DSE CSD Flashcards (Updated Every UT)

1840

The end of the First Opium War.

1842

Signing of the Treaty of Nanking, The UK annexes HK Island.

1856

The Second Opium War is declared on China by the UK and France allied forces.

1860

Yuanmingyuan is burned down, and the Convention of Peking is signed. The UK annexes the southern tip of the Kowloon Peninsula, south of Boundary Street.

1898

The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory is signed. The New Territories are leased to the UK for 99 years.

1949

The PRC is established. The three unequal treaties are not recognised by the PRC.

1969

The United Nations adopt the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.

1974

The resolution on the definition of aggression, China declares negotiation on the recovery of HK.

1982

Deng Xiaoping proposes “One Country, Two Systems”.

1984

The Sino British Joint Declaration is signed by Margaret Thatcher (UK) and Zhao Ziyang (China).

1985

The Sino-British Joint Declaration is adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. According to Article 31 of the Constitution, the HKSAR is established on April 10. The HK Basic Law Drafting Committee begins drafting the Basic Law.

1990

The Basic Law is finally adopted at the 3rd session of the 7th National People’s Congress.

Period of the late Qing Dynasty

1840-1911

Period of Nationalist China

1912-1949

Period of the People’s Republic of China

1 October, 1949 ~

Qing Government’s approach to the question of Hong Kong

Forced to sign the 3 unequal treaties: HK Island, Kowloon ceded, and New Territories leased.

Nationalist China’s approach to the question of Hong Kong

Wanted to recover Hong Kong after the Second Sino-Japanese War, but was unable to due to pressure from the UK and the USA.

The People’s Republic of China’s approach to the question of Hong Kong

Refused to recognise the treaties and planned to recover/regain control at an appropriate time.

Cause of the First Opium War

The Tea trade from China to the UK led to a high trade deficit for the UK. To combat this, the UK imported copious amounts of opium to China. China destroyed the Opium, and the UK responded by declaring war on China.

Who did the Chinese government send to ban and destroy opium smoking?

Minister Lin Zexu

Signing of the Treaty of Nanking

On 29 Aug, 1842, Harry Pottinger (UK) and Keying and Yilibu (China) signed the treaty of Nanking.

Start of the Second Opium War

In 1856, declared by the UK and France allied forces. Beijing is taken over, and the Yuanmingyuan is burned.

Signing of the Convention of Peking

Prince Gong (China) and the 8th Lord of Elgin, James Bruce (UK)

Cause of the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory

The UK desired land, food, and a natural barrier. Furthermore, the Convention for the Lease of Weihaiwei was signed by the UK, and the Convention for the Lease of Guangzhouwan is signed by France.

When did human activity in Hong Kong begin?

7000 years ago, in the Neolithic Period.

Emergence of the name “Hong Kong”

Traces back to “Yue Da Ji”, or the great records of Guangdong.

Which County did Hong Kong first go under?

Panyu Country of the Nanhai Prefecture

What four counties has Hong Kong been under the jurisdiction of?

1. Panyu

2. Bao’an

3. Dongguan

4. Xin’an

What countries invaded Hong Kong before it was occupied by the UK?

Portugal, the Netherlands, and Japan

What made Hong Kong so attractive to foreigners?

1. National deep-sea harbour

2. Gateway to China, as Guangzhou was almost the only place in China open to trade with the West at the time.