Chronicle / 1850s
1850s — Hong Kong milestones
9 checked, dated milestones (1850 to 1859). Each entry carries the date, the fact and a primary official source; 9 of them also carry a hand-written English memory note or background paragraph.
中文原句、引用格式同背景聲明只有中文版：見香港大事記 · 1850 年代。 本頁唔會機翻任何中文內容；缺英文欄位嘅條目會照實標明。
1850
The first two unofficial members are appointed to the Legislative Council, marking the beginning of unofficial participation in legislation.
Memory The first two unofficial members were drawn from the business community, beginning unofficial participation in law-making.
Background In 1850, the first two unofficial members were appointed to the Legislative Council, marking the beginning of unofficial participation in legislation. The two unofficial members were drawn from the business community, beginning the practice of unofficial participation in law-making. The arrangement meant that, for the first time, the council included members drawn from society alongside official members. Official members held government posts, while unofficial members came from different parts of society. It was an early step in widening the council beyond those who held government office.
Source Historical development of the Legislature（Legislative Council of the HKSAR） · official publication
Chinese original & citation →
1851 · 中西區（中環）
St Paul's College is founded in 1851, one of Hong Kong's earliest schools and a pioneer of English education.
Memory Founded by the Anglican Church among Hong Kong's earliest Western-style schools, it later developed into a direct-subsidy English-medium college.
Background St Paul's College was founded by the Anglican Church in 1851, making it one of the earliest Western-style schools in Hong Kong and a pioneer of English education for Chinese pupils. In the decades after Hong Kong became a British colony, missionary bodies were the main providers of such schooling. Teaching mainly in English, the college gave early Chinese students a route into Western learning. It later developed into a direct-subsidy English-medium secondary school, and its founding year is recorded in its own official history gallery.
Source St Paul's College: History Tunnel（St Paul's College） · official publication
Chinese original & citation →
1851
The government digs wells for public water supply, marking the beginning of public water provision in Hong Kong.
Memory Public wells were sunk beside urban streets, before which residents relied mainly on hill streams and private wells.
Background In 1851 the government sank wells for public use, marking the beginning of public water supply in Hong Kong. The wells were placed beside urban streets to give residents a more fixed point at which to draw water. Before that, residents relied mainly on hill streams and private wells, and access to water was less secure. The appearance of public wells changed how part of the population obtained water for daily use, and it was an early step in the government taking on responsibility for supplying the city with water.
Source Waterworks milestones and heritage（Water Supplies Department） · official publication
Chinese original & citation →
1853
The first Chinese-language periodical, "Chinese Serial", is founded by the London Missionary Society.
Memory Published by the London Missionary Society's Morrison Education Society, it was an early Chinese-language publication introducing Western learning.
Background In 1853, the first Chinese-language periodical, the Chinese Serial, was founded, published by the Morrison Education Society of the London Missionary Society. It was an early Chinese-language publication introducing Western learning to Chinese readers. Its publication reflected the work of missionary bodies in Hong Kong in introducing Western knowledge to the Chinese through Chinese printed materials. Such publications helped spread new ideas among literate Chinese residents and held an important place in the early history of Chinese publishing in Hong Kong.
Source Hong Kong Yearbook 2021, Chapter 22: History（Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region） · official publication
Chinese original & citation →
1854
During the Taiping Rebellion, large numbers of refugees from mainland China arrive in Hong Kong, causing rapid population growth.
Memory Many refugees settled around Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun, sharply raising the Chinese share of the population and nurturing early Chinese merchant networks.
Background In 1854, during the Taiping Rebellion, large numbers of refugees from mainland China moved south into Hong Kong, causing rapid population growth. Many settled around Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun, sharply raising the Chinese share of the population and nurturing early Chinese merchant and market networks. This wave of migration changed Hong Kong's demographic make-up, supplying labour for later commercial activity and community development while also bringing urban problems such as housing and sanitation.
Source Hong Kong Chronicles: Overview and Chronology (c. 5000 BC–2017, over 6,500 events)（Hong Kong Chronicles Institute） · official publication
Chinese original & citation →
1856
The Second Opium War (Arrow War) breaks out, eventually leading to the signing of the Convention of Peking.
Memory Triggered by incidents such as the Arrow affair, the war led to the Convention of Beijing and the cession of Kowloon.
Background In 1856, the Second Opium War, also known as the Arrow War, broke out. Triggered by incidents such as the Arrow affair, the war later led to the signing of the Convention of Beijing and the cession of Kowloon. This was the second time the foreign powers used force against China. Its outcome directly affected the extent of Hong Kong's territory, since new land was added to the colony as a result. During the war, Anglo-French forces advanced north and eventually forced the Qing government to sign a treaty.
Source Hong Kong Yearbook 2021, Chapter 22: History（Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region） · official publication
Chinese original & citation →
1857
The Poisoned Bread Incident occurs, in which a Chinese baker is accused of poisoning bread, shocking the community.
Memory Chinese bakers were accused of poisoning bread, sparking panic and tensions between Chinese and Europeans.
Background In 1857, the Poisoned Bread Incident occurred, in which a Chinese baker was accused of poisoning bread, shocking the community at the time. The case involved Chinese bakers accused of poisoning bread, sparking panic and tensions between Chinese and European residents. The affair drew widespread attention in Hong Kong society and deepened suspicion between the Chinese and European communities of the period. The case caused a sensation and became one of the notable episodes of Hong Kong's early colonial years.
Source Hong Kong Yearbook 2021, Chapter 22: History（Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region） · official publication
Chinese original & citation →
1858 · 中西區（中環）
Pottinger Street in Central is named after first Governor Sir Henry Pottinger and later famed as the stone-slab street.
Memory Named after first Governor Pottinger, its steep slope is paved with stone slabs, earning the name Stone Slab Street.
Background In 1858 the government named a street in Central Pottinger Street to commemorate the first Governor, Sir Henry Pottinger. Because of its steep slope the street was paved with stone slabs to give pedestrians better footing, and it became popularly known as Stone Slab Street. Naming streets after governors was a common practice in early Hong Kong, and the street later became a well-known Central landmark whose stone surface forms part of the Central and Western heritage trail, used by traders and residents alike.
Source AMO: Central & Western heritage trail — Pottinger Street（Antiquities and Monuments Office） · official publication
Chinese original & citation →
1859 · 中環（渣打銀行）
Standard Chartered opens a branch in Hong Kong, among the longest-established British banks operating in the city.
Memory Standard Chartered, HSBC and Bank of China (Hong Kong) are the city's three note-issuing banks.
Background Standard Chartered opened a branch in Hong Kong in 1859, making it one of the longest-established British banks operating in the city. Banks played an important part in the trade and finance of colonial Hong Kong, handling payments and credit for merchants. Many institutions founded in this period helped finance trade between China and the rest of the world. Today, Standard Chartered, along with HSBC and Bank of China (Hong Kong), is one of the three banks authorised to issue Hong Kong banknotes.
Source Standard Chartered Hong Kong history (founded 1859)（Standard Chartered (Hong Kong)） · official publication
Chinese original & citation →
