Abstract

This chapter examines the role of media in Hong Kong's geopolitical position in the run up to World War II. Hong Kong has generally been considered less significant than other cities or areas in East Asia, such as Shanghai or Taiwan, in this era, however, this notion overlooks the geographical and strategic advantages Hong Kong enjoyed at the time, and, more importantly, fails to take into account the role Hong Kong played as one of the region's most important information exchanges. Through a careful study of Honkon Nippō, a Japanese-published newspaper in Hong Kong, as well as the growth of the Japanese presence in the colony, I will argue against dismissing Hong Kong as unimportant in the pre-war era; I will even contend that Hong Kong was in fact a far more important consideration in Japan's planned expansion in South Asia, particularly for places such as the islands of the Western and Southern Pacific. The origination of Honkon Nippō also illustrated the tie between Hong Kong, the Japanese Empire, and its southward advance, with information connections strengthening the central position of Hong Kong. By paying attention to this hitherto neglected dimension in the Hong Kong-Japanese relationship, this research demonstrates that pre-war Hong Kong should be reviewed, especially its position in the network of East and Southeast Asian countries.