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Raising the Colours at Possession Point 175 Years Ago

Posted: January 26th, 2016 | No Comments »

Just for the record – January 26th marked the 175th anniversary of Great Britain formally occupying Hong Kong in 1841, which China later formally cedes.

The island was actually occupied on the 20th but Commodore Sir James John Gordon Bremmer raised the Union Jack and claimed Hong Kong as a colony on 26 January 1841. Bremmer rather liked claiming things – in 1824 he claimed the north coast of Australia from 129° to 135° longitude  as British territory. In 1841 Bremmer reported back, “proceeded to Hong Kong, and took formal possession of the island in Her Majesty’s name, and hoisted the colours on it, with the usual salutes and ceremonies.”

He did all that by the way at Possession Point which is now quite a way inland, due to reclamation.

220px-Sir_James_Bremer

 



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