118-707: Sai Wan (Chinese: 西環), also known as Western district , or simply Western, is an area in Hong Kong Island , Hong Kong that corresponds to Sai Ying Pun , Shek Tong Tsui , Belcher Bay and Kennedy Town . However, Some Hong Kong people consider Kennedy Town as the only part of Sai Wan. It formed part of the City of Victoria . West Point , a former cape where major government structures in Sai Wan are close to, also used to refer to Sai Wan. After Hong Kong's handover to People's Republic of China , Sai Wan become
236-646: A US Army assistant military attaché who witnessed the battle and was taken prisoner by the Japanese, wrote up his observations on military preparedness before the commencement of hostilities and on the execution of operations thereafter. The 5/7th Battalion, Rajput Regiment took up garrison at Hong Kong in June 1937 followed by the 2/14th Battalion, Punjab Regiment in November 1940. Indian troops were also incorporated within several overseas regiments as for example
354-534: A dozen fishing villages. The northern-east part of the island, being known as the Central area is the historical, political, and economic centre of Hong Kong, with many government buildings being in the area, namely the Government House , Central Government Complex , Legislative Council Complex , Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal and High Court of Hong Kong . Many financial institutes and banks such as
472-498: A further four Japanese boats. At 13:30 Maltby issued Operation Order No. 6 for a general counterattack to commence at 15:00. A and D Companies, 2/14th Punjab was to attack east towards North Point to relieve the HKVDC still holding out there, however, the order never reached them. Headquarters Company, Winnipeg Grenadiers, the rest of 2/14th Punjab and the 2nd Royal Scots were to attack east from Middle Gap towards Wong Nei Chung Gap, but
590-594: A link from Sheung Wan to Wan Chai North and the Eastern Corridor beyond Causeway Bay . It was built as part of the Central and Wan Chai Reclamation and is part of Route 4 . The bypass is toll-free. There are no bridges between the island and Kowloon, although two bridges – the Ap Lei Chau Bridge , a road bridge, and Aberdeen Channel Bridge , part of the South Island line – connect
708-554: A loop linking Causeway Bay and Happy Valley ; the latter is a funicular linking Central District to Victoria Peak . Hong Kong Island has four ferry terminals, them being the Central Ferry Piers , North Point Ferry Pier , Sai Wan Ho Ferry Pier and Wan Chai Ferry Pier . Frequently ferry services are provided from these piers to the Kowloon Peninsula and the outlying islands. A departure terminal,
826-635: A military deterrent against the Japanese and reassure Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek that Britain was serious about defending the colony. The plan for the defence of Hong Kong was that a delaying action would be fought in the New Territories and Kowloon peninsula to allow the destruction of vital infrastructure and stores there. The Gin Drinker's Line was expected to hold out for at least three weeks, following which all defenders would withdraw to Hong Kong Island which would be defended and use of
944-702: A number of Chinese pilots of the China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) and their crews flew 16 sorties between Kai Tak Airport and landing fields in Nanxiong and Chongqing (Chungking), the wartime capital of the Republic of China. The crew evacuated 275 people, including Mme Sun Yat-Sen , the widow of Sun Yat-sen and the Chinese Finance Minister Kung Hsiang-hsi . On 10 December,
1062-459: A platoon from the 1st Middlesex, but they were ambushed on the way and only nine men made it to the station. The Japanese then directed artillery fire on the station and the surviving defenders withdrew at 01:45 continuing to fight the Japanese on Electric Road and King's Road until all were killed or captured. In the early hours of 19 December, the IJA 3/229th moved uphill towards Mt Parker, while
1180-526: A reserve company in Tai Hang ; the Royal Rifles of Canada defended the island's northeast all the way around to Stanley ; and two companies of the HKVDC were located at Tai Tam and Pottinger Gap. On the morning of 13 December, a Japanese delegation crossed the harbour to offer terms of surrender, which were rejected. The Japanese then began an artillery bombardment of Hong Kong Island disabling one of
1298-579: A strategic passage between the north and south of the island. The West Brigade comprised the 2/14th Punjab covering the shoreline from Causeway Bay to Belcher's Point; the Winnipeg Grenadiers defended the southwest corner of the island and Lawson's headquarters; the Middlesex Regiment was dispersed across 72 pillboxes along the island shoreline; the 2nd Royal Scots reinforced by the HKVDC were held in reserve at Wanchai Gap; and
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#17327811536501416-557: A threat that increased throughout the 1930s with the escalation of the Second Sino-Japanese War . On 21 October 1938 the Japanese occupied Canton (Guangzhou) and Hong Kong was surrounded. British defence studies concluded that Hong Kong would be extremely hard to defend in the event of a Japanese attack, but in the mid-1930s work began on improvements to defences including along the Gin Drinkers' Line . By 1940,
1534-484: Is an island in the southern part of Hong Kong . The island, known originally and on road signs simply as "Hong Kong", had a population of 1,289,500 and a population density of 16,390 per square kilometre (42,400/sq mi), as of 2023 . It is the second largest island in Hong Kong, with the largest being Lantau Island . Hong Kong Island forms one of the three areas of Hong Kong , with the other two being Kowloon and
1652-478: Is heavily concentrated along the northern shore. The combined population of Central and Western, Wan Chai, and Eastern is 925,200, giving this urbanised part of the island a density of around 22,500 per km , or 58,000 per mi , in its approximately 41.3 km (15.9 sq mi). The residents living in the Central and Western District and Wan Chai District have the highest median household income compared with
1770-569: Is often referred to locally as "Hong Kong side" or "Island side". The suffix "-side" is also applied to other locations in Hong Kong (e.g. China-side and Kowloon Walled City -side), the sole remnant of which being the "Kowloon side" when referring to the two sides of the Victoria Harbour. Human settlement of the area dates back 6,000 years ago, as evidenced by Neolithic artifacts discovered in Stanley , Hong Kong Island. In 214 BC,
