Convention of Chuenpi

Convention of Chuenpi
Page one of the convention
Created	1841
Ratified	Unratified
Signatories	Qishan ( China) Charles Elliot ( UK)

The Convention of Chuenpi (also spelt Chuanbi) was an 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. It was drafted in 1841, but not formally ratified due to disapproval by the British and Chinese governments. Finding the terms unacceptable, both governments dismissed Elliot and Qishan, respectively, from their positions. British Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston stated that Elliot acquired too little while the Daoguang Emperor believed Qishan conceded too much. Palmerston appointed Henry Pottinger to replace Elliot, and the emperor appointed Yishan to replace Qishan, with the assistance of Lungwan and Yang Fang.

On 20 February 1840, Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston instructed the joint plenipotentiaries Captain Charles Elliot and his cousin Admiral George Elliot to acquire the cession of at least one island for trade on the Chinese coast, amongst other terms. In November 1840, during the First Opium War, George returned to Britain due to ill health, leaving Charles as sole plenipotentiary. Elliot and Imperial Commissioner Qishan underwent negotiations but to no agreement. To force Chinese concessions, the British captured the forts at the entrance of the Bocca Tigris (Bogue) in the Second Battle of Chuenpi on 7 January 1841, after which Qishan agreed to consider Elliot's demands. Negotiations ensued at the Bogue near Chuenpi. Qishan wrote to Elliot on 15 January, offering either Hong Kong Island or Kowloon but not both. Elliot replied the next day, accepting Hong Kong. On 15 January, trader James Matheson wrote to his business partner William Jardine that Elliot arrived in Macao the night before: "I learn from him very confidentially that Ki Shen [Qishan] has agreed to the British having a possession of their own outside, but objects to ceding Chuenpee; in lieu of which Captain Elliot has proposed Hong Kong".