The Convention of Chuenpi was a tentative agreement between British Plenipotentiary Charles Elliot and Chinese Imperial Commissioner Qishan during the First Opium War between the United Kingdom and the Qing dynasty of China. The terms were published on 20 January 1841, but both governments rejected them and dismissed Elliot and Qishan, respectively, from their positions. Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston stated that Elliot acquired too little while the Daoguang Emperor believed Qishan conceded too much. Palmerston appointed Major-General Henry Pottinger to replace Elliot, while the emperor appointed Yang Fang to replace Qishan, along with Yishan as General-in-Chief of Repressing Rebellion and Longwen as an assistant regional commander. Although the convention was unratified, many of the terms were later included in the Treaty of Nanking (1842).
Cage with Anne Noble. Her husband Captain John Noble and infant son died in the Kite shipwreck en route to Zhoushan. She was later released with other prisoners in exchange for the evacuation of Zhoushan.
The British possession ceremony in Hong Kong
View looking up the Bocca Tigris to the Second Bar pagoda, where the banquet took place
Encampment where Elliot met Qishan
Admiral Sir Charles Elliot was a British Royal Navy officer, diplomat, and colonial administrator. He became the first Administrator of Hong Kong in 1841 while serving as both Plenipotentiary and Chief Superintendent of British Trade in China. He was a key founder in the establishment of Hong Kong as a British colony.
Captain Charles Elliot
Elliot's grave at St John in the Wilderness, Exmouth
