Hong Kong's Tumultuous Past

Hong Kong has been a part of China for over 2200 years. Ever since the Qin dynasty incorporated the territory around 220 BC, Hong Kong has been a integral trading port, economic sanctuary, and military outpost for China.

These properties weren't just lost to the Chinese though. Britain saw the obvious benefits of Hong Kong and in a brutal, but extremely lopsided, war, took Hong Kong from China with the Treaty of Nanjing in 1842. In 1898, the Second Convention of Peking ensured that Britain would hold onto Hong Kong for at least another ninety-nine years.

But they didn't. From December 1941 to August 1945 Japan occupied Hong Kong resulting in inflation and intense food rationing. It wasn't until a decade after that Hong Kong recovered.

In the 50's and 60's Hong Kong did more than just recover from WWII, it grew in leaps in bounds. New industries sprang up, the tourism trade formalized, manufacturing provided millions of jobs, construction grew, textiles grew. Everything grew.

Including domestic issues. The cultural revolution filled the streets with homemade bombs and riots. Factory jobs challenged the deeply ingrained Chinese family and cultural systems. However, by the 80's Hong Kong was generally booming and  recognized as one of the wealthiest cities of the far east.

Storm clouds gathered on the horizon though, as the ninety-nine year rule of Britain was coming to a close and the handover to China seemed inevitable. Emigration rates raised to historic highs as many moved to the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia. The financial world suffered policy changes and panics that led to Black Sautrday. Britain tried hard to keep Hong Kong, but the continuation of British rule after 1997 was unacceptable to China. Instead, changing tact, Britain worked to get special autonomous privileges for Hong Kong.

In April of 1990, Hong Kong Basic Law was accepted as the constitution for Hong Kong post-handover.  The new laws provided a unprecedented amount of democratic government for Hong Kong, yet many pro-democratic blocs still criticized it as not democratic enough.

Life after the handover has blossomed in some ways. Many people returned to Hong Kong after finding out China has kept its promise and maintained the system of "One Country, Two Systems," providing Hong Kong with a large degree of autonomy. The economy has grown in leaps and bounds, tourism remains high, while immigration and construction projects have ensured a dynamic city that constantly grows and evolves, ready to take on the future.

- Victor