The History of Hong Kong in 5 Minutes - Simplified

[00:00:00]Hong Kong, one of the world's richest cities, home to over 7 million people, some of the world's most expensive real estate, and a lot of skyscrapers.

[00:00:10]But around 200 years ago, it looked like this. Just a few fishing villages. He up that set.

[00:00:16]So, how did this tiny patch of land become one of the most important cities on Earth? Well, it all started because Britain really, really wanted a cup of tea.

[00:00:27]Good day, China. We'd like some tea.

[00:00:30]Uh sure, just pay me in silver. Can we exchange you in literally anything we make?

[00:00:35]Uh no.

[00:00:36]Industrial machinery? No.

[00:00:39]Fancy clock? No. So, basically, China was the Amazon of the 1800s. Everyone wanted Chinese goods. China wanted almost nothing from everyone else.

[00:00:50]Britain's silver reserves were drying up fast. So, Britain came up with an idea.

[00:00:55]A terrible, horrible, incredibly profitable idea. What if instead of selling useful things, we sell drugs?

[00:01:06]I'm listening. Britain began shipping opium from India into China. Millions became addicted. The Qing government watched the situation get progressively worse until one official finally snapped. Enter Lin Zexu. Right, I've had enough. Burn it all.

[00:01:23]Wait, that's that's worth millions. Not anymore, it's not. Britain's response was perfectly reasonable.

[00:01:30]They declared war. Because apparently, "Please stop selling us addictive drugs" was considered deeply offensive.

[00:01:38]Yeah, we stand no chance.

[00:01:40]Spoiler alert, they were correct.

[00:01:42]Britain won the first Opium War with embarrassing ease. China was forced to sign the Treaty of Nanking. One of the conditions, hand over Hong Kong Island.

[00:01:51]Forever.

[00:01:52]Britain transformed Hong Kong into a free port. Taxes, low. Trade restrictions, almost none.

[00:01:59]Ships from around the world flooded into its magnificent natural harbor. Banks opened, businesses arrived, the population exploded. Then Britain looked north.

[00:02:10]You know, Hong Kong could be bigger.

[00:02:12]Over the following decades, Britain acquired Kowloon and then leased the New Territories for 99 years.

[00:02:19]99 years? That's practically forever.

[00:02:22]Uh no, it was not.

[00:02:25]Then World War II happened.

[00:02:27]We'll be taking Hong Kong now.

[00:02:29]Actually, I'd rather you didn't.

[00:02:32]>> [music] >> Uh on second thought, you can have it.

[00:02:35]The Japanese occupation lasted over 3 years and was an incredibly difficult period for the city's residents. But after Japan surrendered in 1945, Britain returned. And then history handed Hong Kong an opportunity no one saw coming.

[00:02:47]China's Civil War ended in 1949.

[00:02:50]The communists win.

[00:02:54]Uh yeah, we got to leave.

[00:02:56]Hundreds of thousands crushed into Hong Kong. Among them were entrepreneurs, factory owners, engineers, skilled workers. Basically, the exact people you'd want if you were trying to build an economy from scratch. Factories appeared everywhere. Clothing, plastic toys, electronics, watches. If your grandparents owned it, there's a decent chance Hong Kong made it.

[00:03:16]Eventually, manufacturing moved across the border into mainland China.

[00:03:20]Hong Kong adapted, again.

[00:03:22]Instead of building products, it became the place where the money moved. Banks, stock exchanges, finance, international business. By the 1990s, Hong Kong had become one of the richest cities in Asia, which was awkward because Britain's 99-year lease had almost run out.

[00:03:37]So, about that lease, could we maybe keep the city?

[00:03:42]No.

[00:03:44]Fair enough.

[00:03:45]On July 1st, 1997, Britain officially handed Hong Kong back to China.

[00:03:51]Well, this has been lovely. China introduced a policy called one country, two systems.

[00:03:56]The idea was simple. Hong Kong would become part of China while keeping its capitalist economy and separate legal system for 50 years. Today, Hong Kong remains one of the world's great financial hubs. Its skyline is instantly recognizable, its harbor is among the busiest on Earth, and its history proves that sometimes all it takes to change the course of history is tea.

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