Keiji MAKIMURA, 29 August 1945

Thanks Alan, it is good to get a Japanese viewpoint of the events. If you are posting Japanese text, it would be great if you could also include a note with an English summary. Here is a translation from ChatGPT 3.5. (This is the first time I have used it for translation. I find the text sounds more natural than we get from Google Translate, but ChatGPT has a reputation for occasionally adding in random information that sounds believable but isn't accurate, so treat with care!)

Since the surrender on August 15th, two weeks have passed, and it was at this point that we first learned the Hong Kong occupation forces were British troops. Throughout these two weeks, everyone's minds were preoccupied with questions such as which Allied country would occupy Hong Kong and what would happen to our fate. The communication dropped by the British carrier aircraft was quickly reported to the 23rd Army Headquarters. Simultaneously, local army and navy leaders held an emergency meeting to discuss the dispatch of representatives. However, since there were no instructions from the 23rd Army, Fukuchi, the senior officer in the Hong Kong area, responded to General Hargrave as follows...

On August 29th, 1945, Hong Kong was quietly sleeping, wrapped in the morning mist. Suddenly, breaking the silence of the morning, British carrier aircraft flew in, skimming over the rooftops of the city and then disappeared into the distance. The message carried by the aircraft was a special notice of Hong Kong's defeat. 

Regarding the surrender of the Japanese military, it was agreed that discussions would take place after the occupation. However, in order to proceed with the occupation of Hong Kong, it was necessary to send representatives once again. As we engaged in these negotiations, time passed, but a decision regarding the representatives was not made. It was inevitable, so the British aircraft dispatch was postponed until 5 p.m. Inquiring why a decision had not been made regarding the representatives, the 23rd Army Headquarters in Guangdong insisted that direct contact should be made with Guangdong. The British believed that the Japanese military commanders in Hong Kong were the ones to negotiate with. With this situation, it was not surprising that no resolution could be reached. Even in this critical moment, we were bound by issues of authority, which was a ridiculous situation. As the time of the postponed deadline approached, we finally reached an understanding with the 23rd Army and decided on the representatives. However, I was surprised to learn that I was chosen as one of the representatives. Although I served as the Director of the Foreign Affairs Department in the Governor's Office, I was not originally a military personnel. This mission was assigned to me as a military envoy. Therefore, it was unusual for someone like me, who was not a military personnel, to go. I mentioned this to Fukuchi, the Chief of Staff, and requested a different choice, but permission was not granted. As a staff officer with the rank of captain, further discussion was not permitted. So, I made up my mind to undertake this great responsibility. As a military envoy in the aftermath of defeat, it was an unexpected mission for me, and at times like these, one needs someone to consult with, but there was no one available. That's when I approached Mr. Gimson, who was preparing for the reception of Hong Kong at the time and had come out of the internment camp. He said, "I highly support your decision to go. I will contact General Harcourt to ensure that your mission is carried out smoothly and to protect your life." With Mr. Gimson's support and his assurance that everything would be taken care of, I rushed to the Kowloon airfield for the time being. By that time, it was already past 4:30 p.m.

I followed the instructions and climbed into the plane, but the two-seater carrier aircraft didn't have any extra seats. I was placed on what seemed to be a gun seat at the back, and in an instant, we began to taxi and took off. I had no idea where I was being taken or where the fleet was located. Flying aimlessly over the vast sea without any sense of direction. If I weren't in the position of an envoy of the defeated army, it would have been an exciting adventure story, just like the ones I read in my childhood. However, my heart was filled with unknown anxiety and the weight of my mission, causing me great restlessness.

After about an hour, I leaned forward over the pilot's shoulder and peered ahead. There they were! They were there! Countless ships assembled closely together, covering the entire horizon. It was the most magnificent sight from the sky. And they appeared to be getting bigger and bigger. The plane descended rapidly, making a screeching sound from underneath. The hook used for landing was extended beneath the tail. The plane made a sharp turn and seemed to bounce for a moment. The impact was less than I had anticipated. I had arrived safely.

As I crawled out of the aircraft and looked around, the aircraft carrier's deck was surprisingly spacious. From the depressions on both sides of the large deck, hundreds of soldiers were poking their upper bodies out, seemingly watching me. I was a spectacle. And as for my attire, I was wearing a khaki open-collar shirt, riding breeches, and tall boots, with a disproportionately large Japanese sword hanging from my side. Moreover, I was dragging the infamous parachute I had used to descend. It was undoubtedly an unusual appearance. Later, when I saw the newsreel footage of that moment, it was truly pitiful and miserable. It was something I couldn't show to my family.

Afterwards, I was led by a single officer to the command tower on the side of the ship. It was a small room, about three tatami mats in size. At the entrance, two sailors stood with rifles pointed towards me. Even though I was prepared for it, it still gave me an eerie feeling. When I checked the time, it was already six o'clock...

I was taken to the meeting room. There were four naval officers present, and they first asked for my name and rank. Then, one of the officers read out the following order addressed to the Japanese military commander from Lieutenant General Harcourt:

"To the Japanese Imperial Emperor, it has been agreed by the Allied Supreme Commanders that the Japanese military shall surrender unconditionally. I have been entrusted with the responsibility to establish British military administration in the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong. Therefore, I hereby order you to implement the following provisions..."

(Note: The text provided is a mix of Japanese and Chinese characters. To ensure accuracy, I have transcribed it in a way that reflects the correct meaning.)

However, on August 29, 1945, even though they were speaking English with many military terms, it was impossible for me, who was not fluent in English, to fully understand. Therefore, I decided to accept the written order and examine each provision carefully. Fortunately, Captain John Eccles, who was present, had some understanding of Japanese. Combining my limited English and his limited Japanese, we managed to communicate to some extent. Immediately, the two of us took the lead and began reviewing the documents I had brought, resolving issues one by one on the spot if they could be addressed. 

On the following day, August 31, as promised, I went to the flagship anchored in the harbor, accompanied by several dozen staff officers, including the Chief of Staff. In just one day, the atmosphere in the harbor had completely transformed. The Rising Sun flag had been lowered, replaced by the Union Jack, and the harbor was filled with majestic warships and transport ships of various sizes. The meeting room on the flagship was filled with a tense atmosphere as Lieutenant General Harcourt took the floor first. He sternly issued orders regarding the occupation of the Hong Kong region, disarmament of the Japanese military, and detention of Japanese troops and civilians. It was truly a situation of victors and vanquished. In hindsight, we had been too naive. We had prepared various conditions for negotiation and hope, but there was no room for such discussions. Even Mr. Gimson, who was usually mild-mannered, spoke with fervor, saying, "Among us, there is a man whom we cannot even exchange words with, let alone have him present here. That man is the director of the internment camp (Takandat) and the military police chief (Noma)." He pointed sharply at the two of them, and the meeting became completely awkward. The meeting between the leaders of the two forces was over. That was all. The sense of being trapped with no way out in our defeated state was strongly felt at that moment.
 

Surrender signing ceremony
On September 16, we received notice of the surrender signing ceremony. Major General Okada and Rear Admiral Fujita were appointed, along with me as their attendant. On both sides of the road, troops from various countries lined up, and behind them, Chinese civilians gathered to observe our defeated procession. Although it was called a surrender signing ceremony, since it was an unconditional surrender, we simply had to sign the papers provided by the British forces. First, Major General Okada took the pen and signed in Japanese characters. Then, he handed his beloved sword to an officer present, who passed it to Lieutenant General Harcourt. After that, Rear Admiral Fujita signed and handed over his naval officer's sword.