Hong Kong: Empire, Opium, and China
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
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This video is #sponsored by Blinkist.
Source/Further reading:
Lonely Planet, in-depth history: www.lonelyplan...
Britannica, history of Hong Kong: www.britannica...
Some details on the Great Clearance and HK piracy: zolimacitymag....
First Opium War: www.nam.ac.uk/...
Second Opium War: www.historic-u...
Japanese invasion: www.history.co...
Japanese Occupation: library.ust.hk...
Japanese atrocities: www.cofepow.or...
1997 Handover Ceremony: • Hong Kong - Handover c...
2019-2020 protests:www.bbc.com/ne...
Security Law: www.bbc.com/ne...
Patriots Law: www.bbc.com/ne...
New UK immigration law: www.dw.com/en/...
Tanka fishermen history: www.scmp.com/m...
Sun Yat-sen in Hong Kong: www.discoverho...
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Sooo if it is not your ideology it is not a happy ending? Really like your videos but the bias is annoying.
@@Mitachia uh yeah, freedom is a basic human right, not really a bias
@@2001mkmk Buahahaha sure thing mate,lol what a delusional fool buahahahahahaha.
@@Mitachia ah yes communism and fascism goodest, me so edgy
Freaking tankie lol
@@2001mkmk dont think democracy is any better mate. look around and have a look at the world. they are all the same and we are all their fucken bitches
I was in Hong Kong back in the 70's as a sailor on liberty. Made it there several times and fell in love with it. It is a remarkable place with really remarkable people. I wish them all luck in the future.
theyre fucked, man
They will be fine being reunited with mainland China. Never forget Brutish evil empire.
@@pedinomefaux Falling into the hands of a far more ruthless and controlling Chinese dictatorship.
Geographics consistently puts out great content, but this video really stands out. Particularly excellent and empathetic script, with solid pacing & presentation (as always). Bravo! 👏
I remember watching the ceremony where Hong Kong was transferred to China. Even though I was young, I didn’t think it would work. Watching the umbrella protests and the 2019 uprising that was completely crushed.... it was a sad realization
I felt the same when Capitol was about to be liberated but communist Marxist dems crushed the uprising.
Oh wow look at you two TH-cam warriors warriors
@@vamsi8569 You really don't have a clue what "communist Marxist" means, do you? You just like hitting all the hot button words and pretending you're some American hero, lmao. It's kind of sad to see.
@@vamsi8569 Why do you guys have to bring up US Politics literally everywhere?
@@isaaclai1636 Because Democracy died in the USA on 6Jan 2021 by suppression of protests by Communist Mao Biden and Commicrats. Why are you so biased?
When HK protests were suppressed we supported them even after HK legislature was occupied because Freedom matters! but we failed to support when US capitol protests took place and they occupied capital which is same as HK legislature.
My childhood home for most of the 90s was not far from Victoria Peak. I felt some melancholy nostalgia watching this, as I'll probably never see HK again. So thank you for this video.
My birthplace and childhood home from the second half of 1970s to June 29, 1989; however, no thanks to PROC, I will NEVER go back there ever again.
It’s sad that you both feel like you can’t even go back to place you were born
@@AnikoVargaMakeup Nobody can really ever go back home again - it's just way more literal for some of us. It's the human condition, really.
Aniko Varga what do you think of the Palestinian genocide at the hands of Israel and USA?
@@texajp1946 All atrocities are horrid and should be ceased... never should they be held up as a shield to deflect against current and ongoing atrocities.
Thanks Simon, living here in HK for about 15 years, this video is truly something highly interesting to watch. My family and I are attempting to stick it out for a couple more years as it's been our home and my children's birthplace. I'm saddened every day seeing the various signs of change and turnover of power which will only lead to heartache and turmoil for this place.
better get out before you get arrested for some unknown crime and disappear
I appreciate rocky terrain being described as "annoying" 😆
There should be a biographics shirt that says "all those long dead, very posh boys"
This is one of my favourite Simon quotes
I was in a 747 we landed in Hong Kong in the 1980s It was terrifying. Flying between skyscrapers is not funny.
Oh oh oh !!! Do a bit on The Triads!!!
Please
1:30 - Chapter 1 - In the beginning
4:45 - Chapter 2 - Here come the europeans
8:40 - Mid roll ads
10:05 - Chapter 3 - Unequal treaties
13:25 - Chapter 4 - The eve of the war
16:45 - Chapter 5 - Building HK
20:00 - Chapter 6 - The china era
Suggest Compare 1961 East Berlin ~ 2021 Hong Kong in your next video!!
