Flag description: green with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a long yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow black border between the red and yellow, and a narrow white border between the yellow and the green
@Guyana:Economy
Economy-overview: In 1997, Guyana, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, posted its sixth straight year of economic growth of 5% or better, with the advance led by gold and bauxite mining and by sugar growing. Favorable growth factors have included expansion in the key agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiative, a more realistic exchange rate, a moderate inflation rate, and the continued support of international organizations. Serious underlying economic problems will continue. Electric power has been in short supply and constitutes a major barrier to future gains in national output. The government must persist in efforts to manage its sizable external debt and extend its privatization program.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$1.8 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 5% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$2,500 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 39% industry: 28% services: 33% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 4.5% (1997 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: 12% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues: $278 million expenditures: $299 million, including capital expenditures of $133 million (1996 est.)
Industries: bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, fishing (shrimp), textiles, gold mining
Industrial production growth rate: 5.6% (1994 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 114,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 230 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 339 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: sugar, rice, wheat, vegetable oils; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; development potential exists for fishing and forestry
Exports: total value: $546 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses partners: Canada 33%, US 24%, UK 22% (1994 est.)
Imports: total value: $589 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food partners: US 29%, Trinidad and Tobago 17%, Netherlands Antilles 17%, UK 11%, (1994 est.)
Debt-external: $1.5 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Guyanese dollar (G$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Guyanese dollars (G$) per US$1-144.2 (January 1998), 142.4 (1997), 140.4 (1996), 142.0 (1995), 138.3 (1994), 126.7 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 33,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: fair system for long-distance calling domestic: microwave radio relay network for trunk lines international: tropospheric scatter to Trinidad; satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 1
Radios: 398,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 11 (1995 est.)
Televisions: 32,000 (1992 est.)
@Guyana:Transportation
Railways: total: 88 km standard gauge: 40 km 1.435-m gauge (dedicated to ore transport) narrow gauge: 48 km 0.914-m gauge (dedicated to ore transport)
Highways: total: 7,970 km paved: 590 km unpaved: 7,380 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 6,000 km total of navigable waterways; Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km, respectively
Ports and harbors: Bartica, Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam, Parika
Merchant marine: total: 2 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,340 GRT/4,530 DWT (1997 est.)
Airports: 50 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 34 (1997 est.)
@Guyana:Military
Military branches: Guyana Defense Force (GDF; includes Ground Forces,Coast Guard, and Air Corps), Guyana People's Militia (GPM), GuyanaNational Service (GNS)
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 201,126 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 151,963 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $7 million (1994)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 1.7% (1994)
@Guyana:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: all of the area west of the Essequibo River claimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Kutari [Koetari] Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics from South America-primarily Venezuela - to Europe and the US; producer of cannabis
______________________________________________________________________
@Haiti:Geography
Location: Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates: 19 00 N, 72 25 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 27,750 sq km land: 27,560 sq km water: 190 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 275 km border countries: Dominican Republic 275 km
Coastline: 1,771 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds
Terrain: mostly rough and mountainous
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: 18% forests and woodland: 5% other: 44% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 750 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts
Environment-current issues: extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography-note: shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)
@Haiti:People
Population: 6,780,501 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 1,465,735; female 1,422,260) 15-64 years: 53% (male 1,733,636; female 1,881,367) 65 years and over: 4% (male 138,678; female 138,825) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.51% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 32.84 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 14.17 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 98.98 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.4 years male: 49.33 years female: 53.58 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.67 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Haitian(s) adjective: Haitian
Ethnic groups: black 95%, mulatto plus white 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% (1982) note: roughly one-half of the population also practices Voodoo
Languages: French (official) 20%, Creole
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 45% male: 48% female: 42.2% (1995 est.)
