In the evening of 24December 1941, Major-General C. M. Maltby warned that the advancing Japanese forces might use the ARP tunnels for infiltration. The next day, which was Christmas Day, his dispatch reported at noon that Japanese artillery opened up at a large scale, and hand-to-hand fighting was reported by the defence forces on Mount Parish. Soon Mount Parish fell into Japanese hands. The defence forces then fought around Wan Chai Market in an attempt to stop enemy advance into Central, and at one time fired at the ARP tunnel exits using an 18-pounder gun to force the enemies out the tunnels. However within several hours Maltby advised the Governor that no further military resistance was possible, and the Governor surrendered to the Japanese, ending the Battle.