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1839-First Opium wars
The first wars happened during 1839 to 1842 against the Qing Dynasty. In that time British wanted to get their hands on Chinese silk, goods and money. -
1842-After the forst opium wars
China gives Hong Kong to Britian after the first opium wars. Thousands of Chinese flee to Hong Kong. -
1898-Hong Kong in British hands.
China leases the New territories altogether with 235 islands to Britain for 99 years starting from I July. -
1937-Japanese outbreak
With the outbreak of Sino-Japanese war, Hong Kong becomes a refuge for thousands of mainland chinese fleeing before the advancing Japanese. -
1942-Japan occupies Hong Kong
Japan occupies Hong Kong. Food shortages impel many residents to flee to mainland China. The population drops from 1.6 million in 1941 to 650,000 the end of the second world war. -
1946-British re-establishes civil goverment.
British re-establishes civil goverment. Hundreds of thousands of former residents return, to be joined by refugees fleeing the civil war between Nationalists and Communitists in China. -
1984- Declartion
British and China both sign joint declaration on the conditions under which Hong Kong will revert to China on June 30 1997 on midnight. After -
1997-The handover
Hong Kong officially becomes a special administrative region of China.
And Hong Kong's new governor becomes Tycoon Tung Chee-hwa - seen as Beijing's choice - becomes chief executive of the new Hong Kong special autonomous region (SAR). -
1998-Elecition
In the first legislative election under Chinese rule, key pro-democracy politicians, ousted from the last colonial assembly by Beijing win 60% of popular vote but only 20 seats in the 60-seat legislature.
