Hong Kong on fire

  • The Japanese invade China

    By 1938, much of China was occupied by Japanese forces, including Guangdong province, just to the north of Hong Kong. Refugees fleeing the Japanese occupied areas pushed HK’s population to one and a half million in 1939.
  • Winston Churchill realizes that Hong Kong is in danger and decides to sendreinforcements.

    Winston Churchill realizes that Hong Kong is in danger and decides to sendreinforcements.
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  • Canadian troops arrive on the HMCS Prince Robert

    Canadian troops arrive on the HMCS Prince Robert
  • 36 Japanese fighters attack Kai Tak airfield and units of the Japanese23rd cross the Sham Chun Shan river

     36 Japanese fighters attack Kai Tak airfield and units of the Japanese23rd cross the Sham Chun Shan river
  • Japanese troops breached a western segment of the British Gin Drinker's Line, which stretched from the Gin Drinker's Bay (Zuijiu Wan) in the west to the White Sands Bay (Baisha Wan) in the east, at 225 High Ground north of Hong Kong Island.

  • Evacuation of New Territories

     Evacuation of New Territories
  • Evacuation of Kowloon

    Evacuation of Kowloon
  • Japanese demand surrender (surrender is ignored)

    Japanese demand surrender (surrender is ignored)
  • The British authorities at Hong Kong refused the Japanese demand for surrender.

  • Japanese continued to bombard the northern shore of Hong Kong island by artillery and aircraft.

  • Japanese begin a heavy bombing and artillery barrage of the island's northern coastaldefenses

     Japanese begin a heavy bombing and artillery barrage of the island's northern coastaldefenses
  • Japanese main attack Hong Kong Island

     Japanese main attack Hong Kong Island
  • Grenadiers Retake mount Butler with heavy casualties

    Grenadiers Retake mount Butler with heavy casualties
  • HK Comanding officer Lawson killed as Fortress Hong Kong captured

     HK Comanding officer Lawson killed as Fortress Hong Kong captured
  • While Canadian and colonial Chinese troops completed the withdraw from Wong Nai Chung Gap in central Hong Kong island, order began to crumble as panic built up rapidly.

  • Royal rifles Retreat to Stanely

    Royal rifles Retreat to Stanely
  • Japanese attack Royal rifles and capture Stanley fort

    Japanese attack Royal rifles and capture Stanley fort
  • Japanese attack st. Stephens hospital

    Japanese attack st. Stephens hospital
  • Mt Cameron Captured and Malty calls for Governor Young to surrender

    Mt Cameron Captured and Malty calls for Governor Young to surrender
  • Over the month10,000 women are raped

  • Hong Kong Dollar was outlawed and replaced by the Japanese Military Yen. Theexchange rate was fixed at 2 Hong Kong dollars to one military yen.

     Hong Kong Dollar was outlawed and replaced by the Japanese Military Yen. Theexchange rate was fixed at 2 Hong Kong dollars to one military yen.
  • police recruited to be Kempeitai

     police recruited to be Kempeitai
  • Repatriation of Chinese back to the mainland

    Repatriation of Chinese back to the mainland
  • Internment of most 'white' Allied civilians

    Internment of most 'white' Allied civilians
  • the HK-Kowloon brigade (港九大隊) was established from the GuangdongPeople's anti-Japanese Guerilla force led by Cai Guo-liang (蔡國梁)

     the HK-Kowloon brigade (港九大隊) was established from the GuangdongPeople's anti-Japanese Guerilla force led by Cai Guo-liang (蔡國梁)
  • streets and buildings in Central were renamed in Japanese.

    streets and buildings in Central were renamed in Japanese.
  • food rationing begins

     food rationing begins
  • The British Army Aid Group was formed by Colonel Lindsay Ride.

     The British Army Aid Group was formed by Colonel Lindsay Ride.
  • Hong Kong was handed over by Imperial Japanese Army to the Royal Navy on• The "30 August" was declared as the "Liberation Day" (Chinese: 重光紀念日), and had been a

     Hong Kong was handed over by Imperial Japanese Army to the Royal Navy on• The "30 August" was declared as the "Liberation Day" (Chinese: 重光紀念日), and had been a
  • Public utilities handed over to Japanese control

     Public utilities handed over to Japanese control
  • the US dropped an atomic bomb called the “Enola Gay” on Hiroshima, killingover 70,000 instantaneously.

    the US dropped an atomic bomb called the “Enola Gay” on Hiroshima, killingover 70,000 instantaneously.
  • Another atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki,

  • Japan finally surrenders.

  • Hong Kong was handed over by Imperial Japanese Army to the Royal Navy on• The "30 August" was declared as the "Liberation Day" (Chinese: 重光紀念日), and had been apublic holiday in Hong Kong until 1967.

  • Franklin Gimson, Hong Kong's colonial secretary, declares himself interimgovernor.

  • British Rear Admiral Sir Cecil Halliday Jepson Harcourts formally acceptsthe Japanese surrender. Mark Young resumes as Governor.

  • General Takashi Sakai, is tried as a war criminal and executed on theafternoon of.