Appendix 1: Sun Yat-sen’s revolutionary work and his activities in Hong Kong (Dr. Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail check points)
(Source：Central & Western District Council.
Dr. Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail)
5. Original site of The Government Central School.
(The Government Central School is the first
government-run secondary school that provides
westernised modern education. Sun Yat-sen was a
senior secondary graduate of the school).
4. Original site of Queen’s
College
The Red House in Tuen Mun (the
military base where Sun Yat-sen and
members of the Xingzhonghui/
Revive China Society planned their
revolutionary work)
7. Original site of the Furen Literary Society/
Chinese Patriotic Mutual Improvement
Association (gathering place for revolutionists)
舊址 (革命人士聚會之地)
1. Original site for Diocesan Home and
Orphanage/Diocesan Boys' School
(founded by Anglican Church, it is the
first school that Sun Yat-sen studied in
Hong Kong)
2. Original site of the Old Reception
Centre of the Tongmenghui (Kui In Fong).
Tongmenghui /United League/ Chinese
Revolutionary Alliance was founded by
Sun Yat-sen in 1905. The location was
used to house revolutionaries that travelled
between Hong Kong and Guangzhou)
6. Meeting place for “Four Desperados”
(Original site for Yang Yao Ji; the four
budding revolutionists often gathered in Yang
Yao Ji shop to discuss revolution)
3. Original Site of the American Congregational
Mission Preaching House (When Sun Yat-sen studied
in The Central School, he received Christian Baptism
in this church, and was given his name “Rixin”; this
was the origin of his later known name “Yat-sen”.)
8. Original Site of the Alice Memorial Hospital
and Hong Kong College of Medicine (Sun
Yat-sen transferred from Boji Hospital in
Guangzhou to the College for 5 years of medical
training, and graduated with distinction)
Locations on Hong Kong Island
related to Sun Yat-sen’s
activities
10. Original Site of the Hong Kong Headquarters
of Xingzhonghui/Hong Kong Revive China
Society. The Hong Kong Xingzhonghui was
founded by Sun Yat-sen as a revolutionary
organisation to overthrow the Qing Government.
The headquarters are located here and its
anti-Qing activities covered under the business
name “Qian Heng Hang”.
9. Original Site of the Daoji Mission
House/ To Tsai Church (During his
medical studies, Sun Yat-sen came
here for gatherings and many fellow
church-goers were supporters of the
revolution)
11. Original Site of Xing Yan Lou
Western Restaurant (Meeting place for
Sun Yat-sen and his peers)
12. Original site of China Daily (news
agency (The newspaper was launched in
Hong Kong in 1900 by Chen Shaobai
under the orders of Sun Yat-sen. It is the
first newspaper that published anti-Qing
commentaries. Besides issuing
revolutionary publications, the agency
also served as a point of liaison between
Xingzhonghui/Revive China Society and
revolutionists from different cities. The
base for 1900’s Huizhou Uprising was set
at the 3rd floor of the agency)
Appendix 1: Sun Yat-sen’s Revolutionary work and his activities in Hong Kong
(Worksheet)
(1) The personal information of Sun Yat-sen: (Students may refer to Mr. Yat-Sen’s
Days as a Medical Student 《中山先生的習醫時代》)
Name: Sun Wen (孫文) (Also named “Sun Yat-sen”, and has taken the pseudonym
“Zhong Shan Qiao” (中山樵) when engaging in revolutionary activities)
Ancestral home: Xiangshan County, Guangdong Province (Now
_Zhongshan _
County)
Educated at: Guangzhou, ___Hong Kong__, Honolulu
Revolutionary work – leading the anti-Qing revolution
 Founded the revolutionary group: Xingzhonghui/Revive China Society (興中會),
Tongmenghui/Chinese Revolutionary Alliance (同盟會)
Formulated the Revolutionary Principles: “the overthrow of the Manchus, the restoration
of China, the adoption of a republican regime, the equalisation of land rights” (「驅除韃
虜，恢復中華，建立民國，平均地權」); and the “Three Principles of the People” (三
民主義).