1888-402: Is the second-largest island of the territory, the largest being Lantau Island . Its area is 78.59 km (30.34 sq mi), including 6.98 km (2.69 sq mi) of land reclaimed since 1887 and some smaller scale ones since 1851. It makes up approximately 7% of the total territory. It is separated from the mainland of the territory ( Kowloon Peninsula and New Territories ) by
2006-465: The 9.2-inch guns on Mt Davis and hitting Belcher's Fort in Pok Fu Lam . On the 14th Japanese artillery destroyed a 3-inch gun at Mt Davis. On the 15th Japanese artillery moved to target pillboxes and other defensive positions along the shoreline. The Japanese mounted six air attacks on positions on the west of the island and bomb damage forced the abandonment of Pinewood Battery. On the morning of
2124-569: The Cape D'Aguilar Marine Reserve , is located on the southern tip of the island in Cape D'Aguilar . It was opened in July 1996 and has a sea area of approximately 20 hectares. The reserve was set up for the purpose of the conservation of marine resources, scientific studies and education for the appreciation of precious marine resources. Visits to the marine reserve by the public is discouraged, with water sports and costal recreational activities prohibited in
2242-744: The Defence of Hong Kong and the Fall of Hong Kong , was one of the first battles of the Pacific War in World War II . On the same morning as the attack on Pearl Harbor , forces of the Empire of Japan attacked the British Crown colony of Hong Kong around the same time that Japan declared war on Great Britain. The Hong Kong garrison consisted of British , Indian and Canadian units, also
2360-736: The Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal is located in Sheung Wan to provide turbojet ferry services to Macau . A tourist sightseeing ferry service, branded as the "Water Taxi" is also offered. The ferry service travels in the Victoria Harbour to sightseeing attractions of Hong Kong, such as the Hong Kong Observation Wheel , International Financial Centre , Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, West Kowloon Cultural District and Kai Tak Cruise Terminal . It has 4 drop off points. Public piers are also alongside
2478-703: The Hong Kong Stock Exchange , Hong Kong Monetary Authority , HSBC and Bank of China are also based in the area. The northern coast of the island forms the southern shore of the Victoria Harbour , which is largely responsible for the development of Hong Kong due to its deep waters favoured by large trade ships. The island is home to many famous tourists sights, such as " The Peak ", Ocean Park , Former Central Police Station Compound , Murray House , and many other historical sites and various large shopping centres. The mountain ranges across
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#17327811536502596-583: The Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Forces resisted the Japanese invasion commanded by Sakai Takashi , which began eight hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor . However, the Japanese took control of the Hong Kong skies on the first day of attack and outnumbered the defenders, which retreated from the Gin Drinkers Line and consequently from Kowloon under heavy aerial bombardment and artillery barrage. On 18 December,
2714-517: The Leisure and Cultural Services Department . Due to the early development of Hong Kong Island, many historical buildings can be found on Hong Kong Island. As of 2023, the population of Hong Kong Island is approximately 1,188,500, making up approximately 15.8% of the 7,536,100 in Hong Kong . Its population density is higher than the whole of Hong Kong , c. 18,000 per km . However, the population
2832-632: The New Territories . In 1842, following the Qing dynasty 's defeat at the First Opium War (1839–1842), Hong Kong Island was formally ceded in perpetuity to the United Kingdom under the Treaty of Nanking . The City of Victoria was then established on the island by British forces in honour of Queen Victoria . At the time, the island had a population of about 3,000 inhabitants scattered in
2950-651: The Qin dynasty defeated the Baiyue , and absorbed areas of what is now Guangdong , Guangxi , and northern Vietnam . Hong Kong Island was part of the annexed land and was listed under the jurisdiction of Panyu County ( 番禺縣 ) of the Nanhai Commandery ( 南海郡 ). On the sixth year of the Eastern Jin dynasty (AD 331), Hong Kong Island was listed under the jurisdiction of Baoan County ( 寶安縣) . Copper coins from
3068-559: The Sui , Tang and Song dynasty were unearthed in where the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club is presently located at, on where Kellett Island would have been prior to the land reclamation connecting the island to Causeway Bay in 1969. This suggests that during these periods of times, the island already had its own commercial activity. Song dynasty copper coins served as universal currency in transregional trade. During
3186-604: The Treaty of Nanking and the territory became a Crown colony . At the time, the island's population was only 7,450. The Second World War was a dark period for Hong Kong. In the 1930s, the British anticipated a Japanese attack on Hong Kong. As Wong Nai Chung Gap was a strategically important location of defence, large-scale defensive works were constructed there, including anti-aircraft batteries , howitzers and machine gun nests. The Battle of Hong Kong began on 8 December 1941. British , Canadian and Indian armies and
3304-632: The Tseung Kwan O line and road traffic in separate parallel conduits). Besides these harbour crossing tunnels, Hong Kong Island also has two tunnels travelling across the island itself, the Aberdeen Tunnel and Central–Wan Chai Bypass , which were opened in March 1982 and January 2019 respectively. The Aberdeen Tunnel provides a link from Happy Valley and Wong Chuk Hang , with the toll fee being HK$ 5. The Central–Wan Chai Bypass provides
3422-832: The Victoria Harbour . Most hills across the middle of the island are included within the country parks . The main hiking trail on Hong Kong Island is the Hong Kong Trail , which is 50 kilometers long and is divided into 8 sections. The trail starts in Victoria Gap on the peak and ends in Big Wave Bay . Sections 1 and 2 of the Wilson Trail across the New Territories of Hong Kong and Kowloon also passes through Tai Tam Country Park and its Quarry Bay Extension . The only marine reserve in Hong Kong,
3540-638: The Wanli period of the Ming dynasty (1573), Hong Kong Island belonged to the territory of Xin'an County , and remained so until 1661, when the great clearance was issued by the Shunzhi Emperor of the Qing dynasty , forcing residents in coastal areas of Guangdong , Fujian , Zhejiang , Jiangnan , and Shandong to move in-land, to prevent the loyalists of the Ming dynasty in Formosa from approaching
