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<h2>Introduction to Hong Kong's Intriguing History</h2>
<p>Hong Kong is a vibrant city known for its towering skyscrapers and bustling streets, but its history is just as captivating. Many misconceptions persist about Hong Kong's past, often overshadowing the rich and diverse narrative that truly defines it. In this post, we unravel the top five myths about Hong Kong's history, shedding light on the facts that are often overlooked.</p>

<h3>Myth 1: Hong Kong Was Always a British Colony</h3>
<p>One of the most common myths is that Hong Kong was always under British rule. While the British did control Hong Kong for over 150 years, starting in 1842, the area has a long history that predates this period. Before the British arrived, Hong Kong was under Chinese sovereignty for centuries, with its earliest recorded history dating back to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC).</p>

<figure id="figure-bx9agth7xhmf0zv74c"><img id="bx9agth7xhmf0zv74c" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2189164553/photo/old-temple.jpg?b=1&s=2048x2048&w=0&k=20&c=jcWVSrI2TvGV1NhN_BHmPPNmy7Mx9LsfQo8GAK70zmY=" alt="hong kong history" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9"></figure>

<h3>Myth 2: Hong Kong Is Just a City</h3>
<p>Many people mistakenly believe that Hong Kong is merely a city. In reality, it is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, comprising three main regions: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, and the New Territories. Each area has its own unique history and cultural significance, contributing to the diverse tapestry that makes up Hong Kong.</p>

<h3>Myth 3: The Handover Was Seamless</h3>
<p>The 1997 handover of Hong Kong from British to Chinese sovereignty is often perceived as a smooth transition. However, the reality was far more complex. The handover was preceded by years of negotiation and uncertainty. Many residents were apprehensive about what the future would hold under Chinese rule, leading to a significant emigration wave during the 1990s.</p>

<figure id="figure-8q9abesmbmf0zv74c"><img id="8q9abesmbmf0zv74c" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/598674362/photo/hong-kong-under-chinese-rule.jpg?b=1&s=2048x2048&w=0&k=20&c=mXxd_r8LxyhG7GpA7w8aZgQ4YiyQ9fNEq0d32z4EWZs=" alt="hong kong handover" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9"></figure>

<h3>Myth 4: Hong Kong’s Economy Always Thrived</h3>
<p>While Hong Kong is now known as an economic powerhouse, it wasn't always so prosperous. Post-World War II, Hong Kong faced significant economic challenges. It wasn't until the 1950s and 1960s, with an influx of refugees from mainland China and rapid industrialization, that Hong Kong began its transformation into a global financial hub.</p>

<h3>Myth 5: Hong Kong's Culture Is Entirely Westernized</h3>
<p>Despite its colonial past, Hong Kong retains a deeply rooted Chinese cultural identity. Traditional festivals like the Mid-Autumn Festival and Chinese New Year are celebrated with great fervor. The city's architecture, cuisine, and language reflect a harmonious blend of Eastern and Western influences, creating a unique cultural mosaic.</p>

<figure id="figure-0nwib6reomf0zv74c"><img id="0nwib6reomf0zv74c" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1155466574/photo/group-of-joyful-young-asian-man-and-woman-having-fun-passing-and-sharing-food-across-table.jpg?b=1&s=2048x2048&w=0&k=20&c=dQsaZ3ZBDWTmgVnZkpHqyQJylvGhi08DqWrJGD-De_Y=" alt="hong kong culture" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9"></figure>

<h2>Conclusion: Understanding the Real History</h2>
<p>Dispelling these myths allows us to appreciate the true essence of Hong Kong's history—a narrative of resilience, adaptation, and cultural fusion. By recognizing these historical truths, we gain a deeper understanding of Hong Kong's identity and its role on the global stage. Whether you're a history buff or simply curious about this fascinating region, exploring Hong Kong's past offers valuable insights into its vibrant present and future.</p>