Launched military uprising: launched multiple military uprisings which ended in
failure, until the successful uprising in Wuchang (武昌). This revolution is known
historically as the Revolution of_1911_.
 Raised funds: Traveling between different countries to promote revolutionary
messages to overseas Chinese, and raise funds
 Contributed to the abdication of the Qing Emperor: Willingly ceded his position as
the provisional president to Yuan Shikai (袁世凱), which led to the abdication of the
Qing Emperor.
Appendix 1: Sun Yat-sen’s revolutionary work and his activities in Hong Kong (Worksheet)
(2) The life of Sun Yat-sen
(Refer to reading material “Dr. Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail check points”, and fill in the
check point numbers in the suitable spaces, e.g. (location: 1)
1866
Born in Xiangshan County of Guangdong Province (Now
Zhongshan County)
1878
(12 years old)
First stopped by Hong Kong on his way to Honolulu
1883
Studied at the Anglican Diocesan Home and Orphanage/ Diocesan
Boy’s School (拔萃書室) (location: 1 ) in Hong Kong, later
(17 years old;
20 years old )
1887
(21 years old)
graduated from the Government Central School of Hong Kong.
(location: 5 )。
Studied at the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese (香港
西醫書院) (Founded by Ho Kai) (location: 8 ) and graduated top
of the class. During his studies, he often discussed revolution with
his peers Yang Heling(楊鶴齡), Chen Shaobai (陳少白) and You
Lie (尤列) (location: 6 ). They were given the nickname “The
Four Desperados”.
1894
Wrote to Li Hung-chang but his request for meeting was denied.
(28 years old )
1895
(29 years old )
Founded the Hong Kong Headquarters of Xingzhonghui/ Hong
Kong Revive China Society (香港興中總會) (revolutionary
group) at 13 Staunton Street of Central (location: 10 ), and raised
considerable funds for the revolution.
Used Hong Kong as a base to plan the Guangzhou uprising.
However, the news leaked and the British Government alerted the
Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi; the uprising was a failure.
1896
(30 years old )
The Hong Kong Government, using the reason that Sun Yat-sen’s
revolutionary activities endanger the safety and order of Hong
Kong, gave a deportation order for Sun Yat-sen in 1896.
1897
(31 years old )
Sun Yat-sen wrote to the British authorities in Hong Kong
requesting permission to stay, but was denied.
1899
(33 years old )
SunYat-sen sent Chen Shaobai to Hong Kong to found the first
revolutionary newspaper China Daily (《中國日報》)(location:
12 )。
1923
(57 years old )
Had lunch with Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs, Governor of Hong
Kong; later gave a public speech at the University of Hong Kong.
1925
Died of sickness at Peking Union Medical College Hospital.
(59 years old )
What key role did Hong Kong play in Sun Yat-sen’s revolutionary activities?
Appendix 2: Sun Yat-sen’s experiences in Hong Kong (Worksheet)
Sun Yat-sen’s days in
Hong Kong
Events/Experiences
Advocated /planned
Revolutionary activities
Discussed
revolution
with
his
peers
enthusiastically and engaged in promoting the
revolution
(Organised the Xingzhonghui/Revive China
Society)
(Military uprising)
(Printed revolutionary publication)
(Raised funds for the revolution)
Others
(Pursued academic
medicine)
studies
and
learned
Appendix 3: Hong Kong population census between mid 19th century and early 20th century
(Reading material with worksheet)
Population statistics 1841-1911
1841
7450
1846
21835
1851
32983
1861
71730
1871
119321
1856
115098
1866
124198
1876
139144
1881
160402
1886
181720
1891
217936
1896
239419
1901
300660
1906
329038
1911
456739
(Source：The Census and
Statistics Department)
In 1841, the British carried out a population census for the
island of Hong Kong: the island had only several thousand
inhabitants including villagers in some 20 villages and
fishermen living on boats by the seaside.
