How was Hong Kong treated under Britain?

British rule in Hong Kong was not a utopia to be glorified and looked back upon. The city was rich, but harsh, in an ironic twist being far more heavy-handed and brutal than its current existence, thus overwhelmingly distant from what young people today, having never lived through it, envision it to be.

What does it mean that Hong Kong was a British colony?

British Hong Kong was a colony and dependent territory of the British Empire from 1841 to 1997, apart from a brief period under Japanese occupation from 1941 to 1945. It was established as a Crown colony in 1843. The colony expanded to include the Kowloon Peninsula in 1860 after the Second Opium War.

Did Britain treat Hong Kong well?

From 1841–1949, the British were not very nice with their colonial rule in Hong Kong. The British bullied the Chinese and regarded them as inferior. Anyone was British living in Hong Kong was treated as first class citizens while the Chinese was second class.

Why did Hong Kong end up being controlled by the British until 1997?

In 1841, China surrendered the island to the British and an agreement called the Treaty of Nanking was signed – it formally ended the First Opium War. This kept Hong Kong under British rule until 1997.

When did Hong Kong get freedom?

In 1984, the British and Chinese governments signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration which stated that the sovereignty of Hong Kong should be transferred to the PRC on 1 July 1997, and Hong Kong should enjoy a “high degree of autonomy” under the “One Country, Two Systems” principle.

Is China cracking down on Hong Kong’s freedoms?

Beijing has been chipping away at Hong Kong’s freedoms since the handover, experts say. Over the years, its attempts to impose more control over the city have sparked mass protests, which have in turn led the Chinese government to crack down further.

Is Hong Kong a democracy or a dictatorship?

The latter have typically been more dominant in Hong Kong politics, but pro-democracy groups have increasingly garnered more support from voters. Traditionally, only a small minority of Hong Kongers have favored outright independence.

What is the Hong Kong-Taiwan initiative?

The concept was intended to help integrate Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau with sovereign China while preserving their unique political and economic systems. After more than a century and a half of colonial rule, the British government returned Hong Kong in 1997.

Does Hong Kong have universal suffrage?

Since the handover, there have been no free votes by universal suffrage for the chief executive, who is the head of the Hong Kong government. Instead, an election committee composed of representatives from Hong Kong’s main professional sectors [PDF] and business elite has selected them.