@Haiti:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Haiti conventional short form: Haiti local long form: Republique d'Haiti local short form: Haiti
Data code: HA
Government type: republic
National capital: Port-au-Prince
Administrative divisions: 9 departments, (departements, singular-departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est
Independence: 1 January 1804 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1804)
Constitution: approved March 1987, suspended June 1988, most articles reinstated March 1989; in October 1991, government claimed to be observing the constitution; return to constitutional rule, October 1994
Legal system: based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Rene Garcia PREVAL (since 7 February 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Rosny SMARTH resigned June 1997; currently no prime minister; ratification of a new prime minister held up in political gridlock stemming from controversy over the 6 April 1997 elections cabinet: Cabinet; chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held by December 2000); prime minister appointed by the president, ratified by the Congress election results: Rene Garcia PREVAL elected president; percent of vote-Rene Garcia PREVAL 88%, Leon JEUNE 2.5%, Victor BENOIT 2.3%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale consists of the Senate (27 seats; members serve six-year terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of Deputies (83 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate-last held 25 June 1995 with reruns on 13 August and runoffs on 17 September (election held for nine seats 6 April 1997; results disputed and runoffs postponed indefinitely); Chamber of Deputies-last held 25 June 1995 with reruns on 13 August and runoffs on 17 September (next Senate and Chamber elections to be held November 1998) election results: Senate-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-Lavalas Political Organization 7, Lavalas family-leaning 7, independent 2, non-active members 2, vacant 9; Chamber of Deputies-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-Lavalas Political Organization (OPL) 32, antineoliberal bloc 24, minor parties and independents 22, vacant 5
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour de Cassation)
Political parties and leaders: Lavalas Family (FL), Jean-BertrandARISTIDE; National Lavalas Political Organization (OPL), GerardPIERRE-CHARLES; National Front for Change and Democracy (FNCD), EvansPAUL and Turneb DELPE; National Congress of Democratic Movements(KONACOM), Victor BENOIT; Movement for the Installation of Democracyin Haiti (MIDH), Marc BAZIN; National Progressive Revolutionary Party(PANPRA), Serge GILLES; Movement for National Reconstruction (MRN),Rene THEODORE; Haitian Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), FritzPIERRE; Assembly of Progressive National Democrats (RDNP), LeslieMANIGAT; Mobilization for National Development (MDN), Hubert DERONCERAY; Movement for the Organization of the Country (MOP), GesnerCOMEAU and Jean MOLIERE; Open the Gate Party (PLB), Renaud BERNARDIN;Union of Patriotic Democrats (UPD), Rockefeller GUERRE; Generation2004, Claude ROUMAIN; Alliance for the Liberation and Advancement ofHaiti (ALAH), Reynold GEORGES; Haitian Democratic Party (PADEMH),Clark PARENT; National Alliance for Democracy and Progress; Haiti Can(Ayiti Kapab), Ernst VERDIEU
Political pressure groups and leaders: Roman Catholic Church;Confederation of Haitian Workers (CTH); Federation of Workers TradeUnions (FOS); Autonomous Haitian Workers (CATH); National PopularAssembly (APN); Papaye Peasants Movement (MPP); Popular OrganizationsGathering Power (PROP)
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, Caricom(observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU,LAES, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); mission led by charge d' affairs chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090 through 4092 FAX: [1] (202) 745-7215 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Timothy Michael CARNEY embassy: 5 Harry Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince mailing address: P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince telephone: [509] 22-0354, 22-0368, 22-0200, 22-0612 FAX: [509] 23-1641
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)
@Haiti:Economy
Economy-overview: About 75% of the population lives in abject poverty. Nearly 70% of all Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, which consists mainly of small-scale subsistence farming and employs about two-thirds of the economically active work force. The country has experienced little or no job creation since President PREVAL took office in February 1996, although the informal economy is growing. Failure to reach agreements with international sponsors have denied Haiti badly needed budget and development assistance. Meeting aid conditions in 1998 will be especially challenging in the face of mounting popular criticism of reforms.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$7.1 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 1.1% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,070 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 44% industry: 13% services: 43% (1995)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 17% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 3.6 million (1995) by occupation: agriculture 66%, services 25%, industry 9% note: shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1982)
Unemployment rate: 60% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $284 million expenditures: $308 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, cement, tourism, light assembly industries based on imported parts
Industrial production growth rate: 2.5% (1995 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 153,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 315 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 48 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum; wood
Exports: total value: $90 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: light manufactures 53%, coffee 17%, other agriculture 17% partners: US 76.3%, EU 19.8% (1996)
Imports: total value: $665 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: machines and manufactures 34%, food and beverages 22%, petroleum products 14%, chemicals 10%, fats and oils 9% partners: US 65.0%, EU 13.9% (1995)
Debt-external: $781 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 gourde (G) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: gourdes (G) per US$1 (end of period)-17.311 (December 1997), 17.311 (1997), 15.093 (1996), 16.160 (1995), 12.947 (1994), 12.805 (1993)
Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September
Communications
Telephones: 50,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: domestic facilities barely adequate, international facilities slightly better domestic: NA international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 33, FM 0, shortwave 2
Radios: 320,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 32,000 (1992 est.)
