Hong Kong Foundation Day

Hong Kong Foundation Day[1] (Chinese: 香港開埠日), also known as Hong Kong Day (香港日) and Festival of Hong Kong (香港節),[2] is the anniversary of the founding of Hong Kong as a free port[3][4] when Britain formally colonised it on 26 January 1841 [note 1] after entering into a tentative agreement, known as the Chuenpi Convention, with the Qing government’s representative.[5] The former Colonial Government did not make it an official public holiday, nor does the current SAR Government.[6] Yet, some members of the public do organise various history talks or exhibitions on or near 26 January each year.[2]

This article is about the start of British rule. For the anniversary of the sovereignty transfer to China, see Hong Kong SAR Establishment Day.

Foundation Day
Early painting of Hong Kong Island
Also calledHong Kong Day, Festival of Hong Kong
Observed byHong Kong
TypeUnofficial
SignificanceBeginning of British rule in 1841 until 1997
ObservancesHistory talks and exhibitions
Date26 January
Next time26 January 2023 (2023-01-26)
FrequencyAnnual
Related toNorfolk Island Foundation Day, Western Australia Day, Founding of modern Singapore
Hong Kong Foundation Day
Chinese香港開埠日

Hong Kongers, most being native speakers of Cantonese, call this day 開埠日 or hōi fauh yaht.[6] It literally means “opening of pier day”, reflecting the original intention of the British acquisition of Hong Kong was for opening it up[7] and turning it into a port of trade.[3][4]

Background

In January 1841, after a series of negotiations, a tentative agreement seeking to end the First Opium War between Britain and the Great Qing, known as the Convention of Chuenpi, was struck by representatives from the two sides, namely, Plenipotentiary Charles Elliot and Imperial Commissioner Qishan.[8][5] With the instruction given to him for taking possession of some islands for trade the previous year, Elliot demanded and secured the cession of Hong Kong Island as one of the terms of the Convention even though Zhoushan Island had been more preferred by his boss Lord Palmerston.[9] While in Macau, Elliot announced the details of the Convention by publishing a circular on the 20th.[10]

Belcher drew this map after he surveyed Hong Kong Island.

Four days after the announcement, Captain Edward Belcher, aboard HMS Sulphur, surveyed Hong Kong Island and landed the next morning on the 25th at 8:15 o'clock, but he did not proceed to take formal possession of it. Yet, he did claim themselves being the bona fide first possessors, and they drank to the Queen's health with three cheers.[11]

A formal possession ceremony was finally held on 26 January by Commodore Gordon Bremer at Possession Point. He was accompanied by other officers of the squadron. The Royal Marines fired a feu de joie, and the war ships performed a Royal Salute. The Union Jack was hoisted, symbolising the beginning of British rule.[11]

Activities

Today, news media often have history quizzes ready for their audiences on Foundation Day,[12][13] and non-governmental organisations arrange history talks and exhibitions for the general public to participate.[2]

50th Anniversary (Golden Jubilee)
1891 Jubilee overprint stamp

The Post Office released the very first commemorative stamp in Hong Kong’s history to celebrate the golden jubilee of the foundation of Hong Kong.[14] And because the government did not have enough time to have a specially designed commemorative stamp ready for the occasion, they instead decided to overprint the existing two-cent definitive stamp with the phrase "1841 Hong Kong JUBILEE 1891".[15] The commemorative overprint became an instant hit. With long queues and only a total of 50,000 prints, collectors got desperate and violent. Many got injured in the ensuing chaos as they tried to get hold of these stamps. In the end, three people died, with a Dutch sailor getting stabbed and two Portuguese customers getting crushed to death.[16][17]

In addition to the issuance of the golden jubilee stamp, there was a whole range of other celebrations across Hong Kong.[18] Warships in Victoria Harbour fired a royal salute. A troop review was conducted at Happy Valley. The Anglican and Catholic cathedrals conducted special services. Hong Kong City Hall held a public ball. A concert was performed at the Club Germania. Sport games, including cricket and shooting contests, were arranged. Ship owners strung decorative lights on their boats.