3658-508: The Winnipeg Grenadiers (from Manitoba ) and a brigade headquarters (1,975 personnel) to reinforce the Hong Kong garrison. "C Force", as it was known, arrived on 16 November on board the troopship Awatea and the armed merchant cruiser HMCS Prince Robert . A total of 96 officers, two Auxiliary Services supervisors and 1,877 other ranks disembarked. Included were two medical officers and two nurses ( supernumerary to
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3776-517: The 'Bay of Trash' in Hong Kong. Belcher's Street is the main street in Kennedy Town of Hong Kong. It connects Victoria Road and Queen's Road West. A small section in its west end built a turn around for Hong Kong Tramway. It is currently used as a site for ships to load and unload goods. Kennedy Town was the western section of the historical Victoria City. It was named after the governor Arthur Edward Kennedy who initiated land reclamation along
3894-532: The 17th, the Japanese again offered terms of surrender which were rejected. That night a reconnaissance team from the IJA 3/229th Regiment successfully explored the Taikoo area. The IJA had moved its forces closer to Hong Kong Island with the 23rd Army headquarters at Tai Po and the 38th Division near Kai Tak. On 18 December the Japanese bombardment of the island shoreline increased and the oil storage tanks were hit. The IJA forces were organized into two assault units:
4012-618: The 1st Middlesex and then proceeded to behead all the prisoners. Two battalions of the 229th attacked the Repulse Bay Hotel while the 1/229th and 1/230th pushed the remnants of the East Brigade back into the Stanley peninsula. The East Brigade formed three defensive lines: the first line was composed of elements of the 1st Middlesex, three companies of the Royal Rifles and one company of the HKVDC supported by one 2-pounder gun;
4130-530: The 2/14th Punjab engaged the IJA who had crossed into Laffan's Plain. 2/14th Punjab eliminated several IJA platoons at 18:30 just south of Tai Po and HKVDC armoured cars and Bren Gun Carriers also successfully engaged IJA forces. Despite these successes, the 2/14th Punjab withdrew towards Grassy Hill in the afternoon to avoid being outflanked and the IJA forces advanced down the Tai Po Road towards Sha Tin . Late that night all units were ordered to withdraw to
4248-574: The 2/229th moved southeast towards the Lyemun fortifications. The 2/229th engaged a platoon of the Royal Rifles sent to check on A Company of the Rajputs and then quickly overwhelmed the Fort's garrison. The 2/229th then captured Sai Wan Battery killing six gunners from the HKVDC 5th Anti-Aircraft Battery and then proceeded to bayonet 20 prisoners, with only two surviving. The Royal Rifles attempted to retake
4366-750: The 20th the Royal Scots attacked the police station at the top of Wong Nei Chung Gap, but were repulsed as was another attack an hour later. An attack on Jardine's Lookout by C Company, 2nd Royal Scots also failed. Maltby ordered the Headquarters Company, Winnipeg Grenadiers to advance on Wong Nei Chung Gap, but they suffered heavy casualties before being stopped 300m short of the road, they then moved back along Black's Link and encountered approximately 500 unprepared Japanese and proceeded to attack them. At 15:00, after exhausting their ammunition, A Company, Winnipeg Grenadiers on Mt Butler surrendered to
4484-484: The 21st Wallis launched a new attack into Tai Tam to try to reach Wong Nei Chung Gap, with D Company, Royal Rifles, No. 1 Company, HKVDC, a medium machine gun section and two Bren Gun Carriers advancing from Stanley Mound. They were soon hit by Japanese mortar fire from Red Hill and then engaged by infantry from 1/229th and 1/230th on Bridge Hill and Red Hill. By 1400 hours, the Commonwealth forces managed to capture
4602-430: The 3/229th landed at Aldrich Bay . By midnight all six IJA battalions were ashore but were held up on the beaches by barbed wire, fire from the 5/7th Rajputs and the general confusion of night operations. The Japanese eventually moved inshore overwhelming the Rajputs, bypassing or destroying the strong points as they generally headed towards the high ground. Maltby believing that the landing only comprised two battalions and
4720-507: The 4.5-inch battery at Red Hill, which was abandoned the previous day. A handful of British civilians who were at the nearby pumping station were blindfolded and bayonetted at the beach in front of the pumping station. Meanwhile, the Japanese in the area south of Tai Tam Reservoir and into the hills above Repulse Bay where they encountered a company from the Royal Rifles and two HKVDC platoons preparing to attack Wong Hei Chung Gap from Violet Hill . Maltby sent A Company, 2/14th Punjab to support
4838-1135: The Allies. As a result, the unemployed were deported to the Mainland , and the population of Hong Kong had dwindled from 1.6 million in 1941 to 600,000 in 1945. The population of Hong Kong Island grew exponentially after the Second World War and the Communist revolution in China . It became apparent that the lands in the old Central District were insufficient to accommodate the population. Many undeveloped or underdeveloped areas Hong Kong Island such as North Point , Shau Kei Wan , Aberdeen and Wong Chuk Hang began its development and urbanisation. These areas initially started off as industrialised areas, with some areas such as Quarry Bay , Wan Chai and Causeway Bay later becoming new commercial centres when Hong Kong moved away from its period of industrialisation , as these areas provided relatively cheaper rent than
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4956-581: The Auxiliary Defence Units and Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps (HKVDC). Of the three territories of Hong Kong, the defenders abandoned the two mainland territories of Kowloon and New Territories within a week. Less than two weeks later, with their last territory Hong Kong Island untenable, the colony surrendered. Britain first thought of Japan as a threat with the ending of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in 1921,
5074-732: The British determined to reduce the Hong Kong Garrison to only a symbolic size. Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham , the Commander-in-Chief of the British Far East Command argued that limited reinforcements could allow the garrison to delay a Japanese attack, gaining time elsewhere. Winston Churchill and the general staff named Hong Kong as an outpost , and decided against sending more troops. In September 1941, they reversed their decision and argued that additional reinforcements would provide
