How 156 years of British rule shaped Hong Kong
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- čas přidán 17. 07. 2018
- Hong Kong has British DNA.
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Even though Britain gave Hong Kong back to China 21 years ago, today when you walk around the city you can see British fingerprints everywhere. From statues of Queen Victoria to double decker buses, British culture and lifestyle is baked into the culture at every turn.
Both the history and the current-day British influence are visually fascinating stories and in this episode I show it all -- exploring Britain’s imperial history, which includes opioid trade, discrimination and a divided city, and then showing the effects of that history, resulting in a city that is unlike any I’ve visited.
Vox Borders is an international documentary series by Emmy-nominated producer Johnny Harris exploring life at the edge of nations. For more, visit vox.com/borders.
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Imagine being so addicted to tea that you'd sell opium for it.
I think it's not about getting tea from it's about showing of their power
Michael H classic brits
Well, caffeine is a highly addictive drug. People forget that because it's legal
@@ufoash440 tea has no caffeine
@@saadwaheed465 It does. Caffeine occurs naturally in the tea plant. Any tea brew that hasn't been decaffeinated contains caffeine.
Going to war for tea is about the most British thing you could do.
Bongorraunoch Totelonotel they should and find them selfs in massive debt (not Ireland)
@Bongorraunoch Totelonotel Scotland voted no to independence, Ireland is independent, and the isle of man is also independent. Where are you from?
@Bongorraunoch Totelonotel most scottish people i know what to stay part off great britain and to be honest i bet hong kong would rather be under british rule than chinese rule
Bongorraunoch Totelonotel I can tell you live in a largely metropolitan area.
@@Mjk10957 You must have missed the protests during their rule.
Pablo Escobar: "I had the most extensive drug empire "
Colonial Britain: "Hold my kettle"
*hold my TEA
The opium came from India
@@manjulanilsson6011 Yes, but when the Opium War happened, India was under Company rule. So yes even though opium came from India, the Company and eventually Britain got the profits.
@@kamanashiskar9203 yes I know 😊 👍🏾
@@manjulanilsson6011 India was a British colony back then.
Some country: *throws British products into the sea*
Britain: And I took that personally.
I'll delete this comment but 'sea' takes an 'a'
Aight, I'll begone
The see....really? 😭
Sea*
@@poweredbysalt5786 I changed it -_- sorry if you were hurt, you must have a lot of free time.
@@bruhz_089 I changed it -_- sorry if you were hurt, you must have a lot of free time.
The British guy who agreed and said 99 years is forever must be high from opium flavored tea.
Haha you are a screamer lol
Anggong FX He should’ve asked fo 4ever
Doesn't matter, the Hong Kong island (the core part) was given to the british permanently, china got it back anyway
Kadal Ijo we actually still had control of a part of it but still gave it back I don’t know why Hong Kong was one of our jewels
@@Normalguy1690 brits imperialists,hands off of china
The Opium War was the first War on Drug in human history, and the British government was the biggest drug smuggler in human history.
actually that would be the americans
IKNFLY666
The British simply took over what the Indians and the Chinese were already doing. The British didn’t ban opium in Britain until the 1920s .
and chinese was the biggest consumer of it
what is supply and demand
Except that's false. The British simply gave the Opium to Chinese smugglers. There was no guns pointed anywhere, that's completely non-sensical and eradicates the point of ''Smuggling''.
Hippopotamoose no guns? Haha why do u think it’s called “opium war”? I should make correction it was not guns, but gunboats! British Empire was built by gun boat diplomacy, colonisation, slavery and genocide, and their opium smuggling is just a small part of their shameful history and crime against humanity, the list can go on forever.
The 99 year lease was for the New Territories. Hong Kong Island and Kowloon were given in perpituity. But the island could not survive without the New Territories, so it was all handed back. I have been there quite a few times and lived and worked there briefly in the 1980s. Its was great, as a Brit you could turn up, look for work and stay as long as you wanted, no visas, no work permits etc. One of the many things I found amazing was all phone calls withing Hong Kong were free. This was pre mobile phone days. You could walk into a bar and just pick up the phone on the bar top and make a call.
Always wanted to visit Hong Kong, even as a child. After seeing how it was depicted in one of my favorite childhood movies, Double Impact starring
Jean-Claude Van Damme, ironically taking place in the early 1990’s, HK just seemed like such an interesting and unique place to visit. I shop in a local Asian food store several times a month now, and each shopping trip envelops me in Asian Culture, almost as if I’m actually experiencing HK like in the movies. You were so lucky to have visited that amazing place 👍🏽
In Canada, where I grew up, all calls within about a 50 mile radius were free. So being in Toronto, I could call a few million people for free. I was astounded when I moved to the UK in 1993 that I had to pay for local calls!
@Keyboard Emperor But Chinese can not enter without a kind of document like passport.. To strange.
