Hong_NNP Kong_NNP and_CC Its_PRP$ People_NNP 
Exciting_NNP ,_, mysterious_JJ ,_, glamorous_JJ —_NN these_DT words_NNS have_VBP described_VBN Hong_NNP Kong_NNP for_IN at_IN least_JJS a_DT century_NN ._. 
With_IN its_PRP$ vibrant_JJ atmosphere_NN and_CC night-and-day_JJ activity_NN it_PRP is_VBZ an_DT intoxicating_VBG place_NN ._. 
Hong_NNP Kong_NNP is_VBZ crowded_VBN —_NN it_PRP has_VBZ one_CD of_IN the_DT world_NN ’_NN s_VBZ greatest_JJS population_NN densities_NNS ._. 
But_CC it_PRP is_VBZ also_RB efficient_JJ ,_, with_IN one_CD of_IN the_DT best_JJS transportation_NN systems_NNS anywhere_RB ,_, and_CC for_IN such_JJ a_DT crowded_JJ place_NN ,_, quiet_JJ —_NN you_PRP don_VB ’_NN t_NN hear_VB voices_NNS raised_VBD in_IN anger_NN ,_, motorists_NNS sitting_VBG on_IN their_PRP$ horns_NNS ,_, or_CC loud_JJ boomboxes_NNS ._. 
Shopping_NNP never_RB ends_VBZ —_NN there_EX ’_NN s_VBZ always_RB another_DT inviting_VBG spot_NN just_RB down_RP the_DT street_NN ._. 
You_PRP ’ll_MD find_VB Hong_NNP Kong_NNP easy_JJ to_TO get_VB around_RB ,_, the_DT people_NNS helpful_JJ ,_, English_NNP spoken_VBN everywhere_RB ,_, and_CC food_NN that_IN lives_NNS up_IN to_TO its_PRP$ reputation_NN ._. 

On_IN 1_CD July_NNP ,_, 1997_CD the_DT British_NNP Crown_NNP Colony_NNP of_IN Hong_NNP Kong_NNP reverted_VBN to_TO Chinese_JJ sovereignty_NN as_IN a_DT Special_JJ Administrative_NNP Region_NNP of_IN the_DT People_NNS ’_NN s_VBZ Republic_NNP of_IN China_NNP ._. 
Today_NNP Hong_NNP Kong_NNP remains_VBZ a_DT capitalist_JJ enclave_NN with_IN its_PRP$ laws_NNS and_CC rights_NNS intact_JJ ,_, and_CC China_NNP has_VBZ promised_VBN that_IN Hong_NNP Kong_NNP will_MD continue_VB in_IN this_DT fashion_NN for_IN at_IN least_JJS 50_CD years_NNS ._. 
Beijing_NNP ’_NN s_VBZ announced_VBN policy_NN of_IN maintaining_VBG Hong_NNP Kong_NNP ’_NN s_VBZ prosperity_NN and_CC stability_NN makes_VBZ sense_NN ._. 
Hong_NNP Kong_NNP has_VBZ long_RB been_VBN China_NNP ’_NN s_VBZ handiest_NN window_NN on_IN the_DT West_NNP ,_, and_CC the_DT city_NN is_VBZ unrivaled_JJ in_IN its_PRP$ commercial_JJ know-how_NN and_CC managerial_JJ expertise_NN ._. 
Around_IN the_DT time_NN of_IN the_DT transition_NN there_EX was_VBD much_JJ speculation_NN about_IN how_WRB things_NNS would_MD change_VB ._. 
But_CC in_IN fact_NN ,_, once_RB news_NN of_IN the_DT handover_NN vanished_VBN from_IN the_DT front_JJ pages_NNS ,_, the_DT people_NNS of_IN Hong_NNP Kong_NNP returned_VBD to_TO their_PRP$ usual_JJ topics_NNS of_IN conversation_NN :_: the_DT economy_NN and_CC the_DT price_NN of_IN housing_NN ._. 