In 1851, Taiping Tianguo / Heavenly Kingdom of Great
Peace (太平天國) on the mainland drove many merchants in
southern China to Hong Kong in evasion of the war. Hong
Kong’s population rose from around 30 thousand in 1951 to
over 120 thousand in 1866. Hong Kong took the place of
Guangzhou as the major entrepot of coastal China.
Besides the transshipment of cargo, Hong Kong also
became a mid-way station for Chinese of southern
China to migrate overseas. Between 1851 and 1900,
over 2 million Chinese from Guangdong and Fujian
Provinces migrated overseas from Hong Kong, or
were shipped overseas as labour. At the time, the
Chinese and westerners had well-defined areas of
activity; westerners took residence mostly in Central,
while the Chinese lived mostly in Sheung Wan.
(Source: Wikipedia)
When Hong Kong initially became an open port, the Hong Kong
Island was divided into Central and West districts with Pottinger
Street as the boundary. The western side was the commercial and
residential district of the Chinese, and it became the base of
activity for the revolutionists at the time. Revolutionists even had
guesthouses at Lan Kwai Fong and Caine Road to house fugitive
revolutionists. The Governor Frederick Lugard once said, “Most
Hong Kong Chinese are like this: they are not only sympathetic
towards the revolution, but are passionate about it.” (Source: Sun
Wen Theory (« 孫 文 學 說 »), Chapter 8 ‘Success through
determination’
How has the society changed after Hong Kong became an open port?
(Increase in Chinese merchants and in population; Hong Kong became a trading port and a mid-way station for
Chinese of southern China to migrate overseas; Chinese mainly lived in Sheung Wan / Island West)
How have these changes helped Sun Yat-sen’s revolution?
(The increase in Chinese merchants and in population, and Chinese support and concern for the revolution made
it easier to recruit revolutionists and raise funds)
(A trading port that featured mixed Chinese and western cultures with developed sea traffic was suitable as a
liaison centre for the revolution)
Appendix 4: The economic prowess of Hong Kong Chinese from late 19th century to early 20th
century
(Source：Liu Shu-yong, A Concise History of Hong Kong (《簡明香港史》))
Hong Kong’s entrepot trade
Total number of
trade vessels in
Hong Kong
Total tonnes
Financial income of the
Hong Kong
Government
1898
11,058
13,252,733 tonnes
2,918,159 HKD
1913
21,867
22,939,134 tonnes
8,512,308 HKD
The number of Chinese and foreign merchants among the 20 persons paying the highest rates in Hong
Kong
18
16
14
12
10
Foreign
Merchants
Chinese
8
6
Merchants
4
2
0
1876
1881
In 1880, the Governor of Hong Kong mentioned: the majority of Hong Kong’s landlords are Chinese. The
currencies issued by foreign banks are mostly in the hands of the Chinese; 90% of the Government’s
taxation income was contributed by the Chinese. The Chinese engage in such a diversity of economic
activities that matches the scope of foreign merchants; they are not only trading partners of foreign
merchants but are fierce competitors.
1876-1881 Businesses run by Chinese merchants
Year
Travelling
Retailers
Agents
merchants
Money
Piece-
Flowery
changers
goods
Yarn
Teas
Rice
Timber
merchants
Imported
Com-
goods
prador
1876
215
287
142
40
78
38
26
95
15
167
77
1881
395
2377
455
208
109
58
51
128
107
191
95
What changes were there in the economic
status of the Chinese from the late 19th
century to the early 20th century?
(The economic status of the Chinese
became increasingly important. The rising
Chinese merchants are partners as well as
competitors for foreign merchants)
How has the change in the economic status of the
Chinese helped the revolutionary activities?
(Chinese merchants had the wealth to fund the
revolution, which is helpful to raise funds for the
revolution and promote revolutionary activities)
Appendix 5:
Hong Kong’s
Geographical
Location
Hong
Kong
South-east
Asia
What location does Hong Kong have with regard to the geography of China and South-east Asia?
