Historical Events tagged with "kowloon"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Accidents & Tragedies

CAAC Flight 301 Crashes into Kowloon Bay

August 31st, 1988 36 years ago

CAAC Flight 301, a scheduled passenger flight from Chengdu to Hong Kong, overshot the runway at Kai Tak Airport and crashed into Kowloon Bay. Of the 53 people on board, seven fatalities were reported, including five passengers and two crew members. The incident was attributed to a combination of pilot error and adverse weather conditions. Emergency response teams quickly arrived at the scene, providing assistance to survivors and conducting search operations for the missing.

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Transportation & Infrastructure

Kowloon-Canton Railway Starts Operations

October 5th, 1911 113 years ago

The Kowloon-Canton Railway officially commenced its regular passenger service in 1911. Stretching approximately 34 miles, the railway connects Kowloon, in Hong Kong, to Canton (present-day Guangzhou), in mainland China. This crucial transportation link was celebrated for enhancing trade and travel between the two regions, significantly impacting local economies and cultures. The railway drew attention for its engineering innovations, including the use of tunnels and bridges to navigate challenging terrains. With its opening, the Kowloon-Canton Railway marked a new era of connectivity between Hong Kong and southern China.

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Politics & Government

Qing China Cedes Kowloon to Britain

October 24th, 1860 164 years ago

The Convention of Peking marked the conclusion of the Second Opium War, with Qing China formally ceding Kowloon to the British Empire. Negotiated at the end of the war, the agreement served to solidify British control in the region. The treaty allowed for increased trade and opened more areas for foreign influence in China. This event defined the future of Hong Kong and its surrounding territories under British colonial rule.

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Military & Warfare

British Ships Clash with Chinese War Junks

September 4th, 1839 185 years ago

British naval forces opened fire on Chinese war junks enforcing a food sales embargo meant to block the British community's access to vital supplies in Kowloon. This marked a significant skirmish in the escalating tensions surrounding opium trade in China, leading to the First Opium War. The British sought to secure trade rights, while China was adamant about curbing opium imports. As a result, the confrontation exacerbated hostilities between the two nations.

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