A Modern History of Hong Kong: 1841-1997

This major history of Hong Kong tells the remarkable story of how a cluster of remote fishing villages grew into an icon of capitalism. The story began in 1842 with the founding of the Crown Colony after the First Anglo-Chinese war - the original 'Opium War'. As premier power in Europe and an expansionist empire, Britain first created in Hong Kong a major naval station and the principal base to open the Celestial Chinese Empire to trade. Working in parallel with the locals, the British built it up to become a focus for investment in the region and an international centre with global shipping, banking and financial interests. Yet by far the most momentous change in the history of this prosperous, capitalist colony was its return in 1997 to 'Mother China', the most powerful Communist state in the world.

Table of Contents:
Preface and Acknowledgements ix; Maps xii; Part I: The Foundations of Modern Hong Kong 1. War and Peace 3; Tea, Opium and Trade 5; Diplomacy and Conflicts 7; The First Anglo-Chinese War 9; The Treaty of Nanking 14; 2. The Foundation of a Crown Colony 16; British Occupation 16; Crown Colony 18; Raison detre 20; Governance 23; The Question of Representation 26; 3. Imperial Expansion 29; The Second Anglo-Chinese War and the Acquisition of Kowloon 29; The New Territories 36 An Appointment with China 39; Part II: The Heyday of Imperial Rule 4. Law and Justice 45; Native Laws and Customs 46; Administration of Justice 47; Rule of Law 52; 5. Economy and Society 56; Forces for Economic Development 56; A 'Colonial Society' 62; Segregation 65; Governance of the Local Chinese 67; 6. Agent for Change in China 73; Inspiration for Chinese Reformers 73 Hong Kongs Role in the Chinese Republican Revolution 76; A Safe Haven for Dissidents and Political Refugees 80; 7. The Great War and Chinese Nationalism 84; The Impact of the Great War 86; Labour Unrest 87; The Rise of Chinese Nationalism 90; The Canton-Hong Kong Strike and Boycott 92; 8. Imperial Grandeur 102; The Politics of Stability 102; Economic and Social Developments 106; The Calm Before the Storm 114; Part III: A Colonial Paradox 9. Japanese Invasion and Occupation 119; The Battle of Hong Kong 119; The Destruction of Imperial Invincibility 124; Occupation and Resistance 126; Wartime Planning in London 130; 10. Return to Empire 133; The Race for Hong Kong 134; Military Administration 138; Status Quo Ante? 141; 11. A Fine Balance 145; Rehabilitation and Constructive Partnership 145; The Question of Hong Kongs Future 149; The Impact of the Korean War 157; Strategy for Survival 158; 12. Economic Take-off 161; From EntrepA t to Industrial Colony 162; The Immigrant Mentality 167; Take-off 170; Economic Maturity and the China Nexus 175; 13. The Rise of the Hong Kongers 180; A Settled People 180; The Test of the Confrontation 183; The Emergence of a Local Identity 190; 14. The Making of a Colonial Paradox 197; The Nature of British Colonial Rule 197; Corruption, Credibility and Benevolent Paternalism 201; The Best Possible Government in the Chinese Political Tradition 206; Part IV: Securing the Future 15. Fateful Decisions 211; Prelude to Negotiations 212; The Sino-British Negotiations (1982A-4) 218; The Joint Declaration 225; 16. The Beginning of the End 228; Realignment of Power 228; Flirtation with Democracy 231; Convergence 233; Chinas Hong Kong Policy 236; The Basic Law 238; 17. The Final Chapter 245; The Impact of the Tiananmen Incident 247; The Last Governor 254; The End of Cooperation 261; Building a New Kitchen 263; Conclusion: Full Circle 268; Handover 269; British Legacies 273; Notes 279; Bibliography 318; Index 334

About the Author :
Steve Tsang is Louis Cha Fellow and University Reader in Politics at St Antony's College, Oxford University. He served as Director of the Asian Studies Centre at Oxford from 1997 to 2003 and is author of "Hong Kong: An Appointment with China", also published by I.B. Tauris.