Hong Kong was a British colony at the time. The Japanese onslaught, during World War Two, began on this day.

The Japanese had sent an envoy on the 17th December which demanded the surrender of the colony to the Japanese army. The British governor, Sir Mark Young, responded:

"The governor and commander in chief of Hong Kong declines absolutely to enter into negotiations for the surrender of Hong Kong."

The Japanese proceeded to invade, with orders to take no prisoners. There are reports that even those who gave no resistance were killed.

The Japanese got control of the reservoirs and set about withholding water from the population. Hong Kong was surrendered on Christmas Day.