Piedmont (AD 17) - Naval Cruise Book

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HGNG KUNG The history of Hong Kong is far longer than that of the Colony itself and begins more than 400 years ago when the first Europeans were attempting to penetrate China for trade purposes. The Portuguese traders were the first in the area. They arrived on the China Coast in 1513, and, by dine of persistent pressure, managed to obtain an establishment at Macao in 1557 through which they might trade with China. When British and Dutch traders followed the Portuguese, in the first decade of the 17th Century, they found that the Chinese refused to have any dealings with Europeans other than the Portuguese. It was not until 1700 that British trade with China was established as a result of a change in Chinese Policy. During the negotiations between the British Plenipotentiary and the representative of the Chinese Emperor following the Opium War of 1939-42, the island of Hong Kong was offered to British traders as a depot. The offer was accepted and the island was occupied by the British in January 1841 without waiting for formal ratification of the offer. The cession of the island was confirmed in the Treaty of Nanking in 1842 and Hong Kong was from the start established as a free port, open to all. Kowloon and the small Stonecutter's Island were ceded to Britain in 1860 by the Convention of Peking and, in 1898, the area known as the New Territories was leased to Britain for a period of 99 years. During its earliest years, Hong Kong was not highly regarded by the British public. It had an unenviable reputation for disease, typhoon, pirates and other inconveniences. The name itself is thought to be derived from Anglicization of the Chinese name meaning Heung's Harbor, the haunt of a notorious character named Heung. The Government of Hong Kong derives its authority from letters Patent and Royal Instructions issued from London. It is governed by a governor assisted by an executive council and a legislative council. The executive council, which is consulted by The governor on all important matters, is made up of the senior military, the attorney general, the secretary of Chinese affairs, the financial secretary official and six unofficial members, and such others as may be appointed. These other officers are six official and six unofficial members, three of whom are Chinese and one of whom is Portuguese. The British Crown Colony of Hong Kong comprises an area of approximately 391 square miles and includes the Island of Hong Kong and a section of the mainland which is divided between Kowloon and the New or leased Territories. Numerous uninhabited islands are also included in the New Territories. The principal busines area is located on the island of Hong Kong and is officially known as the City of Victoria although is generally referred to as Hong Kong . Hong Kong Island is eleven miles long and varies in width from two to five miles. It rises steeply from the northern shore to a range of rugged hills, the highest point of which is 1,823 feet. The city of Victoria lies between these hills and the northern water front, and the urban area consists largely of reclaimed land. Numerous bays and inlets, as well as subtropical vegetation, make Hong Kong Island a place of great scenic beauty. The harbor itself is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world. The City of Kowloon lies across the harbor from Victoria, a distance of about one mile. The Kowloon Peninsula is fairly flat and is divided from the New Territories by a range of hills. There is a shopping center in Kowloon and a large Suburban-type residential section where some American families have their homes. The passenger ferry services between the island and the mainland is excellent, except at rush hours when it is very crowded and compares with condition of the New York Subway at similar times. There is an automobile ferry service across the harbor. On weekends and holidays, the vehicular FSVVY is very crowded and a delay of two hours is not unusual.

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Typical rice field Another temple! Burning incense to the Gods! This is a river 3? Leaving Kaohsiung

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f School girls wfgtl Parisian restaurant, Hong Kong style Water boy! Junk! Old Hong Kong!! l li- u .N it t l . l EX ll W i 5'