4
54118/42.
Secret.
Jean Reynolds.
26 May, 1942.
204
I am sorry that I have not answered your letter of 24th April before (ref.no: M.0.12b/DO/29). It is not easy to collect information about Hong Kong and even those who escaped have only a limited amount of information. The following may be of value and added to the paragraph on civil demolition and denial schemes.
*UU.
(a). Dockyards. The Taikoo dock was almost certainly not destroyed as the lighter which was bringing the material for demolitions was unfortunately blown up by gunfire from our own side, its identity being mistaken.
Kowloon dock.
A certain amount of demolition was carried out, but the large crane was left intact, the charge failing to explode. Riveting was heard going on in this dock on the 23rd January, and one Japanese tanker which had suffered damage in a minefield was docked there on the same date.
(b). Go-downs, etc. Kowloon go-downs and Holts wharf go-downs were left intact with the exception of one in Kowloon.
(c). Fiers. The Japanese were said to be using the western piers on the Kowloon side of the Harbour immediately after the capture of Hong Kong.
(a). Shipping. All merchant steamers were scuttled except one old Chinese steamer. But a newly launched "Empire" boat was left intact alongside Kowloon docks. Other ships under construction, including minesweepers, were also left.
(e). kadio. The Hong Kong radio station was
MAJOR M.L. REYNOLDS,
WAR OFFICE, M.0.12(b).