When China and France went to war: 130 years since forgotten conflict

Few expatriate communities make so vibrant and welcome a cultural contribution to Hong Kong as the French. So it'll probably come as no surprise to learn that, this weekend, hardly anyone will be marking the 130th anniversary of a little-known war between France and China that created such antipathy towards the European nation that there was a boycott and riots on the streets of Hong Kong.

"Every man has two countries; his own and France." The epithet is attributed to American founding father and third president Thomas Jefferson and it applies particularly to Hong Kong, where the number of French expatriates has been expanding rapidly and their culture and influence seems ubiquitous.

Over recent months, the city that Time magazine calls the "Gallic capital of Asia" has witnessed Le French May arts festival; the visit of French warship Prairial; the "Palaces on the Seas" exhibition at the Maritime Museum, celebrating the golden age of French passenger liners; and Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying being guest of honour at the French national day reception. French football giants Paris Saint-Germain were cheered on as they thrashed Hong Kong's Kitchee and locals quip that it's now easier to find a fresh baguette in Sheung Wan than it is a bowl of noodles.

Live the history of Hong Kong, how it grew from colonial opium trading outpost to global finance mecca

This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of diplomatic relations between France and Communist China. Urged on by President Charles de Gaulle, in 1964, the French became the first Western nation to recognise the new government in Beijing, much to the disgust of the Americans. A long established diplomatic bond of trust exists between the two nations, albeit a bond that has been stretched on one or two occasions. Who would have thought, even 20 years ago, that the French and Chinese would be cooperating to build nuclear power plants in Britain?