@Keyboard Emperor It’s reciprocal, people from hong kong can also come to Britain
@@user-bo4on8jz1n It’s to prevent mainland Chinese from staying in Hong Kong illegally. Hong Kong has limited land and can’t take anymore people.
Americans: 'Hey Britain, that's not fair you said 99 years give it back'
Also Americans: 'Sorry native Americans no givsies backsies'
Which the natives stole from other natives
@@gumballgtr1478 someone’s a patriot eh?
@@gumballgtr1478 even if natives took from other natives there still natives nonetheless 🤦♂️
@@gumballgtr1478 Your neighbor stole your TV. I stole it from your neighbor, then I got caught. But I still get to keep the TV because I didn't steal it from you...
YOU’RE TRYING TO KIDNAP WHAT I’VE RIGHTFULLY STOLEN
Only Britain would go to war over a cup of tea xD
I'm pretty sure India would too to be honest.
Scones however...
If something happened to my scones there would be a nuclear winter. And god-forbid if someone mispronounces the word 'scone' then they should expect me to throw my glove at their feet and we shall meet at dawn.
bakersmileyface
Make sure to wear thy fighting for scone clothing, made by India’s cloth!
Meh.
Tea duties made up 10% of the UK's budget. And yes, the UK financed the empire, not the other way round.
Haha good one😄
Honestly, Borders is the absolute best of Vox
Agreed.
For me it's Almanac, but I love Borders too
Almanac and Atlas is good to me too.
I prefer Atlas but borders is good too
Earworm >>
Just a nitpick: The 99 year lease only applied to the New Territories, Hong Kong Island and Kowloon were ceded in perpetuity. They technically could have just returned the New Territories (which they briefly attempted to get an extension on the lease for) and kept the Island and Kowloon while being within the terms of the treaties, but China wanted everything returned and Britain wasn't particularly interested in maintaining a much smaller "rump" colony.
Lets not be mistaken, international treaties are nothing but "gentlemen agreements", the moment you start to do lawfare tricks you better have the superior military might to back it up, its not the 1800s and the British def don't match well against the PLA now, hence they gave up HK without a fight, not because they "want to", because they "have to".
I can’t believe how well directed this video is!! This is just awesome!!!
This is exactly what i was thinking. The story telling and the graphics is absolutely gem.
Why does so much of Britain's colonisation revolve around tea... from India to Hong Kong to the Tea Party in America...
I guess they were really hyped on tea lol
We like tea.
Tea duties made up 10% of the UK's budget. And yes, the UK financed the empire, not the other way round.
Tea is a serious addiction
@@gottjager760 India financed the Empire
I really like their accents. It's an interesting mix between British and "Asian" English.
Yep English Hong Kong is more likely the American English
they sound like south east asian immigrants to south east australia
Isaac Yuen they speak English. (British English).
Gray Kin actually HKers sound more like British. They teach British English there.
More accurately speaking, it's a mix between British and Cantonese.
you guys should do "How 333 years of Spanish rule shaped the Philippines"
Ceuta and melilla
Well for one an unhealthy obsession with beauty pageants.
Pretty much only the Spanish names remained in the Philippines as well as some old people and many academics still being able to speak Spanish.
However, the American influence is much stronger in the Philippines than the Spanish, except of the very strong influence of the Roman Catholic Church.
Or how the Dutch shaped Indonesia in roughly the same amount of years.
@@nm2000
This! I got second hand embarrasment seeing when some ignorant western people said that the Phillipines and Filipino is Latin and Latino. Phillipines is Asian with Spanish influence of colonization. It's 300 years of colonization!
In the 1970's l saw more Royal Royce's in Hong Kong than anywhere else in the world.
Wow, how old are you now? 99 years?
@@leealex24 70s of age. See plenty 70s war veterans in youtube comments like Vietnam or Bangla Desh.
Lol, you know you're a true Brit when you're ready to exhaust your silver reserves for tea.
Haha
You know you a real American when you prop up dictatorships for cheaper bananas.
@@MrPear40 and oil
"How 300 years of Spanish rule shaped the Philippines"
A video idea^^
@Alias Sobriquet none expects the spanish inquistion.
@aeon *Ah you are a bold one*
The thing is, Philippines was simply Philippines the natives, until the Spaniards came in. And now, there’s barely any pre-colonial culture left, unlike Hongkong. Hongkong is China, and had Chinese influence until the Britons came. Hongkong managed to blend these two cultures together, while Philippines still tries to ignore all the pre colonial indigenuities. Local museum anthropologies would know. Very bad analogy there, bud.
Poverty and religion
300+ years of Spanish rule and 40+ years of American rule...
who’s just rewatching Borders after it’s cancelled
meeeee 🙋🏻♀️
Cancelled?
@@badabingbadaboom9251 I'm not sure, but I think this year's Borders season might had been cancelled due to various travel restrictions around the world.
