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Hong Kong prior to the British
The Hong Kong area has been inhabited for thousands of years. Long before
the British arrived on these shores. A 4,500 year-old burial ground has
been unearthed on Lantau Island and numerous petroglyphs exist as well.
Hong Kong's early inhabitation can still be seen on journeys to outlying
islands. There are ancient defensive walls, moats and gatehouses protecting
the settlements from pre-colonial days . Many of these areas have subsequently
become fishing villages.
About 2,000 years ago, during the Han Dynasty, China claimed Hong Kong
and the
surrounding area. The Cantonese, a group of Chinese people with their own distinct
language, migrated here during the 14th Century. Interestingly, many people
continue to pay rent to descendants of the dominant settler families, known
as the "Five Great Clans."
By the 17th Century, the Hong Kong region was infamous for piracy. To
solve the problem, the ruling Manchus evacuated the coastal area. During
this period a new group of emigrants arrived from the north. Known as
the Hakka or "guest" people, they farmed rice, pineapples,
tea and incense .
To learn more about Hong Kong's over 4,000 years of pre-colonial history,
visit the Hong Kong Museum of History.
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