History of Hong Kong
Ancient History
Hong Kong's history spans in excess of 6,000 years. Evidence is provided by the results of archaeological studies and excavations that commenced in the 1920s and onwards, in an attempt to learn more about Hong Kong's ancient and prehistoric inhabitants, which not surprisingly, tie closely to the Chinese.
There are contrasting views regarding the origin of Hong Kong's first inhabitants and whether they originated from northern parts of China or whether they remained uninfluenced and evolved locally. One certain fact was that around 4,000 BC major environmental changes took place that shaped the shoreline towards what it is in the present. It is also believed that people were largely involved with the exploitation of the marine resources. Artefacts, including pottery and stone tools have also been discovered and date back to 4,000 BC. Moving towards 3,500 BC these tools are continuously been improved and around 2,500 BC the use of bronze was introduced. There is evidence that in certain areas of Chek Lap Kok, Lantau and Lamma Islands, metal was processed locally. Regarding the ethnicity of those inhabitants, it is believed that they belonged to an Asian Mongoloid race.
Recent excavations and the discovery of coins, pottery and other artefacts on Lantau Island, Kau Sai Chau, Ma Wan Island and Tuen Mun, suggest the presence of Han settlers during the era of the Qin (221-207 BC) and Han (206 BC - AD 220) dynasties. Partial evidence suggests the presence of settlers from the Tang dynasty (AD 618 - 907) and the late Song dynasty in the 13th century AD. Blue and white porcelain discovered in Penny's Bay, Lantau Island, slowly unveils events that took place during the Ming (AD 1368 - 1644) and Qing (AD 1644 - 1911) dynasties.
Modern History
Although Hong Kong's history spans over 6,000 years, its modern history began in 1842 when it came under British rule following China's defeat in the Anglo-Chinese Wars, also known as the Opium Wars. The Qing Dynasty of China eventually ceded Hong Kong Island to the British under the Treaty of Nanking and only a year later, in 1843, it officially became a Crown colony. Long before the arrival of the British, the Portuguese had already established trading links with China, importing large quantities of tea and other Chinese products that quickly became enviable in Europe and attracted British attention. Hong Kong, meaning "Fragrant Harbour" was the heart of this lucrative trade.
Prior British settlement, Hong Kong Island was occupied by a few fishing communities who lacked even basic needs such as clean water. After the acquisition, the British helped in the transformation of those rural areas into a highly evolving banking and trading centre of Southern China. However, increasing lack of space and resources urged the British to put more pressure on China, which led to the Convention of Beijing in 1862. The British achieved in acquiring more land from China and in particular a large portion of the shoreline adjoining to the harbour from Hong Kong Island. That area was the district of Kowloon, still carrying the same name today.
Following the same recipe as with Hong Kong Island, the British helped in transforming Kowloon, but for the benefit of their officials, rather for improving the life of the local residents. It wasn't long until they faced the same problems they were presented over 30 years ago. Once again, the British demanded more land from China, seeking to expand their colony even further. In 1898, China offered a 99 year lease to the British of a large area adjoining Kowloon namely the New Territories, as well as Lantau Island.
Hong Kong suffered a temporary out-migration during World War I, due to fears that the colony would be attacked. Those fears were realised later in 1941 when Hong Kong was invaded by the Japanese and experienced the ferocity of World War II, with local women being declared as prostitutes and men drove to concentration camps and often being executed. By the end of World War II, Hong Kong returned under British rule.
With the 99 year lease drawing closer, Britain and China went into a series of discussions regarding the future of Hong Kong. This time, it was China putting more pressure and demanding that the entire Hong Kong area, including the New Territories but also Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, must be returned under their possession. Despite the fact that Britain was legally bound to return only the New Territories, the two sides concluded that the entire area of Hong Kong will become a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China and the handover was completed in the 1st of July 1997. The 'Sino-British' Joint Declaration to which China and Britain agreed in 19 December 1984, carrying the slogan "one country, two systems", was promising that Hong Kong's existing capitalist system and lifestyle would remained unaltered for a period of 50 years, but China had the right to interfere in foreign affairs and defence issues. Despite China's reassurance, fresh memories from the incidents in Tiananmen Square in 1989, expressed fears to many that Beijing would not respect Hong Kong's autonomy and that its future would be uncertain. Upon the departure of the British, a provisional legislature was established and Tung Chee-Hwa was appointed Chief Executive of Hong Kong, who was given powers analogous to the ones once exercised by Chris Patten as the last colonial governor. Having completed the full five year term in March 2002, Tung Chee-Hwa was re-elected for a consecutive term, but resigned from his post on 12th March 2005, leaving Donald Tsang, the Chief Secretary, to act as Chief Executive until the 25th May of the same year. Tsang was succeeded by Henry Tang who acted as a Chief Executive until 24th June 2005. Eventually, on 16th June 2005, Donald Tsang was elected to fill the remaining two years of Tung's term. The next election is scheduled for March 2007.
Hong Kong's modern history was marked by a series of misfortunes, including the First and Second World Wars, the embargo imposed on China by the United Nations following the Korean War, the Asian financial crisis and the sporadic waves of refuges from China that significantly contributed towards making Hong Kong one of the most densely populated cities in the world. On top of that, many businesses decide to leave Hong Kong, due to the uncertainty for the future ever since it came under Chinese possession. More recently the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in March 2003, imposed more strain on the Asian banking capital. Despite all the setbacks that appeared over the decades, Hong Kong always managed to rebound and re-establish itself to what it always was; banking and trading Dragon. Today, the region is one of the most prosperous worldwide, combining a unique blend of Eastern and Western culture, rich history and the best skyline in the world.