This video is so well-made. Background score is top notch.
Honestly the British Empire is pretty much the only empire that had shaped many countries over trivial things like TeA lol
And spices, spices the most valuable Indian resource.
@@firedskull5015 Ehm, don't forget the Dutch too
@@williemherbert1456 Dutch are irrelevant kid people only care about UK and USA
@@user-jo1bs9hl5x well, i live in the country which was once most valuable colonies of Dutch, colonizing our country through diplomacy, bribery, or war by VOC, only because want to monopolizing the spice market, especially nutmeg for hundred of years, even after VOC dissolve they still choose our country to be recolonized after Napoleonic War rather having South Africa that at least had permanent settlement of Dutch people, even after declaring independence after WW2, they still want us to be part of their colony, this all start because their frenzy with spices in our country, especially nutmeg. Because of us and our country being colonized, it help established the achievement of founding most profitable private trade corporation that function as state for Dutch, VOC
@@williemherbert1456 shut up kid your country is irrelevant
"99 years as good as forever" The Brits didn't think China would become a superpower again in 99 years.
Had there not been two world war, maybe Hong Kong would still be British.
w23857980 China wasn’t exactly a superpower in the 80s when the term to return HK was negotiated.
They thought China would just be so poor and so weak that they would never have any chance to negotiate with Britain to get Hong Kong back. Never say never!!
it doesn't matter how long they agreed on. As long as china gets its power, it would invade nearby countries, e.g. Tibet, Mongolia, Manchuria, East Turkestan. So Hong Kong would eventually be conquered anyway.
@@dogma308 So damn bias, like The US got all its land from GOD. No, even US kill locals and take their lands, every country did the same thing in their history, but history is history, Tibet belongs to China thousands of years ago, so please stop being so bias.
So sad, I feel sorry for the people of Hong Kong I can't even imagine the feeling of every day life changing just like that, I hope they hold on to their culture.
I feel the same....
So there is no culture before British invasion huh?
@@qixichen4350 Never said that, just because I'm British doesn't mean I agree with what's happened in the past. Get off your high horse.
💯
@@ejc8858 We are Chinese, go to your mother UK
I believe Hong Kong was actually ceded to Britain practically forever. The ninety nine years refers to the lands immediately surrounding Hong Kong that was ceded to Britain in years after the first Opium War. However it was clear to the British that Hong Kong would inevitably return to Chinese rule, and Hong Kong was given back to China along with the other lands in the deal.
2047
Hong Kong: Mr Britain, I don’t feel so good.
OneManShow 2052
Britain declares on America
China: I am inevitable
Britain: I am Britannia
*2020
Already happening in 2019
Don’t feel so good in 2019
fs in the chat
4:21
Knock, Knock, it's the United Kingdom.
With huge guns.
And boats.
Gunboats.
SciBlast Official r/billwurtzmemes
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 (History Of Japan)
gunboats.
they said "open up the country"
"stop... having it be closed"
and so it was
Diplomacy issues? Send a gunboat!
@@yerischerries3010 more like "accept our opium"
"stop taking our silvers"
1:10 those old Hong Kong ferries look very much like ferries we have in Istanbul. The reason is that we bought ferries from the UK around the same time when we established our ferry company(Sirket-i Hayriye). Interesting to see similar ferries in a place so far and so unrelated!
Trams too, though our trams are single-decker
I'm from Vietnam and I'm looking forward to visit Hong Kong one day!
Glad you uploaded. I was bored in the bathroom
Software Man lol same still here
Hahah totally the same
Same, like, right now 😂
Software Man Please elaborate
I'm literally on the toilet right now aha
A good way to date vintage clothes is to see if the tag says 'made in the british colony of hong kong'. That instantly means its pre 1997!
That's actually what I do in thrift shops hahaha
yeah, hong kong was huge on manufacturing back in the 50s, 60s and 70s
UK: Opium for tea
China: Not Opium, pay in silver
UK: so you have chosen war
It’s a shame that the two countries couldn’t give Hong Kong an option to become independent, or to function under some sort of joint administrative support from both the UK and China. I feel like the people there really got the raw end of the deal.
I mean think about it this way, China considers HK a lost territory, why would they give it independence and lose the territory forever instead of re-integrating it?
They get the best of both world
but it's always easier to play the victim
@@jonsong4592 Also because they know that they’re basically their enemy, those people there have a expiration date on freedom and I bet if China could, they would arrest the seven million living there.
The UK would have wanted to, but they said they would give it back, and if they didn't China was just going to march into Hong Kong
@@goopguy548 They controlled most of the infrastructure in Hong Kong, so rather then matching in they would have just cut off water and electricity to the city until it capitulated.
It's one of the reasons why any attempt to keep it out of Chinese hands was doomed from the start.
When the World Cup doesn’t come home so you make half the world home
too soon, man too soon
lol
Bruh 😂
A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet..
