96
178
have been forced to act as figure-heads on an Advisory Coil. All the Banks with the exception of two or three Chines Banks with no Chungking connections are being liquidated and a first dividend of 20 per cent has been declared. Safe Deposit boxes were returned to holder's in all Banks, but gold coin and bullion and foreign currencies were withhad and the holders reimbursed at an arbitrary rate in Jap military yen, which is now supposed to be worth two Hongkong dollars.
Most of the ferries, launches and small steamers have been salvaged in Hongkong, and the former ferry services are being maintained. The Electric Company; the Telephone Company, the Gas Company and the Tramway Company are all working smoothly. Gasolene appears to be scarce, the only cars being used are those of privileged persons and officials. All cars were confiscated by the Japs when they took over. Crude oil must also be scarce as the buses in Kowloon which use Diesel Engines have been cutting down their schedules, and may have to cease eventually.
Looting by Chinese was very bad before and after the surrender. The Japs were not looting in general but confined their pilfering to watches and cameras. There was considerable raping and killing done in the Happy Valley district.
The Japs seem to be trying to please the Chinese in Hongkong, but under the skin the populace are hoping for an allied victory. They live in fear of the Japs daily. About 700,000 people have left Honkong since the surrender, returing to their villages or going to unoccupied China. The Japs seem to be encouraging the exodus, and are enforcing
Crime is compulsory registration of the entire population.
on the decrease; for the Japs chopped off a few hundred heads per day for some time after their entry.