105
I would say a word now about H. M, G's
position and intentions in Hong Kong. The first
fury of the treacherous Japanese attack fell
simultaneously on Pearl Harbour and Hong Kong
on 7th December 1941.
The Hong Kong garrison
of United Kingdom, Canadian and Indian forces
fought to a finish without hope of aid from outside
at a time when we were in a death struggle in
Europe. From the bases which they had wrested in
South China from the gallant Chinese armies, the
Japanese brought great land and air forces and
overwhelmed Hong Kong by Christmas Day 1941.
Since that date our men and women have sustained
the hardships of the prison camp.
We have fought our enemies back across
the world and in the Far East now the British
Navy has a powerful force in position to take the
surrender of the enemy in the British Colony of
Hong Kong and liberate our people there after
their long ordeal.
We shall claim and exercise
our right and duty in those respects and we shall
do