@Haiti:Transportation
Railways: total: 40 km (single track; privately owned industrial line)-closed in early 1990s narrow gauge: 40 km 0.760-m gauge
Highways: total: 4,160 km paved: 1,011 km unpaved: 3,149 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: NEGL; less than 100 km navigable
Ports and harbors: Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Jeremie, Les Cayes,Miragoane, Port-au-Prince, Port-de-Paix, Saint-Marc
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 14 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 6 (1997 est.)
@Haiti:Military
Military branches: Haitian National Police (HNP) note: the regular Haitian Army, Navy, and Air Force have been demobilized but still exist on paper until/unless constitutionally abolished
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 1,490,464 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 807,330 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 75,448 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $NA; note-mainly for police and security activities
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Haiti:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: claims US-administered Navassa Island
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana en route to the US and Europe
______________________________________________________________________
(territory of Australia)
@Heard Island and McDonald Islands:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica
Geographic coordinates: 53 06 S, 72 31 E
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area: total: 412 sq km land: 412 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly more than 2 times the size of Washington,DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 101.9 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: antarctic
Terrain: Heard Island-bleak and mountainous, with a quiescent volcano;McDonald Islands-small and rocky
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Big Ben 2,745 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: Heard Island is dominated by a dormant volcano calledBig Ben
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: primarily used for research stations
@Heard Island and McDonald Islands:People
Population: uninhabited
@Heard Island and McDonald Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Data code: HM
Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of Australia)
Flag description: the flag of Australia is used
@Heard Island and McDonald Islands:Economy
Economy-overview: no economic activity
@Heard Island and McDonald Islands:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
@Heard Island and McDonald Islands:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
@Heard Island and McDonald Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
Holy See (Vatican City)
Holy See (Vatican City)@Holy See (Vatican City):Geography
Location: Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 0.44 sq km land: 0.44 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
Land boundaries: total: 3.2 km border countries: Italy 3.2 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Terrain: low hill
Elevation extremes: lowest point: unnamed location 19 m highest point: unnamed location 75 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (urban area)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Geography-note: urban; landlocked; enclave of Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights
@Holy See (Vatican City):People
Population: 860 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.15% (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: none adjective: none
Ethnic groups: Italians, Swiss, other
Religions: Roman Catholic
Languages: Italian, Latin, various other languages
@Holy See (Vatican City):Government
Country name: conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City) conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City) local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano) local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
Data code: VT
Government type: monarchical-sacerdotal state
National capital: Vatican City
Independence: 11 February 1929 (from Italy)
National holiday: Installation Day of the Pope, 22 October (1978) (John Paul II) note: Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978
Constitution: Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Executive branch: chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October 1978) head of government: Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal SODANO (since 2 December 1990) cabinet: Pontifical Commission appointed by Pope elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals; election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope election results: Karol WOJTYLA elected pope
Legislative branch: unicameral Pontifical Commission
Judicial branch: none; normally handled by Italy
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)
International organization participation: IAEA, ICFTU, Intelsat, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Agostino CACCIAVILLAN chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Corrine BOGGS embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via Delle Terme Deciane 26, Rome 00153 mailing address: PSC 59, APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (6) 46741 FAX: [39] (6) 5758346, 57300682
Flag description: two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white band
@Holy See (Vatican City):Economy
Economy-overview: This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by contributions (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholics throughout the world, the sale of postage stamps and tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of publications. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to, or somewhat better than, those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.
