[3] In 1842, following the Qing dynasty's defeat at the First Opium War (1839–1842), Hong Kong Island was formally ceded in perpetuity to the United Kingdom under the Treaty of Nanking.

The island is home to many famous tourists sights, such as "The Peak", Ocean Park, Former Central Police Station Compound, Murray House, and many other historical sites and various large shopping centres.

[5] In 214 BC, the Qin dynasty defeated the Baiyue, and absorbed areas of what is now Guangdong, Guangxi, and northern Vietnam.

Hong Kong Island was part of the annexed land and was listed under the jurisdiction of Panyu County (番禺縣) of the Nanhai Commandery (南海郡).

On the sixth year of the Eastern Jin dynasty (AD 331), Hong Kong Island was listed under the jurisdiction of Baoan County (寶安縣).

[8] The ban was lifted when the remnants of the Ming dynasty were exterminated in 1669, though not many original residents of Hong Kong Island returned to the area.

[9] Following the First Opium War (1839–1842), Hong Kong Island was ceded to Great Britain in 1842 under the Treaty of Nanking and the territory became a Crown colony.

As Wong Nai Chung Gap was a strategically important location of defence, large-scale defensive works were constructed there, including anti-aircraft batteries, howitzers and machine gun nests.

British, Canadian and Indian armies and the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Forces resisted the Japanese invasion commanded by Sakai Takashi, which began eight hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

However, the Japanese took control of the Hong Kong skies on the first day of attack and outnumbered the defenders, which retreated from the Gin Drinkers Line and consequently from Kowloon under heavy aerial bombardment and artillery barrage.

On 18 December, the Japanese had conquered North Point, reaching the Wong Nai Chung Gap on the following day.

English, Scottish forces and the Canadian Winnipeg Grenadiers vigorously defended the crucial point of Wong Nai Chung Gap, and for a while successfully secured the passage between Central and the secluded southern parts of the island.

The Japanese enforced a repatriation policy throughout the period of occupation due to the scarcity of food and the possible counter-attack of the Allies.

[11] The population of Hong Kong Island grew exponentially after the Second World War and the Communist revolution in China.

Many undeveloped or underdeveloped areas Hong Kong Island such as North Point, Shau Kei Wan, Aberdeen and Wong Chuk Hang began its development and urbanisation.

Sections 1 and 2 of the Wilson Trail across the New Territories of Hong Kong and Kowloon also passes through Tai Tam Country Park and its Quarry Bay Extension.

Visits to the marine reserve by the public is discouraged, with water sports and costal recreational activities prohibited in the area.

The combined population of Central and Western, Wan Chai, and Eastern is 925,200, giving this urbanised part of the island a density of around 22,500 per km2, or 58,000 per mi2, in its approximately 41.3 km2 (15.9 sq mi).

Affluent districts on Hong Kong Island are The Peak, Western Mid-Levels (Conduit Road/Robinson Road/Magazine Gap Road/Kotewall Road etc.

The largest ethnic minority groups are Filipinos (5.6%), Indonesians (2.6%), and White people (2.5%) [1] As of 2021, 80.4% of Hong Kong Island's residents use Cantonese as their usual language, while 10.6% use English and 3.3% use Mandarin.

The ferry service travels in the Victoria Harbour to sightseeing attractions of Hong Kong, such as the Hong Kong Observation Wheel, International Financial Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, West Kowloon Cultural District and Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.

[27] The Aberdeen Tunnel provides a link from Happy Valley and Wong Chuk Hang, with the toll fee being HK$5.

It was built to accommodate the growing population in Ap Lei Chau, which the residents could only access the island by boats prior to the construction of the bridge.