By Dr. Kevin Lau
Hong Kong's history serves as a vivid mirror, reflecting both the brutality of war and the preciousness of peace. On 8 December 1941, Japanese forces launched an assault on Hong Kong, leading to the British surrender after 18 days of fierce fighting and ushering in three years and eight months of occupation. During this dark period, Japanese troops committed grave atrocities, including the massacre of prisoners of war, medical personnel, and New Territories villagers, shattering countless families and extinguishing innocent lives. This history is not merely a somber tribute to the victims but a profound inspiration for contemporary Hong Kong: in the era of Greater Bay Area development and international cooperation, revisiting the past through a constructive lens can solidify the foundations of peace and pave the way for enduring prosperity.
The postwar trials exemplified the power of justice and the rule of law, laying the groundwork for peaceful reconstruction. Starting in 1946, Hong Kong established four military courts to adjudicate 46 cases, 30 of which occurred locally across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories, and outlying islands. Spanning over two years and eight months, these courts ruled on 122 Japanese suspects: 21 received death sentences, two life imprisonment, 85 terms ranging from six months to 20 years, and only 14 were acquitted. These proceedings not only delivered justice but also formed an archival cornerstone, digitized by the University of Hong Kong for public access. This legacy teaches us that judicial accountability is the starting point for postwar reconciliation; today, Hong Kong can build on it by enhancing historical education to foster youth awareness and global perspective.
The Japanese gendarmerie system, though once an instrument of oppression, underscores the vital importance of effective governance. The Hong Kong Gendarmerie, initially comprising 150 core gendarmes under Sakuma Toshinori and later expanding to over 3,500 personnel—including auxiliary gendarmes, Chinese and Indian investigators, and a network of informants—operated from the former Supreme Court, overseeing five district units. The New Territories branch, first based in Fanling's On Lok Village, evolved through reorganizations to cover areas up to Bao'an in Shenzhen. As "military order gendarmes," their mandate spanned military security, guerrilla suppression, intelligence gathering, and terror operations, highlighting institutional efficiency. In peacetime, Hong Kong can apply this lesson to refine security and community governance, such as through Greater Bay Area police collaboration, bolstering cross-boundary response capabilities to safeguard social stability and economic growth.
Tragedies like the St. Stephen's College Field Hospital massacre, though harrowing, awaken our commitment to humanitarian care. On the morning of 25 December 1941, Japanese troops stormed the facility, run by Colonel Black and Captain Whitney, which treated over 200 wounded soldiers under clear Red Cross markings. Ignoring these symbols, they bayoneted more than 70 bedridden patients, murdered protesting medics, and subjected nurses like Elizabeth Fidoe to rape, while mutilating soldiers such as Henderson and Mackay. A Canadian chaplain's inspection the next day confirmed the hall strewn with mutilated corpses. These events remind us that humanitarian lines must never be crossed. With its world-class medical system, modern Hong Kong can integrate this history into public health policy, partnering with the Red Cross to develop a Greater Bay Area emergency rescue network, transforming medical resources into bridges of peace benefiting millions.
The painful ordeals of New Territories villagers during large-scale sweeps further illuminate the wellspring of community resilience. From 1944 to 1945, to eradicate the Hong Kong-Kowloon Independent Brigade guerrillas, Japanese forces rounded up residents in Sai Kung, Tai Po, and Yuen Long, inflicting tortures like burning and suspension, claiming lives such as Sai Kung's village head Xie En, Tai Po's Zheng Bao, and Yuen Long's Du Yueqiang. This reflects the enduring spirit of grassroots resistance. Today, as a Greater Bay Area hub, the New Territories can channel this into rural revitalization: investing in infrastructure, eco-tourism, and youth leadership to convert historical scars into engines of sustainable prosperity.
Reflecting on history, Hong Kong's postwar resurgence—from ruins to Asian Tiger and now integral to national development—proves that constructive peace triumphs over conflict. This inspires three forward-looking policy recommendations. First, expand historical databases for school and community seminars, nurturing cultural confidence and identity. Second, advocate for a Greater Bay Area peace education alliance, sharing archives with mainland and international partners to promote youth exchanges and mutual trust. Third, establish an Asia-Pacific Peace Memorial Center in Hong Kong to host forums and exhibitions, underscoring the universal value of war crimes trials and advancing regional reconciliation under UN frameworks. These initiatives honor the past while energizing the future, positioning Hong Kong as a global exemplar of peace-building.
By reframing history constructively, Hong Kong can heal old wounds and lead renewal. Let us draw on the victims' courage to join Greater Bay Area compatriots in building a peaceful golden era, ensuring every life flourishes in stability.
The author is Founding Convenor of the Hong Kong Global Youth Professional Advocacy Action, a specialist in radiology, Master of Public Health of the University of Hong Kong, and an adviser of the Our Hong Kong Foundation.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.
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