This is a brief history of Hongkong since Britain took over in 1841. After the first five years, Hongkong grew rapidly. An urban centre was developed in Central on the Hongkong Island. Trading with China was shifted from Canton to Hongkong. Chinese traders came to Hongkong to sell or buy and often settled in Hongkong. By 1870, the important of the ethnic Chinese community as an integral part of Hongkong was recognized. In the 20th Century the important of Hongkong to China as a cultural and political centre became even more evidence. In the 20th century, China was in fermentation. In every unrests or crises in China, refugees flooded into Hongkong. Hongkong took in millions of Chinese and provided them as a home and their livelihood. In the 1980s when Deng Xiaoping began his policy of modernized the Chinese economy. He acknowledged the importance of Hongkong by created the hi-tech city of Shenzhen on the border with Hongkong. In the mid-1980s Britain negotiated with China, the returning of Hongkong in 1997. In the agreement, China agreed that Hongkong will keep it autonomy for 50 years and Deng Xiaoping also said that, if needed Hongkong can have another 50 years after that. It is now history.

1. British Hongkong
First created 8 Jul 2020. Version 1.0 - 6 Aug 2020. Daperro. London.
History of Hongkong 1848-1997
Hongkong Harbour early 20th Century, with ships from many countries.

2. This the earliest view of Hongkong. The waterfall is no long there today.
The old view of Hongkong

3. This the earliest view of Hongkong Harbour, view from Kowloon side, just before the British took over
Hongkong. There were about 10 tall ships mooring in a bay in Hongkong Island.
Before the British

4. In 26 Jan 1841, Britain took over Hong Kong during the First Opium War. There were 7450 people living in
the Hong Kong Island. In 1842 under the Nanking Treaty Hongkong was ceded to Britain for perpetuity.
Before the British

5. The Thirteen Hongs, Canton
The Qing dynasty restricted all foreign trade to Canton. The Britain was unhappy about this arrangement
as they can only sell to 13 selected Chinese merchants, known as the Thirteen Hongs. Trade settlements
for Chinese goods can only be accepted in silver.

6. The Chinese exports like tea, silk etc were making much higher profits than profits selling to the Chinese.
To balance the uneven trade the British began to sell opium to the Chinese. It was the banning of opium
that led to the outbreak of the Opium War.
The First Opium War

7. Central
District
This is probably an accurate drawing of time. It was drew by an architect, Thomas Bernard. Note
Hongkong Central District developed rapidly, just after less than 5 years of British possession. In
Hongkong the British can now trade with any Chinese merchants who came to Hongkong.
Hongkong in 1845

8. Under the British Hongkong was developing rapidly with new buildings and warehouses. It became the
centre of British trade. The Chinese population also grew rapidly as traders and labourers began settling
in Hongkong. This also coincided with the explosive growth of the Industrial Revolution in Britain
Causeway Bay in 1846

9. Hongkong in 1855
After 15 years of British rules, the urban area had expanded greatly. The Chinese quarter was on the west
(right) and the commercial area was in the centre. There are two troop ships (with pitch roofs), two
clippers and three paddle steamers. There were US, Dutch, French and what look like Philippines flags in
the painting. Numerous Chinese junks were crowded near the shore (for loading and unloading of
goods) on the right side of the painting. Hongkong had become a trading hub between Europe and the
Far East.

10. Troop ship. At times
used as hospital.
Dutch ship or
an opium ship?
French & US flags
Hongkong in 1855 details
Philippine flag?

11. Chinese Junks loading
& off-loading
US clipper
US steamer
Hongkong in 1855 details
This houses lasted
well into 1950s
Many junks with flags
suggests that it was
painted during the Tin
Hau Festival in May.
A view of Hongkong only 15 years after British rules.

12. Kowloon in 1862. Kowloon south of Boundary Street and the Stone Cutters Island was ceded to Britain
In 1860 (Convention of Peking). The north of Boundary Street and the New Territories was leased to the
British in 1898 under the Second Convention of Peking.
Kowloon in 1862

13. In 1865 The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank was established, bring modern banking practice to Hongkong.
HSBC 1865

14. In 1866 we saw the establishment of Hongkong Four Big Families - Li Sek-peng (李石朋), Robert Ho Tung
(何東), Hui Oi-chow (許愛周) and Lo Cheung-shiu (羅長肇). Chinese businesses were firmly established
in Hongkong.
Hongkong 1866.

