Britain leases the New Territories: 99-year Hong Kong convention

Geopolitical Context. Following China's defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War, European powers pressured the Qing Empire into various territorial concessions. Germany secured a lease of Kiautschou Bay, Russia obtained Port Arthur, and France acquired Guangzhouwan. Britain, anxious about these shifts and the balance of power, pressured Qing China to lease Weihaiwei and subsequently demanded an extension of Kowloon to counter French influence in Indochina.

Treaty Terms. The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory was signed in Peking on 9 June 1898. It leased the New Territories, defined as the area north of Boundary Street and south of the Sham Chun River, along with New Kowloon and 235 islands, to the United Kingdom for 99 years at no charge. These territories became part of the crown colony of Hong Kong.

Implementation and Resistance. Although the convention became effective on 1 July 1898, the British did not immediately take over the New Territories. In 1899, local clans fearing for their traditional land rights attempted to resist British administration during the Six-Day War, mobilizing militias previously organized for pirate defense. The lease was scheduled to expire in 1997, leading to later diplomatic negotiations.