Hong Kong was ceded to Great Britain following China’s defeat in the First Opium War, 1839 to 1842. The tiny hamlet had less than 10,000 inhabitants when handed over to the British, but has since grown into a thriving metropolis. Hong Kong ranks as the fourth most densely populated area in the world; Macau is first.
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The junk, a sailing vessel found throughout Asia, came into widespread use during the Song Dynasty, 960 to 1279. Junks vary in size and purpose, but the one shared feature is their use of a batten sail fastened to a mast lacking shrouds or stays. The sail is held rigid through the use of battens, light weight wood, passing horizontally along the vertical length of the sail. Large junks capable of traveling the open seas were used in Asia during the 16th and 17th century; some were three-masted and required crews of more than 100 sailors.