100th Anniversary (Centenary)
Centenary stamps
Statue of King George VI

1941 saw the centenary of Hong Kong’s founding, but celebrations were not as extensive and vibrant as for the Golden Jubilee in 1891 when Europe had already been engulfed in WWII and the prospect of Japan invading Hong Kong was looming on the horizon.[18]

To mark the occasion, the Post Office issued a set of six commemorative stamps.[19][20] This set of stamps features various local sights and scenes to showcase the developments of Hong Kong as a British colony over the previous 100 years. The stamps were originally intended to be released in October 1940 but ultimately got published on 26 February 1941, exactly one month after the anniversary, because of delays.[19][20]

The renowned British sculptor Gilbert Ledward created a bronze statue of King George VI to commemorate the centenary of Hong Kong’s foundation.[21] The statue is located in the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens.

The Legislative Council also unanimously passed a resolution, titled Loyalty to the Throne, to celebrate the centenary of the foundation of Hong Kong.[22] In particular, Sir Man-kam Lo, a Eurasian lawyer, offered support for the resolution on behalf of all other ethnically Chinese members of the Council.[22]

180th Anniversary

Year 2021 is the 180th anniversary of Foundation Day. A group of British parliamentarians from the House of Commons, led by Andrew Rosindell MP, tabled the non-binding Early Day Motion 1382 for the occasion in which, among other things, they welcomed those Hong Kongers who were moving to the UK from Hong Kong “to escape the iron heel of Chinese Communist tyranny”.[23]

Signatories of Early Day Motion 1382[23]
Parliamentarian Political Party Sponsorship Date Signed
Andrew Rosindell Conservative Sponsor (Primary) 20 January 2021
Layla Moran Liberal Democrat Sponsor 21 January 2021
Sir Mike Penning Conservative Sponsor 21 January 2021
Paul Girvan Democratic Unionist Sponsor 21 January 2021
Sir David Amess Conservative Sponsor 21 January 2021
Caroline Lucas Green Sponsor 25 January 2021
Sammy Wilson Democratic Unionist Non-Sponsor 26 January 2021
Craig Whittaker Conservative Non-Sponsor 12 February 2021

There was another group of British parliamentarians and activists who partnered with Stand with Hong Kong to create commemorative YouTube videos for the occasion in which they commemorated the 180th anniversary and took the opportunity to express their solidarity with Hong Kongers regarding the democratic and human rights issues they had to endure.[24][25]

Participants of Commemorative Videos [24][25]
Individual Organisation/Political Party
Lord Patten of Barnes Conservative
Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP Conservative
Sir Roger Gale MP Conservative
Virendra Sharma MP Labour
Sir David Amess MP Conservative
Baroness Cox Crossbench
Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle Green
Afzal Khan MP Labour
Nickie Aiken MP Conservative
Christine Jardine MP Liberal Democrat
Ian Paisley MP Democratic Unionist
Benedict Rogers Hong Kong Watch
The Whitehouse Consultancy The Whitehouse Consultancy

Notes
  1. Regnal Year
    Year
    Victoria Fourth
    Daoguang Twenty-First
    Corresponding Date of Lunar Calendar on 26 Jan 1841 of Gregorian Calendar
    Heavenly Stem Earthly Branch Zodiac Month Day
    Chinese 辛丑牛正月初四
    English XinChouOxFirstFourth

[26]