I'm still getting over it!
*and that’s the tea*
,sis
Please stop
no s t o p
opium, you destroy everyone
Brilliant
Hong Kong is a spectacular place, easily one of the coolest place you can visit! I’m Taiwanese and I still remember my visit to Hong Kong as a child.
Taiwan is not a country, it's china
@@vitadude5004 yeah, just keep thinking that. It's not like we have our own president, currency, legislations, and diplomatic ties.
@@tracese54321 still u cannot ignore the fact that taiwan in under PRC..
And America signed one china policy 2 times..
@@tracese54321 But the ROC and Chiang Kai Shek says that Taiwan is a part of China. Taiwan’s status is still a gray area. Even the USA does not recognize Taiwan or have an embassy in Taipei.
singapore was a formal british colony too, i think we took it a step further by making english our first language. my family & i went to hong kong for a day trip from guangzhou, we were surprised at how long the customs were. you can see how different hong kong is from mainland china...
Here after Hong kong wants to be with Britian over China.
We'd welcome you back at any time
I'd would argue that HK wants it's way of life, culture and uniqueness retained as oppose to being a regular Chinese city. If you go there, and compare with Shanghai or Beijing, Hong Kong is very much different due to British influence.
they may be influenced by britain, but they are china. you know, they were ruled as simply "colony subjects", and not british citizens.
I hope so
not HK, but some HKers, China is very happy to ship all of them back to UK.
Britain didn't think China was going to grow so powerful.
Britain didn't think FTFY
Britain cannot even say no to China when it's not very strong date back to Deng's time which was 30,40 years ago.
@@mickeygoh25 then nothing, it is uncertain, I am trying to say, dont feel uncomfortable with a strong China because it has been always strong in the past.
China didn't think Hong Kongers would want to remain independent.
china is a third world nation gb is a first rate nation
An amazing and very informating video!
Well made and thank you for sharing.
As a local hongkonger myself, i love milk tea,,hehe
Who doesn’t?
mee tooo
the milk for our milktea is different to British tho
瓜 not a fan of the hot leaf water. I prefer the hot bean water.
@@Theactualstoic truly said😂😂👍
Do a video on Hawaii and how the Americans invaded it and made it a state of the USA when a lot of the native Hawaiians aren't happy about the invasion.
ikr? a criminally often ignored issue!
Invade? They sold their land of there own volition. How is it our fault the kingdom was corrupt with nepotism.
Yes! That would be a great idea. Its still sad how so many people overlook the fact that Hawaii was once its own sovereign nation.
And how Hawaii was never part of the British empire but put our flag on theirs to put off any foreign invaders.
Im from Hawaii and i love being part of the USA
Every time I think my mind was blown away, I'm always surprised to have it blown away again. Thank you guys for all the interesting videos and all the information I've learned from watching your videos. Love this channel.
I juat saw another person complaining about the 750fr
this was so informative I am about to cry
*Is there a Hong Kong squad around here lol?*
I’m from hk
Mycroft Holmes yeah!!!! I actually helped in production of this video too
Yeo
The Nightmare Soldier lmao same
HK SQUAAAADDDDD!!!!!!
I'm a Hong Konger born in 90's, your video make me very emotional.....
真心好睇 :)
@@raymondlo1764 You guys play cricket?
@@aperture0 We do have people playing cricket here ,but not me xd
@@raymondlo1764 Woah! Didn't know that. BTW, who will you support in today's match? India or Pakistan?
makes*
Weirdly, I’m a Brit, they were one of the few colonies that were saddened to see us go
I mean even if supporting independence is better than asking Brit to stay
因为他们感到所谓的自由，很大一部分香港人已经认为自己应该是英国人，应该享受和英国人一样富足的生活，所以他们要独立，但很可笑，就如进击的巨人中，这群人就是荣誉马莱人或是三体中的eto，but they are just jokers
Well I’m assuming the Brits weren’t as brutal to Hong Kong compared to let’s say the Indian Sub continent. However, Chinese living there were still given a secondary citizen status, so that part still haunts many Hong Kongers today.
@@timbat5324 britain made India.
@@timbat5324
How is British people building their own segregated communities in HK any different to Chinese people building Chinatowns in Western cities?
People just prefer to be around their own kind.
I'm sure Hong Kongers in the past preferred that British people live in separate neighbourhoods instead of moving into their neighbourhoods. People typically really don't like it when people from vastly different cultures move into their neighbourhoods.
VOX is celebrating colonialism in an explicit way is fascinating to me.
Not just Britain ever heard of the Ottoman Empire or Russian empire? Do some research then tell if Britain was the worst .
tbh as a cantonese living in hk, i think many of us are still feeling the effects of british rule. and many of us are still trying to find hong kongs identity, whether it should return to china, whether it should go back to british rule, wherher it should go independent. in many ways the british really did do hong kong a lot of good. it westernized us, many of us know english and are educated. but sadly hong kong is more divided than ever since we returned back to china
i personally would prefer to describe us as modernised, globalised and taught to think for ourselves.
