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Hong Kong Island ( where the colonial settlement of the Hong Kong territory, Victoria City , was founded. Central on the island is the historical, political and economic centre of Hong Kong . The island faces to the north Victoria Harbour , which is largely responsible for the development of Hong Kong due to its deep waters favored by large trade ships. The island is home to many of the most famous sights in Hong Kong, such as " The Peak ", Ocean Park , many historical sites and various large shopping centres. The mountain ranges across the island are also famous for Hiking . The island is also sometimes locally referred to as "the Island side" (in specific reference to the south side of the Victoria Harbour ). ADMINISTRATION Districts located on the island: ''Note:'' Hong Kong Island is not part of the Islands District . HISTORY Hong Kong Island was first occupied militarily by Captain Charles Elliot , British Royal Navy , on January 20 , 1841 . It was known as the "barren rock". The Royal Navy landed at Possession Point . The Treaty Of Nanking officially ceded the Island to Great Britain in 1842. GEOGRAPHY Hong Kong Island is the second-largest island of the territory, the largest being Lantau Island . Its area is 80.4 km&2, including 6.98 km&2 of Land Reclaimed since 1887 and some smaller scale ones since 1851. It makes up approximately 7% of the total territory. It is separated from the mainland ( Kowloon Peninsula and New Territories ) by Victoria Harbour . DEMOGRAPHICS Its population as of 2000 is 1,367,900, which makes up approximately 19% of that of Hong Kong . Its population density is higher than for the whole of Hong Kong , ca. 18,000 per km² (versus 7,000). Together with Kowloon , it contains 47% of the total population. TRANSPORT The Island Line of the MTR Metro network runs exclusively on Hong Kong Island, from West to East, along the northern coastline of the island. Hong Kong Tramways and the Peak Tram run exclusively on Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong Island is connected to the Kowloon Peninsula on the mainland by three road-only Tunnel s (the Cross-Harbour_Tunnel , the Western Harbour Tunnel and the Eastern Harbour Tunnel ), two MTR metro tunnels and one combined road and MTR rail link tunnel, the Western Harbour Crossing (in separate conduits running side by side). A fourth rail link is being planned. There is no bridge connection between the island and the mainland. A bridge with four lanes connects Ap Lei Chau (island) and Hong Kong Island. It was opened in 1983 with two lanes and was expanded to four in 1994. SEE ALSO
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