5192-630: The British from 1841 to 1843. It connected the Victoria City from Shek Tong Tsui to Wan Chai. Brothels in this area had also inspired numerous novels and Hong Kong films, most notably Rouge (1987), starring Anita Mui and Leslie Cheung . Belcher Bay was named after Edward Belcher who landed on Possession Point at the north shore of Hong Kong Island and made the first British survey of Hong Kong Harbour on 25 January 1841. Belcher Bay, Gin Drinkers Bay and Tseung Kwan O were known as
5310-534: The Chinese populace for war. He highlighted the prejudiced attitudes held by those governing the Crown Colony of Hong Kong: "several of them (the British rulers) said frankly that they would rather turn the island over to the Japanese rather than to turn it over to the Chinese, by which they meant rather than employ Chinese to defend the colony they would surrender it to the Japanese". Colonel Reynolds Condon,
5428-504: The Devil's Peak area while the other descended into Kai Tak and marched into Kowloon on the morning of the 12th, where they were engaged by the IJA 3/320th Regiment which had infiltrated into the area. The Punjabis fought their way down to Tsim Sha Tsui and were evacuated by Star Ferry . HMS Tamar was scuttled in the harbour to prevent its use by the Japanese. On the night of the 12th the 5/7th Rajputs withdrew from Ma Yau Tong further down
5546-403: The Devil's Peak peninsula and at 04:00 on the 13th they began boarding boats to take them to Hong Kong island with the evacuation being completed by the morning of 13 December 1941. Maltby organized the defence of the island, splitting it between an East Brigade and a West Brigade. The West Brigade commanded by Brigadier John K. Lawson had its headquarters at the top of Wong Nai Chung Gap ,
5664-434: The Gin Drinker's Line. On 9 December the 2nd Royal Scots held in the west, a reserve company of the 5/7th Rajputs moved forward to Smuggler's Ridge , the HKVDC held Fo Tan and the 2/14th Punjab held at Tide Cove. By 13:00 the IJA 228th Regiment had reached Needle Hill and its commander Colonel Doi was reconnoitring the Shing Mun Redoubt area of the Gin Drinker's Line which he found to be unprepared for an attack. Despite
5782-408: The HKVDC had companies located at High West , Mt Davis, Pinewood Battery , Magazine Gap , Jardine's Lookout and Aberdeen Naval Base . The East Brigade commanded by Brigadier Cedric Wallis had its headquarters at Tai Tam Gap . The East Brigade comprised the 5/7th Rajputs holding pillboxes along the northeast shoreline with a company and their headquarters in the hills behind Taikoo Dockyard and
5900-727: The Hong Kong Singapore Royal Artillery Regiment which had Indian (Sikh) gunners. The Hong Kong Mule Corps was staffed almost entirely by Dogras and Punjabi Muslims . Medical personnel from the Indian Medical Service tended to those injured in combat. Ex-servicemen from India serving as security guards in Hong Kong also suffered "appallingly huge" casualties. Coastal defence batteries, including those at Stonecutters Island , Pak Sha Wan , Lyemun fort , Saiwan, Mount Collinson , Mount Parker , Belchers, Mount Davis , Jubilee Hill, Bokara, and Stanley, provided artillery support for ground operations until they were put out of action or they surrendered. Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery, which
6018-405: The Hong Kong island to Ap Lei Chau . The Ap Lei Chau Bridge is a combination of two bridges, built separately in 1980 and 1994. It was built to accommodate the growing population in Ap Lei Chau, which the residents could only access the island by boats prior to the construction of the bridge. The Central-Mid Levels escalator and walkway system is the longest outdoor covered escalator system in
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#17327811536506136-411: The IJA 228th Regiment continued to move troops into the Shing Mun Redoubt while sending out small patrols along the rest of the line but otherwise failed to capitalize on their success. Maltby saw the loss of the redoubt as a disaster that undermined the entire defensive line and the 2nd Royal Scots were ordered to counterattack at dawn on the 11th, but their commander Lieutenant Colonel S. White refused on
6254-418: The Japanese forces and downplayed assessments that the Japanese posed a serious threat as 'unpatriotic' and 'insubordinate'. US Consul Robert Ward, the highest ranking US official posted to Hong Kong in the period preceding the outbreak of hostilities, offered a first-hand explanation for the rapid collapse of defences in Hong Kong by saying that the local British community had insufficiently prepared itself or
6372-427: The Japanese had conquered North Point , reaching the Wong Nai Chung Gap on the following day. English, Scottish forces and the Canadian Winnipeg Grenadiers vigorously defended the crucial point of Wong Nai Chung Gap, and for a while successfully secured the passage between Central and the secluded southern parts of the island. Japanese casualties were about 600. However, Allied forces there were ultimately defeated by
6490-420: The Japanese on 23 December, and Wong Nai Chung Reservoir was lost. As Wan Chai Gap had also fallen that same day, the British had no choice but to surrender. Hong Kong surrendered to the Japanese on 25 December 1941, thereafter often called " Black Christmas " by locals as the surrender was on Christmas. The Governor of Hong Kong , Mark Young , surrendered in-person at the temporary Japanese headquarters, on
6608-403: The Japanese, however in a final exchange of fire Sergeant-major John Robert Osborn smothered a Japanese grenade with his body, an action for which he was later posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross . By 17:45 elements of the HKSRA under Major, Edward De Vere were ordered to attack the police station. The attack was launched at 22:00 supported by two armoured cars. This attack was successful and
6726-420: The Japanese. A squad of Free French under Captain Rodéric Egal, of the Free French in Shanghai who happened to be in Hong Kong when the battle broke out, fought alongside the HKVDC at the North Point power station. They were all World War I veterans (as were the local HKVDC) and acquitted themselves well. Defending the New Territories was the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots in the west, the 2/ 14th Punjab in
6844-461: The Royal Scots were late and so the HQ Company moved along the front of Mt Nicholson separately. D Company, 2nd Royal Scots and D Company, Winnipeg Grenadiers were then ordered to advance up Wong Nei Chung Gap Road but were hit by Japanese fire from Jardine's Lookout and were pinned down for the rest of the day. By 18:00 PB1 and PB2 were abandoned. At 22:00 a Japanese counterattack on Mt Butler was repulsed by A Company, Winnipeg Grenadiers. At 02:00 on
