1841-01-20 - Earth Site Education

This Day in History: 1841-01-20

In 1841 China ceded or gave up power over Hong Kong to the British

During the First Opium War Hong Kong Island was occupied by British forces. As part of a cease-fire, the Island had been given up to British Captain Charles Elliot by Governor Qishan under the Convention of Chuenpee. Either power did not fully recognise this Convention and it wasn’t until the 29^th of August 1842 when control of the Island of Hong Kong was officially given to the British.

Although most of Europe bought goods from China the trade was made very much one-sided by the Chinese policy of only accepting silver in payment. China was self-sufficient and even if they desired goods from Europe the Chinese port officials would not allow imports other than silver. The Qing dynasty in the 18^th century ensured the control of western imports by allowing trade through just the southern port of Canton (Guangzhou). This increased the value of the precious metal and many countries, particularly Spain, sought new sources of silver through mining in South America. This system gave China a monopoly on trade which caused increased tension between European and Chinese governments. But Western governments soon found a product that the Chinese population did want and would become a new currency for the luxury items China produced (tea, silk, spices and porcelain).

During the 6^th and 7th centuries, Arabic and Turkish traders introduced opium into China but it was taken orally in small quantities for medicinal use only, leaving demand relatively small. Britain had always valued gold greater than silver and had built its economy on this basis (known as the gold standard). As its silver deposits were depleted by British huge demand for Chinese tea Britain was forced to buy silver from other European countries. Attempts were made to grow tea in India but initially, it was impossible to meet the public demand.

Great Britain could however grow opium in large quantities in India and initially, this commodity was accepted as payment by the Chinese government. In the 17^th 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. However many opposed 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 18^th of March 1839. During this war, the British tested their new weapon “The Nemesis” which was the world’s first iron warship. The Nemesis proved to be a formidable weapon that could outclass its wooden counterparts in most respects especially on the 7^th 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 20^th 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 a draft for the Treaty of Nanking which was signed on the 29^th of August and officially ended the First Opium War, 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 25^th of December 1941 during World War II. When Japan announced its surrender on the 14^th of August 1945 Hong Kong was officially handed back to the British Navy on the 30^th of August 1945. On the 19^th 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 the ministration of Hong Kong returning to the ORC on the 1^st of July 1997. China agreed to allow Hong Kong to remain largely autonomous but ultimately under the 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.