Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a major spaceport city in the Chinese People's Federation, with a population of over 14 million people. It is a part of the Zhusanjiao Megacity, but its unique history sets it apart culturally.

Inhabitants

• Changying
• Hotaru
• Argent
• Hiro
• Spekt8
• Para
• Ethan
• Tox
• Lei Huang
• Lao Sung
• Sau Sun
• Xiaohui Sun
• Yan Sun (Formerly)

Organizations

• The Communist Party of China
• The Little Dragons
• HK PubSec
• Systems Alliance
• Huǒ Xīng Group (Triad)
• SunTech

History

Imperial China

Early on, the area that would one day become Hong Kong was fairly unremarkable. While international trade flourished in Guangzhou, further up the river delta, the Hong Kong area was quiet, home only to a few small villages that relied on salt production or pearl fishing. During the Yuan Dynasty the area's population increased greatly as refugees fled south to avoid Mongol rule. The Ming and Qing Dynasties the region saw much conflict, repelling a Portuguese invasion and suffering internal conflict as much of the population was expelled.

British Rule

Hong Kong was taken from China by the British Empire during the First Opium War. The population of the area grew quickly and during the Second Opium War the land area of the colony was further expanded. During British rule Hong Kong became a major center for trade, but there was a great deal of segregation. Regardless, the area attracted all sorts of people, its status as 'other' than the rest of China making it a haven for anyone from political dissidents and refugees to organized crime and secret societies. The Triads flourished in the bustling freeport, engaging in all sorts of illegal activities - Drug trafficking, prostitution, protection rackets, counter-fitting... there was little they were not involved in. During World War II, which remains the largest conflict that Earth has ever seen to this day, Hong Kong was occupied by the Imperial Japanese Army, suffering atrocities ranging from massacres to mass starvation. Hong Kong's population recovered quickly after the end of the war, with an influx of migrants looking to get away from the new rule of the Communist Party. Business was booming in the 20th century, both legal and otherwise. The city developed in a very different direction both culturally and economically to the country it had once been a part of.

One Country, Two Systems

By the turn of the millennium the British Empire was loosening its grip on the last of its holdings, and Hong Kong was one of them. China was eager to reclaim the center of commerce and industry that the city had become. But Hong Kong, or most of it, at least, was not so eager to reunite with the mainland. A compromise was reached. Hong Kong would become a part of China, but it would be allowed to retain its own ways and laws. At least for a time. The issue of reunification was pushed ahead, and for 50 years Hong Kong existed in China, but still apart from it. New centers of commerce and industry had risen in China, Zhusanjiao chief among them. As the years went by the influence of the Party increased in Hong Kong, and the border started to fade. There was much unrest in these times, and even pushes for true independence, free of both China and Britain.

The Rise of the Federation

The 2050s marked the early stages of the formation of what would become known as the Chinese People's Federation. The acquisition of nearby territory through diplomacy, and on occasion, coercion, led to the CPF. The final stages of Hong Kong's integration into China occurred during this time. There would no longer be two systems. Economically, there was no need. China's own policies had changed a great deal over the years to allow for the rise of powerhouses of industry and trade. Culturally, little care was given. As had happened in Guangzhou before it, Mandarin was instated as the mandatory language of the government, the education system and the media. Freedom of speech was restricted, and the media reigned in. Those that would not conform were pushed to the edges. Out or down.

The Megalopolis

Hong Kong's integration into China continued for several decades, as the world changed, and expanded. Unrest always remained, in many different forms, with many different goals. Some held onto dreams of independence, but most fought for smaller causes. Hong Kong's integration into China also meant the inevitable merging into the massive, sprawling Zhusanjiao Megacity. One of Earth's great megalopolises, centered around the factories of Guangzhou, without equal throughout Asia. Inequality grew during this time, as it did in most places on Earth. Millions lived in poverty even as lavish spires and grand monuments continued to rise up around them. Violent weather wracked the city as well, a result of the unstable climate that has plagued Earth since the 21st century.

The Triads

During the 21st century the Triads had learned to keep a lower profile. A necessity to avoid the attention of the new authorities in the city. This started to change with the emergence of Zhusanjiao, which offered plentiful opportunities for growth in the underbelly of the great city sprawl, letting the Triads take power in the areas that the government ignored. In the early 22nd century crime became so severe that it could no longer be ignored. A major crackdown on organized crime was staged, with the newly created Public Security Force, usually referred to as PubSec, leading the effort. Tens of thousands of arrests were made, and many more were killed, dispersing several of the older, larger groups, and driving others off-world to Mars, and eventually out of Sol altogether, in search of new opportunities.

Locations

Hong Kong Island

Hong Kong Island is the richer half of the city, and contains most of the its administration, as well as the central business district and the mountainside mansions of Hong Kong's elite. The city center is a beautiful sight, with skyscrapers rising up in a dazzling array of lights and colors that reflect in the waters of Victoria Harbor. The restrained construction compared to the mainland megacity means there is plenty of green surrounding the center, providing contrast to the cityscape and a reprieve from the busy streets.

