Hong Kong 1941–45

Hong Kong 1941–45
Author: Benjamin Lai
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 98
Release: 2014-06-20
Genre: History
ISBN: 1782002693

The invasion and conquest of Hong Kong formed part of the staggering series of Japanese conquests across the Far East in late 1941 and early 1942. On 8th December 1941, as part of the simultaneous combined attack against Pearl Harbor, the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) invaded the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia and the British colony of Hong Kong. After only 18 days of battle the defenders, a weak, undermanned brigade, were overwhelmed by a superior force of two battle-hardened IJA divisions. What defines the battle of Hong Kong was not the scale - just 14,000 defended the colony - but the intensity of this battle, fought not only by the British Army, Navy and Air Force but also Canadians, Hong Kong's own defence force, the Indian Army and many civilians. The campaign itself is characterized by a fierce land battle, with long artillery duals and as well as fast naval actions with intense actions at the Gin Drinkers Line as well as the battle of Wong Nai Chung Gap where a handful of defenders took on an entire Japanese regiment. Less known but equally important are individual acts valour such as CSM John Robert Osborne winning a posthumous VC, throwing himself over a Japanese grenade to save fellow combatants.

East River Column

East River Column
Author: Sui-jeung Chan 陳瑞璋
Publisher: Hong Kong University Press
Total Pages: 209
Release: 2009-06-01
Genre: History
ISBN: 9622098509

Hong Kong's story in the Second World War has been predominantly told as a story of the British forces and their defeat on Christmas Day 1941. But there is another story: the Chinese guerrilla forces who harassed the Japanese throughout the occupation played a crucial part in the escapes from Hong Kong's prisoner of war camps and in rescuing Allied airmen. This neglected part of Hong Kong's war is Chan Sui-jeung’s topic in this pioneering book informed by his many contacts with participants in the guerrilla warfare. The guerrilla group usually described as the East River Column gathered momentum in 1937 after China and Japan embarked on full-fledged war. Chan reports on its precursors and the formation of more formal structures that provided the basis for the guerrilla activities in Hong Kong between 1941 and 1945. Just as the guerrilla's story starts before the Second World War, so it goes on after 1945 and is entwined with the civil war and the establishment of the People's Republic of China. An important and valuable part of this book recounts how the leaders of the East River Column fared in the period up to and after the Communist victory. The book also sheds new light on the struggle between the Guangdong party members and the cadres from the north and "the problem of Guangdong" as it was characterized by Mao Zedong. This book thus finally gives due prominence to the role of the Chinese guerrillas in Hong Kong during the war, while at the same time setting that struggle into the broader contexts of Guangdong province, the long war between China and Japan, and the victory of the Communists and the early years of their rule in the South.

Underground Front

Underground Front
Author: Christine Loh
Publisher: Hong Kong University Press
Total Pages: 377
Release: 2018-11-01
Genre: History
ISBN: 9888455737

Underground Front is a pioneering examination of the role that the Chinese Communist Party has played in Hong Kong since the creation of the party in 1921, through to the present day. The second edition goes into greater depth on the party’s view on “one country, two systems”, “patriotism”, and “elections”. The introduction has been extensively revised and the concluding chapter has been completely rewritten in order to give a thorough account of the post-1997 governance and political system in Hong Kong, and where challenges lie. Christine Loh endeavours to keep the data and the materials up to date and to include the discussion of some recent events in Hong Kong. The appendices on the key targets of the party’s united front activities also make the book an especially useful read for all who are interested in Hong Kong history and politics, and the history of modern China. ‘Although the author calls herself an “outsider”, this book provides such a distinctly incisive analysis that even an “insider” will pale by comparison. Christine Loh’s exposition of the Communist Party’s co-optation and persuasion is particularly revealing for anyone not versed in communist-speak. A must-read for anyone who cares for Hong Kong—simply because the Communist Party in Hong Kong is a heavyweight player in shaping our future.’ —Ching Cheong ‘Authoritative, thoroughly researched and lucidly written, Christine Loh’s work must be read by everyone who wants to make sense of the Chinese Communist Party’s agenda in Hong Kong. This book is remarkable for its fair-mindedness in evaluating the party’s record. She provides an absorbing account of its leaders’ hard-headed pragmatism in tolerating this outpost of colonial and capitalism during the Cold War and the Cultural Revolution. Her analysis of the party’s involvement in contemporary Hong Kong is an impressive contribution to our understanding of Beijing’s expanding involvement in Hong Kong affairs. The author has achieved a notable breakthrough with this fascinating study of a political organisation whose role and influence in Hong Kong have hitherto been shrouded in secrecy.’ —Leo Goodstadt

Hong Kong Chronicles: Overview & Chronology

Hong Kong Chronicles: Overview & Chronology
Author: Hong Kong Chronicles Institute
Publisher: Chung Hwa Book Co. (H.K.) Ltd.
Total Pages: 810
Release: 2022-06-30
Genre: History
ISBN: 9888807323

Overview & Chronology is the first title of the book series Hong Kong Chronicles by Hong Kong Chronicles Institute. It presents a detailed overview of Hong Kong’s local history and more than 6,500 major historical events taking place between ancient times and 2017. The book series consists of 66 volumes to be released in 42 books with 25 million words and completed in phases by 2027. It covers a historical timeline of 7,000 years – from the New Stone Age 5,000 B.C. to the inauguration of the fifth term of the HKSAR government on July 1, 2017. It includes 10 major categories, including nature, economy, culture, society, politics and people, etc. Local chronicles have the important functions of preserving history, providing reference for policymaking and educating the people. Through the compilation of local chronicles, it serves to seek out, preserve and promote the stories of people, their socio-economic development and way of life as well as political structure. It plays an important role of cultural significance in driving the future by reflecting on the past. The book series is of profound historical significance and cultural value as an accurate, objective, systematic and comprehensive record of 7,000 years of Hong Kong's transformation.