Labor force: NA by occupation: dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers who live outside the Vatican
Budget: revenues: $175.5 million expenditures: $175 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994)
Industries: printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Electricity-capacity: 5,000 kW standby note: electricity supplied by Italy
Electricity-production: NA kWh note: electricity supplied by Italy
Electricity-consumption per capita: NA kWh
Currency: 1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi
Exchange rates: Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1-1,787.7 (January 1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993); note-the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2,000
Telephone system: automatic exchange domestic: tied into Italian system international: uses Italian system
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1996)
Televisions: NA
@Holy See (Vatican City):Transportation
Railways: total: 862 meters; note-connects to Italy's network at Rome's Saint Peter's station narrow gauge: 862 meters 1.435-m gauge
Highways: none; all city streets
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: none
Heliports: 1
@Holy See (Vatican City):Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss PapalGuards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City
@Holy See (Vatican City):Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
@Honduras:Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, betweenGuatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, betweenEl Salvador and Nicaragua
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 86 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 112,090 sq km land: 111,890 sq km water: 200 sq km
Area-comparative: 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
Climate: subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
Terrain: mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
Elevation extremes: 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: 15% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 14% forests and woodland: 54% other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 740 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; damaging hurricanes and floods along Caribbean coast
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 fresh water) as well as several rivers and streams with heavy metals
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Honduras:People
Population: 5,861,955 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 42% (male 1,248,291; female 1,204,574) 15-64 years: 55% (male 1,591,995; female 1,615,449) 65 years and over: 3% (male 96,017; female 105,629) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.33% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 31.79 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 7.02 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 41.88 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.01 years male: 63.31 years female: 66.8 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.12 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Honduran(s) adjective: Honduran
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant minority
Languages: Spanish, Amerindian dialects
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 72.7% male: 72.6% female: 72.7% (1995 est.)
@Honduras:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Honduras conventional short form: Honduras local long form: Republica de Honduras local short form: Honduras
Data code: HO
Government type: republic
National capital: Tegucigalpa
Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos,singular-departamento) plus probable Central District (Tegucigalpa);Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso,Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, LaPaz, 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 ofEnglish common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (since 27 January 1998); First Vice President William HANDAL; Second Vice President Gladys CABALLERO de Arevalo; Third Vice President Hector Vidal CERRATO Hernandez; note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (since 27 January 1998); First Vice President William HANDAL; Second Vice President Gladys CABALLERO de Arevalo; Third Vice President Hector Vidal CERRATO Hernandez; note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 30 November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2001) election results: Carlos FLORES Facusse elected president; percent of vote-Carlos FLORES Facusse (PLH) 53%, Nora de MELGAR (PNH) 42%, other 5%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (128 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 30 November 1997 (next to be held November 2001) election results: percent of vote by party-PLH 50%, PNH 42%, PINU-SD 4%, PDCH 2%, other 2%; seats by party-PLH 70, PNH 55, PINU-SD 3
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), Raphael PINEDAPonce, president; National Party of Honduras (PNH), Nora MELGAR,president; National Innovation and Unity Party-Social Democratic Party(PINU-SD), Olban VALLADARES, president; Christian Democratic Party(PDCH)
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Association ofHonduran Campesinos (ANACH); Honduran Council of Private Enterprise(COHEP); Confederation of Honduran Workers (CTH); National Union ofCampesinos (UNC); General Workers Confederation (CGT); UnitedFederation of Honduran Workers (FUTH); Committee for the Defense ofHuman Rights in Honduras (CODEH); Coordinating Committee of PopularOrganizations (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, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU,WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edgardo DUMAS Rodriguez 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
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James Francis CREAGAN (29 July 1996) 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 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
@Honduras:Economy
Economy-overview: In 1994 the REINA administration inherited an economy in the grips of stagflation due to an unprecedented energy crisis, declining agricultural output, and extravagant public expenditures. In response the REINA administration cut the fiscal deficit and enacted a number of structural reforms including passage of a modern financial sector reform law in 1995 and a central bank reform law in 1996. As a result, Honduras finished 1997 with improved GDP growth and a decreasing rate of inflation. The newly elected FLORES administration faces pressure from the international financial community and the IMF to further decrease the fiscal deficit and implement key reforms, including the privatization of state enterprises such as Hondutel. Tegucigalpa will probably implement tighter fiscal and monetary policies to keep inflation low and meet commitments to the IMF. This may slow GDP growth to 3.5% in 1998. Moreover, wage increases for public-sector employees, agreed to in 1997, will make it difficult for FLORES to make headway on the fiscal deficit and inflation.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$12.7 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 4.5% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$2,200 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 19% services: 61% (1997)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 15% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 1.3 million (1997 est.) by occupation: agriculture 62%, services 20%, manufacturing 9%, construction 3%, other 6% (1985)
Unemployment rate: 6.3% (1997); underemployed 30% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $655 million expenditures: $850 million, including capital expenditures of $150 million (1997 est.)
