The Imperial Japanese occupation of Hong Kong
Background:
The Imperial Japanese launched an assault on Hong Kong on the morning of 8 December 1941.
British, Canadian, and Indian forces, supported by the Hong Kong Volunteer Defense Forces attempted to resist the rapidly advancing Imperial Japanese but were heavily outnumbered.
After Racing down the New Territories and Kowloon, Imperial Japanese forces crossed Victoria Harbour on 18 December. After fierce fighting continued on Hong Kong Island, the only reservoir was lost.
on 25 December 1941, British colonial officials headed by the Governor of Hong Kong Mark Aitchison Young surrendered at the Japanese headquarters. To the local people, the day was known as "Black Christmas".
The Imperial Japanese launched an assault on Hong Kong on the morning of 8 December 1941.
British, Canadian, and Indian forces, supported by the Hong Kong Volunteer Defense Forces attempted to resist the rapidly advancing Imperial Japanese but were heavily outnumbered.
After Racing down the New Territories and Kowloon, Imperial Japanese forces crossed Victoria Harbour on 18 December. After fierce fighting continued on Hong Kong Island, the only reservoir was lost.
on 25 December 1941, British colonial officials headed by the Governor of Hong Kong Mark Aitchison Young surrendered at the Japanese headquarters. To the local people, the day was known as "Black Christmas".
Economy:
At that time, all trading activities were sternly guarded, and the majority of the factories were taken over by the Imperial Japanese.
Having deprived the vendors and banks of their possessions, the occupying forces outlawed the Hong Kong Dollar and replaced it with the Japanese Military Yen.
The exchange rate was fixed at 2 Hong Kong dollars to one military yen in January 1942.
Later, the yen was re-valued at 4 Hong Kong dollars to a yen in July 1942, which meant local people could exchange fewer military notes than before.
While the citizens of Hong Kong became poor in forced exchanges, the Imperial Japanese government sold the Hong Kong Dollar to help finance their war-time economy. Later, the yen was made the sole legal tender for official purposes in June 1943. Prices of commodities for sale had to be marked in yen.
Hyper-inflation then disrupted the economy, directly affecting Hong Kong citizens.
At that time, all trading activities were sternly guarded, and the majority of the factories were taken over by the Imperial Japanese.
Having deprived the vendors and banks of their possessions, the occupying forces outlawed the Hong Kong Dollar and replaced it with the Japanese Military Yen.
The exchange rate was fixed at 2 Hong Kong dollars to one military yen in January 1942.
Later, the yen was re-valued at 4 Hong Kong dollars to a yen in July 1942, which meant local people could exchange fewer military notes than before.
While the citizens of Hong Kong became poor in forced exchanges, the Imperial Japanese government sold the Hong Kong Dollar to help finance their war-time economy. Later, the yen was made the sole legal tender for official purposes in June 1943. Prices of commodities for sale had to be marked in yen.
Hyper-inflation then disrupted the economy, directly affecting Hong Kong citizens.
Life In Fear:
The Japanese enforced a repatriation policy throughout the period of occupation because of the scarcity of food and the possible counter-attack of the Allies.
The Japanese reconstructed both government and private facilities for the sake of their own interests and developments.
Life was hard for people under Japanese rule.
According to eyewitnesses, the Japanese committed atrocities upon many local Chinese and Chinese females were raped. During the three and half years of occupation, an estimated 10,000 Hong Kong civilians were executed, while many others were tortured, raped, or mutilated.
The Japanese enforced a repatriation policy throughout the period of occupation because of the scarcity of food and the possible counter-attack of the Allies.
The Japanese reconstructed both government and private facilities for the sake of their own interests and developments.
Life was hard for people under Japanese rule.
According to eyewitnesses, the Japanese committed atrocities upon many local Chinese and Chinese females were raped. During the three and half years of occupation, an estimated 10,000 Hong Kong civilians were executed, while many others were tortured, raped, or mutilated.
Press and political propaganda:
Through schooling, mass media and other means of propaganda, the Japanese tried to control the mindsets of Hong Kong people so as to build up a stronger administration regime.
Japanisation was a common means for restricting people's thinking, and it prevailed in different aspects of daily life.
The Japanese promoted a bilingual system of English with Japanese as a communication link between the locals and the occupying forces.
Signs in English and advertisements were taken away.These newspapers were under press censorship. Radio sets were used for Japanese propaganda.
Amusements still existed, though only for those who could afford them. The cinemas only screened Japanese films, such as The Battle of Hong Kong , the only film made in Hong Kong during the Japanese occupation.
Directed by Shigeo Tanaka (田中重雄 Tanaka Shigeo) and produced by the Dai Nippon Film Company, the film featured an all-Japanese cast but a few Hong Kong film personalities were also involved.
Through schooling, mass media and other means of propaganda, the Japanese tried to control the mindsets of Hong Kong people so as to build up a stronger administration regime.
Japanisation was a common means for restricting people's thinking, and it prevailed in different aspects of daily life.
The Japanese promoted a bilingual system of English with Japanese as a communication link between the locals and the occupying forces.
Signs in English and advertisements were taken away.These newspapers were under press censorship. Radio sets were used for Japanese propaganda.
Amusements still existed, though only for those who could afford them. The cinemas only screened Japanese films, such as The Battle of Hong Kong , the only film made in Hong Kong during the Japanese occupation.
Directed by Shigeo Tanaka (田中重雄 Tanaka Shigeo) and produced by the Dai Nippon Film Company, the film featured an all-Japanese cast but a few Hong Kong film personalities were also involved.
Murray House
Background Image: Copyright©SCMP
During the 44-month Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, Murray House had been occupied by the Empire of Japan〔大日本帝國〕, its western part was employed as a command center for their military police. It was also the execution place for ,believed to be, more then 4000 Chinese citizens.
Some government employees mentioned that the building is haunted. |
Statue of Queen Victoria
The missing of Queen Victoria statue during the Japanese Occupation period was done by the Japanese. They had treated her badly that the statue were stole to Japan as the material of weapon production and ready to melt. After WW2, the statue were returned to Hong Kong and placed at Causeway Bay.
Lockhart Road
Lockhart Road used to be the famous red-light district. It sets aside Victoria Harbor, where American warships would take it as a depot. . Soldiers would come ashore to have fun, enhance the development of bar street.
In 1941, Lockhart Road was redesigned for Japanese entertainment. Many comfort-stations were opened on this street, and you can imagine how many sad stories have happened here. Sadly, the situation never ends with the fall of the occupation till the vary end of Vietnam war. |