6962-484: The South Island line connecting four stations on Ap Lei Chau and in Wong Chuk Hang to the north shore at Admiralty station . Five MTR lines – the Tsuen Wan line , the Tseung Kwan O line , the Tung Chung line , the Airport Express – connect the north shore with Kowloon and provide onward service to the New Territories , and the East Rail line which provides another cross-harbour connection upon its extension from Hung Hom station to Admiralty station. In future,
7080-489: The Southern District. Major roads on Hong Kong Island include Connaught Road , Des Voeux Road , King's Road , Queen's Road . Hong Kong Island is connected to the Kowloon Peninsula on the mainland by two road-only tunnels (the Cross-Harbour Tunnel and the Western Harbour Crossing ), three MTR railway tunnels ( East Rail line , Tsuen Wan line and Tung Chung line / Airport Express ) and one combined road and MTR rail link tunnel ( Eastern Harbour Crossing , containing
7198-407: The Victoria Harbour, such as the famous now-demolished Queen's Pier in Central and now-relocated Blake Pier in Stanley, which mainly provides passenger pick-up and drop-off services for small barges, yachts and sightseeing boats. Public piers are located mainly along the Victoria Harbour mainly in Causeway Bay, Central, Shau Kei Wan, Wan Chai, and also in Aberdeen, Ap Lei Chau and Stanley, places in
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#17327811536507316-403: The Victorian era Sai Wan Fort with two platoons but were unable to scale the walls and lost nine killed. A company from the 2/229th entered the Salesian Mission in Shau Kei Wan , which was being used as a dressing station and they proceeded to kill all those inside, however, four men survived. According to Captain Stanley Martin Banfill of the Royal Rifles, who witnessed his men being executed,
7434-461: The West Brigade Headquarters, while Pillboxes PB 1 and PB 2 on the lower slopes of Jardine's Lookout continued to resist. At 08:45 six MTBs assembled off Green Island and then moved east in pairs into Hong Kong Harbour to attack boats transporting IJA soldiers across the harbour. As they neared Kowloon Bay MTB 7 attacked three Japanese boats, sinking two and damaging others before being disabled by Japanese fire and towed out by MTB 2. MTB 9 damaged
7552-403: The West Brigade area, Lawson sent three platoons from the Winnipeg Grenadiers forward to block the IJA advance from their landing sites, deploying one platoon on each of Jardine's Lookout and Mt Butler and one forward on Wong Nei Chung Gap Road. Meanwhile, the 3/230th was advancing along Sir Cecil's Ride on the side of Jardine's Lookout, the 2/230th towards Jardine's Lookout, the 2/228th advanced on
7670-399: The afternoon but was unable to locate the 2nd Royal Scots who had inexplicably moved off the eastern slopes of Mt Nicholson. This lapse allowed Colonel Doi to order three companies of the 1/228th to occupy Mt Nicholson in the afternoon under cover of a rain storm. B Company, Winnipeg Grenadiers moved in two columns in the dark and rain around the north and south of Mt Nicholson, meeting up above
7788-422: The area being outside of his regimental boundary he developed an attack plan and began moving his men into position. The redoubt was defended by A Company, 2nd Royal Scots supplemented by other units giving a total strength of three officers and 39 soldiers. The defenders and the nearby D Company, 5/7th Rajputs conducted patrols north of the redoubt and around Needle Hill but failed to detect the two IJA battalions in
7906-409: The area or the 150-man attacking force which had crossed the Jubilee Dam and was in position just below one of the redoubt's pillboxes. At 23:00 the defenders detected movement and opened fire as the IJA began their attack. As the Japanese progressively overran the complex of trenches and tunnels, many of the defenders found themselves locked in the redoubt's artillery observation post (OP). Pillbox 402
8024-479: The area. It is managed by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department . Many public beaches are also located in the Southern District of Hong Kong Island, which being the Deep Water Bay , Repulse Bay , Middle Bay , South Bay , Chung Hom Kok Beach , St. Stephen's Beach , Stanley Main Beach , Hair Pin Beach , Turtle Cove Beach , Shek O , and Big Wave Bay . These are all popular locations for water sports and activities. Public beaches are managed by
8142-456: The area. The stone pond was located at modern-day Hill Road and The Belcher's, and was mined by the Hakka people since the 17th century. In 1903, the first land reclamation of Shek Tong Tsui was finished. In the meantime, the largest brothels in the city, which were located at the Possession Street , were destroyed by a big fire. Consequently, Hong Kong Governor Matthew Nathan decided to move all Hong Kong Island's brothels to Shek Tong Tsui in
8260-404: The basis that it had no chance of success. At dawn on the 11th the IJA 228th Regiment attacked Golden Hill and was engaged by the 5/7th Rajputs supported by fire from HMS Cicala . D Company, 2nd Royal Scots counterattacked and regained the hill. At midday, Maltby having decided that the New Territories and Kowloon were untenable and that the defence of Hong Kong island was the priority, ordered
8378-445: The battalions had only two anti-tank rifles, and no ammunition for 2-inch and 3-inch mortars or for signal pistols. These were intended to be supplied after they arrived in Hong Kong. Nor did C Force receive its vehicles, as the US merchant ship San Jose carrying them was, at the outbreak of the Pacific War, diverted to Manila , in the Philippine Islands , at the request of the US Government. The Royal Navy presence at Hong Kong
8496-505: The catchwaters captured the anti-aircraft positions on Tai Tam Reservoir Road east of Wong Nei Chung Gap, after a heavy firefight. In the early morning Lawson brought forward A Company, Winnipeg Grenadiers to recapture Jardine's Lookout and they then successfully retook Jardine's Lookout, but only for a couple of hours before the hill fell after an intense artillery bombardment and frontal assaults by IJA 230th and 228th Regiment. The IJA forces descended from Wong Nei Chung Reservoir and attacked
8614-513: The center and the 5/7th Rajput in the east. In front of them was a thin screen of 2/14th Punjab infantry supported by four Bren Gun Carriers and two armoured cars and engineers at Sheung Shui and Tai Po . At 04:45 on 8 December 1941 ( Hong Kong Time ), roughly 2.5 hours after the Attack on Pearl Harbor (which happened at 07:49 Hawaii Time or 02:19 Hong Kong Time the next day because of International Date Line ) Radio Tokyo announced that war
