Page 142
131
Page 4 of Commander-in-Chief's, Hongkong No. C. in C. Hongkong 5/67/3
of 6th October, 1945.
15.
1st September
On 1st September at 1300 I went to the Hongkong Broadcasting Station and proclaimed the establishment of a Military Government and assumed duty as Commander-in-Chief and Head of the Military Administration, Hongkong. In order to facilitate the civil aspect of the Administration and taking Malta as my precedent, I appointed Mr. Gimson as Lieutenant Governor. This appointment the Chiefs of Staff subsequently informed me was not valid under the terms of a Military Administration and on the arrival of Brigadier MacDougall and his senior Civil Affairs Officers on 7th September, the appointment was terminated.
16. Also on 1st September I appointed Admiral Daniel to take charge of all Naval and Royal Marine landing parties on Hongkong Island and to be responsible for the maintenance of law and order. A curfew was proclaimed fram 2100 to 0600.
17. Kai Tak Airfield was occupied by a party from INDOMITABLE much to the relief of the young Japanese Naval Lieutenant in charge. The airstrip was found to be in good condition and fully capable of taking two-engined aircraft. Other facilities were negligible.
18. Captain J.A.S. Ecoles, CBE., RN., of INDOMITABLE, who is a Japanese Interpreter, was appointed as my representative in Kowloon and a Liaison party was established in the Peninsula Hotel for dealing with the Japanese.
19. On 1st September H.M.H.S. OXFORDSHIRE embarked Prisoners of War and Internees requiring hospital treatment and sailed for Manila on 3rd September.
2nd September
20. HM.S. PLYM sailed for Macao on 2nd September as escort for a small vessel which went to collect rice and returned on the 3rd September, having had an enthusiastic welcome in that Portuguese port which has harboured so many Hongkong residents during the war.
3rd September
21. On 3rd September VENERABLE, who had been maintaining an air patrol over the Colony during daylight hours, landed six Corsair aircraft and entered harbour. Stonecutters W/T Station was inspected and although the British equipment was of little value, the Japanese installations appeared to be in good condition with plentiful stores. Unfortunately this equipment will be of no practical use to us.
22.
By this time the situation on Hongkong Island was well in hand except for persistent petty looting which kept the patrols busy. The Japanese executioner was discovered in disguise by the Chinese and was given a short shrift.
23. The Civil Courts were opened on the afternoon of the 3rd September and empowered by proclamation to deal with all offences except those of looting, rioting and impeding the forces which would be dealt with by Military Court.
240
4th September
On 4th September the EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA arrived with 3000 R.A.F. personnel of SHIELD Force and was berthed at Kowloon. 800 men were immediately landed to take over a large portion of the policing duties in Kowloon.
/5th September.....
Page 142
Page 142
Page 142
Page 142