432 History
Hong Kong's beaches. Lime was a valuable and useful commodity which played an important role in the economy of the time.
Strong traditions link Hong Kong with the events that occurred during the Mongol incursions and with the concluding chapters of the Song dynasty in the 13th century AD. Several finds were from this period: the Sung Wong Toi inscription, now relocated in the vicinity of the former Hong Kong International Airport in Kowloon; the Song inscription near the Tin Hau Temple at Joss House Bay; caches of Song coins from Shek Pik, Mai Po and Kellett Island; and Song-type celadons found at different sites, especially Nim Shue Wan and Shek Pik on Lantau Island and Ngau Hom Shek in Yuen Long.
Studies are beginning to shed fresh light on events in Hong Kong during the Ming (AD 1368-1644) and Qing (AD 1644-1911) dynasties. These include an analysis of considerable quantities of Ming blue-and-white porcelain collected and excavated from Penny's Bay, Lantau. They are very fine quality export ware of the kind that found its way to Southeast Asia and further west, and dates from the early 16th century AD. During another excavation in 2001, more Ming remains were retrieved, including building foundations and structures suggesting the presence of a Ming settlement at Penny's Bay. Archaeological probes at the ancient kiln site at Wun Yiu in Tai Po suggested that potters probably began to manufacture blue-and-white ware locally as early as in the Ming dynasty. The local porcelain industry continued well into the early 20th century, spanning a period of more than 300 years. The excavation at So Kwun Wat in 2000 and 2008 identified more than 90 Ming dynasty graves. The burial items
which include porcelain ware, bronze coins and iron implements shed light on the life of local inhabitants in the Ming dynasty.
The excavation of the Qing dynasty fort on Tung Lung Chau has revealed fascinating details of the internal arrangements of the fortification and everyday utensils of the remote garrison during the final days of Imperial China. Archaeological investigations at the Kowloon Walled City site uncovered remnants of the old garrison wall and the two stone plaques above the original South Gate, which bore the Chinese characters 'South Gate' and 'Kowloon Garrison City', respectively. Remains of the Lung Tsun Stone Bridge, built in 1875 as a landing-pier linking the Kowloon Walled City and the coast, were discovered during the Environmental Impact Assessment process of Kai Tak Development Project.
A Place from Which to Trade
In its early days, Hong Kong with its dry and largely infertile mountainous terrain was regarded as an uninviting prospect for settlement. A population of about 3 650 was scattered over 20 villages and hamlets, and 2 000 fishermen lived on board their boats in the sheltered harbour Hong Kong's one natural asset. Victoria Harbour was strategically located on the trade routes of the Far East, and was soon to become the hub of a burgeoning entrepôt trade with China.
Hong Kong's development into a commercial centre began with British settlement in 1841. At the end of the 18th century, the British dominated the foreign trade in Canton (Guangzhou) but found conditions unsatisfactory, mainly