Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory
October 10, 2023
The Convention between the United Kingdom and China, Respecting an Extension of Hong Kong Territory,[2] commonly known as the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory or the Second Convention of Peking, was a lease signed between Qing China and the United Kingdom in Peking on 9 June 1898, leasing to the United Kingdom for 99 years, at no charge, the New Territories (as the area became known) and northern Kowloon, including 235 islands.[3][4]
Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory
Between 6 March and 8 April 1898, in the wake of China's defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895), the German government forced the Qing Empire into a 99-year lease of the Kiautschou Bay concession for a coaling station around Jiaozhou Bay on the southern coast of the Shandong Peninsula, to support a German global naval presence in direct opposition to the British network of global naval bases. This initiated a series of similar lease treaties with other European powers, such as:
Consequently, on 28 March 1898, Britain, anxious of the Russian presence in China, pressured the Qing Empire into leasing of Weihaiwei, which had been captured by the Empire of Japan in the Battle of Weihaiwei, the last major battle of the First Sino–Japanese War, for as long as the Russians occupying Port Arthur, to make checks and balances of Russia. During the negotiation, the British stated that they would further request for leasing of land if any foreign concession took place in Southern China.
Seeking to bolster its Hong Kong territory, United Kingdom (through Claude Maxwell MacDonald) and Qing Empire reached agreement about allowing the expansion of Hong Kong for 200 miles (320 km). As a result, the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory was signed on 9 June 1898 in Beijing (Peking).[5] The contract was signed to give the British full jurisdiction of the newly acquired land that was necessary to ensure proper military defence of the colony around the island.[6]
Some of the earliest proposals for the land's usage in 1894 included cemetery space, an exercise ground for British troops as well as land for development. From the British perspective concerns over security and territorial defence provided the major impetus for the agreement.[5]
TermsEdit
Under the convention the territories north of what is now Boundary Street and south of the Sham Chun River, and the surrounding islands, later known as the "New Territories" were leased to the United Kingdom for 99 years rent-free,[1] expiring on 30 June 1997, and became part of the crown colony of Hong Kong.[6] The Kowloon Walled City was exempt and remained under the control of Qing China. The territories which were leased to the United Kingdom were originally governed by Xin'an County, Guangdong province. Claude MacDonald, the British representative during the convention, picked a 99-year lease because he thought it was "as good as forever".[7]
ResultEdit
Some of the land under the convention remains rural and it is home to virtually all of Hong Kong's remaining farmland. However, as the city districts have become increasingly crowded the government has developed urban areas since the 1950s. Particularly, the areas closest to Kowloon have become integrated into Kowloon districts and are no longer administratively included in the New Territories. Due to continuing population growth and crowding in the inner city, the New Territories satellite cities grew increasingly important to the point where a slight majority of the population now lives there.
This made it unfeasible to return the leased land alone as it would have split Hong Kong into two parts. The Chinese also started to pressure the British to return all of Hong Kong, taking the position that they would not accept so-called "unequal treaties" that were imposed on them by colonial powers.
In the Treaty of Nanking, in 1842, the Qing government agreed to make Hong Kong a Crown colony, ceding it 'in perpetuity', following British victory in the First Opium War. During the second half of the 19th century, Britain had become concerned over the security of the isolated island, Hong Kong. Consequently, in Convention of Peking, following British victory in the Second Opium War, Kowloon Peninsula was ceded to Britain. The New Territories, with a 99-year lease, were the only territories forming the Crown colony of Hong Kong that were obliged by agreement to be returned. However, by the time of serious negotiations in the 1980s, it was seen as impractical to separate the ceded territories and return only the New Territories to China, due to the scarcity of resources in Hong Kong and Kowloon, and the large developments in the New Territories. Consequently, at midnight following the evening of 30 June 1997, the entire dependent territory of Hong Kong officially reverted to Chinese sovereignty, ending British rule there 156 years after it began.
^ ab. 17 February 2008. Archived from the original on 17 February 2008.
^(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ abMuseum, National Palace (9 August 2011). . National Palace Museum. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
^Lease of the New Territories, Hong Kong Government Yearbook 2002, Chap 21: History
^ abAnand, R.P. (2003) Cultural Factors in International Relations, Abhinav Publications. ISBN81-7017-134-2
^ abcGhai, Yash P. (1999) Hong Kong's New Constitutional Order: The Resumption of Chinese Sovereignty and the Basic Law, HK University Press. ISBN962-209-463-5
^Preston, Diana (2000). The Boxer Rebellion. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN0802713610. p. 370.
