Hong Kong's economy during the Imperial era relied on fishery, salt-making and the cultivation of incense (which might contribute to Hong Kong's name, which means "fragrance harbour" in the local tongue). It went under the Qing administration as part of the Xin'an County, and there are indeed established Qing yamens (government office). The most famous one is perhaps the yamen of Kowloon Walled City, established in 1847 for the Kowloon "巡檢司" (akin to military police). It is well-preserved and could still be visited today.

The reason for the establishment of military police in Hong Kong was also reflective of the unique challenges Hong Kong face when compared to the internal regions - threats from the sea. Firstly, during the 1660s were the threat of Ming loyalists who had evacuated to Taiwan. This resulted in the Great Clearance of the Guangdong coast, an edict that prohibits living near the coastline, which greatly scrambled the demographic as well as the land ownership (and thus wealth) in the area. During the 1800s were the threat of pirates, most famous of which are perhaps Cheung Po Tsai and Ching I. Lastly, there were the threats of European powers. All of these turned Hong Kong into a formidable naval fort.

Interestingly, Britain was not the first European power to settle in Hong Kong. It was the Portuguese with their settlement of Tamão during the Ming Dynasty. They were ultimately expelled by the Ming navy in the Battle of Tamão (1521) though.