Hong Kong Formally Surrendered to the Japanese Forces at the Peninsula Hotel

Peninsula Hotel, located on the southern tip of Tsim Sha Tsui, is one of the finest hotels in Kowloon. Opened on December 11, 1928, the hotel owes its name to the Peninsula of Kowloon where it is situated. Although not the first hotel in Hong Kong, as of 2026, the Peninsula, now renamed The Peninsula Hong Kong, is the oldest hotel still in operation in the city.

A historical landmark in the truest sense of the term, the Peninsula witnessed a key and traumatic event in Hong Kong's history. In the early hours of December 8, 1941, while Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, three Japanese regiments crossed the Sham Chun River, which marks the border between Shenzhen, in Mainland China, and Hong Kong, thus marking the start of the Battle of Hong Kong.

The New Territories and Kowloon fell within five days when the last British Indian troops evacuated to Hong Kong Island. The Japanese forces took possession of the Peninsula and made it their headquarters.

Eventually, on December 25, 1941—only 17 days after the Japanese forces crossed the Sham Chun River—Hong Kong Island fell. Governor Young and General Maltby surrendered in person to General Sakai of the Japanese forces.

The official surrender took place on the third floor of the Peninsula Hotel. That day, which coincided with Christmas Day, is remembered in Hong Kong as Black Christmas.