In 1838, England imported approximately 1,400 tonnes of opium to China per year. As a result, the Chinese banned the medication, and war broke out between the two countries. China eventually lost, and Hong Kong, which was under British rule until 1997, was ceded.
In the early 1800s, China and England began trading opium. The trade was little at first, but it gradually developed. By 1838, England was importing over 1,400 tonnes of opium per year to China.
The Chinese government quickly recognised the dangers of opium and outlawed it. This resulted in the Opium War between China and England. China subsequently lost the war and handed Hong Kong to the British as part of the peace accord.
Hong Kong was under British sovereignty until 1997, when it was handed back to China. The opium trade was important in both Chinese and English history, and its consequences can still be felt today.