Televisions: NA
Defense
-------
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal
Guards are posted at entrances to Vatican City
======================================================================
@Honduras
--------
Map
---
Location: 15 00 N, 86 30 W -- Middle America, bordering the
Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the
North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Nicaragua
Flag
----
Description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white,
and blue with five blue five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern
centered in the white band; the stars represent the members of the
former Federal Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of
El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words
REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white
band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a
triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and
AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band
Geography
---------
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the North Pacific Ocean,
between El Salvador and Nicaragua
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 86 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area: 112,090 sq km
land area: 111,890 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total: 1,520 km
border countries: Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua
922 km
Coastline: 820 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: land boundary dispute with El Salvador
mostly resolved by 11 September 1992 International Court of Justice
(ICJ) decision; with respect to the maritime boundary in the Golfo
de Fonseca, ICJ referred to an earlier agreement in this century and
advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras,
and Nicaragua likely would be required; maritime boundary dispute
with Nicaragua
Climate: subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
Terrain: mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m
Natural resources: timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron
ore, antimony, coal, fish
Land use:
arable land: 14%
permanent crops: 2%
meadows and pastures: 30%
forest and woodland: 34%
other: 20%
Irrigated land: 900 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: urban population expanding; deforestation results
from logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes;
further land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled
development and improper land use practices such as farming of
marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the
country's largest source of freshwater) with heavy metals as well as
several rivers and streams
natural hazards: frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; damaging
hurricanes and floods along Caribbean coast
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed,
but not ratified - Desertification, Tropical Timber 94
People
------
Population: 5,605,193 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 1,220,188; female 1,177,725)
15-64 years: 54% (male 1,496,625; female 1,520,918)
65 years and over: 3% (male 91,126; female 98,611) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.6% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 33.38 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.83 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 41.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.42 years
male: 66.01 years
female: 70.96 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.41 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Honduran(s)
adjective: Honduran
Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and European) 90%, Indian
7%, black 2%, white 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant minority
Languages: Spanish, Indian dialects
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 72.7%
male: 72.6%
female: 72.7%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Honduras
conventional short form: Honduras
local long form: Republica de Honduras
local short form: Honduras
Data code: HO
Type of government: republic
Capital: Tegucigalpa
Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos, singular
- departamento); Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan,
Cortes, El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca,
Islas de la Bahia, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa
Barbara, Valle, Yoro
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982
Legal system: rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some
influence of English common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Carlos Roberto
REINA Idiaquez (since 27 January 1994) was elected for a four-year
term by a simple majority of the people; First Vice President
General (Ret.) Walter LOPEZ; Second Vice President Juan DE LA CRUZ
Avelar; Third Vice President Guadeloupe JEREZANO; election last held
28 November 1993 (next to be held November 1997); results - Carlos
Roberto REINA Idiaquez (PLH) 53%, Oswaldo RAMOS Soto (PNH) 41%,
other 6%
cabinet: Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Congress (Congreso Nacional): elections last held on 27
November 1993 (next to be held November 1997); results - PNH 53%,
PLH 41%, PDCH 1.0%, PINU-SD 2.5%, other 2.5%; seats - (134 total)
PNH 55, PLH 77, PINU-SD 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justica), judges are elected for four-year terms by the National
Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party (PLH), Rafael PINEDA
Ponce, president; National Party of Honduras (PNH), Oswaldo RAMOS
Soto, president; National Innovation and Unity Party (PINU), Olban
VALLADARES, president; Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Efrain
DIAZ Arrivillaga, president
Other political or pressure groups: National Association of
Honduran Campesinos (ANACH); Honduran Council of Private Enterprise
(COHEP); Confederation of Honduran Workers (CTH); National Union of
Campesinos (UNC); General Workers Confederation (CGT); United
Federation of Honduran Workers (FUTH); Committee for the Defense of
Human Rights in Honduras (CODEH); Coordinating Committee of Popular
Organizations (CCOP)
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,
G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer),
MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto FLORES Bermudez
chancery: 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-7702, 2604, 5008, 4596
FAX: [1] (202) 966-9751
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s): Boston, Detroit, and Jacksonville
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador William T. PRYCE
embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No 3453, Tegucigalpa
mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa
telephone: [504] 36-9320, 38-5114
FAX: [504] 36-9037
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue
with five blue five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered
in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former
Federal Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of El
Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words
REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white
band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a
triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and
AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the
Western Hemisphere. Agriculture, the most important sector of the
economy, employs nearly two-thirds of the labor force and produces
two-thirds of exports. Productivity remains low. Manufacturing,
still in its early stages, employs about 9% of the labor force, and
generates 20% of exports. Many basic problems face the economy,
including rapid population growth, high unemployment, inflation, a
lack of basic services, a large and inefficient public sector, and
the dependence of the export sector mostly on coffee and bananas,
which are subject to sharp price fluctuations. A far-reaching reform
program, initiated by former President CALLEJAS in 1990 and scaled
back by President REINA, is beginning to take hold.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $10.8 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 4% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,980 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 30%
industry: 20%
services: 50% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 1.3 million
by occupation: agriculture 62%, services 20%, manufacturing 9%,
construction 3%, other 6% (1985)
Unemployment rate: 10%; underemployed 30%-40% (1992)
Budget:
revenues: $527 million
expenditures: $668 million, including capital expenditures of $166
million (1993 est.)
