The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory

Great Britain acquired Hong Kong Island in 1842, Kowloon Peninsula in 1860, and leased the New Territories in 1898

The Convention Between Great Britain and China Respecting an Extension of Hong Kong Territory or the Second Convention of Peking was a lease signed between Qing Dynasty China and the United Kingdom in 1898.

[edit] Background

The convention was signed on 9 June 1898 in Peking.^[1] The contract was signed to give the British full jurisdiction of the newly acquired land that was necessary to ensure proper military defence of the colony around the island.^[2] Some of the earliest proposal for the land usage in 1894 included cemetery space, exercise ground for British troops and land for development. Security and land defense remained the top priority for the contract.^[1]

[edit] Terms

Under the convention the territories north of Boundary Street and south of the Sham Chun River, and the surrounding islands, later known as the "New Territories" were leased to the United Kingdom for 99 years, expiring on 30 June 1997, and became part of the crown colony of Hong Kong.^[2]

Much of the land under the convention comprises the New Territories and remains rural. New towns were developed after the 1950s to encourage Hong Kong citizens to relieve the overcrowded regions of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

The governments of the United Kingdom and the People's Republic of China (PRC) concluded the Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984, under which the sovereignty of the leased territories, together with Hong Kong Island and Kowloon (south of Boundary Street) ceded under the Treaty of Nanking (1842) and Convention of Peking (1860), was scheduled to be transferred to the PRC on 1 July 1997.^[2]

[edit] Aftermath

The Union Flag was raised on 16 April 1899, for the first time in the area.^[1] Hong Kong's size was expanded significantly with the acquisition of New Territories.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Convention of Peking