The_DT impression_NN of_IN the_DT visitor_NN today_NN will_MD be_VB that_IN very_RB little_JJ has_VBZ changed_VBN ._. 
Establishments_NNP are_VBP no_RB longer_RB called_VBN “_NN Royal_NNP ,_, ”_NN Queen_NNP Elizabeth_NNP has_VBZ vanished_VBN from_IN the_DT coinage_NN ,_, and_CC the_DT Union_NNP Jack_NNP has_VBZ been_VBN replaced_VBN by_IN the_DT flag_NN of_IN China_NNP and_CC the_DT new_JJ Hong_NNP Kong_NNP flag_NN with_IN its_PRP$ bauhinia_NN flower_NN ._. 
But_CC in_IN fact_NN ,_, there_EX have_VBP been_VBN changes_NNS ,_, many_JJ of_IN them_PRP due_JJ to_TO economic_JJ progress_NN ,_, new_JJ construction_NN ,_, and_CC other_JJ factors_NNS that_WDT influence_NN cities_NNS all_DT over_IN the_DT world_NN ._. 

Others_NNS are_VBP more_RBR subtle_JJ ._. 
British_JJ social_JJ customs_NNS are_VBP still_RB evident_JJ in_IN the_DT kind_NN of_IN polite_JJ service_NN you_PRP get_VBP in_IN hotels_NNS and_CC in_IN the_DT long_JJ lines_NNS of_IN people_NNS waiting_VBG for_IN buses_NNS at_IN rush_NN hour_NN ._. 
The_DT British_JJ population_NN has_VBZ decreased_VBN ;_: today_NN there_RB are_VBP as_IN many_JJ American_NNP and_CC Australian_JJ ex-pats_JJ as_IN there_EX are_VBP British_JJ ._. 

With_IN a_DT population_NN of_IN nearly_RB eight_CD million_CD and_CC a_DT total_JJ area_NN of_IN just_RB over_IN 1,095_CD square_JJ km_NN (_( 423_CD square_JJ miles_NNS )_) ,_, housing_NN is_NNS one_CD of_IN Hong_NNP Kong_NNP ’_NN s_VBZ perennial_JJ nightmares_NNS ._. 
To_TO alleviate_VB the_DT problem_NN ,_, the_DT government_NN has_VBZ become_VBN the_DT city_NN ’_NN s_VBZ major_JJ landlord_NN with_IN the_DT construction_NN of_IN massive_JJ apartment_NN blocks_NNS that_IN ,_, though_IN they_PRP have_VBP every_DT modern_JJ facility_NN ,_, average_JJ only_RB 9_CD square_JJ m_NN (_( 100_CD square_JJ ft_NN )_) in_IN size_NN ._. 
Whole_JJ cities_NNS have_VBP been_VBN created_VBN in_IN the_DT New_NNP Territories_NNPS ,_, although_IN the_DT unimaginative_JJ architecture_NN of_IN these_DT towns_NNS has_VBZ been_VBN criticized_VBN ._. 

Of_IN Hong_NNP Kong_NNP ’_NN s_VBZ population_NN ,_, 98_CD percent_NN are_VBP Chinese_JJ ._. 
The_DT majority_NN are_VBP Cantonese_NNP ,_, born_VBN in_IN Hong_NNP Kong_NNP ,_, or_CC from_IN South_NNP China_NNP ,_, but_CC there_EX are_VBP immigrants_NNS from_IN all_DT over_IN China_NNP ._. 
The_DT Chinese_JJ people_NNS have_VBP been_VBN described_VBN as_IN hardworking_JJ and_CC pragmatic_JJ ,_, attitudes_NNS that_WDT have_VBP contributed_VBN to_TO Hong_NNP Kong_NNP ’_NN s_VBZ success_NN ._. 
There_EX are_VBP many_JJ stories_NNS of_IN refugees_NNS who_WP arrived_VBD with_IN nothing_NN in_IN their_PRP$ pockets_NNS ,_, set_VBD up_RP a_DT small_JJ sidewalk_NN stall_NN ,_, worked_VBD diligently_RB until_IN they_PRP had_VBD their_PRP$ own_JJ store_NN ,_, and_CC then_RB expanded_VBN it_PRP into_IN a_DT modest_JJ chain_NN ._. 

