This paper looks at the following questions: Why was there such an interest in Hong Kong during the time of the Opium War? Is it actually true that empires collided and sacrificed lives on the basis of a single drug? Were there no other factors involved? The purpose of this paper is to develop these questions and discover to what extent the Opium War of 1839-42 was indeed centered on opium in Hong Kong. 11.5 pgs. 45 f/c. 4b.