149
Rice.
1 catty and 2 taels per head every three days
Flour. 6 catties per head per month.
•
:
Sugar. 1 catty per head twice a month, half white, half brow Peanut Oil. 1 catty a month per head.
There is a general belief that the stock of flour will shortly be entirely exhausted. Prices on the ration supplies are about half of those in the black market.
The position of the Norwegian Community in Hongkong is
briefly as follows:-
Up to 31st March, 1942, Norwegians were considered Third Nationals, although alread by the end of January, our Government in London had severed diplomatic relations with Japan. On the 1st April
1942, we were told we were enemies and would not be allowed to leave the Colony. On 16th April, we were gathered on Statue Square, where a Gendarmerie Officer told us that although we were enemies, we were not going to be interned. A special chop was put on our passes, to the effect that relations had been broken off. We were also told to obey the Japanese laws in Hongkong, and if anybody did anything wrong, the others would be sent to Stanley.
Financially, the position is as follows:
Mr. Johannessen, anaging Director of Messrs. Wallem
& Co., left for Macao by the end of March, 1942. He got in touch with our Government in London, and got a remittance telegraphically trans- ferred to Banco Ultramarino in Macao. Through certain Fortuguese and Chinese friends, we managed to have the money transferred to Hongkong in small lots. This kept the Norwegian Community going for a while, and most of the residents were for the first few months able to live on their own means. When the anks opened for payment of 20% we were told that as we were enemies, we would not be allowed to with- draw the same as Third Nationals. After a series of interviews and applications, we were eventually allowed to withdraw 20% of our accounts, on condition that the money drawn from the larger accounts should be utilised for support of all Norwegians. in Hongkong. A total of HK$176,000 was withdrawn from the liquidating banks and entered on account with the Yokohama Specie Bank. Every month we could only withdraw HK$400 or M.Y.100 per head plus a small amount for contingencies. A complete list of all Norwegians had to be submitted along with our applications every month. The cash left in Hongkong will last until the end of May, or possibly a little longer, provided no further drop in exchange takes place, and no major change in the cost of living occurs. Through the Swedish Legation in Tokyo, we have now applied for transfer of funds from the Norwegian Govern- ment in London, via Tokyo,, but no reply has been received up to 10th February. The interests of the Norwegians have been looked after by a voluntary committee formed shortly after the official closing of all consulates in Hongkong.
The members of the Norwegian Committee are as follows:
Karsten Larssen, Chairman
B.O. Andressen, Vice President and Auditor
J. Stenersen, Financial Secretary
Captain J. Krogh-Moe
S.K. Heiberg
Pastor J. Nielsen Captain H. Kvamso
P. Urke
R. Brodersen, Secretary
Except for Mr. J. Stenersen, Manager of the American Express Co., under liquidation, none of the Norwegians have had any employment since the war, and the morale is consequently pretty low. Every time there have been talks of repatriation, we have been hoping to be in- cluded, but so far in vain.