66
21
CONFIDENTIAL
FORTNIGIITLY INTELLIGENCE REPORT NO.3.
Far Eastern Bureau,
New Delhi.
British Ministry of Information,
HONGKONG
Period ended October 23rd, 1943.
POLITICAL.
1.
Criminal Court and Public Procurator's Office Established:
The Government-General of Hongkong on October 15th announced a revision of the judicial system in Hongkong. At the same time a deerce was is sued, effective from the date of its announcement, providing for the establishment of a criminal court and Public Procurator's Office to be attached to the Hongkong Government- General. All criminal cases, except crimes committed against the armed forces, and all civil cases will be handled by the criminal and civil divisions respectively. Previously all cases had been tried before a court martial. See F.I.R. Hong kong, No.2, para 2. (Domei in English, October 18th).
2.
i
Marine Week" Held in Hong kong: A "Marine Week" for the
benefit of seamen was held in Hongkong from July 20th to 26th, when scamen were supplied with free, entertainment and free refreshments at various Chinese tea houses and restaurants. Special coupons for free transportation were is sucd to the seamen on all ships in the harbour and also for free admission to all theatres in Hongkong and Kowloon. A special bus service was arranged to take the seamen on sightseeing tours of the scenes of hostilities. It was estimated that over 3000 seamen took advantage of the arrangements for their entertainment, and the total sun spent was over ¥.6,000. The Hongkong News, July 16th and 27th).
3.
Seamen's Association Registering Scamen in Hongkong: The
Hongkong Seamen's Association began the registration of seamen in Hongkong in July according to the Hongkong Chinese-language news paper Nan Hwa Jih Pao (South China Daily Newspaper) of July 27th. Registrations already made totalled 5134 persons, of whom 2675 were registered as able seamen, 1618 as engineers, and the remainder as mis collaneous' The paper reported that this number represented approximately 70% of the seamen in Hongkong.
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4.
Blood Donors Wanted: The Hongkong News, Japanese-controlled English-language newspaper in Hongkong reported on July 17th that the Military hospital in Hongkong required blood donations for transfusion purposes. Doners' were to be remunerated, but if the monetary consideration was not wanted, gifts of some other nature were to be made. Comment: Chinese sources have frequently reported that large numbers of Chinese in Hongkong and Carton were being forcibly required to 'donate' blood to the Japane se.
5. More Chinese "Repatriated": Over 1,200 Chinese 'repatriates'
left Hongkong on July 25th for Taiping and Kongmoon. Each adult was given $.20 in C.R.B. notes, while the children were given $.5. (Hongkong News July 27th). See F.I.R. Hongkong, No.2 para 5.
Comment: This is the first occasion