Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of Hong Kong. Known colloquially and on road signs simply as Hong Kong, the island had a population of 1,289,500 and a population density of , . The island had a population of about 3,000 inhabitants scattered in a dozen fishing villages when it was occupied by the United Kingdom in the First Opium War (1839–1842). In 1842, the island was formally ceded in perpetuity to the UK under the Treaty of Nanking and the City of Victoria was then established on the island by the British Force in honour of Queen Victoria.
The Central area on the island is the historical, political and economic centre of Hong Kong. The northern coast of the island forms the southern shore of the Victoria Harbour, which is largely responsible for the development of Hong Kong due to its deep waters favoured by large trade ships.
The island is home to many famous sights, 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 northern part of Hong Kong Island, together with Kowloon and Tsuen Wan New Town, forms the core urban area of Hong Kong. Their combined area is approximately and their combined population (that of the northern part of the island and of Kowloon) is approximately 3,156,500, reflecting a population density of 35,700/km2 (91,500/sq. mi.).
The island is often referred to locally as "Hong Kong side" or "Island side". The suffix "side" applied to other locations (e.g. China-side and Kowloon Walled City-side), the sole remnant of which is "Kowloon side" when indicating the two sides of the harbour.
Hong Kong Island comprises the following suburbs/localities of Hong Kong:
Aberdeen
Admiralty
Ap Lei Chau
Big Wave Bay
Braemar Hill
Causeway Bay
Central/Chung Wan
Chai Wan
Chung Hom Kok
Cyberport
Deep Water Bay
East Mid-Levels
Fortress Hill
Happy Valley
Jardine's Lookout
Kennedy Town
Lung Fu Shan
Mid-Levels
Mount Davis
North Point
Pok Fu Lam
Quarry Bay
Repulse Bay
Sai Wan Ho
Sai Wan
Sai Ying Pun
Sandy Bay
Shau Kei Wan
Shek O
Shek Tong Tsui
Sheung Wan
Siu Sai Wan
So Kon Po
Stanley
Tai Hang
Tai Tam
Tin Hau
Victoria Park
Victoria Peak
Wan Chai
West Mid-Levels
Wong Chuk Hang
Hong Kong Island (constituency)
Hong Kong Island is not part of the Islands District.