Industries: sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products
Industrial production growth rate: 10% (1992 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 305,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 2.8 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 516 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: bananas, coffee, citrus; beef; timber; shrimp;
Exports: total value: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: bananas, coffee, shrimp, lobster, minerals, meat, lumber partners: US 54%, Germany 7%, Belgium 5%, Japan 4%, Spain 3% (1995)
Imports: total value: $1.8 billion (c.i.f. 1996) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw materials, chemical products, manufactured goods, fuel and oil, foodstuffs partners: US 43%, Guatemala 5%, Japan 5%, Germany 4%, Mexico 3%, El Salvador 3% (1995)
Debt-external: $4.1 billion (1995)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 lempira (L) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: lempiras (L) per US$1 (end of period)-13.1332 (January 1998), 13.0942 (1997), 12.8694 (1996), 10.3432 (1995), 9.4001 (1994), 7.2600 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
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.)
@Honduras: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
Highways: total: 15,400 km paved: 3,126 km unpaved: 12,274 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 465 km navigable by small craft
Ports and harbors: La Ceiba, Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, SanLorenzo, Tela, Puerto Lempira
Merchant marine: total: 219 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 545,829 GRT/801,456 DWT ships by type: bulk 25, cargo 131, chemical tanker 3, container 7, liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 2, oil tanker 19, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 18, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5, short-sea passenger 3, vehicle carrier 1 note: a flag of convenience registry; Russia owns 7 ships, Vietnam 2, Singapore 2, North Korea 1, Brazil 1, Japan 1, Iran 1 (1997 est.)
Airports: 122 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 110 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 87 (1997 est.)
@Honduras:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, Public Security Forces (FUSEP, now being converted to a civilian police force)
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 1,409,012 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 839,283 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 68,076 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $42.5 million (1997)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: about 1.5% (1997)
@Honduras:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: land boundary dispute with El Salvador mostly resolved by 11 September 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision; the presidents of El Salvador and Honduras signed in January 1998 an agreement allowing citizens in the 1992 demarcated areas to choose Salvadoran or Honduran citizenship; the two countries also agreed to a final demarcation of the border within one year; the agreement awaits ratification by the legislative assemblies of both countries; 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
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for drugs and narcotics, mostly along the Caribbean coastline; illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for local consumption
______________________________________________________________________
(special administrative region of China)
Introduction
Current issues: Pursuant to the agreement signed by China and the UK on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became a special administrative region of China on 1 July 1997. Under the terms of this agreement, China has promised that Hong Kong shall enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs.
@Hong Kong: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: 1,092 sq km land: 1,042 sq km water: 50 sq km
Area-comparative: six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 30 km border countries: China 30 km
Coastline: 733 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm
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
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m
Natural resources: outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 22% other: 70% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
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.)
Net migration rate: 15.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.24 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.81 years male: 76.07 years female: 81.74 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.36 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Chinese adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups: Chinese 95%, other 5%
Religions: eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
Languages: Chinese (Cantonese), English
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 92.2% male: 96% female: 88.2% (1996 est.)