Free Hong Kong 🇭🇰!!!!!
idk if I cant find it or if it hasn't been made yet, but we really need a video on the taking of iwo jima
keep em coming! this is my GO-TO guy for side screen plays while i work, love all the channels
Same. Might as well learn some interesting & historical stuff while working.
UK: Look, we're gonna give you what-
Hong Kongers: HANG ON, this meeting is about OUR territory, shouldn't we have a voice in this?
UK: Aaaanyway, we're gonna give you what you want
China: Really?
UK: Yeah
China: Just like that?
UK: Yep
China: What's the catch?
UK: Just sign this piece of paper promising you won't interfere in Hong Kong's autonomy for 50 years
China: OK!
And then the uk returned home and they celebrated uk day and the continuing of world peace and they built a statue of the uk and... there taking full control over Hong Kong
Uk: hey you lied to me
Mao: what do you expect I’m mao.
Last and weirdest place to expect a more obscure OverSimplified reference...
Yes please!
@@vuffhghunmmhg144 he died in 1976 so its unrelated
My great uncle was one of the soldiers stationed in HK in December 1941, he survived the battle and the hell of the POW camps afterwards
Wow considering how bad those camps where he must of been as hard as nails
You are referring to the Japanese I assume ? But are all your ideals based in past time; dyed in the wool racism or are you assuming that all Asian countries are all the same? What does a territorial dispute have to do with a trade war ? You do not even have the right country...🤨
@@jamesfry8983 Compared to the POW camps in both Burma and Thailand the Hong Kong camps where considered play time because they only existed for the half the time during WW2 and there was little forced labour so his uncle would be considered lucky considering he was fighting for somebody else's interests to begin with.
@@beetlebum67821 I see your disappointed by your own existence.
Chinese: "you dont like the emperor?. Well how do you like us Mao"
Imma leave now
Lol
BA DA BUM BUM TSSSSHHHH
Right... 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
What do you mean
I'm here because I just read James Clavell's _Tai-Pan_ (chronologically the second book in his Asian Saga. Amazing series) and it's all about the founding of Hong-Kong (and the opium trade).
This has to be my favorite non-Business Blaze Chanel in the SimonCU. Thank you!
Haa! You like places more than people
Simon Cinematic Universe. Amazing.
Same
please do a video of the same style on Macau
You should do a video on Sun Yat-sen since he is pumped up in several videos
My grandfather was a POW during the Japanese occupation of HK. 85 lbs when he was freed. It's a national shame that Canada sent green troops to defend HK at the behest of Britain when there was no chance of holding it.
Same for my great uncle
@@LennoxMatt1 was he in the Royal Rifles or the Winnipeg Grenadiers?
@@stephendownie1405 Royal Rifles out of Quebec
I think that might have been the point... there's so little chance of holding out against the Japanese, so they sent inexperienced troops fresh out of training in Canada while reserving more seasoned troops for the European theatre. BTW, there's a monument to POWs near my home in HK in a park where a POW camp once stood.
As a Hongkonger, nevertheless I feel obliged to express my appreciation for your grandfather's sacrifice, and Lennoxmat's great uncle's.
Could have a video like this please about Macau.
Much more it seems is also known about Hong Kong, than about Macau.
Episode suggestion: Norte Chicco, South America’s oldest “complex society/civilization”.
Do Cyprus next!
Someone said this channel is the best of the Simon Cinematic Universe and i cant stop laughing
They clearly have never Blazed!!!
You had me at opium.
that ending is depressing
You should do a video on the Tonka and their boat villages 🥺
Perhaps I can convince Xi to give Hong Kong to us, we would do a better job
Of course, Supreme leader
If the lot of authoritarians all jumped into a volcano and rid the rest of us of them, perhaps.
Simon, don't go mountain biking at the end of July! It's going to be a bad time!
...'geographic afterthought'
I could see the cut ba-da-boom-boom-tss there Simon
I was waiting for him to say business only took off thanks to skillshare
I live and work in HK, and even I found this extremely informative. I will say one thing about the protests from 2019 though which is they got completely out of hand. To start with I was definitely behind the protestors message, but as time went on their tactics just got worse and worse. For me the turning point was watching an old man get soaked with lighter fluid and then set on fire because of a verbal disagreement, I just can't condone that under any circumstances.
Clashes between protesters and police would happen outside our office during the day and right outside my front door at night, dodging tear gas became a daily occurrence and there was a period in October / November that year where it just felt like the city was completely imploding. I hate the new laws that Beijing has forced through, and I especially hate the local government stooges who all seem to have an arrogant "this is for your own good" attitude about the whole situation. But having experienced the other side too I honestly can't decide which is worse
Hm, who's worse? Protesting for democracy, human rights, and freedom, or a brutal dictatorship?
