British colony, Chinese sojourners

The Hong Kong area became a part of the Chinese territories more than 2000 years ago. For 156 years, from the time of the Opium War until 1997, Hong Kong was under British administration.

When Queen Victoria first acquired Hong Kong Island from Emperor Daoguang, there were just a few thousand farmers and fisherfolk. Migrant workers and traders flocked to Hong Kong, and a city of Chinese sojourners quickly emerged.