True. There is a culture clash between us and the Main-landers.
I have lived in Singapore and Hong Kong, I’m sorry I have to say Hong Kong people s English s not that good...
@@donnahong5188 as a a hker, i agree, it's true that alot of us can communicate in english are so used to seeing it everywhere, yes we can use it but most of us arent that prolific tho
@Pearlie Grace Forget about the past and move forward with new identity, British Empire is long gone. When Brits left Shanghai in 1940s and handed over the settlement to Chinese government after nearly 100 years, no Shanghainese complained. After Britain left Singapore after 100 plus year rule, Singapore built up its own identity and never begged British master to come back to recolonize Singapore. Hongkongers have to change their mindset rather than living in the glory of the past, after all you are yellow-skinned Chinese, Britain doesn't own Hongkong, it is a 99 year lease only. If you don't feel like you are a Chinese, reluctant to learn Mandarin and sing Chinese national anthem, you might as well move to Britain, Canada and elsewhere, as simple as that.
i hope he gets to where ever he's walking to
Filming locations are very well chosen. Left Hong Kong many years ago, but all of them are recognisable and iconic.
Hong Kong’s brilliance was very much shaped by Britain, it has a sense of natural beauty that consisted of 2 cultures but merged so well. Places like Shenzhen try to do the same but it’s impossible, that’s what I love so much about Hong Kong, the natural beauty of it.
I love how surprised when he finds a bowling club as if they're archaic and not even played anymore, even though they're so common in Aus, NZ and the UK
Lone Fondler really? Ive lived in NZ for 18+ years and ive only seen 1
Bowling alleys are hard to find in HK because they take up a lot of space.
In Hong Kong, there are many restaurants in Hong Kong do have the traditional both British and Chinese, For example we have milk tea, egg tarts but also fried rice or beef noodles with omelette at the same time
We usually have these for breakfast and it’s pretty popular among Hong Kong people
Also Hong Kong has many British style building as they were built during the colony time
It’s really rare to see a place with two traditions combine together and makes this place,without one and another,Hong Kong wouldn’t be Hong Kong
Thank you for visiting Hong Kong 🇭🇰 :)
They also have different food from different cultures and countries too!
Dont forget that pastry is also an important part of HK dim sum.
I very much want to visit Hong Kong but unfortunately it is not safe now with the protests. I hope the protestors can come to an agreement with mainland China and get more freedoms!
oi remeber the pineapple bun?
We here in Hong Kong call it the "Usual Meal" In which consists omlette with bread toast, ramen noodles with satay beef or pork including a drink either coffee milk tea and ice lemon tea is served.
They have already done it dude. Hong Kong is gone.
Sadly...
Hong Kong is still there. Quit exaggerating
@Acul Mar There’s no hope for anybody. CCP has already won.
@@blackgold754 well let’s see about that
Hong Kong always belongs to China. While the British had developed HK, they have also milk the place dry from trade income etc
Very informative. Thankyou
Now do Ireland 😂
What? Real Engineering! I didn’t except to see you here!
> Real Engineering using the crying emoji in the same platform he uploads his content on
My mind is confused trying to parse this
We are still under occupation
how long ireland had been colonized by the british? like a thousand years?
Prime Arch well fully from 1603 to 1641 and again from 1651 to 1919/21
Thank you for selecting Hong Kong as the latest border’s location; its my second home and a place very near and dear to me. The times are a changing and HK is all about change. For you and Vox to: discuss its past, documents it’s present and deliberate about its future, it’s so very necessary for so many who merely think of HK as China. I really enjoyed (AND SHARED!!) the last season and needless to say am immensely looking forward to this one.
The Background score is sooo good
It's sad that the British honored the deal and gave it back after 99 years, while China broke its promise to keep everything the same in Hong Kong for 50 years after the 20 year mark.... maybe that's why we see Hong Kong people fly British and American flags in the street....
yes.
freedom of speech becomes a joke now
1842-1997 is 155 years
they had no choice, they got themselves into this situation, and China would have invaded hong kong/embargoed britain otherwise.
7:50 In hong kong they have solved the problem of whether the milk should go first or last!
The guy making milk tea in the video poured both in at the same time. No argument for him.
I put milk last
6:30 - "but lets talk about tea again"
-United Kingdom
And Hong Kong has been living in fear ever since.
Nobody gonna do anything cause Chinese money. I feel sad for Hong Kongers and their culture.
I'm reading James Clavell's Tai-Pan and your video has provided a Cliff Notes' version for the first 50 pages regarding what was going on historically with the Opium Wars. . Thank you.