8732-661: The coast of this area in 1886. It formed a narrow coastal strip of land that included the Kennedy Praya and the coastal area from Beach Street via Collinson Street to Shek Tong Tsui. In 1903, the Hong Kong Government erected seven boundary stones for the city, inscribed "City Boundary 1903". One of them is located at the Kennedy Town Temporary Recreation Ground at Sai Ning Street ( 西寧街 ). From 1933 to 1939, more land
8850-427: The dark and only arrived at 07:30 to find over 100 Japanese on Mt Parker and A Company withdrawing and so Mt Parker was abandoned to the Japanese. In addition to East Brigade's infantry losses, the coastal batteries at Cape D'Aguilar and Cape Collinson were abandoned, while several of 965 Battery's guns were destroyed in error or left to the Japanese. Wallis withdrew his headquarters from Tai Tam Gap to Stanley. In
8968-418: The early 1900s due to the large area recently claimed from the land reclamation. The place was then being well flourished as a red light district and came to its golden period. Numerous Cantonese opera theaters and restaurants were founded because of the business of brothels. It was the best place to entertain the affluent Chinese in Hong Kong. Queen's Road was the first road built in Hong Kong, constructed by
9086-410: The evacuation of all his forces. Demolition works were carried out and the 2nd Royal Scots and supporting forces withdrew south to Sham Shui Po Barracks and Jordan pier, while the 5/7th Rajputs withdrew to Ma Yau Tong where they would hold Devil's Peak peninsula protecting the narrow Lye Moon Passage . The guns on Stonecutter's Island were destroyed and the base was abandoned that night. Also on
9204-592: The forces in Repulse Bay, but they were engaged by a Japanese force on Shouson Hill and were forced to retreat with their commander Colonel Kidd killed in the action. Further east the 1/229th and 2/228th advanced from Tai Tam and Sai Wan towards Stanley. HMS Cicala which had been providing gunfire support in Deep Water Bay was hit by Japanese bombers and sank in the Lamma Channel. At 09:15 on
9322-460: The gap which was to be their starting point for the next day's attack. However, they were then engaged by the Japanese and all their officers and NCOs and 29 men became casualties and they retreated around the north of Mt Nicholson. Elsewhere on the 20th, the 2nd and 3rd battalions, 229th Regiment had advanced down the Tytam Road and captured the X roads, Red Hill and Bridge Hill. They captured
9440-545: The harbour denied until reinforcements could arrive from Singapore or the Philippines . According to the history manual of the United States Military Academy: "Japanese control of Canton, Hainan Island, French Indo-China, and Formosa virtually sealed the fate of Hong Kong well before the firing of the first shot". The British military in Hong Kong grossly underestimated the capabilities of
9558-506: The headquarters despite fire from HKSRA artillery in Happy Valley. At 10:00 Lawson radioed that his headquarters were surrounded and that he was "going outside to shoot it out", he and his entire command group were then hit by Japanese machine gun fire from across the gap and Lawson died of blood loss the hill behind his bunker. By midday only elements of D Company, Winnipeg Grenadiers and British and Chinese engineers held positions above
9676-426: The island "to the last man and last round". The Royal Air Force station at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Airport ( RAF Kai Tak ) had only five aeroplanes: two Supermarine Walrus amphibious aircraft and three out-dated Vickers Vildebeest torpedo-reconnaissance bombers, flown and serviced by seven officers and 108 airmen. An earlier request for a fighter squadron had been rejected and the nearest fully operational RAF base
9794-404: The island are also famous for hiking . The northern part of Hong Kong Island, together with Kowloon and Tsuen Wan New Town , forms the core urban area of Hong Kong. Their combined area is approximately 88.3 square kilometres (34.1 square miles) and their combined population is approximately 3,156,500, reflecting a population density of 35,700 people/km (92,000 people/sq mi). The island
9912-473: The leading Japanese officer stated that "Order is all captives must die". The rest of the 2/229th were engaged by C Company, Royal Rifles who inflicted heavy casualties, but the Japanese were able to move past the Canadian while also inflicting heavy losses forcing C Company to withdraw leaving only A Company on Mt Parker. At 03:00 a platoon from D Company was sent to reinforce Mt Parker, but they became lost in
10030-447: The line from Causeway Bay, through Leighton Hill , Happy Valley and Mount Cameron down to Bennett's Hill on the south of the island. At midday the Japanese attacked Stanley Mound and Sugarloaf Hill defended by units of the Royal Rifles, after repulsing several attacks, low ammunition forced the defenders to withdraw. The Japanese began their assault on the southern flank of Mt Cameron inflicting severe losses on B Company, 2/14th Punjab, but
10148-763: The location for the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and people in Hong Kong, including the former head of the Liaison Office Zhang Xiaoming , colloquially refer the name Sai Wan as a metonym for the Liaison office itself. In the early 1800s, Sai Ying Pun was known as a place to settle the Chinese immigrants. It was built from
10266-476: The morning of the 11th, the IJA landed on Lamma Island and were engaged by guns of Jubilee Battery and Aberdeen Battery. That afternoon the Japanese attempted a landing near Aberdeen Island ( Ap Lei Chau ) but were driven off by machine gun fire. The 2/14th Punjab were to join the Rajputs on the Ma Yau Tong line, but during their march on the night of 11/12, December became split up, with one group reaching
10384-421: The north shore elements of the 230th Regiment pushed west reaching Victoria Park , while Japanese artillery bombarded HMS Tamar. Maltby ordered a further attack on Wong Nei Chung Gap by a force comprising four platoons, but when the commander saw the IJA forces in the area he cancelled the attack. On the 22nd the 2/229th moved west from Shouson Hill and captured PB14 on the shore of Deepwater Bay from elements of
