The history of Hong Kong’s cession, the process of its return, and its prosperity after the return

History of cession

On January 26, 1841, after the First Opium War, the British occupied Hong Kong Island. Afterwards, the Qing government tried to regain it by force. Emperor Daoguang complained about this. Many edicts were issued, but the Qing Dynasty was never able to defend its territorial integrity.

On August 29, 1842, the Qing government signed the unequal Treaty of Nanjing (formerly known as the Treaty of Jiangning) with the United Kingdom, ceding Hong Kong Island to the United Kingdom. On October 24, 1860, China and Britain signed the unequal Treaty of Beijing, ceding the area south of Boundary Street on the Kowloon Peninsula to Britain.

On June 9, 1898, the British forced the Qing government to sign the "Special Treaty for the Expansion of Hong Kong Boundary Sites" (commonly known as the "New Territories Lease"), forcibly leasing the land north of Boundary Street and south of the Shenzhen River on the Kowloon Peninsula. area.

As well as more than 200 large and small islands, the lease term is 99 years (ends on June 30, 1997). Through three treaties, the British Empire occupied Chinese territory including Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories with a total area of ??1,092 square kilometers, which is the entire area of ??Hong Kong today.

On December 25, 1941 (called "Black Christmas" by Hong Kong people), during the Second World War, the Japanese army invaded Hong Kong. The British troops stationed in Hong Kong were unable to resist. The then Governor of Hong Kong, Yang Muqi, reluctantly announced his surrender. .

Hong Kong was occupied by Japan and began the "Japanese Occupation Period" of three years and eight months. On September 15, 1945, after Japan was defeated, it signed a surrender document in Hong Kong and withdrew from Hong Kong. Hong Kong was re-administered by the British.

The process of return

From 1982 to 1984, China and the United Kingdom negotiated on the implementation of the future of Hong Kong. On December 19, 1984, they signed the Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China. Joint Declaration of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the Question of Hong Kong", which decided that the People's Republic of China would resume the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong on July 1, 1997. China is committed to implementing "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong.

On July 1, 1997, the Chinese government resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was established, and the Basic Law came into effect. Hong Kong has entered a new historical era of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy.

After the handover

In September 1997, the annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund were held in Hong Kong. This annual meeting is the first large-scale international conference hosted by Hong Kong after its return to the motherland. It is also the first time that the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund hold annual meetings in China.

In early June 2004, the first "Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation and Development Forum" was held in Hong Kong, marking the official launch of the "9 2" regional economic cooperation between nine mainland provinces and regions and the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Region.

In September 2005, Hong Kong Disneyland opened to welcome guests. This is the fifth Disneyland in the world. In August 2008, the Beijing Olympics equestrian competition was successfully held in Hong Kong. In December 2009, the fifth East Asian Games was held in Hong Kong. This was the first time Hong Kong hosted an international comprehensive event after returning to the motherland.

In March 2011, the central government announced the outline of the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan", and the Hong Kong and Macao parts were separated into separate chapters for the first time. The outline points out to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's status as an international financial, trade, and shipping center, and support Hong Kong in becoming an international asset management center and offshore RMB business center.

Extended information:

Hong Kong has been a territory of China since ancient times. Hong Kong was a British colony from 1842 to 1997. After World War II, Hong Kong's economy and society developed rapidly. Not only was it known as one of the "Four Asian Tigers", it also became one of the richest, most economically developed and highest-living areas in the world.

On July 1, 1997, the Chinese government resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was established. The central government has comprehensive jurisdiction over Hong Kong. Hong Kong maintains its original capitalist system and way of life, and enjoys a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign affairs and national defense. "One country, two systems", "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy are the basic national policies of the Chinese government.

Hong Kong, together with New York and London, is known as "Newland Port". It is the third largest financial center in the world, an important international finance, trade, shipping center and international innovation and technology center. It is also the world's freest economy. It is one of the most competitive cities in the world and enjoys a high reputation in the world. It is rated as the third first-tier city in the world by GaWC.

Baidu Encyclopedia--Hong Kong