In 1841 after the opium war, Britain took control of Hong Kong. Later in 1898, Britain and China negotiated a 99 year lease on the island, that continued until WWII when in 1941, Hong Kong fell to the Japanese. When the war ended with an unconditional surrender by the Japanese in 1945, the island was taken back by the British and the lease continued until 1997 when the People’s Republic of China was given back control and capitalism would remain law for a minimum of 50 years.

The note today is a 1949 Hong Kong Dollar. Just 4 years after Britain reclaimed the island after WWII. On the right front: King George VI and printed by BWC. ENJOY!!