Hmmm what a hard question to answer... I can't seem to decide!
To support anyone other than the Hong Kong people means you sympathise with totalitarians.
I don't pretend to like the man doused in lighter fuel, but there is no excuse for how the police treated most protesters.
You have no idea how much I hate Carrie Lam's guts.
Really liked Hong Kong
Too bad I can visit anymore, I'd rather not end up in a political prison cuz I dissed Winnie the Pooh x year ago
Better remind you that the China's national security law is applicable all across the globe.
@@ailo8964 but they aren't gonna send Chinese agents after someone for making a winnie the pooh joke, not yet anyway.
Careful of having a layover in China/HK tho, you might miss your flight by a few years
What's next for Hong Kong may be event more worrisome
USA protesters were more peaceful and the police cracked down violently and brutally,
HK rioters were violent and funded by USA cia, the HK police used great restraint
@@brucew9897 u mena ita stable cos the ccp for them to be, dude it was stable before the riots happened
, thay happened cos they didnt lkel chinan power grabbing in HK, and plus it's still gunna have a high human index u expecting it to be like what happens in thaoe Muslim areas in China, its financial hub and a door way to the west they are going to try destroy all of it, also what do u mean in bed with the west, its always been part of it, that's most western part of China since it was part of the UK, so nothing new there, they domt exactly like a authoritarian government now do they
@@texajp1946 ....how are American protestors more peaceful they destroyed millions in property and the police hardly did anything they just let them destroy shit. And u can say that the USA funded the HK if u want, nothing new when u have China buying of politicians in the USA and proffesers in colleges and not sure whether the HK police handled the ppl with restraint
@@texajp1946 do you work for the CCP or do you just love the taste of that xi jinpeep?
@@brucew9897 lol ur trying to sound informed but ur just regurgitating disinformation. Read more.
I always cry every time I watch videos about Hong Kong... It's so heartbreaking... I wish I could do something about the situation :(
Long live the people’s republic of China, CCP and Xi are great, don’t get brainwashed by western anti China propaganda
It sounds like it does not take much to convince people like you
I agree, and anyone who supports the CCP is either a fool or a coward.
@@texajp1946 Wu Mao.
Video suggestion: The battle of Jutland. The great clash of the British and german fleet.
Such a sad ending. One of the saddest endings this channel has ever made.
RIP Hongkong, you fought the good fight.
History will not forget your struggle
And what struggle is that? I'm from HK. We are happy to be returned to the mainland.
@@IceBloodKing the right to representation, to be heard, the freedom of expression, not to be under the legal jurisdiction or extradiction of main land China.
Oh you know the things that 2 million people from HK rallied for. Curious you didnt know this from someone claiming to be from HK.
I think though that your a CCP sympathizer NOT based on HK but thats just what i think
@@freedommtgwytie2968 I'm from the silent majority that the western media conveniently ignores. It was only ever meant to be for 50 years.
I'm not a CCP sympathiser, I'm just patriotic to my race and country. I hope you can respect the wishes of the majority instead of being so rude and demeaning.
@@IceBloodKing im sorry if i came across as rude. I was just surprise with how you came about being completely ignorant when you said 'what struggle is that'
Apologies, but please dont go about pretending to be ignorant otherwise people will take you for what you are pretending to be.
Now you say youre part of the silent majority that western media did not cover.
All I can say is that we saw the rallies, we saw the causes, i cant say who is the majority but i can say the number in the rallies were significant.
Significant enough to be noticed by the whole world.
Signifcant enough for people to assume that it represented the majority.
Now we'll never know who is the majority, because an Iron Curtain has descended over HK. Information now is censored.
If you are from HK, my prayers go to you
FreedomMTG Wytie you are brainwashed by radical right wing media, and western anti China propaganda
Thank you for this video... As a Hong Kong native, my heart breaks anew
My condolences, and may you find peace in your current place in life.
The Boy Emperor’s grave is in my part of town (Tung Chung, near VHHH) and is just ~30 mins’ walk from home!
Omg this guy talks faster than an auctioneer i cant keep up ! Uggghhhh
an interesting event that happened in between this time was the six-day war of 1899 where the major clans of the new territories tried their hand at resistance against the British. This was due to fears of losing their traditional land rights. The result was the Clans lost but kept their land rights. My direct ancestors were a part of the resistance force.
You should do a video on ilha da queimada grande (snake island)
Pretty please
suggestion - British influence in the Caribbean.
