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HISTORY
Hong Kong. It was estimated that some 100,000 entered in 1937, 500,000 in 1938 and 150,000 in 1939, bringing the 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 half a million were sleeping in the streets.
Japan entered World War II with its attack on Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941, and an attack at approximately the same time on Hong Kong (December 8, 1941, local time). The Japanese attacked from the mainland and subsequently the British were forced to retire from the New Territories and Kowloon to Hong Kong Island. After a week of stubborn resistance on the island, the defenders, including the local Volunteer Corps, were over- whelmed and Hong Kong surrendered on Christmas Day. The Japanese occupation lasted for three years and seven months.
Trade virtually disappeared, currency lost its value, the supply of food was disrupted and government services and public utilities were seriously impaired. Many residents moved to Macau, the Portuguese province 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 guerillas 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. Rear Admiral Sir Cecil Harcourt arrived on August 30 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.
The Post-War Years
Following the Japanese surrender, Chinese civilians - many of whom had moved into China during the war - returned at almost 100,000 a month. The population, which by August, 1945, had been reduced to about 600,000, rose by the end of 1947 to an estimated 1.8 million. Then, in the period 1948-9, as the forces of the Chinese Nationalist Government began to face defeat in civil war at the hands of the communists, Hong Kong received an influx of people unparalleled in its history.
About three quarters of a million, mainly from Guangdong (Kwangtung) province, Shanghai and other commercial centres, entered during 1949 and the spring of 1950. By the end of 1950 the population was estimated to be 2.3 million. Since then it has continued to rise and now totals about five million.
After a period of economic stagnation caused by the United Nations' embargo on trade with China, Hong Kong began to industrialise. No longer could the territory rely solely on its port to provide prosperity for its greatly increased population. From the start, the industrial revolution was based on cotton textiles, gradually adding woollens and, in the late 1960s, man-made fibres and made-up garments. The fact that textiles and clothing have consistently taken up 46 to 53 per cent of Hong Kong's total domestic exports each year since 1959 clearly shows the economy's dependence on these items. While textiles remain the mainstay of Hong Kong's economy, major contributions are made by plastic goods, electronic products, watches and clocks, and other light industries.
The development of Hong Kong's economic base has enabled the government to increase spending on social services over the years. As a result, more than two million people now live in some form of public housing managed by the Housing Authority. During the 1978-9 financial year, 87,479 people moved into Housing Authority accommodation, lifting the