If I lived in HK I'd go and have English afternoon tea one day and Chinese tea & dim sum the next, repeat that every day!! Love them both
Bas_ Lightyear One of the best thing living in the city is the fact that I can have Chinese food as breakfast, Japanese food as lunch and Italian food as dinner.
You can have that in Vancouver or Toronto, probably why so many HKers moved here.
Bas_ Lightyear It's not quite that English.
4IN14094 ....couldn't you do that in most cities?
Gozua M haha yeah you’re right, and I live in London! Video just got me hungry for tea is all 😅
Vox borders is aesthetic at it's best!
"its"
It really is!
@@martinhenriksson8617 Uhh, no?
Vox always delivers!
As an English tea addict, I was genuinely concerned by the amount of milk being put into that tea. We'd call that dishwater. When asked if I'd like milk in my tea (and adding it myself is not an option) I say "think of the smallest amount of milk you could add to that beautifully brewed cup of tea. Half it. Half it again. Oops, you've put too much in". No sugar thank you.
A perfectly brewed cup of tea with milk is a dark orange colour but there are many Brits who like half a gallon of milk and loads of sugar, like most of the UK armed forces and my sister. Bleuch!
In fact I am so fussy about my tea that even my dear old Mum refuses to make me a cup!
Colonies tend to become cultural time capsules of their founding nations, which is why Hong Kong adopted old traditions that aren’t really found in Britain anymore
Rowan O'Mullane I know we’re an exception, but I’m just saying that most of the time, colonies normally become time capsules of an older version of a culture. Besides, Britain didn’t try to tear Hong Kong’s culture away by force, it just kind of settled in over time
like what?
Words cannot express just how much I love Borders. Honestly my favorite thing in the world right now.
id never really thought about it, but now i'm thinking how strange it would have been if it was reversed and growing up in England as i have, but what if Ireland had belonged to China. How i'd have processed it as a kid first learning of its story, and how strange living through the return process would have been and transition after.
the more bits of our history i learn the more surprised I am how we swing so far between honorable and dishonourable behaviour from one adventure to the next.
dealing opium to buy tea is messed up on so many levels, but its also one of the coolest things i've ever heard. very good video.
These are some great informations!
Correction Hong Kong was given in perpetuity not 99 years, if that was the case then Hong Kong would of been returned in 1940, not 1997. It was the rest of the territory that was leased for 99 years in 1898. But when it came to 1997 Britain realised that it could do nothing to stop China from taking the whole of Hong Kong so they decided to return it under "One country, Two Systems". Other than that, good video, rather enjoyed !
it was more, the majority of HK workforce lived in the New Territories, so China could basically close the Border making it impossible for people to get to their Jobs, Hence whats the point.
@@davidrenton Nah, it's true that many people live in the New Territories, but the most important thing is, Deng Xiaopeng said to Thucheter, we can take HK back overnight if you don't plan to return it in 1997 as a whole.
@@jifa17 China could say what they want , I have a remarkably low opinion of Chinese military capability. For the most populous nation they are damm awful at war.
China esp in late 90's would no way invade HK, it would put them back 50 years.
It would be a mess, they would of been N Korea.
The reality is simple , the British did a deal and kept to it. The NT needed to be handed over, but the only consequences for not doing so would off been diplomatic, reputation.
But the British never left. Their doctrine was still taught in schools, and British politicians still served in government. Today, they indoctrinate the HK youth with hateful anticommunist/antichina content using the media.
@@lofiandchill6062 Good.
The most similar feature is the lack of space and expensive housing lol
Only since allowing mainlanders to buy all the houses
actually Hongkong is not that small, housing is expensive just because people buy them for investment
@@someernie6179"not that small" it's literally so overpopulated... over 7 million people living in approx 1000km^2 of space
Hey! I just find out this interesting video (sorry ;D), a sum up of a history within only for 10 minutes. I’m not the kind a guy who love’s to explore the history. But this video gives me a general picture of a history and presented in a cool and fun ways! Way to go man!
I am very thankful for John Harris to talk about our history in Hong Kong for Vox!
If you haven't been to Hong Kong, put it on your list of must visit places. It's incredible.
I think HK has genuinely been one of Britain’s best colonies, and once the arrogance and superiority attitude of the British disappeared it allowed a peaceful and enjoyable cultural infusion between the two. I’d be really interested to hear the opinions of people from HK about which culture you prefer and if you do agree that you felt betrayed by Britain leaving in 1997...
Hongkonger here. I would say the entire way of doing things. In the British way, there are rule of law and systematic reasoning. In the chinese way, there are rule by law. They rule with emotional reasoning,namely "人冶". the ruling official hold a god like position. Every penny they spend on the people is gift not the right.
