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anchorage. The aircraft were ordered to attack and they reported a score of one sunk, one beached and the other retumed to harbour. The boats in the harbour were then well bombed and good results observed. Air patrols were maintained over the area until on 2nd September about 260 prisoners were rounded up and brought back to Victoria after all the boats had been destroyed.
9. After we had secured, Mr. Gimeon, who had been the Colonial Secretary at the fall of the Colony, and who had taken an Oath of office and set up as officer Administering the Government, came on board 3WIFTSURE. We had a short conversation about the conditions in the Colony and it was apparent that he had lost no time in setting up the nucleus of a civil administration from the internees, I showed him my orders which I had received telling me to proclaim a Military administration, and how this should be done was briefly discussed.
10. After that we went ashore to visit the Prisoner of War Camps and hospitals both in Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon. Wo first of all drove out to Stanley Camp, which housed all the oivilian internees. On arriving we found everyone awaiting us and we had a most unforgettable welcome. Having met the leading members of the camp I was informed that they were preparing a ceremony for the hoisting of the Union Jack. They had refused to holst the Union Jack until the Admiral appeared, as they wanted to do it properly. After a short delay we had a very touching ceremony, when the Union Jack and also standards of all nationalities that were in Stanley camp, were hoisted, accompanied by the singing of "God Save the King" and a short reading by the two clergymen. In conclusion three cheers were given for the King. The Union Jack was produced by an ex-Naval rating who had hidden this Union Jack in his bedding when Hong Kong was captured, and had managed to hide it for the whole period so as to be ready for this occasion.
11. The morale in Stanley Camp, as at all other camps that I visited afterwards, was extremely high despite the obvious effecté of malnutrition which could be seen in every face, The enthusiasm and cheering really had to be seen and heard to be believed. IG was so obviously spontaneous and seemed to express the pent-up feelings of all these years, I shall never forget it.
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12. After leaving Stanley Camp we proceeded over to the Kowloon side and visited, first, Shamshipo Camp, which held all the European prisoners of war, then the camp for Indians, then the hospital for Indians, and finally the hospital for Europeans. every camp and hospital there were the same scenes of enthusiasm, In the hospitals I had to go into every ward as they all wanted just to see a British Admiral again, and the doctors all said that our visit would do all their patients much more good than anything else even more good than the extra food and medical supplies we were able to bring them. One felt no doubt as to the truth of this statement.
13.
I transferred my Flag to INDOMITABLE again in the evening and sent orders to the Japanese Commander to come onboard the Flagship the following forenoon.
31st August.
14. The Japanese Commander was brought off at 09,50 on 31st August together with some ten other Japanese representatives. I informed him that I had sent for him to give him instructions for the rounding-up of Japanese troops and evacuating the Island of
Hong Kong