Timeline of Hong Kong

Chronology

18 events spanning the history of Hong Kong. BCE/CE dating.

1. 1600

   Hong Kong was founded by British Naval officers.

   Hong Kong, the name means fragrant harbor, was founded by British Naval officers in the 17th century as a western trading post for tea.

2. 1839

   The British captured Hong Kong from China.

   The British captured Hong Kong from China.

3. 1842

   China cedes Hong Kong island to Britain after the First Opium War.

   China cedes Hong Kong island to Britain after the First Opium War. Over the decades, thousands of Chinese migrants fleeing domestic upheavals settle in the colony.

4. 1856 – 1858

   The 2nd Anglo-Chinese Opium War.

   The 2nd Anglo-Chinese Opium War.

5. 1898

   China leases the New Territories together with 235 islands to Britain for 99 years from 1 July.

   China leases the New Territories together with 235 islands to Britain for 99 years from 1 July.

6. 1941

   Japanese troops occupied Hong Kong.

   Japan occupies Hong Kong. Food shortages impel many residents to flee to mainland China. The population drops from 1.6m in 1941 to 650,000 by the end of the Second World War.

7. 1946

   Britain re-establishes civil government.

   Britain re-establishes civil government. Hundreds of thousands of former residents return, to be joined over next few years by refugees fleeing the civil war between the Nationalists and the Communists in China.

8. 1949

   Mao’s communist forces win the Chinese Civil War.

   Mao’s communist forces win the Chinese Civil War resulting in a flood of refugees into Hong Kong.

9. 1967

   The Chinese Cultural Revolution briefly spilled over into Hong Kong with street riots.

   The Chinese Cultural Revolution briefly spilled over into Hong Kong with street riots.

10. 1984

    The Chinese Cultural Revolution briefly spilled over into Hong Kong with street riots.

    Margaret Thatcher announces that the whole of Hong Kong is to be handed back to China at midnight on June 30th 1997. Britain and China sign Joint Declaration on the conditions under which Hong Kong will revert to Chinese rule in 1997. Under the “one country, two systems” formula, Hong Kong will become part of one communist-led country but retain its capitalist economic system and partially democratic political system for 50 years after the handover.