1898 and all that—a brief history of Hong Kong (original) (raw)
IN 1839 China clamped down on the hugely profitable trade in Indian opium, conducted largely in British ships. But the subsequent opium war of 1839-42 was about more than opium. China had a deep suspicion of all outside “barbarians”; it insisted that trade with the outside world be conducted only through Canton (modern-day Guangzhou) and only on its own, capricious terms. Britain thought it had a right to trade freely, and a God-given right to pummel with cannon any nation that thought otherwise. A clash between the West's traders, led by Britain, and an inward-looking Qing dynasty was inevitable. When it came, China's forces were humbled.
This article appeared in the Briefing section of the print edition under the headline “1898 and all that—a brief history of Hong Kong”
From the June 28th 1997 edition
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