(Centre of South-east Asia and neighbouring South China)
Hubei
Sichuan
Zhejiang
Hunan
Appendix 5:
Hong Kong’s
Geographical
Location
Jiangxi
Guizhou
Fujian
Yunnan
Guangxi
Guangdong
Vietnam
*
Hong Kong
Laos
Uprising locations of Hong Kong
Tongmenghui/Chinese Revolutionary
Alliance and southern headquarters
Uprising locations:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Chaozhou (in Guangdong)
Huanggang (in Guangdong)
Huizhou (in Guangdong)
Fangcheng (in Guangxi)
Zhen Nanguan (in Guangxi)
Shangsi (in Guangxi)
Hekou (in Yunnan)
to 10. Guangzhou (in Guangdong)
How does Hong Kong’s geographical location benefit the revolutionary activities?
(Hong Kong is geographically connected to China and neighbours Southern China. This
facilitated the movement of weapons and revolutionists and allows Hong Kong to serve as
a revolution liaison centre and base for planning uprisings)
Appendix 6: Publication industry of Hong Kong in the early 20th century
As Hong Kong’s elite Chinese witness the failings of their nation, they hope to revive the nation
through publishing newspapers. Hong Kong Zhongwai xinbao (《香港中外新報》) (founded 1858), the
Huazi ribao/Chinese Mail (《香港華字日報》) (founded 1872), and Xunhuan ribao/The Universal
Circulating Herald (《循環日報》) (founded 1874). The essays of Wang Tao, editor-in-chief of Xunhuan
ribao, set off a trend of political commentaries among newspapers.
In 1899, after Chen Shaobai returned to Hong Kong after a failed uprising in Guangzhou, he leased 24
Stanton Street in Central and opened a newspaper agency, and founded the China Daily (《中國日報》). In
1900, the first newspaper by revolutionists China Daily was born in Hong Kong. The paper is the first
revolutionary newspaper of China. It was first published in January 1900 and remained in circulation for
13 years, making a huge contribution to the revolutionary cause. After its founding, the newspaper agency
became the propaganda organisation for the Xingzhonghui/Revive China Society, Tongmenghui/Chinese
Revolutionary Alliance and early Guomindang (《國民黨》), and is also one of the bases for revolutionists
planning to overthrow the Qing Dynasty.
Before the 1911 Revolution, numerous newspapers such as Guangdong ribao ( 《廣東日報》), Dong
Fang bao (《東方報》), Shijie Gongyi bao (《世界公益報》) and Shi Shi Hua bao (《時事畫報》) helped
promote the revolution, but the anti-Qing voices were suppressed by the Qing government. After the
launch of the China Daily, the publishers of these newspapers came to Hong Kong to engage in the
newspaper business.
With the freedom of speech in Hong Kong, anti-Qing publications flourished in the city, and the
revolutionary ideals travelled on the well-connected traffic network of Hong Kong and spread to the
mainland and overseas Chinese societies. The message of the revolution spread far and wide and was taken
in by the Chinese, urging more Chinese to support the revolution. Hong Kong became a major propagation
point for anti-Qing revolutionary ideals.
(Source: Liu Shu-yong, A Concise History of Hong Kong (《簡明香港史》)); (Hong Kong) Dr. Sun
Yat-sen Museum, Exhibition Guide.)
How has Hong Kong’s publishing industry helped Sun Yat-sen’s advance his revolutionary work?
(Publication industry and freedom of publication facilitated the printing and distribution of publications,
the promotion of revolutionary ideals, the recruiting of revolutionists and the raising of funds.)
