Hong Kong Foundation Day
Anniversary of the founding of Hong Kong / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Hong Kong Foundation Day[1][2][3][4] (Chinese: 香港開埠日),[5][6] also known as Hong Kong Day (香港日) and Festival of Hong Kong (香港節),[7] is the anniversary of the founding of Hong Kong as a free port[8][9] when Britain formally colonised it on 26 January 1841 [note 1] after entering into a provisional treaty, known as the Chuenpi Convention, with an official of the Qing government.[10] The British Colonial Government did not make it an official public holiday, nor does the SAR Government.[11] Yet, some members of the public do organise various history talks or exhibitions on or near 26 January each year.[7]
Foundation Day | |
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Also called | Hong Kong Founding Day, Hong Kong Day, Festival of Hong Kong, Hong Kong's birthday |
Observed by | Hong Kong |
Type | Unofficial |
Significance | Beginning of British rule in 1841 until 1997 |
Observances | History talks and exhibitions |
Date | 26 January |
Next time | 26 January 2025 (2025-01-26) |
Frequency | Annual |
Related to | Norfolk Island Foundation Day, Western Australia Day, Founding of modern Singapore |
Hong Kong Foundation Day | |||||||||
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Chinese | 香港開埠日 | ||||||||
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Hong Kongers, most being native speakers of Cantonese, call this day 開埠日 or hōi fauh yaht,[11] which means “the day of pier opening”, reflecting the original intention of the British acquisition of Hong Kong was for opening it up[12] and turning it into a port of free trade.[8][9] The name also signifies that international commerce became legally permitted in Hong Kong upon British administration[13] whereas Hong Kong had not been allowed to conduct foreign trade under the Canton System policy of the Qing government.[14][15]