British Hong Kong 英屬香港 Yīng shǔ xiānggǎng

Following the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, Hong Kong Island was ceded by the Qing Dynasty to Great Britain, marking the beginning of formal British colonial rule. The first British post office in Hong Kong was established shortly after, in 1844, to serve the growing needs of trade, governance, and military communication in the colony. Over time, the British developed a comprehensive postal system across Hong Kong, introducing their own postage stamps starting in 1862, initially featuring Queen Victoria. As Hong Kong expanded with the lease of the New Territories in 1898, the postal network grew accordingly, solidifying the British presence. The colony remained under British control until July 1, 1997, when it was returned to China under the "one country, two systems" agreement.