In this website, we will discuss the Hong Kong Maritime Trade during the period of 1841 to 1895, with special attention given to Sino-British trade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During the period of 1759 to 1842, Guangzhou was the only legal port in China opened to foreign trade. (Nield, 2010) After the first Anglo-Chinese War (1839-1842), the Treaty of Nanjing was signed between China and Britain.  Under the treaty, 5 treaty ports, namely, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Ningbo, Fuzhou, and Shanghai, were opened to foreign trade.  As Hong Kong Island was then become a British colony, it became a foothold for British China trade.  Since then, Hong Kong was developed into a crucial entrepot in Southern China.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As aforementioned, Hong Kong played a major role of an entrepot between China and other foreign countries, especially Britain.  From 1842 onwards, trade volumes in both imports and exports at Guangzhou increased rapidly, in particular, in tea and silk exported from China, and opium to China.(Chiu, 1973) As Hong Kong was then a Crown Colony, foreign traders began to set up offices, branches, or even their headquarters on the Island.  According to Historical and Statistical Abstract of the Colony of Hong Kong, by 1880s, Hong Kong was handling 21 percent of China’s exports and 37 percent of its imports.  Before 1895, Hong Kong handled 37 percent of China’s exports and 55 percent of its imports.  Evidently, Hong Kong played an important role in China trade.

 

During the first ten years after the founding of Hong Kong as a British Colony, maritime trade developed rapidly.  For example, the Hong Kong and Canton Steam Packet Company was established by the British in 1849, and steam ships were used to facilitate China trade. (Banister, 1931)  During this period, infrastructures were constructed by the colonial government, and foreign settlements began to develop in Victoria and along the waterfront along the Victoria Harbour. (Chiu, 1973)

 

In this website, we will examine how Hong Kong became a foothold in China trade, especially its role as an entrepot in it.  In addition to studying the trade regulations at the Colony, trading activities of major foreign companies will be studied, for instance, the types of their vessels, their trade routes, and cargos.