Why did the British give China Hong Kong?

The treaty of Nanking in 1842 ceded Hong Kong to the British. Their big ships and military might meant China had little choice at the end of the first opium war. It was given to them in perpetuity. It was this, the New Territories, that in 1898 the British pledged to give back in 1997.

Does Portugal still own Macau?

Formerly a Portuguese colony, the territory of Portuguese Macau was leased to Portugal as a trading post by the Ming dynasty in 1557….Macau.

Are Hong Kong and Macau independent nations?

Hong Kong and Macau aren’t independent countries, but you will get your passport stamped when traveling from those territories to “mainland China.” And then there’s Taiwan, which is officially called the “Republic of China.” Many travelers confuse the territorial divisions of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, so we …

What was the old name of Taiwan?

Formosa
The name Formosa (福爾摩沙) dates from 1542, when Portuguese sailors sighted an uncharted island and noted it on their maps as Ilha Formosa (“beautiful island”). The name Formosa eventually “replaced all others in European literature” and remained in common use among English speakers into the 20th century.

What happened to Hong Kong and Macau?

When Hong Kong, a former British colony, and Macau, a former Portuguese colony, were handed back to China in 1997 and 1999 respectively, the territories were promised a high level of autonomy for 50 years under the “one country, two systems”constitutional principle.

Is Macau a success story for ‘one country two systems’?

As Hong Kong grapples with its 12th consecutive week of protests, we take a look at why Macau has often been seen as a success story for the “one country, two systems” framework and what it means for the future of the world’s largest gambling hub. How has Macau reacted to the Hong Kong protests?

Will China invade Taiwan if it declares independence?

The government of the mainland has repeatedly threatened to invade Taiwan if it ever declares its independence, so it has never done so since then. But unofficially, it is even more autonomous than Hong Kong and Macau are, since it does not have to pay taxes to Beijing as Hong Kong and Macau do.

Why are there so many English speakers in Hong Kong and Macau?

Part of it is that two of these places – Hong Kong and Macau – were colonized by European powers, and so were protected from the tidal wave of communism by treaties with these countries. Specifically, Macau was colonized by Portugal in 1557, and Hong Kong was colonized by Britain in 1841 (explaining the prevalence of English there).