Hong Kong. Hong Kong and the New Territories, 3rd. edition, War Office, 1946

Hong Kong. Hong Kong and the New Territories, 3rd. edition, Geographical Section, General Staff no. 3961, War Office, 1946, colour printed photolithographic folding map, 700 x 1000 mm

(Qty: 1)

The map illustrates in great detail, Hong Kong, mainland China and the surrounding islands. A note in the legend at lower right states: 'the area of Chinese territory on this sheet is compiled from material of doubtful value, but is probably a fair general representation of the country.' Although Japan had surrendered in 1945 and the British reclaimed their territory two weeks later, it took until 1949 for the British Government to make a firm decision not to abandon Hong Kong to the Chinese Communists. It had substantially strengthened the garrison to serve as an anti-communist deterrent, but its primary aim was to subdue internal security threats and reassure both the resident British and Hong Kong Chinese residents and bring some much-needed security and stability to the region. Chinese forces had massed on the New Territories border in October of 1949, but there was a degree of posturing and sabre-rattling in this show of strength and they would eventually withdraw.

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