"Keeweechic's Hong Island " a Hong Kong Island Travel Page by keeweechic

Prior to the British arriving, Hong Kong Island’s inhabitants was made up of a small fishing population. There is even evidence of farmers and fishermen some 6,000 years ago. The island had little to offer in the way of a potential settlement. It lacked fertile soil and fresh water, it was mountainous and was well known to be a haunt for pirates. British Merchants arrived in 1821 and began using the harbour to anchor vessels carrying opium. They soon realised that this sheltered harbour with its deep waters was an ideal location for trading in the Far East and expanding their opportunities along the China coast. They also sought the location to serve as a naval resupply point. At the time, the trade of opium was highly profitable for British Merchants and eventually with their illegal importing into China, the Opium Wars began and consequently Britain’s acquisition of Hong Kong. When British merchants were imprisoned in Guangzhou and their opium warehouses confiscated, the British foreign secretary dispatched navel forces and war developed. With their strength, the British won easily and were occupying Hong Kong Island in 1841.

Hong Kong Island is 77.5 sq km. Mostly the urban areas are concentrated along the northern shore. The centre and the south coast are dominated by mountains. Victoria Peak being the highest place on Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong Island has five Country Parks aside from those on the mainland. The island shelters the harbour from the South China Sea. Most of the commercial trading houses, bank headquarters and major governments are located in central on land which has largely been reclaimed from the harbour. More than six million people in Hong Kong. About 1.3 million of them live on Hong Kong Island. For the two years I lived in Hong Kong, I also lived on the Island and loved every minute of it. Whenever time permitted, I usually chose to take the star ferry from Kowloon side, especially at night, just to gaze at the splendour of Hong Kong island at night.