Figure 1.-- Here is a scene in Hong Kong just before the Japanese Christmas Shock. Hong Kong was a British Crown Colony at the time of World War II. It is located in the extreme south of China along the South China Sea coast. It is located near Guangzhou (Canton) one of China's great cities. Both are located on the Pearl River which before the advent of the railroad was the trading route into the interior. The Japanese seized this strtegic location 3 weeks after Pearl Harbor.

What is now Hong Kong was of no real importance until the 19th century. The Chinese Imperial Government as part of a withdrawl from foreign commerce even for a period ordered coastal residence to move inland. The first know European visitor was Jorge Álvares, a Portuguese explorer who arrived on a few years after the Portuguese rounded yhe ape of Good Hope (1513). This lead to the establishment of Macau (1557). This opened up southern China to trade. Portuguese merchants began trading in southern China. Subsequent military conflict led to the expulsion of all Portuguese merchants from the rest of China. The Chinese issued the Haijin order (closed-door, isolation policy) which forbade all maritime activities (mid-16th century). This was designed prevent maritime contact with foreigners (motly Europeans). The area of what would become Hong Kong was affected by the Kangxi Emperor who issued the Great Clearance. This required coastal residents to evacuate coastal areas of Guangdong (1661-69). The British did not arrive in the area until the Opium Wars, about 300 years after the Portuguese. The refusal of Qing imperial authorities to support opium imports caused the outbreak of the First Opium War between the British and the Qing Empire. The British during the War landed on Hong Kong Island (January 20, 1841). China first ceded under the Convention of Chuenpee, a ceasefire agreement between Captain Charles Elliot and Governor Qishan. The Treaty was, however, not ratified. After further negotiations, the Treaty of Nanking formaly ceded Hong Kong Island in perpetuity to the British (August 29, 1842). The British officially established a Crown Colony and founded the City of Victoria in the following year (1843). There was virtually nothing there except a few fishermen and charcoal burners, whose settlements scattered along several coastal hamlets. Hong Kong opened up southern China to British trade. This caused a rapid incrase in population. A large number of Chinese immigrants were attracted because of economic opportunity resulting from British rule (1850s). They began settling in scattered villages. Hong Kong also provide a place of safety. Chinese refugees flocked there to escape the bloody Taiping Rebellion (1850-64). Natural disasters and famine also drove Chinese to Hong Kong which at first had no border controls. Continued conflict over opium led to the Second Opium War, this time with French participation. The British managed to expand the Crown Colony to include the Kowloon Peninsula and Stonecutter's Island. Both were ceded to the British in perpetuity under the Convention of Beijing (1860). Britain obtained a 99-year lease from the Qing under the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory (1898). The British also secured Lantau Island and over 200 other small outlying islets. After the overthrow of the Imperial Government, the Nationlists ended the Treary Port system, except for shnghai and Hong Kong. The Japanese at the onset of the Pacific War seized Hong Kong. The Europeanse interned and the Chimese population terrorized. After the war, Britain retained control. The leasee expired (1998). China retained contril, but plesged to maintain the city's system with basic rights. The Communist Givernmnt renefgged on that pledge and despite massive pro-democracy protests, China deployed police and military forces to impose totalitarian controls (2021).

Created: 8:24 AM 11/13/2022
Last updated: 8:24 AM 11/13/2022