Volcano tourism is booming, but is it too risky? Demonstrators change tactics, conducting surprise protests at government buildings and in far-flung parts of the New Territories. Remnants from the space rock may help explain how often these cosmic explosions occur—and the threat they pose to Earth. It is a decisive loss for China. The forgotten fossil hunter who transformed Britain’s Jurassic Coast. As philosophies and religions, they not only influenced spirituality, but also government, science, the arts, and social structure. It is the first of three “unequal treaties” China signs with Britain. But was it the beginning of lasting autonomy for Hong Kong? Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. All rights reserved. Waste left over from the coffee-making process can jolt destroyed forests back to life. The war broke out after Qing-dynasty China attempted to crack down an illegal opium trade that led to widespread addiction in China. It was the end of an era: In July 1997, as the flag of the United Kingdom was lowered over Hong Kong, the prosperous colony was returned to China after over 150 years of British rule. Hong Kong has been wracked by a recent series of protests in support of self-determination for its citizens. British merchants trade illegally smuggled opium from India for Chinese goods such as tea, silks and porcelain, setting the stage for a vicious trade dispute. Britain resumes control over the civil government. Starting in 2014, elections were conducted using a list of candidates vetted by Beijing. How this more contagious virus variant became dominant in the U.S. Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect the demands of the protesters. Millions of people march in the peaceful demonstrations that follow. Hong Kong emerges as an “Asian Tiger”- an international financial center. Sign up for more inspiring photos, stories, and special offers from National Geographic. Kowloon Bay is a major industrial and financial area, and was home to Hong Kong's airport until a new facility was built in 1998. Should cities start banning them? Constitution. Does everyone need to wear a mask outside? A second reading of the extradition bill is postponed after violent protests break out, blocking roads and attempting to storm parliament. The current composition of Hong Kong’s 70-seat Legislative Council is 40 Geographic Constituency legislators elected directly by voters, albeit according to a proportional representation system. As the treaty’s expiration loomed, separating the New Territories from the rest of Hong Kong became increasingly unthinkable. The unrest leads to a sense of social cohesion in an increasingly multicultural society. The marches continue every July, providing an annual reminder of citizens’ demands for universal suffrage, freedom of speech protections and democratic rule. Japanese bombs drop in Hong Kong territory. Opium addiction becomes a serious problem for China. In Hong Kong, more than 1 million people protest the massacre of pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. The Chinese legislature rules out open elections in Hong Kong, saying that it will only allow candidates approved by Beijing to run for its top political position. Hong Kong moves forward with the reforms, but China plans to dismantle them once it takes the city back. So do international trade and Western-style schools, banks and businesses. But unrest grows due to income inequality and poor working conditions among the surging population. As a result, the government undertakes ambitious social reforms, tackling official corruption and increasing educational opportunities. Here's why we need to save them. The massacre fuels worries about how China will govern in Hong Kong, and anti-Communist sentiments grow. Massive waves of immigrants from mainland China begin to arrive in Hong Kong. Battle to control America’s ‘most destructive’ species: feral pigs. China attempts to suppress Britain’s opium trade by destroying the smuggled opium and punishing traffickers. They’re not the first: The history of Hong Kong is one of rapid growth, political turmoil, and continual demands for change. British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and China’s Premier Zhao Ziyang sign the Joint Declaration on the future of Hong Kong. Mao Zedong is replaced by the more moderate Deng Xiaoping, who implements a policy of “opening and reform.” Britain, looking ahead to the end of its 99-year lease on the New Territories, approaches Deng about continuing its administration. Britain is awarded a rent-free, 99-year lease on the New Territories. How this more contagious virus variant became dominant in the U.S. The movement fails, and many of the leaders, who were students, are jailed. Today, Kowloon Bay has been almost entirely reclaimed from the sea. It galvanizes pro-democracy support in the city, and more candidates in favor of democratic rule run in the next election. However, Hong Kong residents cannot elect their own leaders; rather, a chief executive is elected by a 1,200-member election committee. Hong Kong’s government announces plans for a bill that would allow extraditions to mainland China for the first time. The handover still has another phase ahead: the expiration of China’s agreement to honor Hong Kong’s Basic Law. Big winter snows in the North could be fueled by Arctic sea ice loss, 'Lost golden city of Luxor' discovered by archaeologists in Egypt, How the first pitch became baseball's Opening Day tradition, How Queen Victoria remade the British monarchy, Why the St. Vincent volcano has such a deadly reputation, Europe to review Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine over reports of rare blood clots. Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, announces democratic reforms for the 1994 local and 1995 legislative elections without consulting China. Hong Kong Disneyland (Chinese: 香港迪士尼樂園) (also known as HK Disneyland or HKDL) is a theme park located on reclaimed land in Penny's Bay, Lantau Island.It is located inside the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and it is owned and managed by Hong Kong International Theme Parks.It is the largest theme park in Hong Kong, followed by Ocean Park Hong Kong. So much of the old city has gone that even shots from the 70's and 80's seem like ancient history. The First Opium War that follows leaves 520 British casualties and up to 20,000 Chinese casualties. Gaining admission to Western universities by studying abroad is easier than local institutions (Altbach, 1991). Please be respectful of copyright. China requires that its approval must be obtained for any changes to Hong Kong election laws, effectively giving it veto power over any moves towards democracy. Beijing officials are furious, and negotiations fall apart. In 2020, in a period of large-scale protests, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress passed the controversial Hong Kong national security law. The United Kingdom had held Hong Kong as a colony since 1841, when it occupied the area during the First Opium War. Protesters clash with police in Hong Kong in July 2019. Hundreds are arrested and China threatens to crack down. A rash of protests and acts of civil disobedience follow. Defeat came at a high cost: In 1842, China agreed to cede the island of Hong Kong to the British in perpetuity through the Treaty of Nanjing. That and other Chinese policies, like a recent attempt to allow extradition to the mainland, have led to mass protests, strained British-Chinese diplomatic relations, and fueled increasing concerns that China is stifling public dissent, interfering in local politics, and eroding human rights in Hong Kong. Please be respectful of copyright. Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright © 2015-2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. The small island of Hong Kong is a backwater fishing community ruled by China. Over the next 56 years, it will lose control over all three main regions of Hong Kong. Experts weigh in. As Japanese forces close in on Hong Kong after the start of the Sino-Japanese War, thousands of people from mainland China flee to the city. Students strike, citizens participate in huge pro-democracy rallies, and demonstrators occupy the city center for weeks. Big winter snows in the North could be fueled by Arctic sea ice loss, 'Lost golden city of Luxor' discovered by archaeologists in Egypt, How the first pitch became baseball's Opening Day tradition, How Queen Victoria remade the British monarchy, Why the St. Vincent volcano has such a deadly reputation, Europe to review Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine over reports of rare blood clots. A Shanghai-born businessman named Tung Chee-hwa is chosen to rule the new Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. They haven’t gotten their demands yet—but the protests continue unabated. Hong Kong - Hong Kong - Government and society: When it was a colony, Hong Kong was administered by a governor, who was appointed by and represented the monarch of the United Kingdom, directed the government, served as the commander in chief, and presided over the two main organs of government, the Executive Council and the Legislative Council. Starting in the late 1970s, the U.K. and China began to discuss Hong Kong’s future. All rights reserved. Does everyone need to wear a mask outside? From a British colony to part of Beijing’s ‘one country, two systems’ policy, Hong Kong’s government has almost always been the exception—not the rule. Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, was formed as the South China Sea overflowed the coastline of the Kowloon Peninsula. Hong Kong officially reverts to Chinese rule after more than 150 years of British control. New study offers intriguing evidence, A mysterious neurological disease is afflicting endangered Florida panthers, Endangered trout may soon return to the concrete Los Angeles River, In Spain, sanctuaries give forever homes to farmed animals, Elephants return to conflict-ridden national park, Many mammals are contagious yawners—this might be why, Once-rare Arctic lightning is now more frequent—and may reshape the region, As halibut decline, Alaska Native fishers square off against industrial fleets, Hazardous spill in Florida highlights environmental threat decades in the making. The 'special status' of the city is a result of its unusual political history. Under the terms of the treaty, China would regain control of its leased lands on July 1, 1997. Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright © 2015-2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Sign up for more inspiring photos, stories, and special offers from National Geographic. Hong Kong’s economy takes off as a manufacturing hub and the standard of living climbs. The history of the Hong Kong Police originates in 1841, when the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) was officially established by the British colonial government, the same year that the British had settled in Hong Kong.While changes have been implemented throughout the People's Republic of China (PRC) since the transfer of sovereignty in 1997, the Hong Kong Police Force (formerly the Royal Hong … Protesters take over the airport and face police at government buildings and in tourist and shopping districts. Hong Kong’s population surges from 600,000 in 1945 to 2.5 million in 1956. . Photograph by An Rong Xu, National Geographic, 430,000 years ago a meteor exploded over Antarctica, leaving clues in the debris. The 'special status' of the city is a result of its unusual political history. Hong Kong citizens experience a growing sense of uncertainty—and wonder why they weren’t included in the negotiations. Excellent album. In Hong Kong, the supply of places for higher education falls short of demand. This tumultuous decade sees riots, civil unrest, and social anxiety, coupled with natural disasters like droughts and typhoons. Up to 100,000 Chinese found refuge in Hong Kong after the Communist Party took power. Home to over seven million people, Hong Kong teems with life. The final treaty, the 1898 Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory, leased the New Territories to Britain for 99 years. Battle to control America’s ‘most destructive’ species: feral pigs. The sun had finally set on one of the wealthiest modern outposts of the British Empire. It declares that China will resume control of Hong Kong on July 1, 1997. Waste left over from the coffee-making process can jolt destroyed forests back to life. The civil war drives hundreds of thousands to flee to Hong Kong, leading to the creation of large squatter settlements. The most recent series of demonstrations initially arose from protests against a controversial bill that would allow extradition to mainland China. Capitalist Hong Kong soon experienced an economic boom, becoming home to a multicultural, international community. Will China continue to recognize Hong Kong’s autonomy after then? Experts weigh in. More. The forgotten fossil hunter who transformed Britain’s Jurassic Coast. He is criticized for his handling of the Asian financial crisis and his obedience to Beijing. Chinese and Hong Kong officials call the clashes a “riot.” Protesters demand they retract those claims. But because of the city’s new election structure under Chinese rule, pro-democracy candidates don’t gain a majority in the legislature. Remnants from the space rock may help explain how often these cosmic explosions occur—and the threat they pose to Earth. The ‘special status’ of this powerful global city is the result of two centuries of growth, turmoil, and change. Mary Anning and her most important dinosaur finds went unsung, but her legacy now draws travelers to southwest England. These “ecological zombies” will eat almost anything and can live almost anywhere. Up to 30,000 Chinese are killed or wounded; there are just 2,900 Western casualties. How Hong Kong’s complex history explains its current crisis with China.