On this day 80 years ago, Sir Mark Young returned to Hong Kong after being a prisoner of war during the Japanese occupation
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenSCMPPublished: 6:45pm, 30 Apr 2026Sir Mark Young returnsThis article was first published on May 1, 1946
Sir Mark Young, Governor of Hongkong, returned to the Colony yesterday (April 30, 1946). Sir Mark was Governor when the Japanese attacked on December 8, 1941 and was a prisoner of war until the capitulation.
An official welcome took place when Sir Mark stepped ashore from Queen’s Pier.
Broadcasting from Government House in the evening, Sir Mark paid a tribute to the memory of those who fell in the defence of the Colony and expressed his thanks and admiration for all who bore their share of the burden laid upon the Colony.
The Governor’s RAF Dakota plane was met about 50 miles from Hongkong by a combined escort of RAF Beaufighters and Fleet Air Arm Corsairs of 721 Squadron which circled Kai Tak airfield while the official plane landed at 2.15pm.
As he stepped out of the plane, Sir Mark was met by the Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral Sir fic Fleet) Commodore D.H. Everett (Commodore, Hongkong), Major-General F. W. Festing, (GOC, Land Forces, Hongkong), Air Commodore W.A.D. Brook, (AOC Hongkong) and Air Commodore B.V. Reynolds.
After chatting briefly, the official party assembled at the entrance to the Pier and took the salute as “God Save the King” was played by the Band of the Jaipur Guards.
