Click here to go to Home page
Click here to go back the the main South East Asia page

THE FALL OF HONG KONG
by Pam Broadhead

Many people may not be fully aware of what befell the former crown colony of Hong Kong in 1941 during the war with Japan.

The Japanese (approx 150,000) attacked Hong Kong on the same day as Pearl Harbour. The war began on Dec 8th Hong Kong local time a few hours after Pearl Harbour (both being different sides of the international dateline)
Troops defending HK include: Royal Scots, Middlesex regiment, 22/40 Fortree Company's Royal Engineers ,Corp Military Police Signals Royal Navy, Royal Artillery 7th HAA,Gurkhas, Punjats, Winnipeg Grenadiers and Royal Rifles of
Canada. Approx 10,000 troops.

By Dec 12th the defenders were forced to evacuate Kowloon and retreat to HK
island. On Dec17th the Japanese effected invasion of HK island. On orders from Prince Asak (therefore from the Emperor) the Japanese began a deliberate policy of striking terror into the military and civilian populations
Noted atrocities were: Dec18th beheading of 4 captured 7th HAA at Sai Wan.
Wong Nei Chong gap ridge, captured soldiers led away and wounded herded into building and grenades thrown in.

On Christmas Day St. Stephens college was captured. The Japanese entered the Red Cross hospital bayoneting patients and staff, abusing female nurses. Then began to torture and kill some of the captured soldiers.
Some were allowed to escape to Fort Stanley to tell what awaited those who
did not surrender. Stanley surrendered that night. Other known atrocities
include Makeshift hospital Jockey club, Happy valley, Repulse bay, Eucliffe castle, Salesian Mission. plus many others. General Maltby could see his
troops were being isolated and annihilated. With communications non existent and the reservoir captured he with the agreement of the Governor offered surrender at 15.30hours Dec 25th 1941.
The main body of troops were captured at Victoria others like the Royal Artillery were captured at Wong Nei Chong gap. Pow camps were set up at Sham Shui Po, Argyl St, North point with other smaller ones. Most Pows were put to work on runway building at Kaitac airport.

During 1942 the Japanese began shipping Pows to Japan and Korea because of acute manpower shortages. There they worked as slave labour in coal mines, nickel mines shipyards and factories - living and dying in appalling conditions. Such as starvation beatings lack of medical supplies and for some freezing weather in inadequate clothing. Despite the sinking of the Lisbon Maru and the loss of over 500 Pows, other Pows were shipped out of the colony. Pow camps remained in operation in Hong Kong throughout the war.

The suffering of the local Chinese was beyond belief. They
were considered the lowest form of life and suffered accordingly. Accurate
records of their losses were never able to be kept.

Recommended reading:

Oliver Lindsay - "The Lasting Honour" 1981 - Hamish Hamilton
Frank Evans - "Roll Call at Oeyama" 1985
Prof. Roland - "Long Nights Journey into Day" - 2001 - Wilfred Laurier University Press, Waterloo, Ontario.
In autumn 2002 -" Hong Kong War Diary" is expected to be published

Thanks for information supplied must go to Cofepow members Tony Bushel and Steve Smith Dutton and also to Tony Banham in Hong Kong. Any mistakes are all mine