Hong Kong became a British colony after the First Opium War in 1841.

The postal system in Hong Kong began in 1841 when the Royal Mail established an office in the region. Merchants were trading in Hong Kong at the two sides of Victoria Harbour for some years before the establishment of the British possession in 1842. They had complained about the absence of proper postal services and therefore the Postal Department was established.

On 8 December 1862, the Office issued the first set of Hong Kong postal stamps. Before that, only British soldiers in Hong Kong could use British stamps while other local residents did not have any.