Around the World in 106 Days with

Ray & Claire!!

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China中華人民共和國香港特別行政區

Part 17 – Hong Kong

The first trader to arrive to the area was a Portuguese called Jorge Alvarez who landed in Macau in 1513. In 1685, Kangxi became the first Emperor to open limited trading with foreigners from the Canton Territory. He imposed strict terms for trades which required foreign traders to live in restricted areas, stay only for the trading seasons, banning firearms and trading with silver only.

By 1711, the British East India Company had established offices in Canton and huge quantities’ of Chinese tea was shipped to Europe in exchange for...Opium!.....

...and by 1773, the annual export of opium to China was up to 1000

chests, or 55 tonnes which rose to over 2000

chests by 1799 and sources say that at one point more than a third of the population in the

Hong Kong area were addicted to the use of it!

The Quing Dynasty authorities wanted the opium trade to

stop, as its population became addicts and in 1839, they refused import of opium, starting

the first opium war.

HONG KONG

The British fleet with steam powered boats and superior weapons completely annihilated the Chinese (as they did have to rely on wind to fill their sails) and during this war, the British casualties were only 69 whereas Chinese casualties were somewhere between 18 and 20

thousand.

The war lasted from 1839 to 1842 and ended with the Nanking Treaty and the British established a Crown Colony and founded Victoria City. In 1898 Britain obtained a 99-year lease of Lantau Island and the adjacent northern lands, which became known as the New Territories

On 1 July 1997, the transfer of

sovereignty from United Kingdom to the People's Republic of

China (PRC) occurred,

thus officially ending 156

years of British

colonial rule.

Hong Kong then became China's first

Special Administrative Region (SAR)

A = Black Watch

Our “Home” for the next two days

The famous Star Ferry – and its off to Stanley Market for some “essential”

shopping

The engine room

Raymond’s old Office Block in

1989

Hong Kong is still undergoing major

building constructions

Repulse Bay

No, they didn't forget to complete the building...the space is to let the Dragon through

We used to live in a flat overlooking Repulse Bay, but those flats have now

been torn down and replaced by a more,

modern, futuristic-type building

The Stanley Market contains an array of shops offering silk and other clothes, sportswear and whatever else you can think of.

..and so its now time for some really serious shopping My

Man!!

A Happy Shopper

Stanley Bay

Central Business

Area

Some really happy

shoppers as you can

see!One dress and only a

few oddments isn't very

much Keith

Seems like an awful lot of

shopping to us Blokes though!

Please Claire, no more

shopping!?

NO comment

With our friend Linda

...and Raymond’s dream Harley

No, that's not a cloud Claire, it is

soot from the Ship’s chimney and it is getting on the lounger

you are about to get on...too late!!

The funicular tramway up to Victoria Peak was opened in 1888 and is a great way to see the city from above

The view from Victoria Peak

The “Symphony of Lights” holds the Guinness record as the worlds largest permanent light and sound show

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hong_Kong_Skyline_Panorama_-_Dec_2008.jpg

Night Markets in Kowloon

Aberdeen Fishing Village

Lantau Island

The Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree

stands outside the Tin Hau

Temple

If you have a wish, just write it on a slip of paper and throw it up into the tree. If the slip sticks,

your wish will be granted.

Tai Chi Chuan performers

Nathan Road - yet another shopping paradise!

Tai Po Market

Well all this waiting around for you to finish your shopping made

me hungry

..and now it is time to sail off to our next Port of Call ....BUT.....the weather forecast isn't so good......

What do you mean, “It seems to be roughing up a bit”?

I’ll have you know that it is going to be a Force 10 Gale all the way to Manila – so just “Buckle up and enjoy this part of the ride you Wimp!!”