PART I.
GENERAL.
The Liberation.
After almost exactly 100 years of British rule the Colony was captured by Japanese forces on Christmas Day, 1941, and remained in Japanese hands until August, 1945. The Japanese regime came to an end rather gradually since Japan's defeat was virtually accepted by the local Japanese authorities some fourteen days before Allied forces were able to reach the Colony. During this uneasy interregnum the former Colonial Secretary, Mr. F. C. Gimson, C.M.G., and many of his colleagues, who had been interned in Hong Kong throughout the Pacific war, contrived to leave the internment and prisoner of war camps and to set up an interim govern- ment. Law and order for this brief period continued to be maintained by the Japanese, ex-internees and prisoners of war were able to move freely in the streets, food supplies and distribution were sufficient for the moment and Japanese officials accepted with a somewhat surprising fatalism their gradual eclipse.
On 30th August, 1945, units of the British Pacific Fleet, under the command of Rear-Admiral C. H. J. Harcourt, C.B., C.B.E., flying his flag in H.M.S. 'Indomitable', re-entered the waters of the Colony. The enemy forces were made prisoner and a military administration was set up under Rear-Admiral Harcourt as Commander-in-Chief.
Since 1943 a small planning unit had been working in London, under the direction of the War Office and the Colonial Office, on the task of producing a plan for the resumption of British administration in Hong Kong. Their plans had neces- sarily been based on the assumption that the Japanese surrender in Hong Kong would be preceded by military operations. When the war suddenly ended the planners were hurriedly flown to the Colony where they assumed senior appointments on the staff of the Civil Affairs Unit, which was responsible to the Commander-in-Chief for all matters con- cerning civilian administration. Pending their arrival on 7th September, 1945, the civilian side of the administration was carried on under the direction of Mr. Gimson.
The Military Administration.
The Military Administration lasted until 1st May, 1946, and more headway was made with the initial and basic work of reconstruction than might have been expected. Much that was done would have been impossible without the cheerfulness and resilience of the Chinese population, and the whole Colony owes a great debt of gratitude to the British Fighting Services for their help in the unfamiliar tasks of Government. Outstanding services were performed also by those who, having been recovered from prison camps, were willing to