Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Non-Fiction 2017 | Page 31

The Opium War of Old Shanghai
Yew Chung International School, Chan, Lok Ching - 9
T
his all started in Shanghai. In the year of 1730, she was about when the British exported about 15 tons of opium to
Shanghai. But then, in the year of 1770, there were at least 75 tons! There was so much, that the Qin Dynasty
banned the exportation of opium to China in 1799.
In 1839, Lin-Tse Hsu had demanded that traders must stop sending opium in. In the same year, British sent
warships over to the coastal path of China.
Since the British couldn’t export to China, they asked the Portuguese Governor politely if they could perhaps use
Macau as a port. But sadly, the Portuguese Governor declined the request in fear that the Qin Government would halt
the exportation of goods to Macau. So, after the British heard, they got angry and declared war on the Chinese, but
unfortunately, China lost the dreadful battle and Hong Kong was given to the British.