References
  1. "Hong Kong Foundation Day Anniversary | bc magazine". www.bcmagazine.net. 26 January 2018. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  2. "Home | 180th Hong Kong Day proudly presented by the Blue Culture Club". 180th Hong Kong Day. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021. FESTIVAL OF HONG KONG: 180 YEARS AND ONWARDS「香港節」：壹佰捌拾
  3. "History in Pictures - The Establishment of Free Port". www.grs.gov.hk. Archived from the original on 19 October 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  4. Lau, Chi-pang. "The early development of colonial launches and maintenance facilities of the colonial launches from 1841 to the 1920s". Marine Department. Archived from the original on 25 October 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2021. To fulfill the goal of making the colony of Hong Kong a facilitating centre for China trade, the colonial government quickly proclaimed Hong Kong Island as a free trade port shortly after the establishment of the colony in January 1841.
  5. 2003 Hong Kong Yearbook, Hong Kong 2003 - History. "A Place From Which to Trade". www.yearbook.gov.hk. Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Archived from the original on 25 October 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2021. Under the Convention of Chuenpi (Chuanbi) signed on January 20, 1841, Hong Kong Island was ceded to Britain.
  6. 周雪君 (26 January 2016). "「香港」生日快樂 175年前今日開埠英軍佔領". The News Lens 關鍵評論網 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  7. Press Release (27 November 2007). "Exhibition opens on banking history in Shanghai and Hong Kong (with photos)". Hong Kong SAR Government. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2021. Following Hong Kong's opening up in 1841, Shanghai was declared a free port and formally opened to foreign trade in 1843.
  8. "Hong Kong ceded to the British". HISTORY. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  9. Morse, Hosea Ballou (1917). International relations of the Chinese empire. Harold B. Lee Library. New York: New York, distributed by Paragon Book Gallery. p. 628. The British Government is entitled to demand full reparation of the affront offered to the British Crown by the indignities put upon Her Majesty’s Superintendent, and by the outrageous proceedings adopted towards Her Majesty’s other Subjects in China. The British Government is willing to accept as full satisfaction for these proceedings, and as security against their recurrence, the cession of one or more Islands on the Coast, to be fixed upon by the Naval Commander and the Superintendent, as eligible to be occupied as Stations at which Her Majesty’s subjects trading to China might reside in safety, under the protection of British authority; and from whence they might securely carry on their commercial intercourse with the principal Ports of the Coast of China.
  10. The Chinese Repository. Vol. 10. proprietors. 1841. p. 63.
  11. The Chinese Repository. Vol. 12. Elijah Coleman Bridgman, Samuel Wells Williams proprietors. 1843. p. 492. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2021. On the return of the commodore on the 24th, we were directed to proceed to Hongkong, and commence its survey. We landed on Monday the 25th, 1841, at fifteen minutes past eight A.M., and being the bondafide first possessors, Her Majesty’s health was drank with three cheers on Possession Mount. On the 26th, the squadron arrived; the marines were landed, the union hoisted on our post, and formal possession taken of the island, by commodore sir J. J. G. Bremer, accompanied by the other officers of the squadron, under a fue-de-joie from the marines, and a royal salute from the ships of war.
  12. "香港開埠180周年 「開埠以嚟」歷史問答知識＋". hk.news.yahoo.com (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  13. "香港開埠180周年｜真香港人常識問答比賽 香港有全球首條載人吊車、鼠疫期間有艘海上隔離船？ ｜ 蘋果日報". Apple Daily 蘋果日報 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  14. "History". Hongkong Post.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. "Commemorative Stamps from Pre-war Hong Kong". Hong Kong Memory.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. "郵票中的百年香港史". Hong Kong Commercial Daily (香港商報) (in Chinese). 12 June 2016.
  17. Gilbert, Adam Richard (July 2018). "Post-Imperialism: The Postage Stamps and Postal History of Hong Kong, 1842-1997" (PDF). p. 52.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. Carroll, John (2005). "Chapter 7 - Transforming the Barren Island: The 1941 Centenary". Edge of Empires: Chinese Elites and British Colonials in Hong Kong. USA: Harvard University Press. p. 159. ISBN 9780674017016. In 1941, Hong Kong observed its centenary as a British colony. But this was hardly a year for celebrating. The Japanese occupied the key cities of China; Britain and Germany were engaged in a bitter conflict; and war between Britain and Japan loomed on the horizon…Compared with the 1891 jubilee commemorating Hong Kong’s fifty years as a British colony, the 1941 celebration was subdued and almost nonexistent. The 1891 celebration had all the signs of a proper jubilee: ships decorated with lights, church services at the Anglican and Catholic cathedrals, a royal salute fired from ships in the harbor, a review of military forces at Happy Valley, an athletics contest, a public ball at City Hall, a cricket match and shooting contest, topped off with a concert at the Club Germania.
  19. 郵票中的香港史 (PDF) (in Chinese). Hong Kong: 中華書局. 2013. pp. 6–8. ISBN 9789888236954.
  20. "1941 Centenary Stamps". Gwulo: Old Hong Kong. The centenary stamps were designed locally and intended for release in October 1940. But due to delays, the stamps were finally issued in February 1941.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. "Bronze Statue of King George VI". Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens. Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Archived from the original on 15 October 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  22. "Loyalty to the Throne" (PDF). Hansard 16th January, 1941. Hong Kong Legislative Council: 2. 16 January 1941.
  23. "180th anniversary of the founding of modern Hong Kong - Early Day Motions - UK Parliament". edm.parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  24. "Hong Kong 180th Anniversary - Part 1: Messages from British parliamentarians". YouTube. Stand with Hong Kong. 26 January 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. "Hong Kong 180th Anniversary - Part 2: Messages from British parliamentarians and activists". YouTube. Stand with Hong Kong. 26 January 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. "佛學規範資料庫: 中、韓、日、西曆對換". authority.dila.edu.tw. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
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