Liberation of Hong Kong|
On 16 September 1945, Japanese military officials signed surrender documents to Allied representatives at the Hong Kong Government House. British, American, Chinese, and Canadian delegations were present. |
| Native name | 香港重光 |
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| Date | 16 September 1945 |
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| Outcome | The UK resumed its rule in Hong Kong |
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| Traditional Chinese | 香港重光 |
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| Kanji | 香港の解放 |
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| Hiragana | ほんこんのかいほう |
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The Liberation of Hong Kong (Chinese: 香港重光), also known as the British Reoccupation of Hong Kong (Chinese: 英國重佔香港) or the Resumption of British Sovereignty Over Hong Kong (Chinese: 英國對香港恢復行使主權), refers to the end of Japanese occupation of Hong Kong following Japanese surrender on 15 August 1945, the arrival of the Royal Navy on 30 August, and the official surrender ceremony in Hong Kong on 16 September. Prior to the surrender in the Cairo Conference, leader of Nationalist China Chiang Kai-Shek once requested that Hong Kong come under Nationalist control after the war, but the British rejected. As friction increased between Nationalists and Communists in China, Chiang relented and agreed to resume British sovereignty instead. In the position of Supreme Commander of Allied forces in China Theater, Chiang delegated Admiral of the Royal Navy Cecil Harcourt to accept Japanese surrender. As a result of British rule, Hong Kong was able to avoid the bloodshed of the Chinese Civil War and paved the way for economic growth.