As a Hong Kong-er I do appreciate what the British colonial government have done for Hong Kong in the later half of the 20th century. The British were not very concerned with the wellbeing and demand of local Chinese during their early rule, but housing crisis and social problems became serious in the 50s, which resulted in riots and protests in the 60s. In response the British government actually reflected upon their administration and initiated a series of social policy reform, such as the introduction of free compulsory education, public housing programme, anti-corruption committee, etc. These efforts have laid the important foundation for the framework of a responsive government. In the 80s and 90s during the sovereign transition and negotiation period, our last British governor Chris Patten also introduced more democratic reforms and direct elections to us. This has important implication for our expectations on political development in this city. I would say Hong Kong people have a stronger awareness and desire for democracy and government accountability than other cities in China. And the colonial experience is an important factor in influencing these differences in values. These differences in political and social outlook however created contradictions and conflicts that are quite difficult to reconcile with the authoritarian Central government to this day. So while some may say the British exploited colonies and all those democratic reform efforts are just political manoeuvres, I personally appreciate what they had done for this city, for without them I would not understand the importance of democracy and why we should continue to fight for it.
Hmm, very interesting. I think regarding social reform in the 50's and 60's the UK was coming to the realisation that it wasn't socially acceptable to repress the citizens anymore and that it's power was slowly disappearing. I'm glad the decision was made to react properly and seek to improve things for the locals, afterall if they're part of the Empire they're citizens too. I find it quite sad that HK was given a glimpse at a democratic government only to have China regress on it all. Comments below have said that China is looking to wipe this history out, and "standardise" a culture which seems quite oppressive frankly. Seeing Prince Charles talking at 8:18 is quite humbling as well, I felt it was very genuine and sorrowful handover, and I think HK was one of the few successful stories coming from the English Empire, unfortunately illtreatment of citizens and controversial decisions will always surround the English Empire. I almost wish we could have renewed the lease and maintained a more localised authority government, so still being a British Overseas Territory but governed by the people of HK.
This will be ideal I think. Just like Gibraltar.
they don't really have to if they don't want to. In the first two treaty, the term is "perpetuity" except for the lease agreement of the New Territories (99 years). However, during the talk in 1984 Deng Xiaoping threaten Thatcher that they could takeover Hong Kong in a day, so making no choice for the cabinet.
I’m a HongKonger and this is the 10th time I’ve watched this video, I literally can’t stop watching it
Me neither
BRO SAME
I've watched this over 20 times I guess. Something addictive and nostalgic about the video.
Well done. Thanks!
This video is quite misleading:
Hong Kong Island and Kowloon had been ceded to the United Kingdom in perpetuity by the Treaty of Nanking and the Convention of Peking. This meant they were British under international law and the UK was under no obligation or expectation to ever return them.
The 99 year lease that this video refers only to the New Territorries and thus not the rest of the UK- controlled area. This was established at a later date than the aforementioned HK island and Kowloon at the 2nd convention of Peking.
it'd be pretty weird if you had to cross a border to go between, for example, sha tin and mong kok. they are the same city, you can't seperate them with an international border
AdrianAtGaming I’m not saying that separating the city was the rightful solution, I’m simply stating that the video is misleading as it implies that the whole area was under a 99- year lease
lol you're right, but actually all of hongkongers say brits said the whole city was 99 years nowadays
I agree Cameron, Hong Kong was seeded in perpetuity about 1840, new territories were leased 57 years later, in 1897, they needed a supply of water because the population was increasing. The author needs to look this up and confirm for himself.
No Anime No. It was in both countries' interest to have Hong Kong as a whole to be returned to China.
China's being to succeed in restoring HK and to remove the insulting scar from what they call as unfair treaties.
Britain instead thought that HK must be whole to work. Imagine what problems that they would need to address if HK was to split in two.
wasn't Hongkong island itself was given to UK forever?
rest of the land was 99 years lease.
J andy you are right , Hong Kong island and Kowloon were ceded to Britain
You’re right, but UK literally gave whole hk back to China
They gave the entire city back when they returned the other parts
With most of the Hong Kong population on the mainland and power and water coming to from mainland they thought it wasn't feasible to keep it. That and there were under pressure by the UN to return it to my understanding.
lee that's sad from my country. I believe its politics and trade deals with China, England, wants to do so, CCP told them give back, Hong Kong and you can have your trade deal
Imagine if the diplomat just wrote in 'for an indefinite period of time' instead of 99 years
Then Hong Kong would basically just be Asian Gibraltar. Although this time, "taking back" HK would be a major point of contention between China and the UK.
Giving Hong Kong back was the worst thing we have done in the last 40 years
It was either give it back or lose it like goa :/
We had no choice, for better or worse.
Return or war, both of the results are return, hypocritical British
99 years lease was up and the Chinese were not going to renew. British had no choice unless they wanted to fight a war.
