Week 6: The Fallen City

I. Sino-Japanese War (1937–45)

Background—”Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere“
Roles of Hong Kong—declared neutral zone (September 1938) . . . 50 tons of ammunitions and supplies per month (< 1938) . . . relocation of Chinese newspapers . . . relief organizations . . . CCP/KMT (GMD) operations . . .
Impacts on Hong Kong—~500,000 refugees (1938) . . . pop. > 1.5 million (1941) . . . Emergency Powers Ordinance (reinstated 1938) . . . conscription (July 1939) . . . air-raid tunnels (1940) . . . evacuations (1940)

Preparation—10,000-strong force (2 British battalions, the Hong Kong Volunteers, 2 Indian infantry battalions, and 2 battalions of infantry from Canada) vs. >20,000 Japanese troops
The battle—The Royal Rifles of Canada . . . The Winnipeg Grenadiers . . . 1,975 (1,050 killed or wounded)

Imprisonment of Euro-Americans
Repatriation of Chinese population—pop. < 600,000 (August 1945) . . . at least 10,000 executed . . . Kenpeitai (Japanese military police) . . . shortages
“Asia for Asians” / “Hong Kong for the East Asians”—Meiji Road (formerly Queen’s Road) . . . calendar . . . holidays . . . East Asia Academy (1943)
Collaboration and Resistance—Chinese Representative Council . . . Chinese Cooperative Council (chaired by Chow Shouson) . . . British Army Aid Group (BAAG) . . . East River Column (~6,000)

According to the document "The outbreak of war in China to 1941" (pp. 210–212), how had the war in China affected the people of Hong Kong before December, 1941?
What strike you as particularly noteworthy about the account found in "War experience" (pp. 221–224)?
Consider the document on "cultural activities" (pp. 225–227). What functions was this piece of propaganda supposed to serve? And why might it work?
Check out the Hongkong News Online database (again, this was a newspaper published in Hong Kong under Japanese occupation). Pick a date and browse through an issue. Take note of one or two items of interest.
Do a quick research on the Royal Rifles of Canada and the Winnipeg Grenadiers. Share what you have learned.