History of Hong Kong in Timeline

Hong Kong is a densely populated special administrative region of China, located on the southern coast. It comprises Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. Home to 7.5 million people within a 1,114-square-kilometre area, it ranks as the fourth-most densely populated region globally.

1904: Hong Kong Tramways Began Servicing

Hong Kong Tramways began servicing Hong Kong since 1904.

1911: The University of Hong Kong was established

In 1911, The University of Hong Kong was established as the territory's first institution of higher education.

1911: University of Hong Kong Founded

In 1911, during the early colonial period, The University of Hong Kong (HKU) was founded as the city's first institute of higher education.

1924: Kai Tak Airport Operation Begins

In 1924, Kai Tak Airport began operation in Hong Kong.

1925: Canton-Hong Kong Strike

In 1925, the colony avoided a prolonged economic downturn after the 1925–26 Canton–Hong Kong strike.

1926: Government Adopts Two-Word Name

In 1926, the government officially adopted the two-word name "Hong Kong".

1937: Hong Kong Declared a Neutral Zone

In 1937, Governor Geoffry Northcote declared Hong Kong a neutral zone at the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War.

1940: Evacuation of British Women and Children

In 1940, the colonial government prepared for a possible attack, evacuating all British women and children.

December 1941: Japanese Attack on Hong Kong

In December 1941, the Imperial Japanese Army attacked Hong Kong on the same morning as its attack on Pearl Harbor.

1941: Japanese Occupation

In 1941, Hong Kong was occupied by Japan during World War II.

August 1945: British Resumed Control

In August 1945, the British resumed control of Hong Kong.

1945: End of Japanese Occupation

In 1945, Japan's occupation of Hong Kong ended during World War II.

1949: Influx of Refugees

In 1949, more refugees crossed the border when the Chinese Communist Party took control of mainland China.

1952: Participation in Summer Olympics

In 1952, Hong Kong began participating in almost every Summer Olympics.

1953: Hong Kong Rugby Football Union Founded

In 1953, the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union was founded.

1959: Hong Kong Open

In 1959, the Hong Kong Golf Club began hosting the Hong Kong Open every year.

1961: Economic Growth

Between 1961 and 1997, Hong Kong's gross domestic product increased significantly.

1963: The Chinese University of Hong Kong Established

In 1963, The Chinese University of Hong Kong was established to fill the need for a university that taught using Chinese as its primary language of instruction.

1967: Hong Kong Riots

In 1967, the Hong Kong riots occurred, with pro-PRC protestors clashing with the British colonial government.

1969: HK Cricket Association Granted ICC Membership

In 1969, the Hong Kong Cricket Association was granted associate membership of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

1972: Release of The Way of the Dragon

In 1972, the release of Bruce Lee's film "The Way of the Dragon" led to local productions becoming popular outside of Hong Kong.

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1975: Last Reported Snowfall

The last reported instance of snowfall in Hong Kong was on Tai Mo Shan in 1975.

1976: First Modern Dragon Boat Competition

In 1976, the first modern dragon boat competition was organized as part of the Tourism Board's efforts to promote Hong Kong.

1976: Hong Kong International Races Started

Since 1976, the Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) have been held and are acknowledged as starting the modern era of the dragon boatsport.

1978: Start of Reform and Opening Up on Mainland

Since the 1978 start of the reform and opening up on the mainland, economic and infrastructure integration with China has increased significantly.

1979: MacLehose Raises Question of Hong Kong's Status

In 1979, Governor Murray MacLehose raised the question of Hong Kong's status with Deng Xiaoping.

1979: Resumption of Cross-Boundary Train Service

Since resumption of cross-boundary train service in 1979, many rail and road links have been improved and constructed, facilitating trade between regions.

1983: Hosted Asian Basketball Championship

In 1983, Hong Kong hosted the official Asian Basketball Championship.

1984: Sino-British Joint Declaration

In 1984, the Sino-British Joint Declaration was signed, in which the United Kingdom agreed to the handover of the colony in 1997.

1987: Peak Migration Period

In 1987, The impending handover triggered a wave of mass emigration as residents feared an erosion of civil rights.

1989: Annual Tiananmen Square Commemorations Cancelled

Annual commemorations of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre were also cancelled amidst fears of violating the national security law.

August 1990: Record Highest Daily Minimum Temperature

On August 18, 1990, the record highest daily minimum temperature at the Hong Kong Observatory was 30.1 °C (86.2 °F).

