10. British naval superiority made a defense of the Pearl River difficult for the Chinese
The Chinese junks were utterly ineffective against the British warships, and by early January, 1841, British forces controlled the Pearl River beneath Canton. Lin Zexu was replaced by Qishan in 1840, and tasked by the Daoguang Emperor with negotiating peace with the British if possible. Qishan recognized the improbability of the Chinese recovering control of the Pearl River and opened negotiations with Elliot in the hope of limiting the war from spreading deeper into the Chinese mainland. In January, 1841, Qishan and Elliot agreed to the Convention of Chuenpi, in which China agreed to make reparations and ceded Hong Kong to the British.
Both the Daoguang Emperor and Lord Palmerston rejected the agreement, and both Qishan and Elliot were removed from their posts by their respective governments. In the case of Qishan, the Emperor was furious at the concessions. Palmerston, on the other hand, was furious that so few of his stated war aims were achieved. British General Henry Pottinger replaced Elliot; Qishan was replaced by Yang Fang. Resumption of hostilities occurred within a few weeks, and though the British had returned the forts on the Pearl River to Chinese control, they quickly recaptured them.