Despite Hong Kong‘s small size, the topography is varied and rugged because it is largely comprised of folded mountains. There are more than 20 peaks over 500 m, and the tallest, Tai MoShan in the New Territories, rises to 957 m. Hong Kong‘s greatest asset is it‘sdeep and well-protected harbor between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Level land for development is scarce. Less than 15 percent of the land is developed becauseof the rugged terrain. Land reclamation schemes began in the mid-19th century and they continue to be important means of acquiring new land for urban development. Examples of reclaimed land include a stretch of coastline on either side of Victoria Harbor and the area where Kai Tak International Airport is located.

尽管香港面积不大，但因其包含了众多的褶皱山脉，它的地形多样且崎岖。香港超过500米的高峰有20多座，位于新界的香港最高峰大帽山更是高达957米。香港最大的财富是位于香港岛九龙半岛之间，得到了很好保护的深水港。因为地形崎岖，香港可供开发的平坦土地十分稀少，只有不到15%的土地得到了开发利用。香港的土地改造方案始于19世纪中叶，一直是城镇开发获取新地的重要途径。土地改造的例子包括维多利亚港两侧的海岸线和香港启德国际机场坐落的那片土地。