Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading a modern history of hong kong. It is a vibrant cultural and financial center of chinese society. This book is about the history of hong kong, from the earliest time that hong kong apepeople were known to exist which is about 4000bc. The political, economic and social conditions of hong kong society are well narrated. They look neat, sure, but they are not our focus here. Based in the uk, we operate in over countries displaying books in 26 different local currencies, including the hong kong dollar. The first thing you will see when you walk into the hong kong museum of history is a few old rocks. Below youll find the key dates in the history of hong kong presented in a timeline. A concise history is not only a brief history of cantonese pop songs, but also of hong kong culture. Hong kong depended on these immigrants for their labor and capital. A medical history of hong kong columbia university press.
Spread out over three floors, this taiwanese book store gained immediate popularity after landing in hong kong, and not least of all for its massive collection of tomes and the tranquil atmosphere it offers. Discover the best hong kong history in best sellers. Hong kongs location on the south china coast has resulted in a history of severe and often catastrophic typhoons. This history of hong kong from its occupation by the british in 1841 to its return to chinese sovereignty in 1997 includes the foundation of modern hong kong. A stinging critique of hong kong and its british elite in. The viceroy of guangdong and guangxi, ordered four customs stations to be established in waterways surrounding hong kong and kowloon at fat tong chau, ma wan, cheung chau and kowloon walled city.
The author puts much emphasis on the statesociety relations. I think there is definitely room for more scholarship and writi. Rather apologetic on the british side, but if youve read plenty of other books condemning the opium wars, this is an impressive. Kong has been dubbed the eighth wonder of the world, a phrase commonly used within the films. Ancient history remnants of burial grounds and early rock carvings show human life in hong kong as far back as the stone age. From a littleknown fishing community at the periphery of china, hong kong developed into one of the worlds most spectacular and cosmopolitan metropoles after a century and a half of british imperial rule. We offer over 20 million books 14 million english books, all at great prices with free delivery on all orders. This history is well balanced, thoroughly researched and very readable.
The region of hong kong has been inhabited since the old stone age, later becoming part of the chinese empire with its loose incorporation into the qin dynasty 221206 bc. In 1842 a barren island was reluctantly ceded by china to an unenthusiastic britain. His fake book 1989, was set in the bohemian world of. Frank welsh has written a magnificent history of hong kong. Food shortages impel many residents to flee to mainland china. The book explores hong kong as a place with a unique identity, yet also as a crossroads where chinese history, british colonial history, and world history. This book gives an account of hong kongs medical and health development from the second world war to the present day, investigates how medical and health services grew and adapted as hong kongs political and the socioeconomic landscapeand the world beyond itchanged, and continued changing. Occupy was a physical redrawing, a literal reoccupation of the dense. It covers the period from the opium wars when the british obtained the rocky island referred to as fragrant harbour hong kong to the handover of one of the worlds preeminent trading and financial centres to the prc. History of hong kongabout this book wikibooks, open. This important new assessment makes use of chinese sources, and presents a very different perspective on the interplay between the chinese and westerners who have shaped the development of hong kong. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Hardcover with dust jacket this history of hong kong is as dynamic as its economic and social achievements.
Full of colour and incident, a childhood memoir that is also a history of hong kong in the 20th century. A sweeping history of hong kong, britains last colony, documents court intrigues. Wherever i went, the air was redolent with the smells of. Stone, bronze, and iron artifacts indicate that hong kong island has been inhabited for at least 6,000 years, and more than 100. It also gives a critical and dispassionate analysis of the different cultural, social, and political factors which prompted the government and the public to consider change and implement reforms with farreaching effects.
Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. It was history in the making, and begged to be written about. Hong kong hong kong, mandarin xianggang, special administrative region of china, formerly a british crown colony 2015 est. Its a good and cheap way to have a brief idea of hong kongs history. During the first opium war, china cedes the island of hong kong to the british with the signing of the chuenpi convention, an agreement seeking an end to the first anglochinese conflict. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Focusing on arts and humanity, eslite is a paradise for book worms hunting for extraordinary sources that cannot be found in mainstream shops. The society of hong kong of previous dynasties 2nd ed.
Welcome to book depository, an international online book retailer. This book is not just a chronological history of the medical and health system of hong kong between 1842 and 1941. But from the outset the new colony prospered, its early growth owing much to the energy and resourcefulness of opium traders, who soon diversified in more respectable directions. What are the best books about hong kong history and. Hong kong, grumbled palmerston, will never be a mart of trade. The timeline starts at the areas earliest recorded mention through to world war two, taking in. Considered the most comprehensive hong kong history book, welsh recounts the countrys origins from a barren land from the british. A novel of hong kong is, on one level, the tale of a middleaged englishman who frequents the blue hotels of kowloon tong, becomes romantically involved with one of his workers and embroiled in dealings with a shady and insistent chinese businessman. Welsh takes a stab at a comprehensive history of hong kong, but stumbles along the way.
