Distinct from mainland China − Since 1997 Hong Kong governed as Special Administrative Region (SAR), with no visa restrictions on travel to Britain. Allowed to retain economic and social systems developed under British rule until 2047 Major trade and financial centre − Value of Hong Kong’s international goods and services’ trade, including sizeable share of re-exports, approx. four-times size of Hong Kong’s GDP. Also home to over 100,000 US$ millionaires. Britain’s second biggest export market in Asia behind mainland China Urban, ageing population − Most of Hong Kong’s seven million citizens of Chinese ethnicity. Virtually all live in urban environment. 40% population will be aged 55 or above by 2025 Hong Kong’s seven million citizens travel heavily − But majority of travel (95%) to mainland China. Travellers want to experience food and shopping. Around 78,000 Hong Kong-born citizens reside in Britain, and Hong Kong one of main source markets for British universities in terms of overseas born students 149,000 visitors from Hong Kong visited Britain in 2011 − 14% up on 2010. Visits to Britain have averaged around 150,000 since early 1990s. With £176m total spend, Britain’s 25th most valuable source market in 2011 (IPS and UNWTO) Visitors to Britain − Most visitors aged between 35 and 54. Two-thirds of VFR visitors hold British passport; similar proportion of holiday visitors either Chinese or Hong Kongers (IPS)