1990: Hospital Authority Established

In 1990, the Hospital Authority was established to oversee and operate all public hospitals in Hong Kong.

1991: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Established

In 1991, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology was established.

1993: GDP Relative to Mainland China Peaks

In 1993, Hong Kong's GDP relative to mainland China's peaked at 27%.

1993: First International Dragon Boat Race

In 1993, overseas teams began competing in the first international dragon boat race in Hong Kong.

1994: Last Appearance in Commonwealth Games

In 1994, Hong Kong made its last appearance in the Commonwealth Games.

1994: University Status Granted

In 1994, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and City University of Hong Kong (CityU) both granted university status, The Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) also was granted university status and is a liberal arts institution.

1995: Legislative Council Becomes Fully Elected

In 1995, the Legislative Council became a fully elected legislature for the first time.

1996: First Olympic Gold Medal

In 1996, Lee Lai-shan won Hong Kong's first Olympic gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics.

1996: Peak Migration Period

In 1996, Over half a million people left the territory during the peak migration period, from 1987 to 1996.

July 1997: Handover of Hong Kong to China

In July 1997, the handover of Hong Kong to China occurred at midnight after 156 years of British rule.

1997: Peak GDP Relative to China

Between 1961 and 1997, Hong Kong's gross domestic product increased by a factor of 180, and per capita GDP increased by a factor of 87.

1997: Hong Kong Metropolitan University

In 1997, Hong Kong Metropolitan University (formerly as Open University of Hong Kong) attained status.

1997: Rugby World Cup Sevens in 1997

In 1997, Hong Kong hosted the Rugby World Cup Sevens.

1997: Asian Financial Crisis

In 1997, Hong Kong was severely affected by the Asian financial crisis, and the government used foreign exchange reserves to maintain the Hong Kong dollar's currency peg.

1997: Regal Wins ABC Champions Cup

In 1997, Hong Kong's Regal team won the ABC Champions Cup.

1997: Handover to China

In 1997, The United Kingdom handed over Hong Kong to China.

1997: Shipping Industry Competition

In 1997, half of China's trade goods were routed through Hong Kong, but the shipping industry faced intense competition as the mainland economy liberalized.

1998: Closure of Kai Tak International Airport

Kai Tak International Airport ended its operation in 1998.

1999: Lingnan University Status

In 1999, Lingnan University attained university status.

2003: SARS Epidemic

In 2003, Hong Kong experienced its most serious economic downturn during the SARS epidemic.

2003: Archaeological Investigation in Wong Tei Tung

In 2003, an archaeological investigation in Wong Tei Tung in the Sai Kung Peninsula revealed knapped stone tools from deposits.

2005: Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2005

Hong Kong hosted the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2005.

2006: Hong Kong Shue Yan University Status

In 2006, Hong Kong Shue Yan University attained full university status.

2008: 2008 Summer Olympics Equestrian Events

In 2008, Hong Kong hosted the equestrian events for the Summer Olympics.

2009: 2009 East Asian Games

Hong Kong hosted the East Asian Games in 2009.

2009: Gambling Turnover Per Race

In 2009, betting on horse races generated an average US$12.7 million in gambling turnover per race in Hong Kong.

2012: Hong Kong Cricket Sixes

Hong Kong hosted the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes, an ICC sanctioned event that features teams of six players in a six over competition annually till 2012.

2014: Hong Kong Defeats Bangladesh

In 2014, The Hong Kong Cricket Team qualified for ICC World Twenty20 and defeated the hosts Bangladesh.

2014: Umbrella Revolution

In 2014, the central government decision to implement nominee pre-screening before allowing chief executive elections triggered a series of protests which became known as the Umbrella Revolution.

2015: Decline in Trade Goods Routed Through Hong Kong

By 2015, only about 13% of China's trade goods were routed through Hong Kong, a decline from 50% in 1997.

January 2016: Record Lowest Temperature

On January 24, 2016, the lowest recorded temperature in all of Hong Kong was −6.0 °C (21.2 °F) at Tai Mo Shan.

2016: Tourism Contribution

In 2016, 26.6 million visitors contributed HK$258 billion (US$32.9 billion) to the territory.

2016: Education University of Hong Kong Status

In 2016, Education University of Hong Kong attained full university status.

