Hong Kong Emblem (since 1997)

The current devised emblem came into use on 1 July 1997, when the sovereignty of Hong Kong was transferred to the People's Republic of China, and the emblem replaced the colonial Hong Kong Arms, or Armorial Bearings. The emblem is now referred officially as the "Regional Emblem". Hong Kong Regional Emblem This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... Hong Kong Regional Emblem This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... An emblem consists of a pictorial image, abstract or representational, that epitomizes a concept - often a concept of a moral truth or an allegory. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sovereignty is the exclusive right to exercise supreme political (legislative, judicial and/or executive) authority over a geographic region, group of people or oneself. ... An emblem consists of a pictorial image, abstract or representational, that epitomizes a concept - often a concept of a moral truth or an allegory. ...

The regional emblem features the same design elements as the regional flag of Hong Kong in a circular setting. The outer white ring is shown with the caption of the official name of the territory in traditional Chinese characters (as opposed to the simplified form): "Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China" and the English short form, "Hong Kong".
The flag of the HKSAR Flag ratio: 2:3 The HKSAR and the PRC flags brandishing at the patio of the Legislative Council. ... Traditional Chinese characters are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ... Simplified Chinese characters (Simplified Chinese: 简体字; Traditional Chinese: 簡體字; pinyin: jiǎntǐzì; also called 简化字/簡化字, jiǎnhuàzì) are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ...

Colonial Arms, (Armorial Bearings)

Hong Kong Armorial Bearings (1959-1997)

Colony Armorial Bearings

The arms had been in use in colonial Hong Kong since it was granted on 21 January 1959 and later adopted on the colonial flag in July that year. The use of the arms ended in 1997 where it was replaced by the regional emblem. The Armorial Bearings features a shield bearing two traditional Chinese junks facing each other. Inside the chief (red portion) is a naval crown in gold. The 'embattled' (castle-like) design separates the chief from the rest of the shield. The crest features a lion holding a pearl. The shield is supported by a lion and a dragon standing on a heraldic island bearing a banner written with "HONG KONG". Coat of arms for Hong Kong between 1959 and 1997 This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... Coat of arms for Hong Kong between 1959 and 1997 This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 926 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Hong Kong Coat of Arms ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 926 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Hong Kong Coat of Arms ... January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The flag of the HKSAR Flag ratio: 2:3 The HKSAR and the PRC flags brandishing at the patio of the Legislative Council. ... Chief can refer to : Paramount chief is the highest political leader in a region or country typically administered with a chief-based system. ... In heraldry, a crest is a component of a coat of arms. ...

The two junks symbolise the importance of trade and the raison d'être of the colony. The naval crown symolises Hong Kong's link with the Navy and Merchant Navy, and the battlements commemorate the defence of Hong Kong during World War II. The pearl held by the royal lion wearing the imperial crown in the crest personifies the familiar romanticised phrase "Pearl of the Orient" referring to Hong Kong. The lion and dragon supporters show the British and Chinese (local) aspects of Hong Kong. The island symbolises the beginning of the colony as an island and represents the maritime and hilly geography of Hong Kong. Some nationalists consider the design as an insult somehow: the pearl (Hong Kong) originally in the left forelimb of the dragon (China) is now given to the lion (Britain). Combatants British Army, Canadian Army, British Indian Army Imperial Japanese Army Strength 15,000 troops 50,000 troops Casualties 4,500 killed; 8,500 POWs 2,750 killed; 1,500 wounded For the movie, see The Battle of Hong Kong (film). ... Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II...

The crest alone had been featured on the reverse of Hong Kong coinage before the introduction of the Bauhinia design in preparation of the 1997 Handover. The terms obverse and reverse apply almost exclusively to currency, and most often specifically to coins; they are usually described with less precision as, respectively, the front and back sides, or with regard to a coin tossed to produce a random choice between two things, heads and tails. They can... Hong Kong coins The Hong Kong coinage, including $10, $5, $2, $1, 50 cents, 20 cents and 10 cents, is issued by Hong Kong Monetary Authority on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Colonial Badge

The colonial seal badge was in use since 1843 in one version or another until it was replaced by the Armorial Bearings granted in 1959. Throughout several revisions, the idea of the seal remained. It depicted a local scene on the left foreground three local merchants and a pile of cargo on what appears to be a wharf. In the background are a square-rigged ship and a Chinese junk in the harbour backed by conical hills. 1843 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Seal on envelope A seal is an impression printed on, embossed upon, or affixed to a document (or any other object) in order to authenticate it, in lieu of or in addition to a signature. ...

External references

• Hong Kong Special Admininstrative Government Flags & Embelms Information