External linksEdit
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展拓香港界址專條
October 10, 2023
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The Convention between the United Kingdom and China Respecting an Extension of Hong Kong Territory 2 commonly known as the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory or the Second Convention of Peking was a lease signed between Qing China and the United Kingdom in Peking on 9 June 1898 leasing to the United Kingdom for 99 years at no charge the New Territories as the area became known and northern Kowloon including 235 islands 3 4 Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong TerritoryTraditional Chinese 中英展拓香港界址專條 Simplified Chinese 中英展拓香港界址专条 TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu Pinyin Zhōng Ying Zhǎntuo Xianggǎng Jiezhǐ ZhuantiaoWade Giles Chung1 Ying1 Chan3 t o4 Hsiang1 kang3 Chieh4 chih3 Chuan1 t iao2HakkaRomanization Zung1 Yin1 Zien3tok5 Hiong1gong3 Gai4zi3 Zon1tiau2Yue CantoneseJyutping Zung1 Jing1 Zin2tok3 Hoeng1gong2 Gaai3zi2 Zyun1tiu4Britain acquired Hong Kong Island in 1842 Kowloon Peninsula in 1860 and leased the New Territories rent free 1 in 1898 Contents 1 Background 2 Terms 3 Result 4 End of agreement 5 Copies 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksBackground EditBetween 6 March and 8 April 1898 in the wake of China s defeat in the First Sino Japanese War 1894 1895 the German government forced the Qing Empire into a 99 year lease of the Kiautschou Bay concession for a coaling station around Jiaozhou Bay on the southern coast of the Shandong Peninsula to support a German global naval presence in direct opposition to the British network of global naval bases This initiated a series of similar lease treaties with other European powers such as On 27 March 1898 the Convention for the Lease of the Liaotung Peninsula was signed between the Russian Empire and the Qing Empire granting Russia a 25 year lease of Port Arthur and Dalian to support Russia s Chinese Eastern Railway interests in Manchuria Consequently on 28 March 1898 Britain anxious of the Russian presence in China pressured the Qing Empire into leasing of Weihaiwei which had been captured by the Empire of Japan in the Battle of Weihaiwei the last major battle of the First Sino Japanese War for as long as the Russians occupying Port Arthur to make checks and balances of Russia During the negotiation the British stated that they would further request for leasing of land if any foreign concession took place in Southern China On 10 April 1898 France and Qing Empire signed a 99 year lease of Kwang Chou Wan to reinforce the position of French Indochina Seeking to bolster its Hong Kong territory United Kingdom through Claude Maxwell MacDonald and Qing Empire reached agreement about allowing the expansion of Hong Kong for 200 miles 320 km As a result the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory was signed on 9 June 1898 in Beijing Peking 5 The contract was signed to give the British full jurisdiction of the newly acquired land that was necessary to ensure proper military defence of the colony around the island 6 Some of the earliest proposals for the land s usage in 1894 included cemetery space an exercise ground for British troops as well as land for development From the British perspective concerns over security and territorial defence provided the major impetus for the agreement 5 Terms EditUnder the convention the territories north of what is now Boundary Street and south of the Sham Chun River and the surrounding islands later known as the New Territories were leased to the United Kingdom for 99 years rent free 1 expiring on 30 June 1997 and became part of the crown colony of Hong Kong 6 The Kowloon Walled City was exempt and remained under the control of Qing China The territories which were leased to the United Kingdom were originally governed by Xin an County Guangdong province Claude MacDonald the British representative during the convention picked a 99 year lease because he thought it was as good as forever 7 Result EditSome of the land under the convention remains rural and it is home to virtually all of Hong Kong s remaining farmland However as the city districts have become increasingly crowded the government has developed urban areas since the 1950s Particularly the areas closest to Kowloon have become integrated into Kowloon districts and are no longer administratively included in the New Territories Due to continuing population growth and crowding in the inner city the New Territories satellite cities grew increasingly important to the point where a slight majority of the population now lives there This made it unfeasible to return the leased land alone as it would have split Hong Kong into two parts The Chinese also started to pressure the British to return all of Hong Kong taking the position that they would not accept so called unequal treaties that were imposed on them by colonial powers The governments of the United Kingdom and the People s Republic of China PRC concluded the Sino British Joint Declaration in 1984 under which the sovereignty of the leased territories together with Hong Kong Island and Kowloon south of Boundary Street ceded under the Treaty of Nanking 1842 and Convention of Peking 1860 was scheduled to be transferred to the PRC on 1 July 1997 6 The territory was then transferred as scheduled End of agreement EditIn the Treaty of Nanking in 1842 the Qing government agreed to make Hong Kong a Crown colony ceding it in perpetuity following British victory in the First Opium War During the second half of the 19th century Britain had become concerned over the security of the isolated island Hong Kong Consequently in Convention of Peking following British victory in the Second Opium War Kowloon Peninsula was ceded to Britain The New Territories with a 99 year lease were the only territories forming the Crown colony of Hong Kong that were obliged by agreement to be returned However by the time of serious negotiations in the 1980s it was seen as impractical to separate the ceded territories and return only the New Territories to China due to the scarcity of resources in Hong Kong and Kowloon and the large developments in the New Territories Consequently at midnight following the evening of 30 June 1997 the entire dependent territory of Hong Kong officially reverted to Chinese sovereignty ending British rule there 156 years after it began Copies EditAn original copy of the convention is currently located in the National Palace Museum in Taiwan 3 See also EditIndigenous inhabitants of the New Territories Hong Kong Imperialism in Asia Punti people in Hong Kong also known as Weitou people Hakka indigenous people in Hong Kong Tanka indigenous people in Hong Kong Hoklo indigenous people in Hong Kong Treaty of Nanking Convention of PekingReferences Edit a b Hong Kong Journal 17 February 2008 Archived from the original on 17 February 2008 Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 8 March 2014 Retrieved 9 February 2014 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link a b Museum National Palace 9 August 2011 A Century of Resilient Tradition Exhibition of the Republic of China s Diplomatic Archives Lessons of History National Palace Museum Archived from the original on 1 July 2017 Retrieved 27 September 2016 Lease of the New Territories Hong Kong Government Yearbook 2002 Chap 21 History a b Anand R P 2003 Cultural Factors in International Relations Abhinav Publications ISBN 81 7017 134 2 a b c Ghai Yash P 1999 Hong Kong s New Constitutional Order The Resumption of Chinese Sovereignty and the Basic Law HK University Press ISBN 962 209 463 5 Preston Diana 2000 The Boxer Rebellion Bloomsbury Publishing USA ISBN 0802713610 p 370 External links Edit nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article 展拓香港界址專條 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory amp oldid 1174967748, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
