Liberation of Hong Kong
The Liberation of Hong Kong, also known as the British Reoccupation of Hong Kong or the Resumption of British Sovereignty Over Hong Kong, 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.