New Territories

Quick Facts: Who was New Territories?

Subject:

New Territories

Known for:

The largest area of Hong Kong, historically leased from Qing China to the UK.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The New Territories is the largest of the three areas of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory at an area of 952 square kilometres (368 sq mi), and contains 53.7% of the city's population at 3,984,077 as of 2021. Historically, the New Territories is the region leased from Qing China to the United Kingdom in 1898 for 99 years, following the cession of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon in earlier years.

Career & Major Achievements

Upon the expiry of the lease, the three areas were handed over to the People's Republic of China in 1997. The boundaries of the New Territories has changed with time.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

First defined by the Second Convention of Peking, it originally consisted of the mainland area north of Boundary Street on the Kowloon Peninsula and south of the Sham Chun River (now the border between Hong Kong and mainland China), along with over 200 outlying islands, including Lantau Island, Lamma Island, Cheung Chau, and Peng Chau. Later extension of the Kowloon urban areas saw the region between Boundary Street and the Kowloon Ranges, spanning from Lai Chi Kok to Lei Yue Mun, gradually absorbed into Kowloon as New Kowloon.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1898: 1898 Milestone — Historically, the New Territories is the region leased from Qing China to the United Kingdom in 1898 for 99 years, following the cession of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon in earlier years.
2. 1997: 1997 Milestone — Upon the expiry of the lease, the three areas were handed over to the People's Republic of China in 1997.
3. 2021: 2021 Milestone — 7% of the city's population at 3,984,077 as of 2021.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: New Territories

True or False: “True or false: The New Territories was originally ceded to the United Kingdom permanently, rather than being leased for a specific period.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The New Territories were leased from Qing China for 99 years, not permanently ceded. This lease expired in 1997.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aaron Beck — Historical peer (Died in 2021) (2021): Father of Cognitive Therapy and CBT, revolutionizing psychiatric treatment.
• Abdelaziz Bouteflika — Historical peer (Died in 2021) (2021): Algerian politician who served as the seventh President of Algeria from 1999 to 2019.
• Albert Luthuli — Historical peer (Born in 1898) (1898): Pioneering anti-apartheid activist and leader of the ANC in South Africa.
• Alexander Calder — Historical peer (Born in 1898) (1898): Pioneering American sculptor celebrated for kinetic mobiles and monumental abstract forms.
• Adriana Caselotti — Historical peer (Died in 1997) (1997): American actress and singer, famed for voicing Snow White in the first Disney feature.
• Ahn Sol-bin — Historical peer (Born in 1997) (1997): South Korean singer and actress, known for her work in the girl group Laboum.

Frequently Asked Questions about New Territories