What happened during the Battle of Hong Kong

The Japanese attacked a few hours before the attack on pearl harbour. British, Canadian and Indian forces, commanded by Major General Christopher Maltby, resisted the Japanese invasion but were outnumbered.

The colony had barley any air defence and was forced to retreat to Singapore.
The Japanese bombed Kai Tak Airport at DEC 8.The attack also destroyed many aircrafts except the two used by the Air Unit of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corp.

The Japanese took over golden hill. This made the situation on the New Territories and Kowloon untenable and the evacuation from started on Dec 11 1941 As much as possible, military and harbour facilities were demolished before the withdrawal. By 13 December, the British Indian Army commanded by Lieutenant Colonel R. Cadogan-Rawlinson, to retreat to Hong Kong island.

Maltby organised the defence of the island, splitting it into two sections. Two demands for surrender were made on 13 December and 17 December. When these were rejected the Japanese force sneaked onto the island to attack. They suffered only light casualties, although no effective command could be maintained until the dawn came. That night, approximately 20 gunners were killed after they had surrendered. There was a further massacre of prisoners, in both cases, a few men survived to tell the story.

On the morning of DEC 19th fighting continued on Hong Kong Island but the Japanese annihilated the headquarters of West Brigade, causing the death of Brigadier John K. Lawson, the commander of the West Brigade. From 20 December, the island became split in two with the British Commonwealth forces still holding out around the Stanley peninsula and in the West of the island. At the same time, water started becoming scarce the Japanese captured the island's reservoirs.

On the morning of Dec 25, Japanese soldiers entered the British field hospital at St. Stephen's College, and tortured and killed a large number of injured soldiers, along with the medical staff.
By the afternoon of 25 December 1941, it seemed resisting would be useless so Sir Mark Aitchison Young surrendered in person at the Japanese headquarters on the third floor of the Peninsula Hong Kong hotel. This was the first occasion on which a British Crown Colony has surrendered to an invading force. They called this day "Black Christmas" since it was so close to Christmas.

Source

The Outcome and Effects of the Battle of Hong Kong

When the battle was over, the outcome was 290 Canadian soldiers killed and 493 wounded. The Japanese surrendered, and their actions would come to be known as “Black Christmas” due to it being very close to Christmas. 

December 24th, Japanese soldiers began terrorizing the population of Hong Kong. They attacked a makeshift hospital full of Canadian soldiers, assaulting and killing nurses and wounded soldiers in their beds. Many Canadians were imprisoned and kept in horrible, abusive conditions, so quite a few of them died.

Source

Events that led to the Battle of Hong Kong

Japan wanted resources from China because they had gold, iron, coal and gas. So, Japan decides to invade China. China then complains to the League of Nations about this issue and they don’t approve of Japans actions either, but they still do not listen. So, Japan leaves the League of Nations, and continues invading. United States also had the resources Japan wanted such as oil, rubber, and tin so they decide to invade them as well. Meanwhile Britain begins to feel the tension between the states and Japan, so they didn't really want to send out to many of their own troops to Japan in case they send the wrong message meaning declaring war, which they aren't ready for. So, Canada was asked to send a couple Canadian battalions called the Royal Rifles and the Winnipeg Grenadiers, along with troops from India and Singapore to help them defend Hong Kong. This was on November 16th, 1941, when they first came and they began training for the defence and within 3 weeks they were at war. The states weren't a part of the war at this time, but they definitely had a rude awakening coming to them when Japan suddenly attacks Pearl Harbour, which destroyed much of the American fleet and killed many people. After this the states join the allies and declare war on Japan. Then, only a couple hours later, Japan attacks Hong Kong, which is a British colony and the whole world is now at war.

Source

Canada's role in the Battle of Hong Kong

Canadian soldiers were ordered to service in the Pacific in October 1941 to defend the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong against a Japanese attack in December. Most soldiers only had limited military training but they fought against overwhelming odds and had the courage of seasoned veterans, and, until they were overrun by the enemy, they refused to surrender. Those who survived the battle became prisoners of war and endure torture and starvation by their Japanese captors. Approximately 290 soldiers died in battle, and 264 died in captivity, so all together about 554 soldiers died and 500 were wounded.

Source