MOST SECRET.
RECENT 3'1 DEC 194
OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER
FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM.
Earnscliffe,
OTZAWA.
24th December, 1943
1.
7
Sir,
I.(1) I have the honour to submit herein, through the Office of the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom, Ottawa, a report in duplicate of the activities of my sub-department - the Post Office Engineering Branch- in Hong Kong during the period of hostilities from 8th December, 1941 to the occupation of the Colony by the Japanese on the 25th and 26th December, 1941, and to our subsequent internment at Stahley.
(2)
A report on the last known condition of all equipment and an estimate of requirements for re-opening radio services has been submitted separately under date 15th December, 1943.
(3)
No one was permitted to bring away any papers whatever from the internment camp at Stanley and as this report is therefore written from memory the dates in some cases may not be exact. The account is substantially the same as one which I handed to the Postmaster General in the camp early last year.
(4)
Normal departmental operations covered the follow- ing radio services.
Broadcasting
Aeronautical
Marine
Meteorological
Commercial
Water Police
Harbour
Licensing and Inspection
}
and the maintenance of X-ray and electro-medical apparatus at the hospitals. Government cable networks, telephones and communications generally were being taken over, but were still in the hands of the Public Works Department.
(5)
The general radio organisation included two main transmitting stations, with groups of transmitters at each, viz:
(a) Cape D'Aguilar, Hong Kong Island. Thirteen transmitters for marine, meteorological and commercial services;
(b) Hung Hom, Kowloon.
Four transmitters for
aviation and meteorological services and three
for broadcasting;
main receiving station at the Peak, broadcasting studios and various smaller stations.
The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies,
/(6) The
Downing Street,
London.