On 20 January 1841, a pivotal event unfolded in the annals of colonial history when China formally ceded Hong Kong Island to the British under the terms of the Convention of Chuenpi, negotiated during the First Opium War.
This moment marked the beginning of British colonial rule over Hong Kong, a development that would profoundly shape the region's future.
The cession came after escalating conflicts over trade imbalances and the opium trade, which had soured relations between China and Britain, leading to war.
The strategic importance of Hong Kong as a deep-water port for British trading interests made it a coveted asset, setting the stage for its transformation into a global financial hub in the years to come.