Industries: sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products
Industrial production growth rate: 10% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 290,000 kW
production: 2.3 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 445 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: bananas, coffee, citrus; beef; timber; shrimp;
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics; illicit producer
of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for
local consumption
Exports: $843 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: bananas, coffee, shrimp, lobster, minerals, meat, lumber
partners: US 53%, Germany 11%, Belgium 8%, UK 5%
Imports: $1.1 billion (c.i.f. 1994)
commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemical products,
manufactured goods, fuel and oil, foodstuffs
partners: US 50%, Mexico 8%, Guatemala 6%
External debt: $3.7 billion (1994)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 lempira (L) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: lempiras (L) per US$1 - 10.3432 (December 1994),
10.3432 (1995), 9.4001 (1994), 7.2600 (1993), 5.8300 (1992), 5.4000
(1991); the lempira was allowed to float in 1992
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 595 km
narrow gauge: 190 km 1.067-m gauge; 128 km 1.057-m gauge; 277 km
0.914-m gauge
note: in 1993, there was a total of 988 km of track (1995)
Highways:
total: 14,203 km
paved: 2,533 km
unpaved: 11,670 km (1993 est.)
Waterways: 465 km navigable by small craft
Ports: La Ceiba, Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo,
Tela, Puerto Lempira
Merchant marine:
total: 257 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 769,518 GRT/1,148,423
DWT
ships by type: bulk 29, cargo 165, chemical tanker 2, combination
bulk 1, container 7, liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 3,
oil tanker 19, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 3, refrigerated cargo
16, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger 2, vehicle carrier
1
note: a flag of convenience registry; Russia owns 8 ships, Vietnam
4, North Korea 2, Greece 1, Japan 1, US 1, Iran 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 111
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5
with paved runways under 914 m: 79
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 21 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 105,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: inadequate system
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations: AM 176, FM 0, shortwave 7
Radios: 2.115 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 28
Televisions: 400,000 (1992 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, Public
Security Forces (FUSEP)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 1,322,525
males fit for military service: 787,889
males reach military age (18) annually: 64,378 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $41 million,
about 0.4% of GDP (1994)
======================================================================
@Hong Kong
---------
(dependent territory of the UK)
Map
---
Location: 22 15 N, 114 10 E -- Eastern Asia, bordering the South
China Sea and China
Flag
----
Description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant with the Hong Kong coat of arms on a white disk centered on
the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a shield
(bearing two junks below a crown) held by a lion (representing the
UK) and a dragon (representing China) with another lion above the
shield and a banner bearing the words HONG KONG below the shield
Geography
---------
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates: 22 15 N, 114 10 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total area: 1,040 sq km
land area: 990 sq km
comparative area: six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 30 km
border country: China 30 km
Coastline: 733 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy
from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall
Terrain: hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m
Natural resources: outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 1%
forest and woodland: 12%
other: 79%
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues: air and water pollution from rapid urbanization
natural hazards: occasional typhoons
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: more than 200 islands
People
------
Population: 6,305,413 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 609,493; female 593,687)
15-64 years: 70% (male 2,312,141; female 2,094,156)
65 years and over: 11% (male 307,186; female 388,750) (July 1996
est.)
Population growth rate: 1.77% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 10.5 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.23 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 12.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 82.19 years
male: 78.88 years
female: 85.71 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.3 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Chinese
adjective: Chinese
Ethnic divisions: Chinese 95%, other 5%
Religions: eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
Languages: Chinese (Cantonese), English
Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1995 est.)
