明防暗退——从香港保卫战前的部署看英国如何操作放弃香港

1941年12月日本进攻港英当局殖民统治下的香港,香港保卫战爆发前英国政府为了保全其帝国整体利益,对香港进行了战略性放弃,"明线"上表现出坚决保卫香港的姿态,"暗线"上却将主要军力撤至战略位置更重要的新加坡。英国在军事上放弃防御香港的同时,又拒绝通过不设防城市的方式避免香港受战火摧残,最终导致香港军民承受了重大伤亡,香港陷入日本的残酷占领和统治。

How the British Gave Up on Hong Kong before the Battle of Hong Kong

In December 1941,the Japanese attacked Hong Kong,which was under British rule.Before the Battle of Hong Kong broke out,the British colonial government gave up tactically on Hong Kong for the general interests of its Empire.On the surface it made the gesture of resolution to defend Hong Kong while secretly withdrawing its main force to the strategically more important Singapore.In addition to military retreat,the British refused to make Hong Kong an"Open City"to protect it from the ravages of war,which led to heavy civilian and military casualties and its brutal occupation by Japan.