2016: Legislative Council Elections

In 2016, discrepancies in the electoral registry and disqualification of elected legislators after the Legislative Council elections raised further concerns about the region's autonomy.

August 2017: Record High Temperature

On August 22, 2017, the historic temperature extreme at the Hong Kong Observatory was 36.6 °C (97.9 °F). Also, on August 22, 2017, the highest recorded temperature in all of Hong Kong was 39.0 °C (102 °F) at Wetland Park.

2017: Decline in Film Production

By 2017, the number of films produced annually in Hong Kong had declined to about 60, reflecting a shift in industry momentum to mainland China.

2017: GDP Falls Relative to Mainland China

In 2017, Hong Kong's GDP fell to less than 3% of mainland China's, as the mainland developed and liberalised its economy.

2018: Peak Rugby Ranking

From 2018 to 2022, Hong Kong national rugby union team is ranked 23rd in the world with a peak rating of 21st.

2018: Hang Seng University of Hong Kong Status

In 2018, Hang Seng University of Hong Kong attained full university status.

2018: Asia Rugby Championship First Place

In 2018, Hong Kong finished first place in the Asia Rugby Championship.

June 2019: Mass Protests Erupt

In June 2019, mass protests erupted in response to a proposed extradition amendment bill permitting the extradition of fugitives to mainland China.

2019: Asia Rugby Championship First Place

In 2019, Hong Kong finished first place in the Asia Rugby Championship.

2019: Large-Scale Protests

In response to large-scale protests in 2019 and 2020, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress passed the controversial Hong Kong national security law.

June 2020: National Anthem Ordinance Passed

In June 2020, the Legislative Council passed the National Anthem Ordinance, which criminalised "insults to the national anthem of China".

June 2020: Suspension of Extradition Treaties

In June 2020, the imposition of the Hong Kong national security law by the central government in Beijing resulted in the suspension of bilateral extradition treaties by several countries.

July 2020: End of Preferential Treatment by the United States

In July 2020, the United States ended its preferential economic and trade treatment of Hong Kong.

September 2020: Waterspout at Hong Kong International Airport

In September 2020, a waterspout occurred at Hong Kong International Airport.

October 2020: Arrests of Pro-Democracy Politicians

In October 2020, the Hong Kong Police arrested seven pro-democracy politicians over tussles with pro-Beijing politicians in the Legislative Council.

November 2020: Proposed Law Restricting Cryptocurrency Trading

In November 2020, Hong Kong's Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau proposed a new law that will restrict cryptocurrency trading to professional investors only.

2020: Second Olympic Gold Medal

In 2020, Cheung Ka Long won Hong Kong's second Olympic gold medal in Tokyo.

2020: Sharp Decline in Incoming Visitors

Since 2020, there has been a sharp decline in incoming visitors due to tight COVID-19 travel restrictions.

March 2021: Electoral System Amendments

In March 2021, the Chinese central government introduced amendments to Hong Kong's electoral system.

July 2021: Guinness World Record

Hong Kong Tramways currently holds the Guinness World Record as the "Largest double-decker tram fleet in service", certified on 30 July 2021, with a fleet of 165 double-decker trams.

October 2021: Lacrosse Team Wins Bronze Dalmatia Cup

In October 2021, Hong Kong's women's lacrosse team won the bronze Dalmatia Cup in Split, Croatia. Daphne Li won the tournament MVP award.

2021: Hong Kong Metropolitan University

Before 2021, Hong Kong Metropolitan University was formerly known as Open University of Hong Kong.

2021: Coa Ranked Asia's Best Bar in 2021

In 2021, Coa was ranked Asia's Best Bar.

2021: Trade Statistics

In 2021, Hong Kong was the ninth-largest trading entity in exports and eighth-largest in imports.

2021: Income Inequality

Median household income steadily increased during the decade to 2021, however the wage gap remained high. In 2021, the 90th percentile of earners received 41% of all income.

December 2022: Polling on Hong Kong Identity

In December 2022, polling data showed how residents identified themselves: 32% as "Hongkongers", 34.1% as "Hongkongers in China," 45.9% with a "Mixed Identity", 20.5% as "Chinese," and 11.9% as "Chinese in Hong Kong."

2022: Airlines Cease Operations

Following the closure of Russian airspace in 2022, multiple airlines ceased operations in Hong Kong.

2022: Peak Rugby Ranking

From 2018 to 2022, Hong Kong national rugby union team is ranked 23rd in the world with a peak rating of 21st.

