ENG-1985 — Page 363

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HISTORY

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

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Following the Japanese surrender, Chinese civilians many of whom had moved into China during the war returned at the rate of 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 unparalleled in its history.

Hundreds of thousands of people - mainly from Guangdong Province, Shanghai and other commercial centres - entered the territory during 1949 and the spring of 1950. By mid- 1950, the population was estimated to be 2.2 million. Since then it has continued to rise and now totals more than 5.4 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. Although the share of total exports held by textiles and clothing has declined over the past 10 years, these still make up around 40 per cent of domestic exports by value. While textiles remain the mainstay of Hong Kong's economy, major contributions are made by electronic products, watches and clocks, plastic goods and other light industries.

Associated with events in China, 1966 saw mounting tension in Hong Kong which during 1967 developed into a series of civil disturbances affecting all aspects of life and temporarily paralysing the economy. But, by year-end, the disturbances were contained and the community continued its traditions of peaceful progress.

In development of the post-war years, Hong Kong has continued to build up its role as an entrepôt with its neighbours and trade with China has been no exception. Coupled with tourism, this has led to vast improvements in communications with an increasing number of people entering China from or through Hong Kong, its natural gateway, each year. The territory's major carrier, Cathay Pacific, and the Civil Aviation Administration of China operate scheduled and a considerable number of charter services between Hong Kong and cities in China, and towards the end of 1985 a new airline, Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, flew a small number of charter services to Xiamen. The Kowloon-Canton Railway runs jointly with Canton's railway administration express 'through' trains between Kowloon and Canton; several direct bus services, including a British and Chinese joint venture, operate different routes into Guangdong and other parts of southern China; and there are several daily ferry services to Canton and other ports in South China. Hoverferries operate on some of these services.