Tony Banham sets the scene:
It is Hong Kong's last morning of siege. The defences are in place, waiting for the inevitable invasion, as the artillery and aerial bombardment reaches a new intensity.
In Central Market the Jesuit Father Ryan is helping with the distribution of rice to the poor. It's about 13.15:
There was an appalling crash and a thunderous roar and a shivering of glass, and in an instant everyone was flat on the ground. The chance in a million had occurred: a bomb had fallen in the central space in the very heart of the market.
Yet even that was not the end. The plane evidently dropped three bombs, for two other explosions were heard in the street outside, and after the sound of their thunder there was still heard the noise of crashing walls and the piercing wail of screams.
Father Ryan is unharmed, but six people inside are killed and many others outside; hundreds are injured.
During the twelve or so daylight hours, more than 200 shells fall in and around the French Hospital (St. Paul's) in Causeway Bay and the associated buildings - probably because there were British guns in the playing fields at the back of the hospital.
One shell hits the Hospital direct, and Dr. Dean A. Smith, who's in charge, has arrived to inspect the damaged wards when a second shell explodes at his feet causing him multiple injuries and seriously wounding the nurses accompanying him. Franklin Gimson and Dr. Selwyn-Clarke are summoned by phone, and they decide that another doctor must take over and that no new casualties will be received at the hospital, while as many patients as possible will be transferred elsewhere.
When Dr. Philip Court, the new head, arrives he decides to abandon the main building and convert the large church in the middle of the grounds into a hospital, as it's the strongest and most spacious of the compound buildings. The work of moving the patients, under continuing shellfire, will carry on until tomorrow.
An entry from the Police War Diary:
1930 hrs ex-sergeant Jessop, watchman at the Tai Koo docks, reported Japanese landings.
The first wave of the Japanese 228th. Regiment has begun the assault on the Island. Landings will continue throughout the evening and all the first wave troops are over by midnight. The land assault on the Island has begun.
Hong Kong is back on the front page of The Daily Mirror. The theme for the day is the Governor’s ‘no surrender’ stance:
TOLD THE JAPS (POLITELY) TO GO TO HELL
SIR MARK YOUNG, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Hong Kong, sent this telegram to the Secretary of State for the Colonies yesterday:
“After some further bombardment, I have received another letter signed by Japanese military and naval commanders-in-chief, asking me to confer about surrender on considerations of humanity.
The following is the text of my reply:
‘ ‘ ‘The Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Hong Kong declines most absolutely to enter into any negotiations for the surrender of Hong Kong, and he takes this opportunity of notifying Lieutenant-General Takaishi Sakai and Vice-Admiral Masaichi Niimi that he is not prepared to receive any further communication from them on the subject.‘ “
The Secretary of State ((Lord Moyne)) replied:
“Your refusal to consider the Japanese commanders’ request to negotiate terms of surrender of Hong Kong commands the respect and approval of his Majesty’s Government.
“Your resolute leadership, and the stirring conduct of all defenders of the fortress, are being watched with admiration and confidence by the whole Empire and by our Allies throughout the world.”
Sources:
Last morning: Tony Banham, Not The Slightest Chance, 2003, 95
Ryan: Thomas F. Ryan, Jesuits Under Fire In The Siege of Hong Kong, 1944, 135
Time, casualty figures: Tony Banham, Not The Slightest Chance, 2003, 99-100
French Hospital: Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke, Footprints, 1975, 67; Thomas F. Ryan, Jesuits Under Fire In The Siege of Hong Kong, 1944, 76, 132-133
Diary: George Wright-Nooth, Prisoner of the Turnip Heads, 1994, 55
Japanese landings: Tony Banham, Not The Slightest Chance, 2003, 108