10502-634: The other districts in Hong Kong. Affluent districts on Hong Kong Island are The Peak , Western Mid-Levels ( Conduit Road / Robinson Road / Magazine Gap Road / Kotewall Road etc.), Eastern Mid-Levels ( Happy Valley / Tai Hang / Jardine's Lookout ), Tai Tam , Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay . As of 2021, 85% of Hong Kong Island's residents are of Chinese descent. The largest ethnic minority groups are Filipinos (5.6%), Indonesians (2.6%), and White people (2.5%) As of 2021, 80.4% of Hong Kong Island's residents use Cantonese as their usual language, while 10.6% use English and 3.3% use Mandarin . 2.8% of
10620-458: The other side of Jardine's Lookout, the 1/228th moved through Quarry Gap and the 3/229th advanced up Tai Tam Reservoir Road. The Japanese swept aside the weak infantry screens and while pillboxes inflicted casualties the Japanese were able to bypass such strong points and captured Jardine's Lookout. At 06:20 Pillbox PB1 occupied by No. 3 Company, HKVDC fired on an estimated 400 IJA advancing along Sir Cecil's Ride. Several IJA battalions advancing along
10738-422: The penetration was stopped by a counterattack by B Company, 4/7th Rajputs. In the north, after an intensive artillery bombardment, the Japanese broke through the defensive line south of Leighton Hill at 22:00, forcing the defenders to start abandoning their positions and retreat west to avoid encirclement. At 08:00 on the 23rd the 5/7th Rajputs fell back leaving the 1st Middlesex units on Leighton Hill isolated and
10856-468: The period. Government Reports identified this area as the no. IX health district and went into great detail about the buildings where the disease occurred. The neighboring area, Tai Ping Shan , was the most infected place in the city. It was resumed, abandoned and demolished to improve hygiene. The name of Shek Tong Tsui derived from a famous ancient stone pond, "Shek Tong" ( 石塘 ) in Cantonese, inside
10974-654: The planned North Island line infrastructure project would extend both the Tung Chung line and the Tseung Kwan O line to connect them to each other, forming a route parallel to the middle section of the Island line. Two other rail systems, Hong Kong Tramways and the Peak Tram , also run exclusively on Hong Kong Island. The former runs mostly parallel to the Island line between Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan , with
11092-472: The police station and Postbridge House at the summit of Wong Nei Chung Gap. By 07:00 the 3/230th closed in on the West Brigade headquarters, Maltby sent A Company, 2nd Royal Scots to reinforce them approaching Wong Nei Chung Gap Road, but only 15 men made it through while a group of sailors approaching from the south up Repulse Bay Road were also ambushed. The 3/230th cleared out positions south and east of
11210-496: The redoubt until 05:00, but apart from one position which held out until the afternoon the redoubt was lost. The IJA had only lost a mere two soldiers in the attack. At 21:30 on the 9th HMS Thanet and HMS Scout were ordered to leave Hong Kong for Singapore, successfully evading the IJN blockade. Only one destroyer, HMS Thracian , several gunboats and a flotilla of MTBs remained. Between 8 and 10 December, eight American plus
11328-734: The regimental medical officers), two Canadian Dental Corps officers with assistants, three chaplains and a detachment of the Canadian Postal Corps. A soldier of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC), had stowed away and was sent back to Canada. The Royal Rifles had served only in the Dominion of Newfoundland and New Brunswick , prior to posting to Hong Kong. The Winnipeg Grenadiers had been deployed to Jamaica . Few Canadian soldiers had field experience, but were nearly fully equipped. However,
11446-458: The residents use Chinese dialects other than Cantonese and Mandarin as their usual language and 2.9% use languages not listed above as their usual language. Seven of the MTR rapid transit system's ten lines service Hong Kong Island. The Island line and South Island line run exclusively on the four districts of Hong Kong Island, with the Island line serving the north shore at 17 stations, and
11564-410: The second line at Stanley Village comprised two companies of the 1st Middlesex, a company of the HKVDC and the Stanley company of the HKVDC supported by two 18-pounder and 2-pounder guns; and at Stanley Fort were two HKVDC artillery batteries and two Royal Artillery batteries with two 18-pounder, two 3.7-inch and 9.2-inch and 6-inch coastal guns. On the north shore West Brigade forces struggled to hold
11682-409: The shore the boats were illuminated by searchlights and fired on by the 5/7th Rajputs. The boats scattered and both battalion commanders were wounded so Colonel Doi crossing with the second wave assumed command of the assault. At 21:40 the artillery barrage moved to targets further inshore and at 21:45 the 3/230th landed at North Point, followed by the 2/228th. At 21:38 the 2/229th landed at Sai Wan and
11800-546: The shores of the Mainland and seek help from residents of the coastal areas. The ban was lifted when the remnants of the Ming dynasty were exterminated in 1669, though not many original residents of Hong Kong Island returned to the area. Piracy was rampant in the area until the island was ceded to the United Kingdom in 1842. Following the First Opium War (1839–1842), Hong Kong Island was ceded to Great Britain in 1842 under
11918-427: The summit of Bridge Hill, the X roads and the summit of Red Hill. The Japanese quickly rushed reinforcements from Tai Tam Gap, such as two Type 94 Tankettes. These tankettes were fired upon by a British machine gun on Bridge Hill, and the tankettes retreated to Tai Tam Gap. Even with this success, by 17:00 all the officers in the Commonwealth counterattacking force had been wounded and the force withdrew toward Stanley. On
12036-450: The system. Along its use of transporting, it is also a tourist attraction to the many visiting Hong Kong. As of late 2016, around 78,000 pedestrian make their trips using the system. Battle of Hong Kong 1941 1942 Second Sino-Japanese War Taishō period Shōwa period Asia-Pacific Mediterranean and Middle East Other campaigns Coups The Battle of Hong Kong (8–25 December 1941), also known as
12154-530: The third floor of the Peninsula Hotel , thus beginning the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong . Isogai Rensuke became the first Japanese governor of Hong Kong. Hyper-inflation and food rationing followed; and the Japanese declared Hong Kong Dollars illegal. The Japanese enforced a repatriation policy throughout the period of occupation due to the scarcity of food and the possible counter-attack of