15. The founding of the Tung Wah Hospital in 1870 was a significant event, with Chinese being recognised as
an important partner of the development of Hong Kong.
Tung Wah Hospital 1870.

16. Opium was introduced to China in by 7C, by Arab trader, mainly for medical usage. Opium trade was
much more important to Hongkong than the tea trade. British opium trade expanded rapidly from
1840 to the last quarter of the 19C (c1880). Chinese domestic production of opium, grew rapidly in
1890s and surpassed imports, including production from Turkey, Egypt, Persia and the Balkans.
Domestic production also led to opium imports fell by more than a third. By early 20C the use of
opium was in rapid decline and stopped completely in 1917.
Opium in China

17. The habit of smoking tobacco was introduced from Central America. From 16C onward smoking is
wide spread in Europe. Opium dens were common in Victorian London, and in the US. These were
mostly ran by Chinese. It was in 1912, under the International Opium Convention, trading in opium
was banned.
Smoking Opium in West

18. Hongkong 1900
By 1900, Hongkong became a well developed city. Right from the start, Chinese entrepreneurs, who
bought money and expertise played an important part in the development of Hongkong.

19. The University of Hong Kong was founded in 1911 but its origins trace back to the Hong Kong College of
Medicine for Chinese which was founded in 1887.
University of Hongkong 1911

20. Dr Sun Yetsen, the Father of China one of the first group of student to study at the University of Hong
Kong, from 1887 ro 1892, as a medical doctor. He referred the University of Hong Kong as his intellectual
birthplace. He felt that it was in HK University he got his ‘revolutionary and modern ideas’.

21. The Qing Dynasty finally collapsed in 1912. It created a power vacuum in mainland China.
Qing Dynasty Collapse 1912

22. After the collapse of the Qing China. China was ruled by War Lords. During the May 4th movement of
1919 many Western ideas were introduced into China, including Communism.
Students marching during the May Fourth Movement in 1919.
May Forth Movement 1919

23. End of WW 1 1919
On 1898 in an agreement between UK and
China. The New Territories was leased for 99
years. It makes up 86% of Hongkong’s area.
In 1898 in an agreement between
Britain and China, the New Territories
were leased to the British for 99
years. It makes up 86% of Hongkong’s
area.
By the turn of the 20th century, the
opium trade between Britain had
more or less ended. The opium trade
was replaced by Chinese home grown
opium from the Southwest region, like
Yunnan.
Hongkong celebrated the end of the
World War One.

24. In 1921, the Republican Government (KMT – Kuomintang) was formed. 1931 Japanese invasion of
Manchuria and in 1937 Japan invaded the rest of China. During this period Hongkong remained as
peaceful save heaven for Chinese.
Qing Dynasty national flag 1862-1912.
The Nationalist or Republican or Kuomingtang
national flag 1894-1949.
Republican China 1921

25. Japanese invasion of Hongkong at the end of 1941.
Japanese Invasion 1941

26. Hongkong under Japanese Occupation

27. Resistance at war 1943

28. US bombing of Hongkong 1944

29. The Canadian were given the task of defending Hongkong against the Japanese.
Canadian at war in Hongkong

30. Return of the British
The British returned in Hongkong after WW 2.

31. People’s Republic of China 1949
The Chinese Communist Party was founded in 1921. In 1949 Communist declared founding of the
People’s Republic of China. Today it is the second largest political party in the world after Indian
Bharatiya Janata Party

32. Korea war and Embargo 1950-53
The Korea War began in 1950 and ended 1953. China was under embargo, smuggling from Hong Kong
was an important source of material like petroleum to keep the Chinese economy ticking. Trade with
Hong Kong was an important source of foreign exchange for China.

33. After the Communist took power in China, over a million of refugees flooded into Hong Kong
between 1950 and 1961. Many of them lived in hillside shanty towns. In 1953, after a fire in a
shanty town, when 50,000 squatters lost their homes. In 1954, the public housing resettlement policy
began to resettle these refugees. Between 1954 and 1973, 25 housing estates were built. In
1961 a new “low-cost housing” scheme of 62,380 flat was built. Hongkong has often been a
safe heaven for refugees from China and Vietnam (during the Boat people in 1975-56).
Housing Resettlement 1954

34. Nationalist Riot of 1956
In 1956, there were riots and protests by the pro-Nationalist and the pro-Communist factions.
The alleged incident was due to the hanging of the Nationalist flags on the national day of the
Republic of China (10 October). At least four people were killed.

