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Prehistoric Era Archaeological findings suggest human activity in Hong Kong dates back over 5000 years. Bronze fishing and combat tools of Yuet people during Bronze Age have been excavated on Lantau Island and Lamma Island. Stone religious carvings on outlying islands and coastal areas have also been found, possibly related Che people in Neolithic. Imperial China Era (221 BC - 1800s) The territory was incorporated into China during the Qin Dynasty (221 BC - 206 BC), and the area was firmly consolidated under Nam Yuet (203 BC - 111 BC.) Archaeological evidence indicates that the population has increased since the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220). Hong Kong saw its first population boom as Chinese refugees entered the area. Five families of Hau (Hou), Tang (Deng), Pang (Peng) and Liu (Liao) and Man (Wen) were claimed to be among the earliest recorded familial settlers of Hong Kong. Despite the immigration and light development of agriculture, the area was still relatively barren and had to rely on salt, pearl and the fishery trades to produce income. The last dynasty in China, Qing Dynasty , would also be the last to come in contact with Hong Kong. As a military outpost and trading port, the Hong Kong territory would gain the attention of the world. Colonial Hong Kong Era (1800s - 1930s) By the beginning of the 19th century , the British Empire had become heavily dependent upon the import of tea from China. While the British have exported to China luxurious items like clocks and watches, there was an overwhelming imbalance between the trades. China developed a strong demand for silver, which would become a difficult commodity to come by in large quantities for the British. The counterbalance of trades would come with illegal opium entering China. Lin Zexu would become the Chinese commissioner who voiced to Queen Victoria the Qing state's opposition to the unlawful opium trade. It resulted in the Opium Wars , which spawned British victories over China and the cession of Hong Kong to the United Kingdom via the enactment of the new treaties. Japanese Occupation Era (1940s) Hong Kong was occupied by Japanese from 25 December 1941 to 15 August 1945 . The period, called '3 years and 8 months' halted the economy. The British, Canadians, Indians and the Hong Kong Volunteer Defense Forces resisted the Japanese invasion commanded by Sakai Takashi which started on December 8 , 1941 , eight hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor . Japanese achieved air superiority on the first day of battle and the defensive forces were outnumbered. The British and the Indians retreated from the Gin Drinker's Line and consequently from Kowloon under heavy aerial bombardment and artillery barrage. Fierce fighting continued on Hong Kong Island ; the only reservoir was lost. Canadian Winnipeg Grenadiers fought at the crucial Wong Nai Chong Gap that secured the passage between downtown and the secluded southern parts of the island. Hong Kong under British rule (1950s - 1997) The 1950s Skills and capital brought by refugees of Mainland China, especially from Shanghai , along with a vast pool of cheap labor helped revive the economy. At the same time, many foreign firms relocated their offices from Shanghai to Hong Kong. Enjoying unprecedented growth Hong Kong would transform from a territory of entrepot trade to industrial and manufacturing. The 1960s The manufacturing industry opened a new decade utilizing large portions of the population. The construction business would also be revamped with new detailed guidelines for the first time since World War II . While Hong Kong started out with a low GDP , it would use the textile industry as the foundation to boost the economy. China's cultural revolution would put Hong Kong on a new political stage. Events like the 1967 riot would fill the streets with home-made bombs and chaos. Family values and Chinese tradition would be challenged like never before as people spent more time in the factories than at home. Other obstacles include water shortages, long working hours coupled with extremely low wages were all trademarks of the era. The 1970s The 1970s also saw the extension of government subsidised education from six years to nine years and the creation of Hong Kong's country parks system. The opening of the mainland Chinese market and rising salaries drove many manufacturers north. Hong Kong consolidated its position as a commercial and tourism centre in the South-East Asia region. High life expectancy , literacy , per-capita income and other socioeconomic measures attest to Hong Kong's achievements over the last four decades of the 20th Century. The 1980s In 1982 , the British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher , hoped that the increasing openness of the PRC government and the economic reform in the mainland would allow the continuation of British ruling. The result meeting, led to the signing of Sino-British Joint Declaration and the proposal of the One country, two systems concept by Deng Xiaoping . Political news dominated the media, while real estate takes a major upswing. The financial world would also be rattled by panics, leading to waves of policy changes and Black Saturday . Meanwhile Hong Kong is now recognized as one of the most wealthy representative of the far east. At the same time, the warnings of 1997 raise emigration statistics to an all new historical level. Hong Kong Cinema would enjoy one paramount run that would put it on the international map. But everything seems to be overshadowed by the uncertainty of the future. The 1990s On April 4 , 1990 , the Hong Kong Basic Law was officially accepted as the mini-constitution of the Hong Kong SAR after the handover. The pro-Beijing bloc welcomed the Basic Law, calling it the most democratic legal system to ever exist in the PRC. The pro-democratic bloc criticized it as not democratic enough. In July 1992, Chris Patten was appointed as the last British Governor of Hong Kong . Patten had been Chairman of the Conservative Party in the UK until he lost his parliamentary seat in the general election earlier that year. Relations with the PRC government in Beijing became increasingly strained, as Patten introduced democratic reforms that increased the number of elected members in the Legislative Council . This caused considerable annoyance to the PRC, which saw this as a breach of the Basic Law. On July 1 , 1997 Hong Kong was handed over to the People's Republic of China by the United Kingdom. The old Legislative Council, elected under Chris Patten's reforms, was replaced by the Provisional Legislative Council elected by a selection committee whose members are appointed by the PRC government. Tung Chee Hwa , elected in December by a selection committee with members appointed by the PRC government, assumed duty as the first Chief Executive of Hong Kong . |
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