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all the Centres on that night was 732; 528 at Happy Valley: 138 at Central British School and 66 at Shamshuipo.
28. No further special accommodation was arranged in Shanghai for further evacuation and thereafter only a few individual refugees reached Hong Kong-some by rail rin Canton.
27. Mr. Barry also supervised the subsequent removal from Happy Valley and Shamshuipo to Lai Chi Kok and the conveyance of the refugees and their luggage was carried out without a hitch.
28. When evacuation was later made from Hankow and special trains arrived on the 13th December, 25th December, 1937, and 1st January, 1938, one lady was accommodated at the old Central British School from the first train, one from the second, and 58 men, women and children from the third.
II. Medical Relief and Welfare.
29. Hong Kong was at the time of the arrival of the refugees in the midst of a cholera epidemic and it was considered essential that all refugees should be inoculated. A clinic was at once established under the direction of Dr. Lilias Dovey who was indefatigable in her efforts on behalf of the refugees. Many of them arrived in a state bordering on collapse, probably due to shell shock; many appeared to be undernourished and the work of the clinic was therefore continuous, Mrs. Dovey was ably assisted by several ladies who are trained nurses, notably Mrs. P. F. S. Court, Mrs. G. H. Bond, Mrs. D. Cuthbertson, Mrs. C. G. Perdue and Mrs. Fairly. Several nurses were kindly lent by St. John's Ambulance Brigade, and by the Health Officer for Schools.
30. Mrs. M. G. Jessiman and Mrs. Hillhouse, themselves refugees from Shanghai, were appointed to the staff as nursing sisters, and later Mrs. Brand and Mrs. Clark. All continued at Lai Chi Kok also. Mrs. G. Fletcher was appointed Matron at the new Central British School and Mrs. Marsden, nursing sister there, where a small clinic was also necessary.
31. A Ladies Welfare Committee was also formed as many of the women were in dire need of clothes and comforts beyond what could be supplied from public funds. Several generous donations were made to a Welfare Fund, notably the sum of $10,000 by Mr. J. H. Taggart. This fund was administered by the Ladies Wel- fare Committee.
32. There were many willing voluntary helpers and much good work was done in making the refugees comfortable and happy after their unfortunate experiences in Shanghai.
Motor cars were lent for trips to the bathing beaches and parties were taken to cinema theatres, etc.
IV. Registration and Organization.
33. The work of recording particulars of all persons who sought accommoda- tion in the Centres was undertaken by a special staff composed mainly of school- masters who were then on holiday. Rev. Mr. G. E. S. Upsdell, with Mr. M. G. O'Connor and Mr. II. G. Wallington assisted at Happy Valley; Mr. D. J. Crozier and Mr. D. McLellan at Central British School, Mr. L. B. Holmes and Mr. C. Mycock at Shamshuipo and at Head Office.
34. In accordance with the instructions given in the Secretary of State's telegram of 16th August undertakings to repay the cost of housing and maintenance were obtained from all refugees. A special form of agreement to pay to the Government the sum of $5 a day for each adult and $3 a day for each child under
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15 years of age was signed by all refugees for themselves and for the children in their charge. A further form was used at Shamshuipo Camp for men where the charge was $3 only and a separate form was employed in the case of those billeted in private premises where the charge was $3 a day for an adult and $2 a day for children under 15 years of age. Copies of these forms are attached to this report. (Appendices 1, 2 and 3).
35. Some misunderstanding arose regarding these charges and the allowance iu respect of refugees living in private houses. The charge for private premises was made as low as possible in the belief that the inhabitants of Hong Kong, who kindly offered hospitality to one or mere refugees from Shanghai, did so altruistically. from a sense of public duty, and without any idea of making a profit. This belief was strongly reinforced by the numbers who generously gave hospitality to refugees from Shanghai without any thought of payment whatsoever. The increase in over- head charges in an ordinary household by the addition of one or two guests is not great and the authorized charge was therefore calculated to meet the cost of board only, and the small increase in other expenses.
36. At the several Centres however in addition to the bare cost of food, there were innumerable overhead charges which it was impossible at the beginning even to estimate. There was the cost of preparing the Centres for the reception of the refugees and for reconditioning them after their departure; there were the expenses of disembarkation, of the dispensary and of many other items. It was felt neces- sary, therefore, to make a charge which would cover all these expenses and would not result in a loss to Government if the standard rate were paid by all. It was, however, made clear that in the event of the actual cost being less than the standard At a later date when it rate, a charge would only be made of the actual cost. became necessary to issue some final bills, the standard rates were reduced to $3 and $2 respectively for those who remained in the Centres after 1st September.
37. When the refugees were about to arrive it was arranged that they would be received in the Happy Valley Centre without question and would be housed and fed for twenty-four hours. Registration would take place and meal tickets would be issued covering a period of a week during which time an investigation would be carried out as to the financial standing of the refugees and a decision made whether further credit should be allowed.
38. This investigation was most competently organized by Mrs. R. A. C. North, who was, however, deterred by illness from carrying out the individual examinations. These were ably and sympathetically done by Mrs. B. C. K. Hawkins and Mrs. D. Kelvin Stark together with Mrs. E. Colter, who, as Secretary of the British Womens' Association of Shanghai, brought local knowledge to the aid of the Committee. A questionnaire form was filled up in respect of each family. (Appendices 4 and 5). It possible that the investigations of this Committee led to some misunderstanding on the part of the refugees, as cases arose where refugees had stated they could only pay some ridiculously small sum and later claimed that as this had been recorded by the Committee they were exempted from paying what they had originally signed to pay.
erroneous.
39. While this investigation has proved of considerable value, the basis on which it was originally organized was
The question did not arise whether credit should be extended beyond the first week. Practically all those who had funds and could afford to support themselves left the Centres before the expiration of the first week or ten days and found private accommodation. Only those who were destitute or at least temporarily without funds remained and most of the accounts have had to be held over for collection after the refugees returned to Shanghai.
40. It then became necessary to organize a Records Office. Miss Joan Massey (now Mrs. J. Findlay) a member of the staff of H.M.'s Consulate-General in Shanghai, and Mrs. W. Elliot were appointed to take charge of the records and
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