Treaties and the Opium Wars

The Treaty of Nanking, signed in 1842, forced China to cede Hong Kong Island and surrounding islands to Great Britain after the First Opium War.

The Convention of Peking, signed in 1860, forced China to cede the Kowloon Peninsula (south of Boundary Street) and Stonecutters Island to Great Britain after the Second Opium War.

The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory, signed in 1898, leased the New Territories (north of Boundary Street up to the Shenzhen River and 235 islands) to Great Britain for 99 years.

The First Opium War (1839-1842) was a conflict between China and Great Britain over the illegal opium trade. China lost the war and was forced to sign the Treaty of Nanking.

The Second Opium War (1856-1860) was a conflict between China and a coalition of Western powers, including Great Britain and France. China lost the war and was forced to sign the Convention of Peking.

The Treaty of Nanking, the Convention of Peking, and the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory are known as unequal treaties because they were imposed on China under duress and resulted in the loss of Chinese territory and resources.

The Treaty of Nanking, signed in 1842, transferred Hong Kong Island from China to British control.

The Convention of Peking, signed in 1860, ceded the Kowloon Peninsula (south of Boundary Street) to Britain.

The Convention between Great Britain and China, signed in 1898, granted Britain a 99-year lease of the New Territories (north of Boundary Street).

The area north of Boundary Street in Kowloon, leased to Britain in 1898.

The border between Kowloon and the New Territories.

The term 'New Territories' was used by the British to refer to the area leased from China in 1898.

The area north of Boundary Street, leased to Britain in 1898, became known as 'New Kowloon'.

The land was leased to Britain by China for a period of 99 years.

The term 'New Territories' refers to the region north of Boundary Street in Kowloon, which was leased to Britain in 1898.

The Legislative Council was an advisory body to the Governor, responsible for discussing bills and public spending.

Members of the Legislative Council were divided into 'official members' (government officials) and 'unofficial members' (usually social elites) who were appointed by the Governor.

Wu Tingfang served as an unofficial member of the Legislative Council from 1880 to 1883, contributing his expertise to the advisory body.

Letters Patent and Royal Instructions were the key royal documents issued by the British Monarch, outlining the framework for Hong Kong's political system.

Governor Bowring needed to report regularly to the British government, seeking their instructions on major issues, and keeping records of Legislative Council bills for review.

The British Monarch's royal documents were the foundation of Hong Kong's political system, guiding its operations and structure.

A policy where trade is conducted freely, with no taxes or tariffs imposed on goods entering or leaving a port, allowing for more rapid commercial activity.

A type of trade where goods are imported from one place and then re-exported to another, often with minimal processing or value added.

A system where a country uses its superior power and influence to impose unfavorable conditions on another country, often through treaties signed during conflicts.

A policy of strict enforcement of rules and punishments for violations, often used to maintain control over a population.

The forced separation of different groups of people in a society, often based on ethnicity or social status, leading to segregation and potential inequalities.

The British government had the authority to create, change, or abolish laws in Hong Kong.

The British government was responsible for handling Hong Kong's international relations and defense.

The Governor, appointed by the British monarch, held significant power in Hong Kong.

The Governor had the ability to make decisions on laws, finances, and societal issues within limits set by the British government.

The Executive Council, which advised the Governor, primarily consisted of British officials.

The Legislative Council, responsible for creating laws, also had a majority of British members.

The early Legislative Council included a small number of non-British members, mostly merchants.

The Governor had the final say on legislation, even when it involved the opinions of the Legislative Council.

In crisis situations, the Governor could call on the British military forces stationed in Hong Kong.

The British government's control over Hong Kong's laws, foreign policy, and military affairs led to a limited level of autonomy for the colony.