The history of Hong Kong is, in fact, the history of two states. Its appearance is associated with the Second Opium War. It was in 1860 when China was defeated. Then the Qing Empire existed there.
Between the UK and China
The Beijing Treaty transferred the islands of the Stone Cutters and the Kowloon Peninsula (part of the territory) to Great Britain in perpetual possession. Already in 1898, Britain leased the adjacent territory of China, located in the northern part of the Kowloon Peninsula, for 99 years. Together with her, the island of Lantau was rented. The British called it the New Territories.
The date of Hong Kong's handover back to China was fixed by the Sino-British Joint Declaration. It was possible to sign it only after lengthy negotiations. Then someone aptly called them "the war of words." This event took place on December 19, 1984 in Beijing.
The People's Republic of China received the well-developed territory of Hong Kong in 1997, after its official transfer. The merit of the tenants was that the British education system was introduced in the colony. The 19th century passed in the absence of communication between the local Chinese population and wealthy Europeans, whose homes were near the foot of Victoria Peak. There were no conflicts and clashes. But the war made its own adjustments: Japanese aggressors invaded Hong Kong in 1941. During the war, the population decreased by almost two-thirds. When Japan surrendered, Britain again became the master of the territory.
The influx of people here began during the civil war in China. The mass of emigrants went to the "free island", not accepting the conditions of the communists. Since the expatriates were industrialists, they contributed to Hong Kong's economic growth. The standard of living here improved every year, which did not help, however, to avoid the riots that happened here in 1967. The uprising during this year was nevertheless calmed down. 1974 was marked by the fight against corruption. 1975 was a milestone in solving the problems of Vietnamese refugees. 1979 will be remembered by the organization of a free economic zone on the border with China.
Plans for the future
Already two decades before the end of the lease, the British were thinking about how to make the transition of Hong Kong to China painless for citizens. And then I had to sit down at the negotiating table. The British proposed not to change the laws in this special zone for another 50 years after the transfer. After all, the whole history of Hong Kong briefly boiled down to the fact that here, in addition to a highly developed economy, a good legislative base was also created.
The result of these difficult negotiations was the current position of Hong Kong, which remains an attractive financial, trade and tourist destination - a special zone within China.
