NOTES AND QUERIES
The following letter appeared in the South China Morning Post, 10th April, 1972. — Ed.
WHO HOISTED THE UNION JACK?
In today's (April 7) issue on page 20 you publish an article headed "The Hongkong Club decides to go back to Victorian Era”. In the article you state "The Club was founded in 1846, five years after the Union Jack was hoisted on Possession Point by Captain Charles Elliot".
The statement is not correct. It is true that Sir Charles Elliot issued a formal declaration of British sovereignty over Hongkong in January 1841 after the treaty of Chuenpi, but the Union Jack was hoisted on Possession Point by Captain Belcher commanding H.M. survey ship, Sulphur, on January 26, 1841.
The account is given in Captain Belcher's book "Voyage round the World" published 1843, Volume II page 157. The following is an extract:
"The only important point to which we became officially partners was the cession of the island of Hongkong, situated off the peninsula of Cow Loon within the island of Lama,
"On the return of the commodore on the 24th we were directed to proceed to Hongkong and commence its survey. We landed on Monday the 26th January at fifteen minutes past eight, and being 'bona fide' first possessors, her majesty's health was drank with three cheers on Possession Mount.
"On the 26th the squadron arrived; the marines were landed, the union hoisted on our post, and formal possession taken of the island by Commodore Sir J. G. Bremer, accompanied by the other officers of the squadron, under a feu de joie from the marines, and a royal salute from ships of war”.
There may be some uncertainty about the exact date. It is probable that the landing was on Monday, January 25 and that the more serious formalities took place on Tuesday, January 26.
Captain Belcher's history is preserved in the Colony in the names Belcher's Gardens, Belcher's Fort (and formerly Belcher's Creek)