275
Hong Kong.
He was in a rather truculent mood when he arrived and introduced the officers with him as his "committee". I informed him that I did not deal with committees, that I only dealt with him, and that I should hold him personally responsible for the conduct of his troops in areas of the Colony which I had not specifically taken over. He tried several times to adopt the attitude that he was negotiating and made complaints. For example, he complained that the Chinese had beaten up Japanese troops the night before outside the Dockyard. I informed him that in view of the way his troops had treated the Chinese in the last three and a half years, they had only themselves to blame if they were beaten up and that in point of fact, we had given his troops refuge in the Dockyard, disarmed them, and marched them back to their barracks under escort. I concluded by giving him orders that all Japanese troops and nationals weXO to be evacuated from the Island of Hong Kong to Kowloon by 16.00 on the next day, Saturday, 1st September, which order was carried out smoothly and effectively.
1st september
15. On 1st September at 13.00 I went to Hong Kong Broadcasting Station and proclaimed the establishment of a Military Govemment and assumed duty as Commander-in-Chief and Head of the Military Administration, Hong Kong. In order to facilitate the civil aspect of the Administration and taking. lalta as my precedent, I appointed Mr. Gimson as Lieutenant Governor. This appointment the Chiefs of Staff subsequently informed me was not valid under the terms of a Military Administration and on the arrival of Brigadier MacDougall and his senior Civil Affairs Officers on 7th September, the appointment was terminated,
16.
Also on 1st September I appointed Admiral Dantel to take charge of all Naval and Royal Marine landing parties on Hong Kong Island and to be responsible for the maintenance of law and order, A curfew was proclaimed from 21.00 to 06.00,
17 Kai Tak Airfield was occupied by a party from INDOMITABLE much to the relief of the young Japanese Naval Lieutenant in charge. The airstrip was found to be in good condition and fully capable of taking two-engined aircraft. facilities were negligible.
Other
18. Captain J.A.S. Ecoles, C.B.E., R.N. of INDOMITABLE, who is a Japanese Interpreter, was appointed as my representative in Kowloon and a Liaison party was established in the Peninsula Hotel for dealing with the Japanese.
19. On 1st September H.M.H.S. OXFORDSHIRE embarked Prisoners of War and Internees requiring hospital treatment and sailed for Manila on 3rd September.
2nd September
20.
H.M.S. PLYM sailed for Macao on 2nd September es escort for a small vessel which went to collect rice and retumed on the 3rd September, having had an enthusiastic welcome in that Portuguese port which has harboured so many Hong Kong residents during the war.
3rd September..