History of Hong Kong
Flag of Qing Dynasty
Flag of Colonial Hong Kong
(1910 - 1959)
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Hong Kong’s history began in the 19th century as a small coastal settlement of the Qing Dynasty. During this time, there were rising tensions and trade disputes between western imperial powers and the Qing Dynasty. The Treaty of Nanking was signed following the end of the First Opium War on August 29th, 1842, which not only handed the British the island of Hong Kong, but it also demanded that the Qing Dynasty pay the British for war reparations, and lastly, that the Qing demilitarize while allowing the British to stay in China.
The Convention of Peking was signed after the Second Opium War after the British and French troops entered the Forbidden City in Beijing in 1860. They forced Prince Gong from the Qing empire to sign the treaty to lease Kowloon to the British Empire formally on October 24th, 1860. The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory, signed in 1898, officially leased Hong Kong to the United Kingdom for 99 years. The territories in this agreement included Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories, and Lantao. |
By Vatnið - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37606697
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37606697
From the late 19th century to the first half of the 20th century, Great Britain established urban settlements in Hong Kong, launching massive industrial and transportation services that grew to become well-established institutions in Hong Kong. Under the rule of the British, Hong Kong was transformed from a series of fishing villages into a booming center of international commerce. By the 1920s, Hong Kong was an urban trade center with modern style buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbor.
The Japanese invasion of China in 1937 drove waves of immigrants seeking sanctuary to flee to Hong Kong. This migration increased the population of Hong Kong spiking from 1 million in 1937 to 1.6 million in 1941.
The Japanese invasion of China in 1937 drove waves of immigrants seeking sanctuary to flee to Hong Kong. This migration increased the population of Hong Kong spiking from 1 million in 1937 to 1.6 million in 1941.
Hong Kong from the Victoria Harbor in 1920s.
By Unknown - Originally from here., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5877482
By Unknown - Originally from here., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5877482
Hong Kong in 1930s.
By Unknown photographer - scanned, cleaned and optimized by MJJR - Old photograph, private collection, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22220698
By Unknown photographer - scanned, cleaned and optimized by MJJR - Old photograph, private collection, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22220698
History on Hong Kong Defense Volunteers
Marauding pirates were a threat to the coasts even under British supervision. A call to recruit volunteers was made to help bolster the defenses. The “Hong Kong Volunteers” was thus formed in 1854 but disbanded shortly as the threat of war in Europe receded.
In 1862, the Hong Kong Volunteers were re-established and in 1864, they were called out to help subdue a serious outbreak of rioting between British and Indian soldiers. In 1866, the Volunteers were disbanded yet once again.
In 1878, the Hong Kong Volunteers were reborn as the “Hong Kong Artillery and Rifle Volunteer Corps.” By 1917, they renamed themselves the “Hong Kong Defense Corps” and were actively engaged in guard and patrol duties during World War I. When the British forces were called back after the war, they were once again the only military unit left to defend Hong Kong.
In 1933, the Hong Kong Defense Corps, later renamed ‘'Hong Kong Volunteer Defense Corps” (HKVDC) acquired their first armored car. It was equipped with an armor-plated body and mountings for two machine-guns. This development of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defense Corps was deemed a necessary effort as the war in mainland China broke out with the encroachment of the Japanese Imperial Army.
In 1862, the Hong Kong Volunteers were re-established and in 1864, they were called out to help subdue a serious outbreak of rioting between British and Indian soldiers. In 1866, the Volunteers were disbanded yet once again.
In 1878, the Hong Kong Volunteers were reborn as the “Hong Kong Artillery and Rifle Volunteer Corps.” By 1917, they renamed themselves the “Hong Kong Defense Corps” and were actively engaged in guard and patrol duties during World War I. When the British forces were called back after the war, they were once again the only military unit left to defend Hong Kong.
In 1933, the Hong Kong Defense Corps, later renamed ‘'Hong Kong Volunteer Defense Corps” (HKVDC) acquired their first armored car. It was equipped with an armor-plated body and mountings for two machine-guns. This development of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defense Corps was deemed a necessary effort as the war in mainland China broke out with the encroachment of the Japanese Imperial Army.
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Three Years Eight Months
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