Hong Kong Foundation Day

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This article is about the start of British rule. For the anniversary of the sovereignty transfer to China, see Hong Kong SAR Establishment Day.
Foundation Day
Early painting of Hong Kong Island.jpg
Early painting of Hong Kong Island
Also calledHong Kong Day, Festival of Hong Kong
Observed byHong Kong
TypeUnofficial
SignificanceBeginning of British rule in 1841 until 1997
ObservancesHistory talks and exhibitions
Date26 January
Next time26 January 2022 (2022-01-26)
FrequencyAnnual
Related toNorfolk Island Foundation Day, Western Australia Day, Founding of modern Singapore
Hong Kong Foundation Day
Chinese香港開埠日

Hong Kong Foundation Day[1] (Chinese: 香港開埠日), also known as Hong Kong Day (香港日) and Festival of Hong Kong (香港節),[2] is the anniversary of the founding of Hong Kong as a free port[3][4] when Britain formally colonised it on 26 January 1841 [note 1] after entering into a tentative agreement, known as the Chuenpi Convention, with the Qing government’s representative.[5] The former Colonial Government did not make it an official holiday, nor does the current SAR Government.[6] Yet, some members of the public do organise various history talks or exhibitions on or near 26 January each year.[2]

Hong Kongers, most being native speakers of Cantonese, call this day 開埠日 or hōi fauh yaht.[6] It literally means “opening of pier day”, reflecting the original intention of the British acquisition of Hong Kong was for opening it up[7] and turning it into a port of trade.[3][4]

Background[]

On 20 January 1841, a tentative agreement seeking to end the First Opium War between Britain and the Great Qing, known as the Convention of Chuenpi, was struck by representatives from the two sides, namely, Plenipotentiary Charles Elliot and Imperial Commissioner Qishan.[8][5] With the instruction given to him for taking possession of some islands for trade the previous year, Elliot demanded and secured the cession of Hong Kong Island as one of the terms of the Convention even though Zhoushan Island had been more preferred by his boss Lord Palmerston.[9]

Belcher drew this map after he surveyed Hong Kong Island.

Four days after the signing of the Convention, Captain Edward Belcher, aboard HMS Sulphur, surveyed Hong Kong Island and landed the next morning on the 25th at 8:15 o'clock, but he did not proceed to take formal possession of it. Yet, he did claim themselves being the bona fide first possessors, and they drank to the Queen's health with three cheers.[10]

A formal ceremony was finally held on 26 January by Commodore Gordon Bremer at Possession Point. He was accompanied by other officers of the squadron. The Royal Marines fired a feu de joie, and the war ships performed a Royal Salute. The Union Jack was hoisted, symbolising the beginning of British rule.[10]

Activities[]

Today, news media often have history quizzes ready for their audiences on Foundation Day,[11][12] and non-governmental organisations arrange history talks and exhibitions for the general public to participate.[2]

180th Anniversary[]

Year 2021 is the 180th anniversary of Foundation Day. A small group of British parliamentarians, led by Andrew Rosindell MP, tabled a non-binding motion in the House of Commons for the anniversary.[13]

Signatories of UK House of Commons Non-Binding Early Day Motion[13] hide
Parliamentarian Political Party Sponsorship
Andrew Rosindell Conservative Sponsor (Primary)
Layla Moran Liberal Democrat Sponsor
Sir Mike Penning Conservative Sponsor
Paul Girvan Democratic Unionist Sponsor
Sir David Amess Conservative Sponsor
Caroline Lucas Green Sponsor
Sammy Wilson Democratic Unionist Non-Sponsor
Craig Whittaker Conservative Non-Sponsor

Notes[]

  1. ^
    Regnal Year
    Year
    Victoria Fourth
    Daoguang Twenty-First
    Corresponding Date of Lunar Calendar on 26 Jan 1841 of Gregorian Calendar
    Heavenly Stem Earthly Branch Zodiac Month Day
    Chinese 辛 丑 牛 正月 初四
    English Xin Chou Ox First Fourth

[14]

References[]

  1. ^ "Hong Kong Foundation Day Anniversary | bc magazine". www.bcmagazine.net. 26 January 2018. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Home | 180th Hong Kong Day proudly presented by the Blue Culture Club". 180th Hong Kong Day. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021. FESTIVAL OF HONG KONG: 180 YEARS AND ONWARDS「香港節」：壹佰捌拾
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "History in Pictures - The Establishment of Free Port". www.grs.gov.hk. Archived from the original on 19 October 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Lau, Chi-pang. "The early development of colonial launches and maintenance facilities of the colonial launches from 1841 to the 1920s". Marine Department. Archived from the original on 25 October 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2021. To fulfill the goal of making the colony of Hong Kong a facilitating centre for China trade, the colonial government quickly proclaimed Hong Kong Island as a free trade port shortly after the establishment of the colony in January 1841.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b 2003 Hong Kong Yearbook, Hong Kong 2003 - History. "A Place From Which to Trade". www.yearbook.gov.hk. Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Archived from the original on 25 October 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2021. Under the Convention of Chuenpi (Chuanbi) signed on January 20, 1841, Hong Kong Island was ceded to Britain.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b 周雪君 (26 January 2016). "「香港」生日快樂 175年前今日開埠英軍佔領". The News Lens 關鍵評論網 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  7. ^ Press Release (27 November 2007). "Exhibition opens on banking history in Shanghai and Hong Kong (with photos)". Hong Kong SAR Government. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2021. Following Hong Kong's opening up in 1841, Shanghai was declared a free port and formally opened to foreign trade in 1843.
  8. ^ Editors, History com. "Hong Kong ceded to the British". HISTORY. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Morse, Hosea Ballou (1917). International relations of the Chinese empire. Harold B. Lee Library. New York: New York, distributed by Paragon Book Gallery. p. 628. The British Government is entitled to demand full reparation of the affront offered to the British Crown by the indignities put upon Her Majesty’s Superintendent, and by the outrageous proceedings adopted towards Her Majesty’s other Subjects in China. The British Government is willing to accept as full satisfaction for these proceedings, and as security against their recurrence, the cession of one or more Islands on the Coast, to be fixed upon by the Naval Commander and the Superintendent, as eligible to be occupied as Stations at which Her Majesty’s subjects trading to China might reside in safety, under the protection of British authority; and from whence they might securely carry on their commercial intercourse with the principal Ports of the Coast of China.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b The Chinese Repository. Elijah Coleman Bridgman, Samuel Wells Williams proprietors. 1843. p. 492. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2021. On the return of the commodore on the 24th, we were directed to proceed to Hongkong, and commence its survey. We landed on Monday the 25th, 1841, at fifteen minutes past eight A.M., and being the bondafide first possessors, Her Majesty’s health was drank with three cheers on Possession Mount. On the 26th, the squadron arrived; the marines were landed, the union hoisted on our post, and formal possession taken of the island, by commodore sir J. J. G. Bremer, accompanied by the other officers of the squadron, under a fue-de-joie from the marines, and a royal salute from the ships of war.
  11. ^ "香港開埠180周年 「開埠以嚟」歷史問答知識＋". hk.news.yahoo.com (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  12. ^ "香港開埠180周年｜真香港人常識問答比賽 香港有全球首條載人吊車、鼠疫期間有艘海上隔離船？ ｜ 蘋果日報". Apple Daily 蘋果日報 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b "180th anniversary of the founding of modern Hong Kong - Early Day Motions - UK Parliament". edm.parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  14. ^ "佛學規範資料庫: 中、韓、日、西曆對換". authority.dila.edu.tw. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
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