@Hong Kong:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region conventional short form: Hong Kong local long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu local short form: Xianggang abbreviation: HK
Data code: HK
Dependency status: special administrative region of China
Government type: NA
National capital: Victoria
Administrative divisions: none (special administrative region ofChina)
Independence: none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday: National Day, 1-2 October note: 1 July 1997 is celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Constitution: Basic Law approved in March 1990 by China's NationalPeople's Congress is Hong Kong's "mini-constitution"
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 members of functional constituencies and an 800-member Election Commission drawn from broad regional groupings and other central government bodies
Executive branch: chief of state: President of China JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993) head of government: Chief Executive TUNG Chee-hwa (since 1 July 1997) cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex-officio members and 10 appointed members; ex-officio members are: Chief Secretary Anson CHAN (since 29 November 1993), Financial Secretary Donald TSANG (since NA 1995), and Secretary of Justice Elsie LEUNG (since NA 1997) elections: NA
Legislative branch: a provisional legislature replaced the unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (60 seats; 30 indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 20 elected by popular vote, and 10 elected by election committee; members served four-year terms) on 1 July 1997 elections: indirect and direct elections for the Legislative Council were last held on 17 September 1995; elections for the first Special Administrative Region Legislative Council are scheduled to be held in May 1998 election results: the following are results of the 1995 election of the Legislative Council - percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-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 theBetterment of Hong Kong, TSANG Yuk-shing, chairman; Hong KongDemocratic Foundation, Dr. Patrick SHIU Kin-ying, chairman; TheFrontier, Emily LAN Wai-hang, chairwoman
Political pressure groups and leaders: 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, BIS (pending member), 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 telephone: [852] 2523-9011 FAX: [852] 2845-1598
Flag description: red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in the center
@Hong Kong: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. 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, 4.8% in 1995, 4.7% in 1996, and an estimated 5.5% in 1997. A shortage of labor continues to put upward pressure on prices and the cost of living. Even before Hong Kong reverted to Chinese administration on 1 July 1997 it had extensive trade and investment ties with China.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$175.2 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 5.5% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$26,800 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 0.1% industry: 16.1% services: 83.8% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 5.1% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 3.183 million (1997) by occupation: wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 32.4%, social services 9.9%, manufacturing 9.9%, financing, insurance, and real estate 13.0%, transport and communications 5.7%, construction 2.6%, other 26.5% (June 1997)
Unemployment rate: 3.1% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $19 billion expenditures: $14.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $289 million (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks
Industrial production growth rate: -3.2% (1997 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 11.3 million kW (1996)
Electricity-production: 28 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 3,968 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: fresh vegetables; poultry
Exports: total value: $180.7 billion (including reexports; f.o.b., 1996) commodities: clothing, textiles, yarn and fabric, footwear, electrical appliances, watches and clocks, toys partners: China 34%, US 21%, Japan 7%, Germany 4%, UK 3% (1996)
Imports: total value: $198.6 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials, semimanufactures, petroleum; a large share is reexported partners: China 37%, Japan 14%, Taiwan 8%, US 8%, Singapore 5% (1996)
Debt-external: none (1996)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$-7.74 (1997), 7.730 (1996), 7.800 (1995), 7.800 (1994), 7.800 (1993), 7.741 (1992); 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: 4.37 million (1997 est.)
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 (British Broadcasting Corporation repeater 1; British Forces Broadcasting Service repeater 1)
Televisions: 1.75 million (1992 est.)
@Hong Kong:Transportation
Railways: total: 34 km standard gauge: 34 km 1.435-m gauge (1996 est.) note: also has 43 km of metro with 38 stations
Highways: total: 1,760 km paved: 1,760 km unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Hong Kong
Merchant marine: total: 182 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,644,279 GRT/9,287,704 DWT ships by type: bulk 104, cargo 23, combination bulk 2, container 42, liquefied gas tanker 1, multifunction large load carrier 2, oil tanker 2, 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 26, South Africa 9, China 9, Japan 8, Bermuda 3, Germany 3, Israel 2, Canada 2, Belgium 1, and Norway 1; Hong Kong owns an additional 459 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,179,262 DWT that operate under the registries of The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Liberia, Malta, Panama, Philippines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, and Vanuatu (1997 est.)
Airports: 3 (1998)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998)
Heliports: 1 (1997 est.)
@Hong Kong:Military
Military branches: the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has a low-profile presence in Hong Kong
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 1,908,604 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 1,442,870 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 45,276 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of China
@Hong Kong:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
Illicit drugs: a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade; transshipment and money-laundering center; increasing indigenous amphetamine abuse
______________________________________________________________________
(territory of the US)
@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 inWashington, 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 (1993)
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; feral cats