2022: Coa Ranked Asia's Best Bar in 2022

In 2022, Coa was again ranked Asia's Best Bar.

2022: Ridership

In 2022, Hong Kong Tramways had a ridership of 42,558.

2022: Asia Rugby Championship First Place

In 2022, Hong Kong finished first place in the Asia Rugby Championship.

2022: Life Expectancy

In 2022, life expectancy in Hong Kong was 81.3 years for males and 87.2 years for females.

May 2023: Legislation Introduced to Reduce Directly Elected Seats

In May 2023, the Legislative Council introduced legislation to reduce the number of directly elected seats in the district councils.

May 2023: Reforms Proposed to District Council Electoral System

In May 2023, the government proposed reforms to the District Council electoral system which further cut the number of directly elected seats from 452 to 88, and total seats from 479 to 470.

July 2023: Reforms Approved by Legislative Council

In July 2023, the Legislative Council approved the reforms to the District Council electoral system.

2023: Coa Ranked Asia's Best Bar in 2023

Coa was ranked Asia's Best Bar in 2023.

2023: Asia Rugby Championship First Place

In 2023, Hong Kong finished first place in the Asia Rugby Championship.

2023: Government to Give Away Airline Tickets

In 2023, the Hong Kong government announced plans to give away 500,000 free airline tickets in an attempt to attract tourists back to Hong Kong.

2023: Birth Rate

In 2023, the birth rate in Hong Kong was 0.751 per woman of child-bearing age.

February 2024: "One Country, Two Systems" Principle

In February 2024, Xia Baolong said that the "one country, two systems" principle would be kept permanently.

July 2024: Closure of Train Service

On 31 July 2024, the train service was officially closed by the State Council, as announced by the General Administration of Customs.

September 2024: Tornado at Victoria Harbour

In September 2024, a tornado occurred at Victoria Harbour.

2024: Hybrid Regime

As of 2024, Hong Kong is governed by a hybrid regime that is not fully representative of the population.

2024: Alpha+ City Classification

As of 2024, Hong Kong was classified as an "Alpha+" city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.

2024: District Council Seats Total

As of 2024, there are a total of 470 district council seats, 88 of which are directly elected.

2024: Asia Rugby Championship First Place

In 2024, Hong Kong finished first place in the Asia Rugby Championship.

2024: Saint Francis University Status

In 2024, Saint Francis University attained full university status.

2024: Safeguarding National Security Ordinance Passed

In 2024, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance was passed by the Legislative Council.

2024: Government Looked Into Legalizing Ride-Hailing Services

In 2024, the government looked into legalizing unlicensed ride-hailing services such as Uber.

December 2025: Hong Kong Stock Exchange Capitalisation

As of December 2025, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange has a market capitalisation of HK$48.2 trillion (US$6.17 trillion).

2025: St Paul's Co-educational College Ranked 2nd

Hong Kong Schools offer world-class education with top-tier, high-ranking schools such as St Paul's Co-educational College ranked 2nd in Global Top IB Schools 2025 with a 42.4/45 average result.

2025: Bar Leone Ranked No. 1

In 2025, Bar Leone was ranked No. 1 on The World's 50 Best Bars.

2025: Asia Rugby Championship First Place

In 2025, Hong Kong finished first place in the Asia Rugby Championship.

2025: 2025 World Grand Prix (snooker)

In 2025, Hong Kong is set to host the World Grand Prix (snooker).

2025: Michelin Guide Starred Restaurants

In 2025, the Michelin Guide listed 76 starred restaurants in total in Hong Kong. Seven restaurants were awarded 3 Michelin Stars, 11 received 2 Michelin Stars, and 58 were given 1 Michelin Star. Additionally, Amber, Feuille, Mora, and Roganic received Green Stars for sustainability.

2025: Winning 2025 Asia Rugby Championship

They qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup for the first time by winning the 2025 Asia Rugby Championship.

2026: Public and Private Hospitals

As of 2026, Hong Kong has a total of 42 public hospitals and 11 private hospitals.

2026: QS Best Student Cities

In 2026, QS Best Student Cities ranked Hong Kong as the 17th best city for university students and 7th in Asia for best student cities.

2026: University of Hong Kong Rankings

In 2026, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine is ranked 18th worldwide in the Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings for Clinical and Health and 24th in the QS World University Rankings Medicine.