The United Kingdom captures Hong Kong as a base as it prepares for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Opium_War" id="mwvQ" rel="mw:WikiLink" title="First Opium War">First Opium War</a> with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qing_dynasty" id="mwvg" rel="mw:WikiLink" title="Qing dynasty">Qing China</a>.