At Kai Tak airfield in Kowloon a China National Aviation Corporation transport aircraft (a Douglas Dakota) taxis; the camera follows to show a waiting RAF guard of honour. Field Marshal Brooke steps down from an RAF Dakota (serial FL542) and is greeted by the commander-in-chief Hong Kong, Admiral Cecil Harcourt, Major-General Francis Festing (General Officer Commanding Hong Kong), and Air Commodore William Brook, the Air Officer Commanding. Brooke inspects the RAF guard. He gets into a staff car. Brooke inspects officers of HQ Land Forces. Harcourt, Festing and Brooke. The three pass camera. At the naval dockyard on Hong Kong Island Brooke inspects a drydock where a Royal Navy Algerine Class (?) minesweeper is docked; a dock crane traverses in the background. Walking along the dock. At No.1 Commando HQ a guard of honour presents arms, is inspected and saluted. Close-up of Brooke and Festing. Entering a barrack building with entourage. Leaving the building; a sign reads 'Officers Entrance Only'. Brooke steps ashore from an admiral's barge on a quay on the Kowloon mainland; Harcourt assists him and Festing. Troops of 42 and 44 Royal Marine Commandos on parade. Brooke inspects them. A Royal Marine pipe band leads a march past. Brooke takes the salute. Brooke inspects a guard of honour mounted by 40 Royal Marine Commando. Brief shot of a Japanese soldier at the gate of Sham Shui Po internment camp where disarmed Japanese troops are held. Walking through the camp; in the background a saluting Japanese soldier can be seen. As Brooke leaves Japanese soldiers stand at the salute; Brooke returns their salute. Party standing on a wooden bridge over a river which marks the border between British and Chinese territory. Party on the border with mountains in the distance. Group passes camera which then tilts up to show a Union flag flying. Group departs after meeting troops of No. 5 Commando.

Harcourt and Festing mounting steps to the Cenotaph and meeting assembled dignitaries, which appear to include civil and religious figures, and Chinese military officers. View of the Cenotaph. Detachment of sailors with heads bowed; a band plays in the background. Festing lays a wreath. Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell, commanding officer of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps lays a wreath. Wide shot of the Cenotaph. Harcourt and Festing leaving. Tilt up along the Cenotaph. Troops of No.1 Commando leaving. Indian Army detachment leaving; the troops wear distinctive headdress (Jats?). A detachment of sailors of the US Navy.

Film showing Field Marshal Alan Brooke, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, making a tour of inspection of Hong Kong, and the first observance of an Armistice Day ceremony since the end of the Japanese occupation.

Notes

Field Marshal Brooke, as CIGS since the dark days of December 1941, was an enormously influential figure at the heart of British strategic decision-making. His statue now stands on Whitehall outside the Ministry of Defence flanked by Montgomery and Slim, two commanders he brought to prominence.

The Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps had fought the Japanese Army during their invasion of Hong Kong, suffering heavy casualties. Hong Kong fell on Christmas Day 1941.