China’s Hong Kong

China’s Hong Kong
Author: Shigong Jiang
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 216
Release: 2017-05-09
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 9811041873

This book differs from most others of its kind, by looking at the Hong Kong issue from China’s perspective, which in turn mirrors China’s own situation. Through a legal lens, the author conducts a political and cultural examination of the past and the present, and provides a comprehensive overview of the many theories and problems concerning Hong Kong. Including reflections on the theory of administrative absorption of politics, a historical review of “one country, two systems” and an analysis of the form and nature of the Basic Law, it offers a valuable reference resource for studying the historical, political and legal context of Hong Kong under the principle of “one country, two systems”. Instead of over-simplifying the issue of Hong Kong or only seeing it as a Chinese regional issue, the book regards it as a central Chinese issue and the key to understanding China.

The Royal Corps of Signals

The Royal Corps of Signals
Author: Cliff Lord
Publisher: Helion & Company Limited
Total Pages: 414
Release: 2014-02-24
Genre: History
ISBN: 9781874622925

The ability to communicate is a prerequisite for success both in military and civil life. Surprisingly, everyone expects access to communications, but rarely wonders how it is achieved. The purpose of this book is to bring into focus one of the cornerstones of the success of the British Army, and to provide an insight into the complexity and diversity of the Royal Corps of Signals. This is done, not by narrative, but by delving into unit history rather than campaign history, thus offering a different perspective for the historian. Royal Signals is one of the largest Corps in the British Army, and consists of a body of very highly trained and dedicated personnel to manage, operate, and repair the advanced technology that is theirs to administer. Signals are the Invisible Elite, without them there is no victory. Before the independent Corps of Signals was formed in 1920, Royal Engineers provided communications for much of the Army. Details of their signal units are included. Reflecting the new technologies as they occur, the reader will see the new signal units being raised to facilitate the exigencies of the time. For example, during the Second World War the Golden Arrow Detachments were created as independent, mobile, high-speed transmitting and receiving stations to provide links to Britain, and thus provide High Command with the information from Commanders in the Field that was desperately needed. These units also passed intercepted enemy signals back to England for the code breakers at Bletchley Park. Other specialist Signal units were created for Air Support, Para Signals, Commandos, Interception, Fixed Communications, Peacekeeping and a multitude of other reasons. In today's changing world signals continue to get their message through - Swift and Sure. This book is a must for historians, genealogists, and those that served. It contains: - Overviews of the Signals Order of Battle at specific times in history- Detailed précis of specialist signal units including Commando, and Para units.- History of 35 Commonwealth and related Signal Corps- Photographs of many rare signal badges- Scores and scores of unit histories both Regular and Territorial from the past to the present

Policing in Hong Kong

Policing in Hong Kong
Author: Kam C. Wong
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 538
Release: 2015-03-06
Genre: Law
ISBN: 1439896445

The HKP (Hong Kong Police),Asia‘s Finest is a battle-tested professional organization with strong leadership, competent staff, and deep culture. It is also a continuously learning and reforming agency in pursuit of organisational excellence. Policing in Hong Kong: History and Reform is the first and only book on the development of the Hong Kong

Streets

Streets
Author: Jason Wordie
Publisher: Hong Kong University Press
Total Pages: 312
Release: 2007-01-01
Genre: Travel
ISBN: 9789622098138

The book starts with a district familiar to all visitors -- Tsim Sha Tsui -- but then moves into the hinterland of Kowloon, taking the reader and walker far beyond the well-known streets of tourist-oriented shops and hotels. Streets: Exploring Kowloon, like its companion, Streets: Exploring Hong Kong Island, guides the reader with maps and travel information to take 45 walks throughout Kowloon, each along a specific street pointing out historically and culturally important sites, but also the curious and the intriguing.

British Voices of the Irish War of Independence

British Voices of the Irish War of Independence
Author: William Sheehan
Publisher: Gill & Macmillan Ltd
Total Pages: 276
Release: 2007-03-14
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1848899114

?Ireland's War of Independence generated a wealth of published material but very little from a British perspective. Yet many British servicemen left accounts of their time in Ireland from 1918 to 1921. They describe military operations, the IRA, the Irish, the actions of their own forces, morale and relationships with local communities. There is Brigadier Vinden's strange tale of a drinking session with Michael Collins and humour in the sending of Gaelic-speaking Highlanders into a public house to eavesdrop in the belief that Sinn Féiners always spoke Irish to each other. The author has gone deep into British military archives to unearth these never-published accounts. Supplemented with unpublished photographs from the Imperial War Museum and the Irish National Library, these accounts form a landmark oral history told through the personal experiences of men from across the ranks.

The Irregular at Magic High School, Vol. 6 (light novel)

The Irregular at Magic High School, Vol. 6 (light novel)
Author: Tsutomu Sato
Publisher: Yen Press LLC
Total Pages: 255
Release: 2017-12-19
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1975300823

The nationwide All-High Magic Thesis Competition is lauded as a more cerebral and refined contest than the action-packed Nine School Competition. After seeing more than enough gunfights and magical duels in between classes, this change of pace suits Tatsuya just fine. Unfortunately, not every spectator is content with simply enjoying the event. With rival students, intelligence operatives, and a foreign assassin all in attendance, Tatsuya might need more than just his wits to keep everyone safe!