HONG KONG

History

• 1685 British East India Company starts to trade with China in silk, Chinese Tea paid for in silver

• Britain supplies China with Opium via the British East India Company as payment for trading in silk and tea etc.

• 1800 China bans Opium• 1839 China confiscates 20,000 chests of opium.

Hosilities mount between China and Britain• 1841 Britain’s fleet attacks Guangzhou

Cont.

• 1842 The opium war ends and Hong Kong is ceded to the British

• 1898 Britain forces China to lease the New Territories which includes 233 outlying islands for 99 years

• 1946 The Chinese Civil War• 1949 The Communists took control of China• 1997 China resumes sovereignty on July 1st

Hong Kong becomes a Special Administrative Region

GEOGRAPHY

• Population 6.7 million• A volcanic foundation with a landscape

dominated by hills and mountains with plains in the New Territories

• 250 islands• 3 main islands Lantau, Hong Kong Island

and Lamma ( all mountainous islands)• Victoria Peak 552 metres high on Hong

Kong Island is a popular tourist view point

Climate

• Hong Kong is situated within the tropical zone.

• There is continental high pressure from the land mass of China and Siberia which cools the climate during the winter time.

• Monsoon time is June to September

Climate

• Find a climate chart and a description and investigate the best time for tourists to visit Hong Kong.

Chinese Values and Culture• Hard working with a strong work ethic.• People are reserved with strong family

values• Money conscious and materialistic• Crime is low as penalties are high• Organised crime run by triads (emblem

symbolises harmony between heaven, earth and man)

• 40,000 drug users (96% heroin addicts)

Traditional Beliefs

• Strong belief in fate and fortune telling, predictions, palm reading and predictions using mathematical calculations using birth dates

• Feng Shui based on the principle of “Qi” spirit or breath Qi is divided into Ying and Yang or female passive and male active elements. Feng Shui masters are used to determine the influence of these forces to attract good luck and prevent bad fortune

• Chinese medicine incorporates acupuncture, massage, chiropractics and Chinese and herbal medicines

Festivals

• Lunar year or Chinese New Year based on the lunar calendar

• Dragon Boat Festival• Bun Festival

Entertainment and Arts

• Lion and Dragon dances• Chinese operas• Chinese art• Silk embroidery• Carvings of jade, ivory, wood, bone

and rock• Porcelain

Food and Drink

• Rice• Noodles• Peking duck• Snake• Fish

Class Activity

• Complete the class activity to research Hong Kong as a tourist destination

Why do people visit Hong Kong

• Discuss