I love New Mexico--we've been preparing for summer for 2 months already, and by now we're just hoping there's not a late frost to ruin our apricots again.
What does New Mexico and your apricots have to do with Hong Kong?
Simon said most of us are tired of winter. Just commenting that our winter lasts about six weeks most years.
Dear Simon could you perhaps do a video on Shah Cheragh?
The Hong Kong Beat.
I visited Hong Kong in November 1996. It was quite something.
Ideas for new videos:
Venice
Genova
Naples
Palmanova
Italian lakes: Lake Como, Lake Garda, Lake Maggiore
Catania
Trieste
The Alps
Great Ocean Road in Australia
Simon Whistler network!!! Weird suggestion can we have business blaze as a podcast
Do I Simon!!!!!!! Definitely get me listening!!!
But how will be get Sam's memes? 😮
@@Nelmistro hmm 🤔 they would have to be released like a day or so after the TH-cam version so you could see the memes and know what they are. It’s kind of but not exactly like what Simon does with casual criminalist. I think the podcast version comes out first then the TH-cam video I could be wrong. And Sam is a editing god he might be able to invent some new audio version of meme and I’m not a big brain all this might just be dumb
@@berrypoundz7879 HE MAN SOUNDS!
Thanks
I'd like to see a video on US route 66.
What a great video, very interesting.
"Words on paper " . Very true
I've been to Hong Kong, The Whistler Guy. Was there on vacation back in 2017. I wrote a historical novel about Hong Kong in the late 1980's, but it's a work in progress, and on a long hiatus.
Damn Simon LOTS OF UPLOADS!
Good video 👍
Thank you for speak out for Hong Konger, this show the world should never trust CCP.
plz do a video on Vietnam war
The future of Hong Kong may seems to be dark, but the Hongkongers are not giving up.
Due to the pandemic and the National Security Law, Hongkongers have switched their method of protests from marches to mainly spreading messages on online platforms like Twitter and by renting billboards overseas (there's currently a couple of billboards rented in the UK). Locally, Hongkongers are protesting by supporting pro-democracy shops and boycotting pro-Beijing shops.
Hongkongers may be silenced by China, but their want for freedom and democracy is stronger than ever, for that ideas are bulletproof.
May the glory to Hong Kong!
Thank you so much for covering the history of Hong Kong right up to including the latest political unrest. The city is a beautiful place but the people's lives were definitely ruined as a consequence of it's past events.
And now today, China is gonna rule Hong Kong with the people suffering as always before.
@@BHuang92 Give us real examples of your claims of China caused suffering. All we hear is propaganda and unsubstantiated accusations.
Unfortunately, his covering of the political unrest covers up the truth and ignores the violence and destruction caused by the "protestors". Try doing even a fraction of the destruction in the US and see how the US police responds.
@@litesp So how much does the CCP pay you?
@@litesp 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre
11:06 "So when China send word that they wanted more territory for Hong Kong" I think you mean Britain.
You should do one on Hurricane Catrina
That's on helluva nice beard there, Simon.
Excellent video thanks 😊
If you want a happy ending watch a Disney movie.
Disney were the animals speak
disney is a chinese shell corporation
Very interesting video. Never knew the history on Hong Kong. Now I better understand today's drama concerning this island
I was on a Zoom hangout with a friend while watching this and my friend remarked "That guy's voice is very soothing."
Thousands of well-rested humans agree! 😴
You should do a video about the labyrinth prison of morocco de kara beneath meknas city
Built in the 18th century it was supposed to host 40000 prisoners
The prison had no bars no gates or doors prisoners would be dropped into the prison from openings on the surface
I second this, I've only heard a little bit about them but it sounds REALLY interesting
I used to be a part of a charity group that would go to Hong Kong every summer. Each summer, our director warned it could be our last. We escaped riots and watched them from high up. I watched Hong Kong go from peaceful to civil unrest. It makes me wonder if pre-2020 truly was the last year they could freely go.
Nice, been looking forward for one since forever
"I go to Hong Kong"-Lou, The Dark Knight🇭🇰
Born and raised ❤️
Edit: that ending hit different
Hey Simon Can You Do luxembourg geographics video
HI SIMON!!!!!!!
China/UK negotiations probably:
UK: How about we extend the lease?
China: No
UK: How about we administer Hong Kong jointly?
China: No
UK: OK OK how about we give Hong Kong independence?
China: HELL NO!! Here's what if you don't hand HK back in 1997 we'll simply take it by force.
UK: Alright calm down how about we give it back but you let HK do its own thing for 50 years?
China:.....Ok I don't hate that idea.
