SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
2nd July, 1941.
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knowing that the part of the town where his family had been living before they were evacuated had just been heavily bombed, but also having reason to believe that a hungry and desperate mob was temporarily out of control and looting-and worse- in that area. Would not that man say "Thank God, my wife and family are away"? Alternatively, let him see the same mental picture but with his wife and children some- where, either dead or in deadly peril in that disastrous turmoil, and he unable to go to them. Would that man have even half his mind on his job? There are other telling pictures of the kind that I could outline: but I do not believe that I need press the point further.
The other school of thought says in effect "Granting that evacuation was as necessary as all that, why were so many women and girls allowed to remain? and why have others been allowed to come in since"? The answer to the first question is that if the business of the Colony- Government business, mercantile business and manufacturing business -was to continue to be carried on and if essential defence work such as censorship, cypher-work and the more ordinary clerical duties in the civil defence departments were to be carried out, it was inevitable that a considerable number of women would be retained.
Evacuation Figures
Let us look at the actual figures. From the time that evacuation began up to July 8, altogether 1,640 women and children belonging to the Fight- ing Forces and 1,775 from the civilian population left the Colony: during the next three months 89 more, mostly civilians, went, making a total clearance of just over 3,500. To-day there are in the Colony, as nearly as can be estimated 918 women and girls, the great majority of whom
in
are
than we should have to cope with from the big otherwise: for apart reduction in numbers nearly all who remain will be concentrated at their duty posts.
Those, then, are briefly the replies to those who maintain that evacua- tion should not have been compul- sory, or at any rate should remain so no longer; and, secondly, to those who contend that it should have been applied "root and branch".
I am quite well aware, that they do not dispose of all that is being felt and said about the evacuation last year.
But to-night I am con- fining myself to the major issues and to the future. That grievous hard- ships were suffered by individuals is deeply regrettable but was unavoid- able: that given more time the whole process of evacuation could have been better administered is certainly true. Criticism on these grounds, however, should not really affect, though they tend to colour, judgment of the essential issues, and so far as they are concerned I reaffirm the two views which I have already ex- pressed.
Firstly, because of its supreme responsibility for the defence of this outlying fortress, His Majesty's Government took the right course. indeed the only course, in ordering evacuation last June: and, secondly, local circumstances made it unavoid- ably necessary to exempt from 'evacuation the minimum number of women needed to keep things going here.
I will turn from the past to the future. First of all, what hope is there of general permission being
children given for women and
to come back here? Frankly, I am .sorry to say, the answer, so far as the immediate future goes, must be "none". No sane Government would be responsible for exposing women children unnecessarily to the risks which for the present we must continue to run in this fortress.
and full-time employment. Of these, 595 are ear-marked for front- line medical duty as doctors, nurses, etc. in the various hospitals and first aid posts all but a few are fully qualified up to A.N.S. or V.A.D
standard and the remainder soon will be. Another 60 have key posts in A.R.P, work, while very many of the remainder are allocated to duties be- hind the line which must be kept going in all circumstances.
As a matter of fact, although from the strict defence point of view I deplore the number of women re- tained here, I have to admit that from the efficiency stand-point there is a serious shortage of personnel capable of undertaking expert and confidential work. For instance, the Director of Medical Service's hospital and first aid requirements are a long way from being met, and he is only one of many employers who fre- quently put up urgent requests for leave to bring in trained women. During the last twelve months fifteen such requests have been granted- one, I note, is the subject of a ques- tion at the Legislative Council at its meeting next Thursday-others may yet have to be granted.
Gain in Defence
The evacuation thus brought down the numbers of women and children here by between two thirds and three-quarters, a very material gain from the defence point of view. Unquestionably, the safeguarding of those who remain here constitutes a problem, but a far less difficult one
Government's Pledge
But as against that I will confirm now certain undertakings which I have already given to your Com- mittee when we discussed these matters and which they have passed on to you. I promise, firstly, that Government will keep unfailing watch for signs that that embargo may be safely lifted, if only by a little: it will welcome those signs when they appear and as soon as ever they warrant even a partial relaxation of the present restrictions the door shall begin to open again. I cannot in honesty say more than that: I cannot foretell when that happy day will come nor how widely the door will open at first. I can only pledge that we will watch for that dawn anxiously, ceaselessly, hopefully.
Secondly, I will undertake this. If while the general ban is on it is shown to be unavoidable to bring in trained women here, in order either to maintain the Colony's defence or administrative services, or to enlarge its production of war supplies forį His Majesty's Forces, or to carry on the main trade of the Colony, it is among the absent wives of men living here that we will first look; and if we can find what we want among them we will go no further a field. In such circumstances, how- ever. no children could be allowed to accompany them
Sympathetic Attitude
Thirdly, I have reason to believe that with the continuing rise in the cost of living a good many men who have to keep two homes going are saying that I was not going to make I started by very hard put to it. any rash promises and I stick to that. But I will undertake to look with a sympathetic eye at this issue if it is put up to me: only--the word "sympathetic" must not be stretched beyond its proper meaning!
I have only two more things to say, and these I address especially to those who are most concerned with to-night's subject. Firstly, I have just used the word "sympathetic". Now, I know well that "soft words butter no parsnips," but for all that
I would have you believe me when I say that I would rather be in a position to revoke this hateful ban upon your home-life than to do any single act here. As that is some- thing that I cannot hope to do in the short time that remains for me here, I can only do the next best thing, that is to tell you so quite frankly and to look for lesser ways in which to ease your griefs.
Secondly. I urge those of you, whose thoughts are apt to dwell mainly on what has gone by, to shift your eyes more to the future, know- ing that as soon as ever Government dares to bring your families back to you again it will go forward gladly to the task; and appreciating, I trust, a little more after this talk that the decision which, last year, the War Cabinet had no option but to take, was taken in a full sense of their responsibility and with an open- eyed realisation of what the future might hold for us. I hope most sincerely that the day will come to Hongkong when the wise caution of His Majesty's Government will be justified in your eyes by stark facts.
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