British Hong Kong

Quick Facts: Who was British Hong Kong?

Subject:

British Hong Kong

Known for:

A British Crown Colony that governed East Asia from 1841 until its handover in 1997.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Hong Kong was a Crown colony of the United Kingdom from 1841 to 1982, and a dependent territory from 1 January 1983 to 30 June 1997. However, from 1941 to 1945, it was under a period of Japanese occupation during the Second World War. The British rule began with the British occupation of Hong Kong Island under the Convention of Chuenpi in 1841 during the Victorian era, and ended with the handover of Hong Kong in July 1997. In accordance with Article III of the Treaty of Nanking of 1842, signed in the aftermath of the First Opium War, the island of Hong Kong was ceded in perpetuity to Great Britain. It was established as a Crown colony in 1843.

Career & Major Achievements

In 1860, the British expanded the colony with the addition of the Kowloon Peninsula and was further extended in 1898 when the British obtained a 99-year lease of the New Territories. Although the Qing had to cede Hong Kong Island and Kowloon in perpetuity as per the treaty, the leased New Territories comprised 86.2% of the colony and more than half of the entire colony's population. With the lease nearing its end during the late 20th century, Britain did not see any viable way to administer the colony by dividing it, whilst the People's Republic of China would not consider extending the lease or allowing continued British administration thereafter. With the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984, which stated that the economic and social systems in Hong Kong would remain relatively unchanged for 50 years, the British government agreed to transfer the entire territory to China upon the expiration of the New Territories lease in 1997 – with Hong Kong becoming a special administrative region (SAR) until at least 2047. In 1836, the imperial government of the Qing dynasty undertook a major policy review of the opium trade, which had been first introduced to the Chinese by Persian then Islamic traders over many centuries.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Viceroy Lin Zexu took on the task of suppressing the opium trade. In March 1839, he became Special Imperial Commissioner in Canton, where he ordered foreign traders to surrender their opium stock. He confined the British to the Canton Factories and cut off their supplies. Chief Superintendent of Trade, Charles Elliot, complied with Lin's demands in order to secure a safe exit for the British, with the costs involved to be resolved between the two governments. When Elliot promised that the British government would pay for their opium stock, the merchants surrendered their 20,283 chests of opium, which were destroyed in public.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1836: 1836 Milestone — In 1836, the imperial government of the Qing dynasty undertook a major policy review of the opium trade, which had been first introduced to the Chinese by Persian then Islamic traders over many centuries.
2. 1839: 1839 Milestone — In March 1839, he became Special Imperial Commissioner in Canton, where he ordered foreign traders to surrender their opium stock.
3. 1841: 1841 Milestone — Hong Kong was a Crown colony of the United Kingdom from 1841 to 1982, and a dependent territory from 1 January 1983 to 30 June 1997.
4. 1842: 1842 Milestone — In accordance with Article III of the Treaty of Nanking of 1842, signed in the aftermath of the First Opium War, the island of Hong Kong was ceded in perpetuity to Great Britain.
5. 1843: 1843 Milestone — It was established as a Crown colony in 1843.
6. 1860: 1860 Milestone — In 1860, the British expanded the colony with the addition of the Kowloon Peninsula and was further extended in 1898 when the British obtained a 99-year lease of the New Territories.
7. 1941: 1941 Milestone — However, from 1941 to 1945, it was under a period of Japanese occupation during the Second World War.
8. 1984: 1984 Milestone — With the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984, which stated that the economic and social systems in Hong Kong would remain relatively unchanged for 50 years, the British government agreed to transfer the entire territory to China upon the expiration of the New Territories lease in 1997 – with Hong Kong becoming a special administrative region (SAR) until at least 2047.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: British Hong Kong

True or False: “The initial cession of Hong Kong Island was negotiated during the Second Opium War, not the First Opium War.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Hong Kong Island was ceded in the Treaty of Nanking following the First Opium War.

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Frequently Asked Questions about British Hong Kong