Reel 1: Credits roll over disintegrating Union Jack. Aerial view of Hong Kong establishes site of Britain's approaching defeat, here garrisoned by turbaned Indian troops. Union Jacks fly over commercial centre of the colony, where two well-groomed Japanese agents exchange words in the street before walking along the waterfront past Sikh guards. British posters exhort "Help win the war on the kitchen front" and "Keep it under your hat". Inside a customs post, presumably the New Territories border with Japanese-occupied China, British customs officials roughly search the luggage of oriental travellers and rip a Japanese girl's kimono, causing tears. Enter the two agents, who exchange words with a bespectacled acquaintance and commiserate with the maltreated kimono girl. Scene fades over Hong Kong Island and street scene with English and Chinese shop signs.

Reel 2: Kimono girl and Japanese man enter Azawa Curios shop, owned by Japanese family in Hong Kong. Mother emerges from rear room to speak to man, apparently part of a Chinese espionage group working for the Japanese. Japanese and Chinese girl exit and walk together towards cathedral, where sound of solemn hymn appears to affect Chinese girl with foreboding. Scene changes to military front, as Japanese officer briefs small group of agents wearing armbands on forthcoming attack on Hong Kong in front of a map. Meanwhile Indian troops patrol border post opposite Japanese guards, as Japanese soldiers, mounted and on foot, move forwards in a column across a country road in China. One is temporarily overcome by fatigue but a word of encouragement from his officer soon has him on his feet again.

Reel 3: Japanese forces prepare for night and next morning warm up with stick fighting and a wash in the Chinese village pond. Agent from Reel 1 appears, still in civilian dress but now with an armband, and greets friend. Scene changes to airfield where Chinese and Europeans step down from plane surrounded by reporters, probably Hong Kong. Indians now guard oil installations on Hong Kong, where inside a ritzy hotel lounge a discussion takes place in virtually incomprehensible stilted English between a defeatist officer holding a sword and a Eurasian who maintains that "Japan is heading for serious defeat" (Japanese subtitles). Bespectacled agent sits listening, while outside hungry Chinese stand peering in at display of food for Europeans. Over views of slums soundtrack ironically carries tune of "God save the King". British shattered Japanese doll and window smithereens and Japanese citizens interned in the darkness of a boiled warehouse.

Dramatised reconstruction of Japanese capture of Hong Kong interweaves realistic recreation of military preparations and assault with personal fate of Japanese family interned by the British on the island.