The 1930s and World War II

During World War I, Japan presented its '21 demands' to China. In 1931,
Japan occupied Manchuria and tried to detach China's northern provinces,
leading to open war in 1937. Canton fell to the Japanese in 1938, resulting
in a mass flight of refugees to Hong Kong. It was estimated that some
100 000 refugees entered in 1937, 500 000 in 1938 and 150 000 in 1939 -
bringing Hong Kong's population at the outbreak of World War II to an
estimated 1.6 million. It was thought that at the height of the influx, about
500 000 people were sleeping in the streets.

Japan entered World War II when, on December 7, 1941, its aircraft
bombed United States warships at Pearl Harbour. At approximately the
same time, Japanese armed forces attacked Hong Kong (December 8,
1941, Hong Kong time). The Japanese invaded Hong Kong across the
border from China and pushed the British from the New Territories and
Kowloon on to Hong Kong Island. After a week of stubborn resistance on
the island, the defenders - including the then-Hong Kong Volunteer
Defence Corps - were overwhelmed and Hong Kong surrendered on
Christmas Day.

The Japanese occupation lasted for three years and eight months. Trade
virtually disappeared, currency lost its value, food supplies were
disrupted, and government services and public utilities were seriously
impaired. Many residents moved to Macau - the neutral Portuguese
enclave hospitably opening its doors to them. Towards the latter part of
the occupation, the Japanese sought to ease the food problems by
organising mass deportations.

In the face of increasing oppression, the bulk of the community remained
loyal to the allied cause. Chinese guerrillas operated in the New Territories
and escaping allied personnel were assisted by the rural population.

Soon after news of the Japanese surrender was received on August 14,
1945, a provisional government was set up by the Colonial Secretary, Mr
(later Sir) Frank Gimson. On August 30, Rear Admiral Sir Cecil Harcourt
arrived with units of the British Pacific Fleet to establish a temporary
military government. Civil government was formally restored on May 1,
1946, when Sir Mark Young resumed his interrupted governorship.

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