $22.1 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $122.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 forint (Ft) = 100 filler
Exchange rates: forints per US$1--215.960 (January 1999), 214.402
(1998), 186.789 (1997), 152.647 (1996), 125.681 (1995),105.160 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2.16 million (267,000 cellular telephone subscribers)
(1996)
Telephone system: 14,213 telex lines; automatic telephone network
based on microwave radio relay system; the average waiting time for
telephones is expected to drop to one year by the end of 1997 (down
from over 10 years in the early 1990s); note--the former state-owned
telecommunications firm MATAV--now privatized and managed by a
US/German consortium--has ambitious plans to upgrade the inadequate
system, including a contract with the German firm Siemens and the
Swedish firm Ericsson to provide 600,000 new telephone lines
domestic: microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat and 1
Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 32, FM 15, shortwave 0
Radios: 6 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 39 (in addition, there are
low-power stations) (1997)
Televisions: 4.38 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 7,606 km
broad gauge: 36 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 7,394 km 1.435-m gauge (2,207 km electrified; 1,236
km double track)
narrow gauge: 176 km 0.760-m gauge (1996)
note: Hungary and Austria jointly manage the cross-border
standard-gauge railway between Gyor, Sopron, Ebenfurt
(Gyor-Sopron-Ebenfurti Vasut Rt) a distance of about 101 km in
Hungary and 65 km in Austria
Highways:
total: 188,203 km
paved: 81,680 km (including 438 km of expressways)
unpaved: 106,523 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 1,622 km (1988)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,204 km; natural gas 4,387 km (1991)
Ports and harbors: Budapest, Dunaujvaros
Merchant marine:
total: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,210 GRT/19,810
DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 25 (1998 est.)