EXTRA
FLEET ENTERING
The first communique from the Hongkong Government to the people of Hongkong since December 1941 was issued this morning at 11 o'clock as follows:
"Rear Admiral Harcourt is lying outside Hongkong with a very strong fleet. The Naval Dockyard is to be ready for his arrival by noon to-day.
"Admiral Harcourt will enter the harbour having transferred his flag to the cruiser Swiftsure which will be accompanied by destroyers and submarines.
"The capital ships will follow as soon as a passage has been swept.
"The fleet includes two air- craft carriers Indomitable of 23,000
23,000 tons,
tons, and the Venerable; the battleship Anson of 35,000 tons and carrying 10 14-inch guns, the Euryalus and the Swiftsure carrying 10 5.2-inch guns; the merchant ship Maidstone of 8,500 tons, the merchant cruiser Prince Rupert, Cana- dian registry, and the Hospi- tal ship Oxfordshire.
“A considerable number of other ships will follow in a day or two.
"The formal surrender is likely to follow the proceed- ings at Tokyo."
(South China Morning Post and The Hongkong Telegraph) AUGUST 30, 1945.