Hong Kong: Symbol of the West

Abstract

victory of the Chinese Communists in Eastern Asia has brought the armies of Mao Tze-tung the borders of the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong. The decision of the British government defend the colony and not let it fall through neglect the Chinese Communists is certain affect the international politics of the Far East. The United States has taken the position that an attack on Hong Kong would be an act of aggression that would receive the attention of the Security Council of the United Nations and the General Assembly has passed an American-sponsored resolution requesting all states to respect existing treaties relating The ideological ties existing between the Russian and Chinese Communists would probably produce a common attitude on the part of both Stalin and Mao Tze-tung relative the question of Hong Kong. The Japanese seizure of the Crown Colony on December 25, 1941 after an eighteen day struggle has raised the question as whether Hong Kong can be long defended against resolute attack from the mainland of China. The Japanese, however, had superior sea and air power in the Western Pacific in addition military control of the Canton area of South China as well as sovereignty over the strategic island of Formosa the northeast. Furthermore, the British Commonwealth and Empire was engaged in a global war against the Axis from the Atlantic through the Mediterranean the Pacific. At the present time the Chinese Communists have no significant air or naval power and they would be faced with greatly strengthened British land, sea, and air forces. Great Britain would have complete control of the sea lanes Hong Kong and absolute mastery of the air over the Crown Colony. Moreover, the government of Hong Kong has resolutely met the water and food supply problems that proved so critical in 1941. Pipelines have been constructed from reservoirs on Kowloon peninsula across the bay Hong Kong