Appendix 7: Sun Yat-sen’s views about Hong Kong
Sun Wen Theory («孫文學說»), Chapter 8 ‘Success through determination’ (excerpt), published in 1918
by Sun Yat-sen
…I heard in Guangzhou that Hong Kong opened an English medical school providing better
classes than that in Guangzhou. With Hong Kong being a free society and allows us to discuss
about revolution, I came to Hong Kong to study. In the few years, whenever I was free, I
promoted revolutionary work. I always travelled between Hong Kong and Macau and talked
about revolution without reserve. Only my friends Chen Shaobai, You Shaowan, Yang Heling,
and Lu Haodong from Shanghai echoed my ideals… For years, I lived with Chen, You and
Yang in Hong Kong. We often came together and everything we talked about was questions
and thoughts about revolution. We were close…
Speech of Sun Yat-sen on invitation to Hong Kong in 1923 (excerpt)
(Source：Sun Yat-sen's Address at the University of Hong Kong "Why I Became a Revolutionist?"
http://www.hku.hk/daao/sunyatsen/syspaddress.html )
“… More than thirty years ago I was studying in Hong Kong and spent a great deal of spare
time in walking the streets of the Colony. Hong Kong impressed me a great deal, because
there was orderly calm and because there was artistic work being done without interruption.
I went to my home in Heungshan (Xiangshan) twice a year and immediately noticed the
great difference. When I arrived home I had to see my rifle was in order and to prepare for
action for the night. Each time it was like this, year after year. I compared Heungshan with
Hong Kong and, although they are only 50 miles apart, the difference of the Governments
impressed me greatly. Afterwards, I saw the outside world and I began to wonder how, it was
that foreigners, that Englishmen could do such things as they had done, for example, with
the barren rock of Hong Kong, within 70 or 80 years, while China, in 4,000 years, had no
places like Hong Kong…”見本港衛生與風俗，無一不好，比諸我敝邑香山，大不
相同。
Field
Politics/
Society/
Culture/
Others
What were the views of Sun Yat-sen?
(Freedom and openness of mind)
(Ability to discuss passionately about revolution and promote revolution activities)
(Orderly, civilised and effective governance)
Appendix 8: Factors that contributed to Sun Yat-sen choosing Hong Kong as a base of revolution
and the role of Hong Kong during the revolution
Beneficial conditions Sun Yat-sen’s views
about Hong Kong
Politics
Society
Geography
(As a British “Colony”,
Hong Kong was more
tolerant of revolution
activities than concessions
in China)
(Freedom and openness of
mind)
(Comrades of revolution
discussed about revolution
with passion)
(Increase in Chinese
population and Chinese
merchants)
(Chinese support of the
revolution)
(Publication industry and
freedom of publication
helped promote the
revolution)
(Orderly, civilised and
effective governance)
(Centre of South-east Asia
and neighbouring China)
(Convenient travel among
Xiangshan, Hong Kong and
Macau)
Others
(Base of revolution,
liaison centre)
(Main propaganda
location for revolutionary
ideals)
(Location for publishing
and distributing
revolutionary
publications)
(Facilitated the movement
of weapons and
revolutionists and could
serve as a revolution
liaison centre)
Economy
The role of Hong
Kong during the
revolution
(Location for planning
uprisings)
(Source of funds for the
revolution)
(Entrepot)
(Chinese merchants had
the wealth to finance the
revolution, which helped
raise funds and promote
revolutionary work)
(Having studied in Hong
Kong, Sun had good
knowledge of the
environment and social
conditions of Hong Kong;
he also had comrades and
friends who could support
him and could help promote
revolutionary work
Appendix 9: References
Dr. Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail (《孫中山史蹟徑》) Central & Western District Council.
Central and Western District Heritage Trail (Sheung Wan Route)
Antiquities and Monuments Office
Fok Kai-cheong, Hong Kong and Modern China (《香港與近代中國》)
Commercial Press
Ko Tim-keung, Hong Kong Past and Present in Pictures (《圖片香港今昔》)
Joint Publishing HK
Yun Bang-kin, A Brief History of Hong Kong (《香港史略》)
Liu Shu-yong, A Concise History of Hong Kong 《
( 簡明香港史》))
Chung Lew Publishing
Joint Publishing HK
孫中山紀念館《展覽導讀》 香港：孫中山紀念館
Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum, Exhibition Guide (《展覽導讀》)
Hong Kong: Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum
RTHK video recording – The History of Hong Kong series “Hong Kong in 1911
revolution” (辛亥革命在香港)