On December 25, 1941, Hong Kong Governor Peter Yeung went to the Peninsula Hotel to meet with Japanese military representatives to sign a letter of surrender, marking the official fall of Hong Kong.
After the Japanese occupied Hong Kong, they immediately established the Military and Administrative Department and froze all warehouses, bank accounts and safes.
This is tantamount to directly plundering the assets of Hong Kong people!
In order to plunder more resources and wealth, after Japan ruled Hong Kong without any reserves, it issued a continuously depreciating "military stamp" to replace Hong Kong dollars, and forcibly purchased large quantities of materials and items to be shipped back to Japan.
Under the occupation of the Japanese army, there was a serious shortage of various materials and the people were in dire straits.
In 1943, quotas of grain and sugar began, and people could only queue up to buy rice grains of 6 taels and 4 qian a day. Later, the quota was reduced. One-third of the people were not full and had to eat rice flour and sweet potatoes to satisfy their hunger.
Before the fall of Hong Kong, you could buy a pound of rice for more than 1 Hong Kong dollar.
By 1943, 200 yuan in military notes could be exchanged for a pound of rice.
At that time, 4 Hong Kong dollars could be exchanged for 1 yuan of military stamps, which was equivalent to 8,000 Hong Kong dollars to buy a pound of rice.
The supply of supplies has skyrocketed, even exceeding that of Chongqing.
The Japanese army even occupied all freight company warehouses and goods in Hong Kong, confiscating buses, taxis, and trucks as military supplies.
At the same time, residential buildings in the Kowloon City area were demolished and used to expand the airport.
Due to food shortages and the destruction of their residences, the Japanese army implemented a "return home policy" and a large number of Hong Kong citizens were deported back to the mainland. Many people died of starvation and illness on their way back to their hometowns on foot.
Before the fall of Hong Kong, the population of Hong Kong was 1.6 million.
By early 1943, Hong Kong's population had dropped sharply to 1.2 million, and was still declining further.
What's more, the Japanese army set up many comfort stations in Hong Kong, and many young girls were abducted by the Japanese army and brutally humiliated.
The Japanese army set up casinos and opium dens in the urban area, and opium re-entered Hong Kong, which dealt a heavy blow to Hong Kong. Many people were homeless and sleeping on the streets. The Japanese army even unleashed dogs to bite them to death at night.
Just at the beginning of this year, the Japanese army unleashed dogs and killed 10 innocent Chinese women near Kennedy Town.
This is Hong Kong under the brutal rule of the Japanese!
The Japanese military inspected people entering Hong Kong very strictly.
As long as they think there is something wrong with you, the Japanese army will immediately seize you and your property.
This is tantamount to direct robbery!
Hong Kong, once the Pearl of the Orient, has now become a hell on earth!
At the pier, a large group of Japanese military police with wolves and dogs watched everyone who got off the ship.
Although Hong Kong has become so scary and the number of people entering Hong Kong has decreased significantly, the more it becomes like this, the more opportunities there are.
Especially smugglers and opium dealers from all over the world. For them, Hong Kong turned into a paradise after its fall.
The Japanese are well aware of these people, but are not prepared to interfere too much with their entry into Hong Kong.
Because, in the eyes of the Japanese, they are all cash cows.
They are required to pay taxes locally.
This money naturally fell into the pockets of the Japanese authorities.
For example, as soon as you enter Hong Kong, after being inspected and approved to enter Hong Kong, you must first pay a "land tax" of ten Hong Kong dollars.
It only accepts Hong Kong dollars, Japanese yen, and British pounds of equivalent value, and refuses to accept military stamps issued by the Japanese authorities themselves.
Then you have to pay "hotel tax" when staying in a hotel, "commercial tax" when doing legitimate business, and "special transaction tax" when smuggling and selling drugs.
There are all kinds of things, but the only difference is that you have to pay the "sleep tax" when you sleep.
Second Lieutenant Nakano stood there arrogantly, looking at everyone who entered Hong Kong with a condescending look.
Beside him sat a large wolfdog with fierce eyes, waiting for his master's command to pounce on an innocent person and open his bloody mouth to bite him wildly.
Just yesterday, he captured a member of the Hong Kong resistance organization, this big wolf dog, and bit the "rioter" alive.
At this time, three people attracted the attention of Second Lieutenant Nakano.
He had no interest in the two followers, but the man walking in front had to make Second Lieutenant Nakano look at him a few more times.
You can't tell his age, but he's not very old anyway. He has a beard and wears glasses.
Mainly the suit he wears.
It fits well, that's the second thing.
The neckline is extremely small, and only one button is used in the entire suit.
There are no buttons on the cuffs or even top pockets.
This is a unique Japanese style suit.
Originally, suits made in Japan were basically the same as those made in European and American countries.
But after the war broke out, the Japanese government proposed to save every ounce of resources to support the front line.
Therefore, suits have also been improved.
The cuff buttons that were used to look beautiful and prevent wear and tear were gone, and the jacket pockets that were considered to have no practical value were also cancelled.
These saved fabric buttons can be provided to military supplies.
Even so, such nondescript suits are rarely produced in Japan and can only be owned by the rich and powerful.
After all, a suit is not a necessity.
Second Lieutenant Nakano walked up to the man in person: "Welcome to Hong Kong, Your Excellency. I am Hinata Nakano. How can I help you?"
The word "Your Excellency" has fully demonstrated that Second Lieutenant Nakano knows that this person's origin is not simple.
"Sir Nakano, thank you."
This man spoke fluent Japanese with a Kyoto accent: "I am Takenori Akagi."
As he spoke, he took out his business card.
Nakano Hinata took it respectfully.
General manager of Akagi Trading Company.
Takenori Akagi immediately said: "Open your luggage and let Mr. Nakano check it."
"Ah, no need."
Second Lieutenant Nakano had just finished speaking, and Takenori Akagi's men had already opened their carry-on luggage.
After opening the clothes on top, there were pieces of things wrapped in oil paper scattered underneath.
opium!
Nakano Hinata knew it at a glance.
"That's enough, Your Excellency." Nakano Hinata smiled as soon as he saw it: "The citizens of the Japanese Empire do not need to be inspected."
"No, that's your job."
Takenori Akagi acted as gracefully as a noble: "Too many Chinese agents are causing us constant trouble. You are the warrior who helps us defend Hong Kong's first line of defense!"
He checked the time, which was also a watch made in Japan: "Then, if there is no problem, I will leave first."
"Okay, Sir Akagi, see you next time."
…
The car stopped.
Hanbara Hikaru opened the car door and walked out.
"Your Excellency Habara."
Nakano Hinata hurriedly came forward.
Hahara Koichi said nothing.
His eyes glanced around the dock before he said, "Is there anything special?"
"No, Your Excellency."
Hinata Nakano replied loudly: "Everything is normal."
"Second Lieutenant Nakano, this is the first line of defense entering Hong Kong."
Koichi Hahara didn't look relaxed at all: "Everyone entering Hong Kong, whether Chinese or Japanese, must be investigated in detail."
"Hai, the Japanese also need it?"
"Yes, sometimes Japanese people may not be real Japanese, at least I know there is such a person!"
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