In order to consolidate Japanese rule in Hong Kong, the authorities introduced a series of Japanized policies. In January, 1942 (Showa 15th Year), the Civil Administration Department declared to remove or blacken the English version of shop names, signs, traffic signals and notices in public areas and to use Showa as the reign title.

In April, the Governor's Office notified that names of all main roads and districts would be transliterated into Japanese. Some company names were also Japanized.