Historical Flags
Prior to Hong Kong's transfer of sovereignty, the flag of Hong Kong was a colonial Blue Ensign flag. The flag of colonial Hong Kong underwent several changes in the last one and a half centuries.
In 1843, a seal representing Hong Kong was instituted. The design was based on a local waterfront scene; three local merchants with their commercial goods can be found on the foreground, a square-rigged ship and a junk occupy the middle ground, while the background consists of conical hills and clouds. In 1868, a Hong Kong flag was produced, a Blue Ensign flag with a badge based on this "local scene", but the design was rejected by Hong Kong Governor Richard Graves MacDonnell.
In 1870, a "white crown over HK" badge for the Blue Ensign flag was proposed by the Colonial Secretary. The letters "HK" were omitted and the crown became full-colour three years later. It is unclear exactly what the badge looked like during that period of time, but it was unlikely to be the "local scene". It should have been a crown of some sort, which may, or may not, have had the letters "HK" below it. In 1876, the "local scene" badge was re-adopted to the Blue Ensign flag with the Admiralty's approval.
By 1955, the "local scene" badge in the Blue Ensign flag was revised. The new badge was similar to the 1876 badge, but had a slightly lower eye-line, and a more realistic mountain on the left-hand side. The mountain, the ship, and the junk were made more prominent and embossed.
A coat of arms for Hong Kong was granted on 21 January 1959 by the College of Arms in London. The Hong Kong flag was revised in the same year to feature the coat of arms in the Blue Ensign flag. This design was used officially from 1959 until Hong Kong's transfer of sovereignty in 1997. Since then, the colonial flag has been appropriated by protestors, such as on the annual July 1 marches for universal suffrage, as a "symbol of antagonism towards the mainland".
| Flag | Duration | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870–1876 | Flag of the British colony of Hong Kong | A British Blue Ensign with a crowned "HK". | |
| 1876–1910 | Flag of the British colony of Hong Kong | A British Blue Ensign with local waterfront scene. | |
| 1910–1959 | Flag of the British colony of Hong Kong | A British Blue Ensign with local waterfront scene. | |
| 1959–1997 | Flag of the British colony of Hong Kong | A British Blue Ensign with the coat of arms of Hong Kong (1959–1997). | |
| 1959–1997 | Unofficial Red ensign for Hong Kong used prior to the Handover to the PRC in 1997 | A British Red Ensign with the coat of arms of Hong Kong (1959–1997). | |
| 1986–1999 | Flag of the Regional Council | ||
| 1960s – 1999 | Flag of the Urban Council, Hong Kong |
Read more about this topic: Flag Of Hong Kong, History
Famous quotes containing the words historical and/or flags:
“What is the historical function of Parliament in this country? It is to prevent the Government from governing.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)
“The flags are natures newly found.
Rifles grow sharper on the sight.
There is a rumble of autumnal marching,
From which no soft sleeve relieves us.
Fate is the present desperado.”
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)