Britain’s Reconquest of Hong Kong and Chiang Kai SHek’s Humiliation
I was curious how Britain got Hong Kong back from the Japanese and CHinag Kai Shek didn’t so did a little research.
During the war Hong Kong was designated part of the Chaing Kai Shek operational control zone. US presidental general order no1 stated all Japanese troops had to surrender to general Chiang Kai Shek. Shi Ju’s corps was located 300 miles from Hong Kong and sent of to occupy the island and take the Japanese prisoner. Meanwhile a second elite corps of Burma veterans under Sun Liren was ordered to Canton, giving the Chinese 60,000 troops heading south.
Meanwhile on the day Japan surrendered Britain sent a naval task force to Hong Kong. Britain not wishing to have to ask Chinag Kai Shek for the return of Hong Kong. Britain informed Chiang Kai Shek the force was steaming there who responded by formally asking the British government to obey presidental order no1, however he didn’t order his troops to try and beat the British to Hong Kong.
The Americans tried some diplomatic mediation and after discussing things with the British, they informed Chiang Kai Shek Britain would not give up Hong Kong without a fight.
Chinag Kai Shek saw the wisdom of allowing Hong Kong to go. He did not wish to tie up 60,000 of his best troops in the south, when he needed them to fight the communists. Also he needed British cooperation against the communists.
The Chinese tried a diplomatic solution instead, assuring the British they had no intent of keeping Hong Kong and would return it after the surrender. Britain didn’t believe China. Britain asked Truman to tell the Japanese on Hong Kong to surrender to the British instead. Truman agreed.
Now it was turning into a major loss of face for Chiang Kai Shek. He tried to salvage some dignity and tried to pusuade the British and Americans to let him not the Americans be the one to authorise the japanese to surrender to the British and that the British should not ask the Japanese to surrender on Hong Kong until they had surrendered to him in the rest of China first. He was turned down.
On the 30th of Augsut a powerful fleet of 2 aircraft carriers, a battleship, 3 cruisers and several frigates and destroyers arrived at Hong Kong and took control.
