FAQ: How long was hong kong a british colony?

CHRONOLOGY: Timeline of 156 years of British rule in Hong Kong. (Reuters) – Split between a densely populated mainland and over 200 islands in the South China Sea, the small, strategic territory of Hong Kong was under British rule for 156 years before reverting to Chinese sovereignty on July 1, 1997.27 jun. 2007

• British Hong Kong was a colony and dependent territory of the British Empire from 1841 to 1997, apart from a brief period under Japanese occupation from 1941 to 1945. The colonial period began with the occupation of Hong Kong Island in 1841 during the First Opium War.

When was Hong Kong a British colony?

The United Kingdom had held Hong Kong as a colony since 1841, when it occupied the area during the First Opium War. The war broke out after Qing-dynasty China attempted to crack down an illegal opium trade that led to widespread addiction in China.

When did Hong Kong stop being a colony?

Handover. On July 1, 1997, the lease ended and the government of Great Britain transferred control of British Hong Kong and the surrounding territories to the People’s Republic of China.

Could Britain have kept Hong Kong?

If it had been feasible, the United Kingdom could have retained Hong Kong Island and Kowloon and returned only the New Territories to China. Hong Kong Island and Kowloon were formally ceded by China to the British, and thus they belonged to Britain outright under international law.

Does China own Hong Kong?

Hong Kong exists as a Special Administrative Region controlled by The People’s Republic of China and enjoys its own limited autonomy as defined by the Basic Law. The principle of “one country, two systems” allows for the coexistence of socialism and capitalism under “one country,” which is mainland China.

Why did Hong Kong belong to England?

The Qing dynasty ceded Hong Kong to the British Empire in 1842 through the treaty of Nanjing, ending the First Opium War. Hong Kong then became a British crown colony. Britain also won the Second Opium War, forcing the Qing Empire to cede Kowloon in 1860, while leasing the New Territories for 99 years from 1898.

How did Hong Kong become rich?

Hong Kong raises revenues from the sale and taxation of land and through attracting international businesses to provide capital for its public finance, due to its low tax policy.

Why did the British not rule China?

Although British did not conquer China territoriality, however they defeated the Chinese in the two opium wars, which gave the British free access to narcotic trade to China. The first opium war led to the treaty of Nanking, and annexation of Hong Kong. People of China considers defeat of opium wars as shameful.

Does Hong Kong allow dual citizenship?

On Tuesday the Hong Kong chief executive, Carrie Lam, confirmed that while residents could have multiple passports, dual nationality was not recognised in Hong Kong under China’s nationality law.

When did Britain give China back?

At midnight on July 1, 1997, Hong Kong reverts back to Chinese rule in a ceremony attended by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Prince Charles of Wales, Chinese President Jiang Zemin and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

What would happen if Britain refused to return Hong Kong?

If the British had refused to negotiate and had tried to retain all of its Hong Kong colony beyond 1997, the Chinese simply would have rolled in, taken the entire territory, and annexed it to China. So Hong Kong people would be free of the political movement, development and interventions from China.

Did Hong Kong have democracy under British rule?

1980s. Although full universal suffrage was never granted by the British to its colony before the handover in 1997, some democratic reform began in 1984.

What country is under China?

China is bordered by 14 countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Vietnam.

Does Hong Kong have freedom?

Prior to the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, Hong Kong boasted one of the highest degrees of press freedom in Asia. Since the handover to China, Hong Kong has been granted relative legal, economic, and political autonomy under the one country, two systems policy.

Why did Hong Kong return to China?

The Opium War of 1839-1842 saw the British Empire use military force to impose the sale of opium onto the Qing Dynasty’s government and subsequently ceded the island of Hong Kong and later other territories including Kowloon in order to build a trading post into China and the Pacific Ocean.