Central Business District

The economic core of Hong Kong is home to many of Earth's most powerful companies, as well as several major interstellar players. This is where the city's richest exercise their power from towering spires.

• Sun Tower

The Admiralty

The Admiralty is closely connected to the Central Business District. It is home to much of Hong Kong's administration, including both the CPF government and the Systems Alliance. The district's history as a place of authority goes all the way back to the British rule, when it was home to a number of military facilities.

Wan Chai District

The Wan Chai District is home to much of the city's richer population, as well as many hotels, shopping centers and nightclubs.

Southern District

The Southern District is, along with the Peak, one of the least developed areas of the island, maintaining a semi-rural environment dotted with tourist resorts.

Eastern District

The eastern part of Hong Kong Island is primarily covered by a large residential zone filled with public housing estates.

Victoria Peak

Victoria Peak is the highest mountain in Hong Kong, and remains a major feature of the city. Atop the summit sits the vital Hong Kong Communications Nexus, reaching up above the skyscrapers of the city center at the only point it can. The north slope of the mountain houses the Gardens. The rest of the surrounding area is a mixture of largely untouched nature and extravagant mansions. The Peak has been home to Hong Kong's elite for centuries. Once the mansions belonged to the British nobles that ruled over the local population, now they house the highest government officials and the wealthiest billionaires.

Lantau Island

Lantau Island sits to the west of Hong Kong proper, connected to the rest of the city by a series of bridges. Another, massive bridge stretches westward across the bay, connecting to Macau and the rest of the megacity. Most of the island is part of a massive tourist resort, but the reclaimed land to the north houses the Hong Kong International Airport. Far from a relic of the past, the airport is a nexus for planetary travel.

Hei Ling Chau Island

The Hei Ling Chau Correctional Complex takes up the entirety of the Hei Ling Chau, once the home to an addiction treatment center and a small temple. The Complex is a massive facility that houses the majority of the prisoners of the entire Zhusanjiao Megacity. The island is almost a city of its own, largely self-contained. The name translates to "island of happy healing".

Kowloon Peninsula

The Kowloon Peninsula contains the mainland half of the city center, and is the poorer half of the city. Despite this, the land near Victoria Harbor houses a number of impressive skyscrapers that mirror those of the business district on the other side, in height if not in number. Great, elevated bridges cross the gap to Hong Kong Island, some meant for ground vehicles and others for walking, often lined with various shops and greenery.

Kowloon City

Kowloon City is a primarily residential district, but its busy streets are also home to a staggering number of restaurants. The northern part of the district is occupied by the extensive grounds of the prestigious City University of Hong Kong.

East Kowloon District

A former industrial zone home to a sizable portion of the city's poor, the inhabitants still suffer from the area's lingering pollution. A devastating fire wiped out much of the slums in 2170. Massive, heavily surveilled public housing projects have risen in most of the affected area, but a few burned out husks still remain.

West Kowloon District

Bordering the Docks District that houses the Hong Kong Spaceport, the West Kowloon District is the one of the city's poorest, with many of the buildings dating back to the 20th century - a far cry of the skyscrapers that cover the rest of the city center. The elevated highway that towers above the district is an artery that brings goods and people between the spaceport and the city center, bypassing the district entirely. PubSec still struggles to fully integrate the district in it's security network, making the area appealing to criminal elements.

• Little Dragons Den

Docks District

Home to the Hong Kong spaceport, this district is vital to the city's economy. Starships come and go above the ocean at all times of day, and vast shipping terminals stretch across reclaimed land. Goods are transported to and from the spaceport via highways, waterships and cargo drones.

North Kowloon District

This district is home to some the oldest public housing projects that still stand. On average, the residents are better off than those in the east or west districts. A number of crowded outdoor cemeteries and columbariums line the hillsides to the north.

Cultural District

The Cultural District is home to many historical buildings, as well as shops and hotels aplenty.

New Territories

The New Territories were once primarily rural areas that separated Hong Kong from the mainland megacity, but after the city's integration into the CPF, vast new construction projects have filled the space, leaving only a handful of parks.

Clearwater District

Once home to popular beaches, Clearwater Bay was ravaged by the environmental collapse of the late 21st century. The water is no longer safe for swimming, but the area is still home to the venerable Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. It's one of the mainland areas with the most intact nature, and is home to a number of preserves, tourist attractions and high-end homes.

Tuen Mun District

This district is home to several vast, oceanside tourist resorts as well as a number of old temples and monasteries.

Northern Districts

Separated by mountains from the city center, the northern districts that connect Hong Kong to the megacity proper were once rural, but they now house an eclectic mish-mash of vast residential complexes with integrated commercial zones, industrial areas and prefab stacks that provide cheap housing, primarily inhabited by descendants of those displaced from the CPFs outer territories by the upheaval that marked the turn of the century. A few parks remain, preserving glimpses of the nature that once was, as well as pieces of historical architecture.