The Japanese did not leave the island until 2nd September, and they spent their last few unhappy days trudging here and there trying to sort themselves out. A good many army men came down the river in junks, hoping to escape from the wrath of the Chinese irregulars. They found that nobody wanted them. We sent some of these boat-loads over to Kowloon, where they were interned in one of their own prison camps. Nearly three thousand prisoners were shipped over on the last day, watched by about two dozen British sailors.
At 1100 hours on the 2nd the Rising Sun set over the stone roof of Admiralty House. This was not exactly according to plan, since the Admiral had made a signal suggesting that it would be wiser to leave the flag flying until the actual evacuation was completed at 1600 hours. The handing-over of the building was scheduled to take place at noon. By ten-thirty a landing-party of three sections, under the command of the gunnery officer from H.M.S. Maidstone, posted themselves discreetly round the place. From their hides they watched the last disorderly convulsions of the Japanese Staff H.Q. They looked at their watches. There was still a good long wait before them. It was therefore with considerable surprise that they watched the jeep containing one of the submarine spare crew officers and two armed seamen drive past imperturbably and pull up at the main door between the indignant yellow sentries. The officer and his men passed inside, completely ignoring the guard, and were seen, a few minutes later, standing on the flat roof. Shortly afterwards they moved easily over to the flagstaff, and the Rising Sun came down with a rush, followed quickly by the flag of the Officer Commanding, which flew from the other end of the building. British and Japanese watched this in stunned silence. They looked away to smile nervously at each other, and, houp la ! when they looked up again the White Ensign was being hoisted.
This little scoop passed without incident, and the Japanese flags were carried back to the Maidstone in triumph.
So the Japanese passed from Hong Kong ; and as the last of them stepped down into his boat the town awoke. In the streets and on the wharfs, from balconies and windows, came the crack of Chinese firecrackers. They hissed and rattled as if a major battle were being fought. Heaven help any evil spirits in the town that night! They must have spent some uncomfortable moments in their eternity. The power station puffed out little clouds of smoke and sparks. There were lights on the hill—lights that went up to mingle and become confused with the stars. Long, amber reflections ran out across the harbour to meet those coming from Kowloon. In the centre of the glow lay the fleet ; dark shadows on the still water.