ENG-1980 — Page 313

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History

RESOURCEFUL, optimistic, and confident, Hong Kong continues to display the dynamic drive which has enabled it to make rapid economic and social progress.

Throughout the 139 years since its founding as a British settlement, the events which have most dramatically affected Hong Kong have been the result of external influences beyond its control. Always, Hong Kong has faced its problems with characteristic resilience and forbearing.

The year 1980 has been one of reassessment and adjustment to the massive inflow of immigrants from China - both legal and illegal

both legal and illegal – and boat refugees from Vietnam, which occupied so much attention the previous year.

Demonstrating, once more, an amazing ability to absorb great numbers of people and to prosper as a leading manufacturing and commercial centre, the impact nevertheless reached into all corners of life. Increased pressures were widely felt in the areas of housing, road congestion, public transport, and medical and other social services and facilities. Planners, amongst others, felt the frustrations keenly.

But Hong Kong has faced similar challenges before: three large surges of immigration have occurred in the past 36 years, increasing the population more than threefold. The third wave, with large numbers of illegal immigrants attempting to enter (and which began in 1978), continued until late October, 1980, and required special efforts from the security forces to contain it.

Paradoxically, in its early days Hong Kong was not viewed as a desirable place to in- habit. Prior to its cession to Britain by China, under the Convention of Chuanbi (Chuenpi) in January, 1841, the territory was regarded as at best an uninviting prospect for settle- ment. Mountainous and deficient in fertile land and water, it possessed only one natural asset, its fine and sheltered anchorage. Largely the reason for the British presence, Victoria Harbour was strategically located on the trade routes of the Far East, and it was soon to become the hub of a burgeoning entrepot trade with China.

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Hong Kong's second asset - its people then began to appear and, by their industry and business acumen, to develop the infrastructure and services which have allowed the small territory to thrive. Today, the harbour, supplemented by a modern international airport, is one of the busiest in the world, and an enterprising and industrious population is fashioning an increasingly more substantial and impressive quality of life.

Archaeological Background

Archaeological studies in Hong Kong, which began in the 1920s, have uncovered Stone Age artefacts at numerous sites scattered along the winding shoreline, testifying to events stretching back over several thousand years. More recently, extensive excavations at Sham Wan on Lamma Island and Chung Hom Wan on Hong Kong Island have revealed