Early Colonial History
People have lived in Hong Kong since prehistoric times, but the modern history of Hong Kong, the important part, did not really start since 1841. What happened then, you ask? The British decided they wanted to colonize what was a relatively insignificant rock with a port on it. The handover occured after Britain's victory in the First Opium War (or the First Anglo-Chinese War) in 1842.
During the 19th century, trade in China was lucrative for the Europeans (the actual presence of the British was under the British East India Company). One of the things the British traded was the drug opium, which eventually became a huge problem in southern China. Understandable, the Chinese government (still under the control of the imperial Qing dynasty) was unhappy. Furthermore, due to the Chinese government's restrictions on trade, much of the exchange of goods was unauthorized, increasing the tension between China and the British.
In 1839, a group of British sailors landed in Kowloon, ransacked a temple, and murdered a Chinese man who tried to stop them. The Qing government demanded that the British hand over the sailors for trial, but the British refused. Tension between the two powers began to rise. The British wanted "extraterritorial rights", in other words they wanted all British citizens in China to be tried by British judges, while the Qing government insisted that British merchants not be allowed to trade unless they signed a bond promising not to smuggle opium, agreeing to follow Chinese laws, and acknowledging Qing legal jurisdiction. The result of this is quite obvious: war broke out.
To put a long story short, the British occupied Hong Kong during the war on January 20, 1841. The war itself lasted four years, from 1839-1842. Back then, Hong Kong was only a lowly outpost that no one really cared about. Geographically, however, it was in a great position. It was placed strategically close to the Pearl River Delta, and had a very good harbor. This did not change the fact that it was just a rock*, but the British occupied it anyway. The Chinese lost in 1842, and had to sign the Treaty of Nanking as a consequence. Among other things, the treaty forced China to open up more ports for trade and grant some extraterritorial rights to the British. This treaty was a first in a series of "unequal treaties" that Western powers would force upon the Qing government in years to come. The most lasting effect of the treaty was the cession of the island of Hong Kong to the British to use as a harbor where they could unload their goods.
Tensions were still high, however, and the Second Opium War broke out in 1856. Western powers once again won handily in 1860. The treaties signed after the war had far reaching consequences including the legalization of opium trade and a massive indemnity granted to Britain and France, but for the purposes of this essay there was one important result - the peninsula of Kowloon was perpetually leased to Britain under the Convention of Beijing.
By 1898, Britain became concerned for the defense of Hong Kong as Western powers were setting up their spheres of influence in China. Under the Second Convention of Beijing, the New Territories around Hong Kong Island and Kowloon (including Lantau Island) were granted to Britain under a 99-year lease. These three locations made up the colony of Hong Kong.
Politically,
Hong Kong was not very different from most other British colonies. The
Legislative Council and the Executive Council were established in 1843, to
make laws and draft bills respectively. But the most important figure in
Hong Kong was the Governor, who was appointed by the Crown of England.
Frankly, he had all the powers of a dictator - the only thing that prevented
him from becoming one was that he was under the jurisdiction of the British
Colonial Office. He appointed members of the Executive and Legislative
Councils, and approved all laws. He was the Commander-in-Chief of the
British forces in Hong Kong, and he had the power to pardon and grant lands.
In short, he could do whatever he wanted as long as it only concerned the
colony.Luckily, no Governor ever abused their powers. The government practiced indirect rule over Hong Kong, allowing the Chinese to maintain their culture and local traditions. But there was no equality in the colony. The British were superior, and that was that. Though the Chinese made up 98% of the population, they were not allowed to participate in politics (though most did not care for government in those days). A few Chinese were allowed in government, but we did not see Chinese playing an active role in government until the 1920s and 30s. The Chinese did have power in district administration, however. Despite all of this, there were still laws that discriminated against the Chinese. All court trials were conducted solely in English, and many residential areas were designated as areas exclusively for the British and the empire.
Until the late 19th century, the law and order situation in Hong Kong was a joke. Crises of prostitution and abduction of women were rampant. Pirates were not uncommon, and were often armed. Opium parlors and gambling houses sprung up quickly. A police force was established in 1844, but was made up mostly of untrained amateurs. Although the police made themselves a formidable force by the late 1860s, life was still dangerous in Hong Kong. Organized traids were operating, and although the number murders and piracies were dropping, they were still very high for such a small colony. Not until the police force was sent trained policemen from India and a contingent of sturdy Scots was imported from the Edinburgh Police did stability arrive in the colony.**
Trade, on the other hand, was good. Hong Kong served as an entrepot, a stepping stone between China and other countries. With a good harbor and a free trade policy, the colony was very attractive to traders who wished to trade with China. Facilities were good as well, especially with the establishment of the HSBC (the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation) in 1865. Hong Kong was also a safe haven for political refugees from China during hard times. The leader of the 1911 Revolution, which overthrew imperial rule in China, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, had his early education in Hong Kong.
The good trade encouraged the British to build up good infrastructure in Hong Kong. The people, regardless of whether they were British or Chinese, could easily find good, well-paying work. The export trade provided for all the daily needs of the Hong Kong people. Life was good. All the way until the 1930s, Hong Kong was a great place to be.
And then the Japanese invaded, and the war came to Hong Kong.
Next: 1941-1945 The Japanese Occupation.
*No, seriously, it was just a rock. A useless hilly piece of land that nobody gave a rat's ass about.
**Them Scots are hard.
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