The history of Hong Kong states that during Tang and Song Dynasty the region served as a trading post and naval base. The earliest European visitor arrived in 1513 who was a Portuguese mariner Jorge Álvares, whose contact with the United Kingdom lead to foundation of East India Company in Canton.
When Qing Dynasty refused to import opium in 1839 First Opium War was fought between China and Britain. Hong Kong Island was conquered by British but later after Treaty of Nanking Chain gained contrrl over the country. But in the year 1898, England got a 99-year lease of many adjacent northern lands which were later called the New Territories.
The history of Hong Kong shows that the country was an important trading post of the British. In 1941 during World War II, Japan invaded Hong Kong During the Japanese occupation the country suffered from food shortages. Later in 1960 due to Chinese Civil War many migrants came to the country. Many companies of China also shifted to Hong Kong. In fact the country was only contact between mainland China and the Western world.
When the lease of the New Territories was about to expire the governments of the United Kingdom and China signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which transferred the sovereignty of Hong Kong to of China in 1997. The declaration stated that Hong Kong would retain a high degree of autonomy.
Handover ceremony of Hong Kong at midnight on July 1, 1997 was attended by many delegates of United Kingdom and the People's Republic of China. The ceremony was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Tung Chee Hwa became the first Chief Executive of Hong Kong.
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