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marriage and a few cases of women who had been British subjects by birth and had lost that status by marriage to an alien.
69. A telegram dated 18th August, 1937, was received from H.M.'s Consul- General, detailing the procedure adopted in Shanghai regarding non-British refugees. It was apparently assumed that permission to land in Hong Kong would be refused to all non-British nationals unless an undertaking was forthcoming from their respec- tive Consular representatives in Hong Kong that they would not become a charge. on Government. In point of fact as detailed above excellent arrangements were made by the various Consuls in Hong Kong for the accommodation of their nationals. A few only were admitted to the Government Centres and this was done on the assumption that Consular guarantees had been obtained in Shanghai.
70. While this was no doubt true as regards non-British nationals who were given passages on board the British vessels specially engaged for the evacuation, there were a few foreign women who arrived in Hong Kong on foreign vessels who had not been passed by the Consular Authorities in Shanghai. They were destitute and there was no alternative but to provide accommodation for them in the Centres until they could be sent back to Shanghai. A few Russian men and women, deported from Canton and elsewhere, had also to be admitted, and subsequently repatriated to Shanghai.
71.
I submit that as these people came to Hong Kong because of the hostilities in China, it was imperative to maintain them until they could be sent back to Shanghai. Hong Kong could not allow these women and one or two men to be stranded without means of subsistence in their midst. Their maintenance and sub- sequent repatriation was a proper charge on the funds placed at the disposal of the Refugees Committee, eventually to be refunded to Hong Kong by H.M.'s Government
in London.
VII. Gratuitous Services.
72. Before detailing the cost of the whole scheme for evacuating a large pro- portion of the British women and children from Shanghai and maintaining them in Hong Kong it is not inappropriate to detail the many services that were rendered. in the cause of the refugees by individuals in Hong Kong, by business firms, and by the Government.
73. I have already mentioned that not a few of the refugees were taken into the homes of residents of Hong Kong as guests in the fullest meaning of that term. The large business firms with interests in Shanghai and throughout China looked after the families of their China staffs and maintained separate Centres for their accommoda- tion. The Commissioner of Police, and Chief Officer of the Fire Brigade placed at the disposal of the wives of Shanghai Police and Fire Brigade Officers vacant Govern- ment quarters that were available. Vouchers for free transportation were issued by the Hong Kong Tramways, Limited, the Bus Companies and the Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry Company offered transport at half rates. I have also mentioned that no rent was charged by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for occupation of their Stand at Happy Valley.
74. Messrs. Lane, Crawford, Limited (Café Wiseman) who undertook the catering for the refugees at the Happy Valley Centre at $1 per meal reduced their charge to 75 cents on finding that this covered their outgoing expenses.
75. The Hong Kong. Electric Company, Limited, waived all charges for elec- tricity at Happy Valley during our occupation of the Jockey Club Stand their bill would have amounted to nearly $440. The Hong Kong Telephone Company, Limited also made a considerable contribution to the welfare of the refugees. Telephones were installed on every ship as it arrived at the wharf and this connexion was of great assistance during disembarkation. Several telephones were installed at