Top 5 Myths About Hong Kong's History: What You Didn't Know

<h3>注意：此題目原是 DSE PAST PAPER <span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit;" data-mce-style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">試題，但為免侵犯版權，題目經過修改，同學可以自行查閱原題目。</span></h3><h3><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;" data-mce-style="font-family: inherit;">©Aaron Chung 保留版權，嚴禁抄襲，翻印或以任何形式發佈和出售，一經發現，定必追究到底！&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br>如非經本人指導而使用失當，本人概不負責</span></strong></h3><p><strong><br data-mce-bogus="1"></strong></p><p><strong>(c) Do you agree that nationalism does not necessarily lead to the Great War? (8 marks)&nbsp; 你是否同意歐洲的民族主義不一定會導致大戰爆發？(8分)</strong></p><p>I do not agree.&nbsp; &nbsp;我不同意。</p><table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" border="1" data-mce-style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 20%; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px;" data-mce-style="width: 20%; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px;"><p><strong>Source A</strong></p><p><strong>資料 A</strong></p></td><td style="width: 50%; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px;" data-mce-style="width: 50%; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px;"><p>From Source A, the scout handbook stated that 'I am sure that if you boys will keep the well-being of your country in your eyes above everything else, our Empire will go on all right.' But 'if you don't do this, there is very great danger, because we have many enemies abroad, and they are growing daily stronger and stronger.'</p><p>It shows that Britain emphasized sacrifice for the country and demanded unconditional obedience from its people. Such extreme nationalism worried other countries and became a driving force that made a general war inevitable.</p><p>根據資料 A，童軍手冊指出「倘若你們這些男孩能視自己國家的福祉為首要之事，則我們的帝國將安然延續下去。」，更強調「如果你們不這麼做，則我們將危在旦夕，因為我們的外敵眾多，而他們又日益強大」。</p><p>這反映英國強調國民應為國家犧牲，並要求人民無條件服從。這種極端的民族主義令其他國家感到憂慮，並成為推動全面戰爭爆發的驅動力。<br></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width: 20%; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px;" data-mce-style="width: 20%; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px;"><p><strong>Source A</strong></p><p><strong>資料 A</strong></p></td><td style="width: 50%; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px;" data-mce-style="width: 50%; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px;"><p>From Source A, the handbook also stated that 'Remember it is going to be the business of everyone of you to keep our national flag flying, even if you have to bleed for it - just as your forefathers did before you.'</p><p>It shows that scouts had to protect their nation from collapsing by means of war. This kind of nationalism that advocated war to defend national interests would also make a general war inevitable.&nbsp;</p><p>根據資料 A，手冊提到「你們要記住：讓國旗飄揚不落，將是你們每一個人的事，即使要為此而灑血，一如你們的先輩所做的。」</p><p>這反映童軍必須透過戰爭來保護國家免於崩潰。這種以戰爭捍衛國家利益的民族主義，會使全面戰爭成為不可避免的結果。</p></td></tr><tr><td style="width: 20%; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px;" data-mce-style="width: 20%; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px;"><p><strong>Source B</strong></p><p><strong>資料 B</strong></p></td><td style="width: 50%; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px;" data-mce-style="width: 50%; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px;"><p>From Source B, it was regarded at least by some that Germany’s ‘necessary policy was expansion’. It shows that Europe would be inevitable dragged into war due to German ambitions. This kind of nationalism that advocated war to expand their own country would also make a general war inevitable.</p><p>根據資料 B，有部分英國人認為「擴張是德國必然採取的政策」。</p><p>這反映由於德國的野心，歐洲不可避免地會被捲入戰爭。這種以擴張本國為目的的民族主義，主張透過戰爭來實現國家利益，也使全面戰爭成為不可避免的結果。</p></td></tr><tr><td style="width: 20%; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px;" data-mce-style="width: 20%; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px;"><p><strong>Own Knowledge 1</strong></p><p><strong>個人所知 1</strong></p></td><td style="width: 50%; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px;" data-mce-style="width: 50%; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px;"><p>From my own knowledge, the Germans upheld Pan-Germanism, which held that Germans were superior and promoted foreign expansion to unite all Germans under the rule of Germany. During the Sarajevo Incident, Germany offered a ‘blank cheque’ to Austria-Hungary, with which it shared strong ethnic ties, as about one-third of Austria-Hungary’s population were ethnic Germans. This strengthened Austria-Hungary’s determination to start a war by issuing a harsh ultimatum to Serbia, which expanded the scope of the conflict from an Austro-Serbian local battle to a war between Pan-Germanism and Pan-Slavism. It shows that nationalism necessarily led to the Great War. Nationalism not only intensified regional conflicts, but also made countries more inclined to defend or expand their own interests by force, ultimately making total war an inevitable outcome.</p><p>據我所知，德國人支持泛日耳曼主義，認為日耳曼人是優越的，並促進對外擴張以將所有日耳曼人置於德國的統治之下。在塞拉耶佛事件期間，德國向奧匈帝國提供「空白支票」，兩國因約三分之一奧匈人口為日耳曼人而有深厚的民族聯繫。這加強了奧匈對塞爾維亞發動戰爭的決心，並透過發出苛刻的最後通牒，使衝突從奧塞之間的地區性戰爭擴大為泛日耳曼主義與泛斯拉夫主義之間的全面對抗。這反映民族主義必然導致第一次世界大戰的爆發。民族主義不僅激化了地區衝突，也使各國更傾向以武力捍衛或擴展自身利益，最終使全面戰爭成為不可避免的結果。</p></td></tr><tr><td style="width: 20%; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px;" data-mce-style="width: 20%; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px;"><p><strong>Own Knowledge 2</strong></p><p><strong>個人所知 2</strong></p></td><td style="width: 50%; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px;" data-mce-style="width: 50%; border-style: solid; border-width: 2px;"><p>Moreover, Serbia also started the Greater Serbia Movement with a view to expanding its territory and had been resentful about the Austro-Hungarian territorial expansion in the Balkans. In 1914, the Austro-Hungarian heir presumptive to the throne Archduke Ferdinand visited Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, for a military parade. Provoked by the visit, an extreme Serb nationalist assassinated the archduke. This assassination made Austria-Hungary determined to punish Serbia harshly and triggered a world war that was no longer preventable.&nbsp;Austria-Hungary issued a harsh ultimatum to Serbia and insisted on starting a war even though Serbia accepted most of the terms.&nbsp;</p><p>據我所知，塞爾維亞發起了「大塞爾維亞運動」，意圖擴張領土，並對奧匈帝國在巴爾幹地區的擴張感到不滿。1914 年，奧匈帝國的皇位繼承人斐迪南大公前往波士尼亞與赫塞哥維納首都薩拉耶佛參加軍事閱兵。這次訪問激怒了一名激進的塞爾維亞民族主義者，最終導致斐迪南遭到暗殺。這場刺殺事件使奧匈帝國決心嚴懲塞爾維亞，並引發了一場無法避免的世界大戰。奧匈帝國向塞爾維亞發出了苛刻的最後通牒，並堅持開戰，即使塞爾維亞接受了大部分條款。</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br data-mce-bogus="1"></p><p><br data-mce-bogus="1"></p>

Aaron Chung History

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Top 5 Myths About Hong Kong's History: What You Didn't Know

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