12272-610: The three Vildebeest and the two Walruses were destroyed by 12 Japanese bombers. The attack also destroyed several civil aircraft including all but two of the aircraft used by the air unit of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps . The RAF and air unit personnel from then fought on as ground troops. The Pan-Am Airways flying boat Hong Kong Clipper was dive-bombed and destroyed. The Japanese also bombed Sham Shui Po Barracks causing minimal damage. The first significant exchanges of fire were at 15:00 when
12390-604: The traditional commercial district of Central. On 1 July 1997, the sovereignty of Hong Kong Island was transferred to the People's Republic of China alongside Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories , ending 156 years of British rule on Hong Kong Island. Despite Hong Kong Island being an island, it is not part of the Islands District . Four districts of Hong Kong are located on the island: Since 2021, Hong Kong Island West and Hong Kong Island East have been
12508-669: The two Legislative Council geographical constituencies in Hong Kong Island. Between 1997 and 2021, Hong Kong Island was one geographical constituency of itself . Between 1995 and 1997 however, Hong Kong Island consisted of four geographical constituencies, with them being Hong Kong Island Central , Hong Kong Island East , Hong Kong Island South and Hong Kong Island West . In the previous council from 1991 to 1995 , Hong Kong Island consisted of two geographical constituencies, Hong Kong Island West and Hong Kong Island East , similar to current arrangements. Hong Kong Island
12626-546: The unit managed to recapture the police station, but only for a few hours until the Japanese captured the police station using reinforcements from Stanley Gap (the old name for the Tai Tam Reservoir Road.) The new West Brigade commander Colonel H.B. Rose of the HKVDC developed a plan to retake the Gap using the 2nd Royal Scots and the Winnipeg Grenadiers. B Company, Winnipeg Grenadiers was brought from Pok Fu Lam in
12744-569: The west assault unit comprised the 228th and 230th Regiments and would leave from the Kai Tak area, and the east assault unit comprised the 229th Regiment (less 1/229th held as Divisional reserve) and would leave from the Devil's Peak area. The attack order was issued at 18:00 and at 20:00 the first wave from the 2/228th and 3/230th began paddling towards the Taikoo Dockyard and sugar refinery under cover of artillery fire. As they approached
12862-545: The west of Tai Ping Shan. Europeans were also assigned to live in the same area. However, they were separated at the High Street where Chinese were excluded from living. In 1880, sewerage was installed into the area, with the main flow coming down Centre Street. Streets were covered with macadam and concreted at the same time. In 1890s, a severe epidemic outbreak of the bubonic plague afflicted Sai Ying Pun residents. Sheung Fung Lane residents were almost wiped out during
12980-401: The west the 230th Regiment advanced towards Yuen Long , Castle Peak Bay and Tai Mo Shan . In the center, the 229th Regiment advanced from Sha Tau Kok towards Chek Nai Ping and across Tide Cove to Tai Shui Hang . In the east, the 228th Regiment crossed at Lok Ma Chau and Lo Wu and advanced towards Lam Tsuen and Needle Hill . At 08:00 the Japanese bombed Kai Tak Airport. Two of
13098-513: The world. It was opened in 1993 with the initiative of providing relief to traffic in the Mid-Levels . It travels from Queen's Road Central to Conduit Road , with the total horizontal distance being over 800 m (2,600 ft) and total vertical distance being over 135 m (443 ft). It consists of covered walkways, 16 reversible one-way escalators and 3 reversible one-way travelators. Restaurants, bars and shops can be found alongside
13216-539: Was a diversion for a direct assault across the harbor on Victoria sent minimal reinforcements to block any IJA movement west towards Victoria and five HKVDC armored cars to protect the East Brigade headquarters. The 2/230th moved west towards Victoria but was stopped by an HKVDC, Free French and miscellaneous force in the North Point Power Station led by Major John Johnstone Paterson . Radioing for assistance, Maltby sent an HKVDC armoured car and
13334-463: Was destroyed by IJA sappers at 02:30 on the 10th and the rest of the 3/228th Regiment joined the assault moving through the redoubt and into the valley, running into the 5/7th Rajputs who were moving to support the redoubt. The 5/7th Rajputs forced the Japanese back toward the redoubt. The Japanese eventually blew open the OP, capturing the 15 survivors. Artillery at Stonecutter's Island and Mount Davis pounded
13452-537: Was imminent and General Maltby and Governor Young was informed. At 05:00 the engineers detonated their charges destroying bridges on likely invasion routes. Japanese forces had been assembling north of the Sham Chun River since the beginning of December. The Japanese attack began at 06:00 when the IJA 230th, 229th and 228th Regiments (arranged from west to east) crossed the Sham Chun River. In
13570-516: Was in Kota Bharu , Malaya , nearly 2,250 km (1,400 mi) away. The Chinese Military Mission to Hong Kong, initiated in 1938, was headed by Rear Admiral Andrew Chan and his aide Lieutenant Commander Henry Hsu . It had the objective of co-ordinating Chinese war aims with the British in Hong Kong. Working with the British police, Chan organized pro-British agents among the population and rooted out triad factions that were sympathetic to
13688-628: Was little more than a token display of defence, with three World War I vintage destroyers, four river gunboats, a new but almost unarmed minelayer and the 2nd Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla. There were 40 Royal Marines attached to HMS Tamar (a shore station). When the battle began, the Royal Marines fought against Japanese forces in Magazine Gap, alongside HKVDC and Royal Engineers. They also manned machine guns on Mount Cameron. Commanding officer, Major Giles RM instructed his men to defend
13806-597: Was raised with troops recruited from Undivided India, also suffered heavy casualties during the Battle of Hong Kong and are commemorated with names inscribed on panels at the entrance to Sai Wan War Cemetery: 144 killed, 45 missing and 103 wounded. In late 1941, the British government accepted an offer by the Canadian Government to send a battalion of the Royal Rifles of Canada (from Quebec ) and one of
13924-514: Was reclaimed along the coast of Kennedy Town, yet the construction was suspended due to the Battle of Hong Kong in 1941. Another land reclamation was conducted recently at the end of the 20th century. 22°17′06″N 114°07′55″E / 22.285°N 114.132°E / 22.285; 114.132 Hong Kong Island Hong Kong Island ( Chinese : 香港島 ; Jyutping : Hoeng1 gong2 dou2 ; Cantonese Yale : Hēunggóng dóu )
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