35. Nationalist Riot of 1956
Victim killed in the street draped with a Nationalist flag 1956.

36. Chinese Famine 1958-61
Between 1959 and 1961 was the Great Chinese Famine. It was a man-made disasters,
estimated to kill tens of millions of Chinese. Agriculture was neglected to be replace by the
Great Leap Forward and the formation of the People’s Communes. To save their family
relatives in China, nearly all the families in Hongkong visited the Mainland, bought food, clothing
and supplies back to their home town and villages for their extended family members.

37. Chinese Famine 1958-61
Hongkong people waiting at the border with their food parcels and goods, to save their relatives in
mainland China, during the Great Chinese Famine of 1959 ant 1961. Most of the Hongkong families
were involved.

38. Iindustrialist left China when the Communist took power. They bought capital as well as manufacturing
know-hows to Hongkong. With refugees from southern China flooding in, providing plenty of cheap and
hard working labour for factories. The Chinese market was closed after the Communist took over China,
driving Hongkong to become the workshop of the world.
The Workshop of the World

39. The Workshop of the World

40. The Workshop of the World
A tanker launched at Whampoa Dock Hunghom, about 1968. These ships were used to ferry crude oil for
the big tankers to shore. The dock can handle ship building and repair to over 10,000 tons.

41. The Communist Riot of 1967
In 1966 there was a three day protest on the increase of the fare increase on Star Ferry. Prior to that Moa
Zedong launched the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) in China. It was a power struggle to purge Moa
Zedong political opponents. At the same time between May and December 1967, there was an anti-
British and anti colonial rule riot in Hongkong.

42. Initially it was ‘peaceful’ but motivated by the Communist Party in China led to violent clashes with
Hongkong Police. Communist schools and publication were closed by the government. Several pro-
Beijing protestors were beaten to death by the police.
(See Wikipedia 1967 Hong Kong Riot)
The Communist Riot of 1967
Protesters outside of the Hongkong Governor House. 1967

43. The Communist Riot of 1967

44. Causalty of the Riot of 1967
Two children a brother and a sister
were killed by bomb planted in
North Point Hongkong Island. In
the same incident three others
were injured.
In a separate incident Lam Bun, a
broadcaster was driving his cousin
to work. The car was stop and
petrol poured on the car and set
fire. They were burned to death.

45. Hongkong as a Global Financial Hub
After Hongkong became the workshop of the world, Hongkong financial sector began to grow. The
Hongkong financial centre was further strengthen as China began to liberalise its economy.
Businesses prefer Hongkong because its legal system is closer to the West. Hongkong also has an
independent legal system from its politicians. By 1980, Hongkong economic growth took off even
when its manufacturing industry began to decline.

46. Queen in HongkongQueen in Hongkong 1975
Hongkong celebrated the coronation of the Queen in 1952. In 1975 the Queen visited Hongkong.

47. In 1978, Deng Xiaoping initiated the modernizing the Chinese economic to allow some profits to be
retendered by enterprises and communes. It partially opened the Chinese market to selective Western
businesses. He also initiated the development of Shenzhen on the northern border with Hongkong.
Deng Xiaoping 1978

48. In 1980 under Deng Xiaoping, Shenzhen was established as China’s first special economic zone. To
encourage the Hongkong people to setup their manufacturing facilities in Shenzhen and to invest in
the newly created economic zone. Above is Shenzhen today. It was agricultural land in 1980. Today
Shenzhen is the Silicon Valley of China, where innovation and hi-tech industries are located.
The Creation of Shenzhen 1980

49. Sino British Joint Declaration 1984

50. The people of Hong Kong marching to demand democracy, after the return to China. There were very
few, if any opposition to the return to China itself.
Demand for Democracy 1990

51. Handover Ceremony 1997
On 1st July 1997 Hongkong was handover to the Chinese government after 150 years of British rules. In
that 150 years Hongkong had transformed from a isolated island at the periphery of China to the world
city. The agreement affirmed the principle that Hongkong ‘will not be changed for another 50 years’.

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