total population: 92.2%
male: 96%
female: 88.2%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Hong Kong
abbreviation: HK
Data code: HK
Type of government: dependent territory of the UK scheduled to
revert to China on 1 July 1997
Capital: Victoria
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK; the UK signed
an agreement with China on 19 December 1984 to return Hong Kong to
China on 1 July 1997; in the joint declaration, China promises to
respect Hong Kong's existing social and economic systems and
lifestyle)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 29 August (1945)
Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and
practice; new Basic Law approved in March 1990 in preparation for
1997
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent
residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven
years; indirect election limited to about 100,000 professionals of
electoral college and functional constituencies
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
February 1952) is a hereditary monarch
head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council
Christopher Francis PATTEN (since 9 July 1992) was appointed by the
Queen; Chief Secretary Anson CHAN Fang On-Sang (since 29 November
1993)
cabinet: Executive Council was appointed by the Governor
Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Council: indirect and direct elections last held 17
September 1995 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote
by party NA; seats - (60 total, 30 indirectly elected by functional
constituencies, 20 directly elected, 10 elected by election
committee) Democratic Party 21, Liberal Party 10, Democratic
Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong 6, other parties and
independents 23
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party, Martin LEE,
chairman; Liberal Party, Allen LEE, chairman; Democratic Alliance
for the Betterment of Hong Kong, TSANG Yuk-shing, chairman; Hong
Kong Democratic Foundation, Dr. Patrick SHIU Kin-ying, chairman
Other political or pressure groups: Association for Democracy and
People's Livelihood (ADPL), Frederick FUNG Kin Kee, chairman;
Liberal Democratic Federation, HU Fa-kuang, chairman; Federation of
Trade Unions (pro-China), LEE Chark-tim, president; Hong Kong and
Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Confederation of Trade
Unions (pro-democracy), LEE Cheuk-yan, chairman; Hong Kong General
Chamber of Commerce; Chinese General Chamber of Commerce
(pro-China); Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Chinese
Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Professional
Teachers' Union, CHEUNG Man-kwong, president; Hong Kong Alliance in
Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China, Szeto WAH,
chairman
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP
(associate), ICFTU, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO
(correspondent), WCL, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the
UK)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Consul General Richard W. MUELLER
consulate general(s): 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong
mailing address: PSC 464, Box 30, FPO AP 96522-0002
telephone: [852] 2523-9011
FAX: [852] 2845-1598
Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant with the Hong Kong coat of arms on a white disk centered on
the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a shield
(bearing two junks below a crown) held by a lion (representing the
UK) and a dragon (representing China) with another lion above the
shield and a banner bearing the words HONG KONG below the shield
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy
with few tariffs or nontariff barriers. Natural resources are
limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Manufacturing
and construction account for about 18% of GDP. Goods and services
exports account for about 50% of GDP. Real GDP growth averaged a
remarkable 8% in 1987-88, slowed to 3.0% in 1989-90, and picked up
to 4.2% in 1991, 5.0% in 1992, 5.2% in 1993, 5.5% in 1994, and 5.0%
in 1995. Unemployment, which has been declining since the mid-1980s,
edged up from 2% to 3.5% in 1995. Notwithstanding, a shortage of
labor continues to put upward pressure on prices and the cost of
living. Prospects for 1996 remain bright so long as major trading
partners continue to be reasonably prosperous and so long as
investors feel China will support free market practices after the
takeover in 1997.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $152.4 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $27,500 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.2%
industry: 18.4%
services: 81.4% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.4% (1995)
Labor force: 2,915,400 (1994)
by occupation: manufacturing 28.5%, wholesale and retail trade,
restaurants, and hotels 27.9%, services 17.7%, financing, insurance,
and real estate 9.2%, transport and communications 4.5%,
construction 2.5%, other 9.7% (1989)
Unemployment rate: 3.5% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $19 billion
expenditures: $14.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $289
million (FY94/95)
Industries: textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics,
toys, watches, clocks
Industrial production growth rate: 2% (1993 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 8,930,000 kW
production: 33 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 4,628 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: fresh vegetables; poultry
Illicit drugs: a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade;
transshipment and money-laundering center; increasing indigenous
amphetamine abuse
Exports: $177.1 billion (including re-exports)(f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: clothing, textiles, yarn and fabric, footwear,
electrical appliances, watches and clocks, toys
partners: China 33%, US 22%, Germany 5%, Japan 5%, UK 3% (1993)
Imports: $195.4 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials,
semimanufactures, petroleum; a large share is re-exported
partners: China 38%, Japan 17%, Taiwan 9%, US 7% (1993)
External debt: none (1995)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$ - 7.800 (1995),
7.800 (1994), 7.800 (1993), 7.741 (1992), 7.771 (1991); note -
linked to the US dollar at the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$ since
1985
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 35 km
standard gauge: 35 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways:
total: 1,661 km
paved: 1,661 km
unpaved: 0 km (1994 est.)
Ports: Hong Kong
Merchant marine:
total: 238 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,632,224
GRT/14,820,657 DWT
ships by type: bulk 129, cargo 32, chemical tanker 1, combination
bulk 4, combination ore/oil 3, container 39, liquefied gas tanker 3,
multifunction large load carrier 1, oil tanker 17, refrigerated
cargo 5, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 3
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 17
countries among which are UK 51, China 11, Belgium 8, South Africa
8, US 8, Japan 7, Bermuda 6, Switzerland 6, Germany 3, and Israel 3
(1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)
note: new international airport to be commissioned in 1997/98
Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 4.13 million (1995 est.)