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gave some interviews and addressed some meetings on points concerning the siege of Hongkong in which the Chinese were particularly interested.
As soon as I decently could, I availed myself of the excellent edical facilities attached to the West China Canadian Mission at Chengtu
underwent an operation for the extraction of the bullet with results as shown in the enclosed copy of a letter from Dr. Wilford to Sir Archibald Clark Kerr.
a▾
AS
soon as I could reach paper,ank and a post office, I wrote out an account of the operation of the Hongkong civil defence services under the test of actual warfare. This I sent with all speed to Wing Commander Steele- Perkins at New Delhi since it seemed important that the lessons learned in Hongkong should be immediately available to those concerned with civil defence in other parts of the Empire. I understand that the British Ambassador at Chungking asked by telegram that the significant parts of that brief and hasty report should be transmitted to Rangoon and Singapore in case they should there be of value. It will be appreciated that my report was necessarily skæ sketchy and incomplete, since one observer in conditions of siege can see only a limited part of the whole. Nevertheless certain broad lessons seemed to me to stand out and these i reported to Wing Commander Steele-Perkins to the best of my ability.
The telegraphic requests, as numerous as they were natural, which reached me from those in all parts of the world with relatives and friends in Hongkong were more difficult to deal with. I decided that the only safe rule was to stick to what, I had seen with my own eyes and to report safe only those whom I had myself seen to be safe; but as civilian casualties will, I am certain be found to have been light, I felt justified in conveying this fact in general terms to as many asxpossiblex enquirers as possible.
I wish to conclude xxxxapark this despatch by expressing my deep appreciation of Your Lordship's kindness in agreeing to the transfer of much needed funds to my family in Canada. It is difficult for me to say how much this relieves my mind. I also wish to thank your Lordship most sincerely for the telegram of congratulation on my escape which reached me in
Chungking.
I have the honour to be
Your Lordship's most obedient servant.
Sgd.
Om. Marionpall.
Hongkong Civil Service.