In 1984 British Prime Minister and Premier of the People’s Republic of China met in Beijing and signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration which agreed on ministration of Hong Kong returning to the ORC on the 1st of July 1997.
In the 17th century the act of smoking tobacco in pipes had made its way to China from America and this created a new habit of smoking opium in China. Due to its highly addictive quality demand for the drug increased across most of China and the western powers were more than willing to supply the demand. As British production of tea in her colonies increased, reducing the demand from China, Chinese demand for opium became insatiable and soon China’s monopoly on trade decreased with more silver being exported to pay for the opium than the amount being imported for Chinese goods. This change in the status quo angered the Chinese government and they began attempting to stop the imports of Opium and sentenced people to death for its sale. But the demand remained and so did the trade and Opium was being consumed by all levels of society including large percentages of Chinese officials, the Daoguang emperor and most of his court. But many opposed to the opium trade within the court and requested highly respected Lin Zexu to become Special Imperial Commissioner of Canton in March 1839.
The British ‘Superintendent of trade to China’, Charles Elliot, ordered all British ships attempting to smuggle the drugs into China to hand over the drugs on the promise of compensation from the British government, an order which proved extremely costly to Britain.
In March 1839 several British merchants were accused of murdering a Chinese civilian while in the port of Canton. The British officials were reluctant to hand over the men as they had little or no faith in the Chinese justice system. This was the final act of injustice to the Chinese government and the First Opium War broke out on the 18th of March 1839. During this war the British tested their new weapon “The Nemesis” which was the worlds first iron warship. The Nemesis proved to be a formidable weapon that could out class its wooden counterparts in most respects especially on the 7th of January 1841 during The Second Battle of Chuenpee which was the final military conflict of the war. After the British victory in the Second Battle of Chuenpee the Convention of Chuenpee took place on the 20th of January. British Captain Charles Elliot and Chinese Governor Qishan agreed on a cease fire and certain concessions by the Chinese government to the British including ceding Hong Kong island to Britain and the promise of opening more ports up for trade with Britain. The Convention of Chuenpee was basically a draft for the Treaty of NanKing which was signed on the 29th of August and officially ended the First Opium War and officially making Hong Kong a British Possession. This treaty was known in China as the first of the unequal treaties but it did end the Canton System and allowed for free trade with China and the rest of the world. Because of the treaty China became more integrated into the world and is considered the dawn of modern Chinese history.
Hong Kong remained a British possession up until it was invaded and occupied by Japan on the 25th of December 1941 during World War II. When Japan announced its surrender on the 14th of August 1945 Hong Kong was officially handed back to the British Navy on the 30th of August 1945. On the 19th of December 1984 the British Prime Minister and Premier of the People’s Republic of China met in Beijing and signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration which agreed on ministration of Hong Kong returning to the ORC on the 1st of July 1997. China agreed to allow Hong Kong to remain largely autonomous but ultimately under control of the PRC for fifty years after the sign over date. In 2047 Hong Kong is expected to return entirely to the administration of China although many oppose this move.
