The Treaty of Nanking

The Treaty of Nanking
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Treaties are quite crucial relative to the fact that they bring about peace between the parties and in the neighboring regions. They also enhance relations between the parties and form a basis for growth socially and economically. One such treaty is referred to as the treaty of Nanking and it influence were felt around the world, for the countries that used the Hong Kong ports to trade. Some of the effects of the treaty are experienced today in Hong Kong and will continue for centuries to come.[. Ocw.mit.edu, 'MIT Visualizing Cultures', last modified 2011, accessed November 2, 2015, http://ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/21f/21f.027/opium_wars_01/ow1_essay04.html.]
The treaty of Nanking marked one of the influential agreements that were ever made in china and it took place in the year 1842. The treaty had been signed between china and the Great Britain. At the time the parties signing were the Emperor of China and Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain. The treaty would change the entire framework that was used in the foreign trade. Part of the agreement meant that the Chinese authorities had to turn over the Hong Kong Island to the British. With the ceding of the Hong Kong Island, the British finally had a port through which they could use to unload their goods. The treaty further ended the first Opium War. The British Empire had been relying on importing tea from china and at the same time they exported items such watches. At the time the imbalance of trade still remained at its highest prompting the British to export opium to china to bring down the difference. However, china objected to the importation of opium, which prompted the first opium war. The treaty was also unequal given that china had to pay the British for indemnity relative to more than 21 million, release all the British prisoners of war.[. Canterbury.ac.nz, 'The Treaty Of Nanking 1841 - Voyages Of Pacific Discovery - Library - University Of Canterbury', last modified 2015, accessed November 2, 2015, /voyages/herald/nanking.shtml.] [. Victorianweb.org, 'England And China: The Opium Wars, 1839-60', last modified 2006, accessed November 2, 2015, /history/empire/opiumwars/opiumwars1.html.]
Relative to its position, the British use Hong Kong as an entry point to china, thereby making it a central pillar to international trade between Britain and Asia. With the treaty a good majority of the British settlers coming to Hong Kong, there were quite a number of revolutions. Relative to the deep harbor, Hong Kong steadily rose through the ranks to become of the leading port. Its position also made one of the favorite route connecting East Asia, Europe, South East Asia as well as Ameri...