Marie Broom and her husband Vincent enjoy a pleasant life on Hong Kong Island. Vincent is a New Zealander. Marie is Portuguese-Chinese. Married for ten years, the couple have four adored children – daughters aged 9, 8 and 5 and a baby son of 14 months. Vincent’s job as a marine engineer often takes him overseas. It is December 8, 1941. In a few hours their lives will change forever.

Marie wakes in the family’s home to the sound of bombs falling. Within days, Japanese soldiers have invaded the island. Their building is surrounded. Most British residents are rapidly...