History Hong Kong

 Historical dates

1557: the Portuguese are first Europeans to settle in this part of Asia, installing their trading post in Macao, at about 30 miles west of the inhabited archipelago that will become Hong Kong.
1796: opium trade, in which the British will become more and more active, is forbidden by the emperor of China.
1840: first opium war between the British and Chinese.
1841: the British naval forces take possession of Hong Kong Island in the name of the British Crown.
1842: end of the first opium war, Nankin treaty that gives away Hong Kong to Great Britain forever.
1843: the territory officially becomes a British possession.
1858-1860: second opium war, the Chinese are defeated once again, cession of Kowloon Peninsula to Great Britain.
1880: first ferry service in Hong Kong.
1898: Bejing convention, The New Territories sector is given away to Great Britain for a lease of 99 years.
1911: fall of the Chinese Empire.
1937: beginning of the Sino-Japanese war.
1941: Japanese invade Hong Kong territory.
1945: the Japanese capitulate.
1949: Mao takes over in China.
1967: riots in Hong Kong in response to the cultural revolution in China.
1982: beginning of negotiations between London and Bejing on the future of Hong Kong
1984: China and Great Britain sign an agreement in favour of China's plans for a future restitution of the territory
1989: Tian'anmen square events in Bejing have a strong impact in Hong Kong.
1997: Hong Kong is reinstated as part of China, Tung Chee Hwa takes office as the first Chief Executive of Hong Kong
2005: Tung Chee Hwa resigns, and Donald Tsang, the Chief Secretary for Administration at the time, succeeds him as Chief Executive