British Hong Kong British Hong Kong British Hong Kong denotes the period during which Hong Kong was governed as a colony and British Dependent Territory of the United Kingdom. Excluding the Japanese occupation during the Second World War, Hong Kong was under British rule from 1841 to 1997. The colonial period began with the occupation of Hong Kong Island in 1841 during the First Opium War. The island was ceded by Qing China in the aftermath of the war in 1842 and established as a Crown colony in 1843. The colony expanded to the Kowloon Peninsula in 1860 after the Second Opium War
Postage stamps and postal history of Hong Kong only British soldiers in Hong Kong could use British stamps while other local residents did not have any. Hong Kong has issued a variety of stamps since 1862. Hong Kong formerly produced postage stamps with the name "Hong Kong", with the face of the reigning monarchs of the United Kingdom, or with the royal symbols (e.g. "E.R."). After the Hong Kong's transfer of sovereignty to China, all further issues bore the name "Hong Kong, China"; British Hong Kong postage stamps were no longer valid for the prepayment of postage, nor did the Post Office offer to repurchase them. publication) Postage