Welshs take is revisionist, his opening shot being that the first anglochinese war, also known as the opium war, was not about opium but about trading rights. Hong kong history in hong kong although some people might erroneously believe that hong kongs history began after the british took control of the island in 1842, it actually began millennia before that. The book covers the entire history of hong kong from the colonial period to the post1997 hong kong handover to china. Jones takes readers on a fascinating journey through hong kong over the last 140 years, detailing some of the more impactful typhoons to. It was socalled blockade of hong kong by the hong kong government. Tsang offers a mix of narrative and analysis, and covers social and economic history as well as politics. The territory is thought to have come into the fold of the chinese. If youre looking to get to grips with hong kongs rollercoaster history, tsangs documenting of opium smugglers, pirates and colonial mandarins.
List of books and articles about hong kong history online. History of hong kongbibliography wikibooks, open books. A modern history of hong kong is clearly written and easily read. History in the very long scale of history, hong kong as we know it today has existed for a mere blink of an eye. Growing from a fishing village to a bustling colonial trading port and one of asias most powerful financial centres, hong kong has a colourful history and complex. History of hong kong lonely planet travel information. Starting out as a farming fishing village and salt production site, it became an important free port and eventually a major international financial centre. History on side of hong kong stocks priced near alltime low by. Cindy wang, hang seng index breaching book value has preceded big. The best books on hong kong five books expert recommendations. A concise history of hong kong hong kong university press. A modern history of hong kong my perception is that there arent many good indepth histories of hk in english. In 1859 the kowloon peninsula was sold to britain, and in 1898 a.
The book concludes with a chapter on the eclipse of cantopop by mandapop mandarin popular music, and an analysis of the relevance of cantopop to hong kong people in the age of a dominant china. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Hong kong protests will inspire world even if they fail. A brief history of protest in posthandover hong kong. This video is about the history of hong kong, based on the book. Hong kong was a british possession for decades until it rejoined china in 1997. Welsh obviously enjoyed writing this book, and his energy and enthusiasm are contagious. This history of hong kong from its occupation by the british in 1841 to its return to chinese sovereignty in 1997 includes the foundation of.
But there was a lot going on in the region before that wintry morning in 1841 when a contingent of british marines clambered ashore and planted the union flag on the western part of hong kong island, claiming it for the british crown. In 1842 a barren island was reluctantly ceded by china to an. Set in the days leading up to the 1997 british handover of hong kong to china, renowned american novelist and travel writer paul therouxs kowloon tong. This book puts together historical documents that illustrate the lives and concerns of hong kong people through a century and a half of colonial rule. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. The books best writing is about this period, because it captures the incredible shift that happened in hong kong society. His account of nearly two centuries of british rule is comprehensive, spirited, fair and funny. Since the movement ended, however, chinese language bookstores in hong kong have been. Author jeff wasserstrom, a university of california professor, draws comparisons between 2014 and 2019 hong kong protests, and between police repression now and in china in 1989, but agrees with. This book tells the fascinating story of the development of medical and sanitation services in hong kong during the first century of british rule and how changing political values and directions of the colonial administration and the socioeconomic status of the hong kong affected the policies of development in. The history and principles of chinas most explosive falling leaves. For most of hong kongs colonial history, however, the trouble was almost always in china, which meant that hong kong was often at the receiving end of a massive wave of immigrants from china. Hong kong, special administrative region of china, located to the east of the pearl river estuary on the south coast of china.
The approach seems balanced, and it is obvious when in a few places tsang takes positions which he realises are disputed. A brief history of protest in posthandover hong kong time. History is on side of hong kong stocks priced near all. Hong kong university press is a major academic publisher of primarily englishlanguage books. The rise of chinese immigration turned hong kong into the main manhuaready market, especially with the baby boom generation of children. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. I read this a couple of years ago and thought it was pretty good. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. On another, it is an incisive political fable about the anxieties surrounding the. The character first appeared in the novelization of the 1933 film king kong from rko pictures, with the film premiering a little over two months later. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Rather apologetic on the british side, but if youve read plenty of other books condemning the opium wars, this is an impressive, thorough history that provides a bit of balance but read with a pinch of salt.