I had to write a report for my history homework so this really helped a lot
The only problem with basing your understanding of history or anything for that matter on a youtube video, is that most if not all have not been reviewed for accuracy but more than the creator of the video. This means, you could just be accepting as fact something that could be made up. I don't think this video or Vox in general are unreliable sources for research, but it's always better to just get information from books that have gone through a more stringent editing and fact checking process. Wikepedia too is suspect, as it is written by whomever decides to take their time to submit information. Be smart and discerning or you will be easily manipulated.
@Aiden Jackson almost never
Hi from Hong Kong! I’d be interested to know what you got for your project?
@@crissw2471 this video let alone is better than any of the websites the teacher gives you
@@Hatbot-vn4py Lazy attempt. Seriously.
Thanks so much for doing this HK series. Words cannot express my appreciation on that.. You speak for us by filming these videos and tell people the stories about HK. I'm so grateful. I hope more and more ppl will understand HK more.
4 months after Hong Kong is turmoil
@@DrBiBeatzl actually agree
Shout out to my home city in UK at 2:32. Who knew Worcester had such historical importance. I never tire of being Vox educated
I love the effect of when cultures meet and what comes out of it. Like the French Colonial architecture in Hanoi, and the Dutch Colonial in Indonesia. The mix is visually interesting.
it's the same for my country, singapore 😊mix of east & west, that's what i love about it!
As an American, who grew up in Arizona, where the Spanish revival style is so prevalent to the point it is hard to imagine we could have it any other way, I’ve been recently interested in Dutch architecture, and city planning, and I was wondering, what would the mix of it be?
Even in the Philippines too where Spanish and American Colonial Architecture have
5:10
I love how the narrator specifically mentions that China is communist.
That's because at the time most Western countries recognized Taiwan as the true legitimate successor to the Chinese state and referred to Taiwan as simply "China". BTW because of that it was Taiwan, who for the longest time (until 1971) held the Chinese seat on the UN Security Council despite it being much smaller and less influential in the region compared to the PRC ("Communist China").
Communist Captalist
"Communist China" is a common, if a little outdated term to differentiate between the PRC and Taiwan.
Shane W yes China is an economic powerhouse because its communist. Gonna roll my eye on this one
Deathless That's completely untrue. China's economy was backwards and in tatters until they relaxed government control on the economy and allowed private industry.
I have mixed feelings seeing this as a HongKonger.
Leave HK and go elsewhere...
@@icebaby6714 Sometimes its not as easy as "if you don't like it, leave" ;(
@@kaich369 Yeah I live in a city with problems and when a bring up stuff about online people say "just leave" (sometimes like "love or leave"). I don't have even money to pay a trip to the closer states.
l P no need to be rude mate
England will take u no problem
As a Filipino, I always thought that HK is lucky for being colonized by the English instead of the Spaniards.
sbi cyb more civilised
As were other british colonies. But people only focus on the bad.
Lots of former British colonies like Myanmar or Bangladesh are still poor countries.
@@Bk6346 we ain't that poor anymore same with india because of hdi and gdp per capita which the Bangladeshis beat.
Great video! Do how 500 years of Portuguese rule shaped Macau pls!
i just found this series and its so intriguing. The way the stories are being told, the cinematography, editing and music it all flows so well and its so good quality. Love this series! Gonna keep watching
It’s 5 in the morning and I’m on a CZcams binge. Nice.
Update: still not asleep.
Dormious same
3 am here
12 am :)
5 pm in Hong Kong :)
12 am 😊
Hong Kong is the most westernised, most international, most East meets West and the most gweilo inhabited country in Asia besides Macau.
"From Land to Herbs we deal with all that's in sight"
Early collonial ads be like
British : 99 years is as good as forever, this island is ours now
*After 99 years, special administrative region
China: this 50 years will take forever, it must be ours now
Reyhan Alexander welcome to another round of colonisation
hahaha
@@Theactualstoic its Hong Kong they are different now go away with your authoritisation
Bet HK is missing the British now.
The 99 year thing has an interesting root. In Britain, all land is *technically* owned by the Crown on long special leases to whomever "owns" it. Historically those leases were 99 years, but when you reached 100 years it automatically renewed. This led to a common law equivalence between 99 and forever, because whatever the law said, you still owned your land. The 99 years was fictional. In British lands, 99 years really was "forever". So when making the agreement with China, especially given the world at the time, that 99 year agreement was probably made with the idea that it would be ongoing, that it would stay in British hands, just as was the custom in Britain. And besides, 99 years is a long time, borders change, governments collapse. But then the world changed, and China asked for it back. This was unexpected for good reason.
Even today, if you're British, outside some very specific exceptions, your land belongs to the Crown. If you strike oil in your backyard, you don't own the oil rights, the Crown does. But for the vast majority of scenarios, your lease from the Crown is equal to ownership, so people just sort of ignore it. It's not like the Queen is going to frog March you out of your living room.
Loved the background music scores. Keep going Vox! Your videos are awesome.
0:00 "im in china" +999999 social credits
I Love These serie!