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Governor of Hunan, Lin Tse-hsu, orders 20,000 chests of opium destroyed and for traders to retreat to the British merchant fleet
Opium was a drug that spread all through China.The British seeing the profit Opium brings made Opim their cash crop . Governor of Hunan, Lin Tse-hsu was considered a very moral man, he saw the disasterous effects of Opium on China and in attempts to completely rid China of it burned 20,000 chests of Opium. He then ordered for the trader to leave to the British merchant fleet that was anchored in Hong Kong. By doing this he hoped to stop British importation of Opium to China through Guangzhou. -
First Opium War
Opium caused a huge decline in China. Productions slowed, and the overall developement of China slowed. Many believe that the first Opium was began because of Governor of Hunan, Lin Tse-hsu and his actions previously mentioned. Most Opium was brought in from Macau as it was a big trading area at the time. -
The Queen of England and the Emperor of China sign the Treaty of Nanking
This treaty ended the Opium War. It was the first of the unequal treaties against the Chinese. Formally it was called "Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Commerce between Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and the Emperor of China" This treaty not only ended the Opium war but ceded Hong Kong to the British. The most important terms of the trade were to change the frame work of foreign trade, and to pay the British 6 million dollars for the Opium burned by Lin Zexu. -
Kowloon Peninsula is ceded under the Convention of Peking,
The Kowloon Peninsula is ceded under the Convention of Peking, this concludes The Second Opium War that began a little earlier. The Convention of Peking is an agreement made of three treaties, between The Qing Empire, United Kingdom, France and Russia. This is another among the unequal treaties. The unequal treaties are treaties signed by Western powers d by Qing dynasty China and late Tokugawa. -
China leases the rural New Territories, mainland area, and 235 islands to Britain
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Hong Kong Governor Murray MacLehose raises the issue of Hong Kong
Hong Kong Governor Murray MacLehose raises the issue of Hong Kong with the Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping during his first visit to China. Deng promises sovereignty over the "special region" soon -
Former British Prime Minister Edward Heath meets Deng Xiaoping
Former British Prime Minister Edward Heath meets Deng Xiaoping, being Margaret Thatchers envoy . Deng informs him that China will rule Hong Kong, and it will be under a "one country, two systems" policy after 1977. -
Prime Minister Thatcher makes her first visit to China
Prime Minister Thatcher makes her first visit to China with one goal, which is to disscuss China's future -
A 58-member Basic Law Drafting Committee is formed in Beijing
A 58-member Basic Law Drafting Committee is formed in Beijing, in order to make up Hong Kongs new mini constitution, "The Basic Law". -
China and the UK resume negotiations
After putting a hiatus on the negotiations for months, China and the UK resume negotiating the future of Hong Kong -
China and the UK agree on arrangements
China and the UK agree on arrangements for the official hand over ceremony of Hong Kong. -
National People's Congress in Beijing votes to repeal or amend various laws
Civil libertie laws in Hong Kong alertered, by Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in Beijing . -
The British flag is lowered and the Hong Kong
The British flag is lowered and the Hong Kong and the Chinese flag is lifted at midnight, to indicated Hong Kongs return to the Chinese, after 156 years under Britains rule. -
Conservative British politician Chris Patten
Chris Patten becomes Hong Kongs last governor -
The Sino-British Joint Declaration
The Sino-British Joint Declaration, is a treaty promising all of Hong Kong to return to China. This would be done at midnight on June 30th 1997. This treaty was signed in Beijing after four months of disscussion.