*China soon as they get it*
China: ...sooo about that "doing ur own thing for about 50 years"...we dont do that here
UK: pikachu face
HK: pikachu face but not surprised
The Hong Kong protests are a source of shame to me, as a son of the US and the "Western World". Surely we could have done something for them...
As a Brit, there's probably a lot of things the western world could've done. The problem would have been that any move would've resulted in a war with China, which has the potential to get incredibly messy incredibly quickly.
@@LordPodlington Yeah, I get that. I just feel like there was more that could've been done, without provoking war with China.
Not really. Other than meaningless things like officially denouncing China's actions which does absolutely nothing. And if it lead to conflict the West would be in trouble. The US has already said despite the ridiculous amount of money and resources it wastes on its military it couldn't do anything to stop China invading Taiwan (who is likely their next target). The best thing that can be done is being done. The British government are allowing HK citizens to emigrate here and it's predicted that a lot will move over (I think around 300,000 in the first year of it being available is what's been predicted).
Flash Gordon: MING!!!!
I love Hong Kong. Hopefully I can visit again after covid.
You will not find the Hong Kong you love anymore.
@@xyzaero some friends live there still and they are loving it. I lived in China for 6 years, so I think I can tolerate China lite.
@@adamabbas1487 haha no, China is going downhill fast. Xenophobia is rising and China is committing a genocide right now. Every year more and more journalists, democracy activists and minorities are oppressed or brutally murdered.
@@robertschnobert9090 none of what you claim is happening lmao. Nice try cia bot.
Crystal, you should get an education, all of that and worse is happening.
I haven't played Overwatch since Blizzard banned the Hearthstone streamer for saying Free Hong Kong.
Oh wow what a strong statement, you didn't play a video game.
FREE HONG KONG
We are free from the colonial overlords.
how about FREE HAWAII?
The biggest problem is that the UK never thought about Hong Kong needing to defend itself, after years of "Independence". So they handed H.K. over to one of the most ruthless governments in the world, when it comes to civil disobedience. No bueno.
lived in HK for a year as a student in 2010. Went back to visit in 2019 and it was heartbreaking to see the city so differently. All the universities had a monument to the Tiananmen Square Massacre (this is something China censors out of all its history curriculum in the mainland), but the monuments have all been ordered to be removed by Beijing. Scary stuff 😥
How you been there because because obviously there was no massacre if you stop reading western media lie I mean it not like China is the blame.
"19th century dudes" 😂😂😂
Stay strong Hong Kong 🇭🇰 they will fall eventually
Who will fall ?
@@samfisher4148 China, once Xi dies I think there will be a power struggle, and things could turn against them. Plus the growing middle class in China is enjoying their freedom and wealth, will become more and more difficult to control over time.
@@louiswicks1864 What you describe is not "a fall" though, just an eventual socio-political shift from a communist dictatorship to a free market economy. China will still dominate the world one way or another, it won't "fall"
While I do think that China's time as a superpower is shorter then even USA's or the Soviet Union's, the fact is that HK is right THERE by mainland China. It wouldn't be that hard for China, unless it was completely and utterly crushed/balkanized, to maintain power over the land.
And once honk kong sadly is broken taiwan is next on the dinner plate. Difference is taiwan is larger, has a siable force. And is internationaly backed.
Could you do a video on the British East India company? No idea which channel it would fit on best.
....Mega Projects?
Business blaze
Cool fact: Republic City from the Legends Of Korra, was inspired by Hong Kong.
Another thing to note is that China took away HK’s right to self determination in 1972 when China petitioned the UN to remove HK (and Macau) from the UN List of Colonies
Just one question where on earth is Chiner?
The Opium War, also fittingly before the War on Drugs, the War for Drugs.
Oh how the chair tables
Never had democracy
Always longed and yearned for it. The British didn't give it, but the Chinese not only refused it, but beat up and threatened anybody who dare to even ask for it.
Won't lie, didn't expect a BTS reference in a video about HK.😂
Isn't Article 23 part of the original Badic Law that the Brits signed with China? Bif you don't know Article 23 requires the Hong Kong legislature to pass a National Security Law; they never did so. As well didn't the authorities discover a bimb making facility at Hong Kong Polytechnic? I do not believe demonstrating includes the use if Comrade Molotov's cocktail.
Sounds so weird to hear the hakka be mentioned in a video,
Cool
What's the outro music?
What’s the background music?
Do the Kremlin!
TRADE OFFER!
I get: Hong Kong
You get: Opium
"... so when China sent word that they wanted more territory for Hong Kong .... "? Say what? 11:05