In Mandarin, Hong Kong means "fragrant harbor", evoked by its location as one of the most beautiful natural harbors in the world. However, the name Hong Kong is derived from the Cantonese pronunciation of its name.

The history of Hong Kong began in 1842 when it was ceded in perpetuity to the British following their defeat of China in the so-called "Opium War". Before the British took over, It was home to only some fishing communities. Few people stayed there fore long due to its lack of water sources. It was also frequented by pirates who sometimes worked with the British to fuel the trade of opium.

From its humble beginnings as a backwater colony, the history of Hong Kong has seen the city go through rapid development and expansion of its territories. Warehouses, banks, ship repair facilities and stores sprang up quickly after the arrival of the British government. In 1862, the colony was expanded when the Chinese government ceded Kowloon to the British, also in perpetuity. The colony became famous as an innovative center for banking, shipping and insurance.

Major events in the history were those such as the third pandemic of the bubonic plague, a 3 year invasion by Japanese troops during World War II, as well as waves of refugees immigrating from China following the famines following the Great Leap and the Cultural Revolution. While there were fears that its economy would stagnate when it was returned to Chinese rule in 1997, the establishment of the "one country, two systems" policy allowed the former colonial territory to maintain a degree of autonomy and allow its existing social and economic systems to remain the same.

Hong Kong is a major financial and business hub in Asia. It is also a city that wields major influence over entertainment and fashion trends in the region.