Treaty of Nanking

This was the first of a number of “unequal treaties” that focused the Chinese peoples’ resentment of “foreign privileges” which culminated in the Boxer Rebellion at the turn of the century. It provided “treaty ports” that facilitated the opium trade but, admittedly, other legitimate trade as well. Hong Kong was ceded to England and China paid an immense fine in silver to as an “indemnity”.

Foreigners had a special status, “extraterritoriality”, being subject to the laws of their home countries but immune from Chinese law. Chinese central government agencies throughout China were required to protect these foreign citizen rights. These included thousands of missionaries from throughout the Christian world who came, with much love, modern medicine, education and self-sacrifice, to bring the Christian message to China’s massive population.