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| Enemy Signals Ignored |
| Several peculiar incidents attended our entry into Hongkong. As our ships, led by the destroyer HMS Kempenfelt, were entering the channel in single line ahead, a Japanese signal station used an international flag signal warning than to take a certain course. Then the Japanese signalled "Stop immediately, danger." This warning was ignored, and after slowly negotiating the boom, it was plain sailing. A Japanese naval officer visited the cruiser HMS Swiftsure, to which Rear-Adml. H. J. Harcourt had transferred his flag. With his left hand on his sword, the Japanese saluted and then apologised for not sending a pilot to navigate us through the mine field. |
The Daily News. 3 September 1945 : 'I spent a nervous hour and a half in the Japanese Kai Tak Airfield last Wednesday (29 August) when our aircraft had burst a tire during its landing. I was in one of a pair of Avengers which flew to Kowloon to pick up Douglas Craven, a liberated prisoner of the Japanese and a person only identified as "One Other" but who turned out to be a Japanese envoy.' |
| Unconventional Arrival |
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After messages had passed between the Indomitable and Hongkong, a further radio message was received from the colony saying that Cmdr. Craven, RN, a prisoner of war since the fall of Hongkong, would like to board the flagship with "one other." An Avenger, escorted by four Hellcats, accordingly flew to pick them up. When it returned to the flight deck it bore, with Cmdr. Craven, a Japanese envoy, the Commissioner of Foreign Affairs (Makimura), bearing a message from Maj-Gen. Fukuchi. Of diminutive stature, the Japanese envoy was in the belly of the plane as he alighted—a Mae West held him up, while his Samurai sword dangled in mid air. Disentangling himself, the Japanese, wearing khaki, gold wire badges, breeches and boots, smartly saluted the captain of marines standing with a marine sergeant, who was levelling a tommy-gun at the aircraft exit. The salute was not returned. Makimura was escorted to a cabin, where he was interviewed by the captain of the Indomitable (Capt. John Eccles), while an armed guard paced outside. He did not see Adm. Harcourt, but left with a message from him to Gen. Fukuchi. |
| Preliminary meeting* |
A preliminary meeting to discuss arrangements for the full evacuation of Hongkong by Japanese soldiers, sailors and nationals was held today on board Rear-Adml. Harcourt's flagship, and sub-committees of British and Japanese representatives were appointed to make final arrangements. The Japanese party was headed by Maj-Gen Fukuchi, Makimura, the POW and Internment Camp Commandant (Col. Takandat), and the Commissioner for Civilian Affairs (Sutsumi).
The Japanese stood and bowed stiffly on the entry of Admiral Harcourt, accompanied by the officer administrating the Government (Mr. F. Gimson) and Rear Admiral Daniel, of H.M.S. Anson. The confcrence lasted an hour with the shaven headed Japanese sitting stiffly throughout with their left hands on their swords. * As the Governor of Japanese-occupied Hong Kong, Lieutenant General Tanaka was stationed in Guangzhou (Canton), Chief of Staff, Major General Fukuchi, who led the Japanese delegation in discussions with the British on 3 Sep 1945 to arrange the full evacuation of Hong Kong. 
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Sources : Advertiser, 4 September 1945