Welcome to the

City of Victoria

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First Landing

The British first landed in Hong Kong on January 26, 1841, during the First Opium War (1839–1842). Captain Charles Elliot, a British naval officer and superintendent of trade, took possession of the island under the Convention of Chuenpi, an agreement with the Qing Dynasty. The Union Jack was raised at Possession Point (modern-day Sheung Wan), marking the beginning of British rule. Initially seen as a barren island with little value, Hong Kong quickly became a strategic trading post due to its deep harbor and proximity to China. Although the Qing government later rejected the Convention of Chuenpi, the Treaty of Nanking in 1842 officially ceded Hong Kong to Britain, setting the foundation for its development into a major global port.

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Early Development

Between 1841 and 1900, Hong Kong’s early urban development was shaped by British colonial rule, trade expansion, and population growth. Victoria City, encompassing present-day Central, Sheung Wan, and Wan Chai, became the colony’s administrative and commercial heart, featuring government buildings, banks, and trading firms. Urban planning enforced racial segregation, with Europeans residing in The Peak and Chinese populations concentrated in crowded districts like Tai Ping Shan, where poor living conditions led to public health crises, such as the 1894 plague. Infrastructure developments, including roads, tramways, and ferry services, facilitated movement and commerce, while the expansion of Kowloon, after its cession in 1860, marked the beginning of Hong Kong’s growth beyond Hong Kong Island.

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Man Mo Temple at Sheung Wan, 1868

Public Gardens at Central, 1868

Victoria Dock, 1869

Buildings in Tai Ping Shan, 1870

Government House, 1897

Queen's College, 1897

Hong Kong Bank’s 1st Headquarter, 1910

High Court, 1924

Des Voeux Road Central, 1926

Architecture

From 1841 to 1920, Hong Kong's architectural culture was shaped by its colonial status under British rule, blending Western and Chinese influences. The city saw the rise of neoclassical and Victorian-style government buildings, such as the Supreme Court (1912), which reflected British imperial aesthetics. Meanwhile, Chinese tenement houses known as tong lau emerged, characterized by narrow facades, wooden balconies, and mixed-use spaces combining shops and residences. The urban landscape was also influenced by pragmatic adaptations to Hong Kong’s humid climate, incorporating verandas and courtyards for ventilation. This period laid the foundation for Hong Kong’s unique fusion of Eastern and Western architectural traditions.

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Modern City

From 1900 to 1960, Hong Kong underwent significant urban development, transforming from a colonial trading post into a modern city. The early 20th century saw infrastructure improvements, including tramways, expanded ferry services, and the construction of landmarks like the Supreme Court (1912) and the Peninsula Hotel (1928). The 1920s and 1930s brought industrialization and population growth, with more tenement-style tong lau housing built in areas like Sham Shui Po and Mong Kok. After World War II and the Japanese occupation (1941–1945), Hong Kong faced a massive influx of refugees from China, leading to severe housing shortages. In response, the government launched large-scale public housing projects, such as Shek Kip Mei Estate (1953), marking the beginning of Hong Kong’s high-rise residential development. The expansion of roads, ports, and industry during this period set the stage for its rapid modernization in the following decades.