Old_NNP customs_NNS are_VBP still_RB followed_VBN :_: Fate_NNP and_CC luck_NN are_VBP taken_VBN very_RB seriously_RB ,_, and_CC astrologers_NNS and_CC fortune-tellers_JJ do_VBP a_DT steady_JJ business_NN ._. 
Before_IN a_DT skyscraper_NN can_MD be_VB built_VBN ,_, a_DT feng_NN shui_NN (_( see_VB page_NN 68_CD )_) investigation_NN must_MD take_VB place_NN to_TO ensure_VB that_IN the_DT site_NN and_CC the_DT building_NN will_MD promote_VB health_NN ,_, harmony_NN ,_, and_CC prosperity_NN ._. 
You_PRP ’ll_MD also_RB notice_NN that_DT gambling_NN is_VBZ a_DT passion_NN ,_, whether_IN it_PRP be_VB cards_NNS ,_, mah-jong_JJ ,_, the_DT lottery_NN ,_, or_CC the_DT horses_NNS ._. 
Hong_NNP Kong_NNP has_VBZ two_CD major_JJ racetracks_NNS as_RB well_RB as_IN an_DT intensive_JJ off-track_JJ betting_NN system_NN ,_, and_CC on_IN weekends_NNS the_DT ferries_NNS to_TO Macau_NNP are_VBP crowded_VBN with_IN people_NNS on_IN their_PRP$ way_NN to_TO the_DT casinos_NNS ._. 

Sightseeing_NNP in_IN Hong_NNP Kong_NNP starts_VBZ at_IN sea_NN level_NN with_IN the_DT enthralling_VBG water_NN traffic_NN —_NN a_DT mix_NN of_IN freighters_NNS ,_, ferries_NNS ,_, tugs_NNS ,_, junks_NNS ,_, and_CC yachts_NNS ._. 
Views_NNS of_IN the_DT city_NN and_CC the_DT harbor_NN are_VBP panoramic_JJ ._. 
From_IN Victoria_NNP Peak_NNP ,_, Hong_NNP Kong_NNP ’_NN s_VBZ highest_JJS point_NN ,_, or_CC from_IN skyscrapers_NNS and_CC hotels_NNS ,_, they_PRP are_VBP especially_RB exciting_JJ at_IN night_NN when_WRB the_DT lights_NNS are_VBP on_IN ._. 

The_DT business_NN and_CC financial_JJ center_NN and_CC the_DT signature_NN soaring_VBG architecture_NN are_VBP on_IN Hong_NNP Kong_NNP Island_NNP ._. 
Across_IN Victoria_NNP Harbor_NNP ,_, connected_VBN by_IN ferry_NN and_CC the_DT MTR_NNP rail_NN line_NN ,_, is_VBZ the_DT Kowloon_NNP peninsula_NN with_IN its_PRP$ hotels_NNS ,_, nightlife_NN ,_, and_CC almost_RB non-stop_JJ shopping_NN ._. 
Beyond_IN ,_, in_IN the_DT New_NNP Territories_NNPS ,_, are_VBP a_DT mixture_NN of_IN high-rise_JJ suburban_JJ towns_NNS ,_, ancient_JJ sites_NNS and_CC walled_JJ villages_NNS ,_, country_NN parks_NNS ,_, and_CC farms_NNS with_IN ducks_NNS and_CC fish_NN ponds_NNS ._. 
Hong_NNP Kong_NNP ’_NN s_VBZ other_JJ ,_, less_RBR developed_JJ islands_NNS ,_, Lantau_NNP ,_, Lamma_NNP ,_, and_CC Cheung_NNP Chau_NNP ,_, provide_VB getaways_NNS ._. 
You_PRP can_MD also_RB take_VB a_DT ferry_NN to_TO Macau_NNP to_TO find_VB an_DT entirely_RB different_JJ kind_NN of_IN city_NN ,_, a_DT unique_JJ blend_NN of_IN Chinese_JJ and_CC Iberian_NNP culture_NN ._. 

It_PRP ’s_VBZ anyone_NN ’_NN s_VBZ guess_VBP what_WP may_MD happen_VB in_IN the_DT future_NN ,_, but_CC for_IN now_RB Hong_NNP Kong_NNP bristles_VBZ with_IN energy_NN and_CC ambition_NN ,_, and_CC for_IN the_DT visitor_NN ,_, this_DT beautiful_JJ city_NN with_IN its_PRP$ contrasts_VBZ and_CC variety_NN is_VBZ an_DT exhilarating_JJ experience_NN ._. 

