Cooperation and Conflict
International Court of Justice:
Transfer of Hong Kong
from Britain back to China
Background: 1840s
• Britain wanted to trade with China
– China did not want to trade with the inferior
westerners
– Britain sold opium to Chinese
– China destroyed shipment of opium
• Opium War began
– China’s military was no match against British
weapons and technology
Opium War Ends
• Treaty of Nanjing
– China had to pay for destroyed opium
– China opened more ports for British trade
– China gave Hong Kong to Britain
• Hong Kong would be an official colony of Britain for
99 years, at which point it would be returned to
China
Where is Hong Kong?
British Hong Kong
• Hong Kong built a strong economy
– Market and Free Enterprise economy
– Banking
– Trade
– Manufacturing
– Shipping
– Tourism
1997: Return of Hong Kong
• Hong Kong was to be returned to
Communist government of the People’s
Republic of China
• Britain concerned
– Will China make Hong Kong have a
communist government instead of a
democratic government?
• People of Hong Kong concerned
– Will China take away our economy and way of
life?
International Court of Justice
• ICJ becomes involved
• “One Country – Two Systems” Policy:
– Hong Kong’s 6 million people will return to
Communist China
– Hong Kong will be a Special Administrative
Region (SAR)
• Will keep capitalist system and lifestyle for 50
years