1
-3-
22
It was necessary, therefore, for me to collect and distribute to some 10-12 hotels, food for children and aged, cooking utensils, cutlery, crockery, blankets, brooms, soap, toilet paper, medicines, etc.
(4) Bread for internees, p.o.w., etc.
At first, I had voluntary (ex-Army) bakers making bread in the Queen Mary Hospital for internees, prisoners of war, billetees, hospital patients and staff. Later, after the Japanese had converted the Queen Mary Hospital into a Japanese Military Hospital, arrangements had to be made to bake bread in a Chinese bakery at Wanchai.
D.
Plight of non-interned wives, etc.
The internment of British and other so-called "enemy" nationals in the Chinese hotels immediately brought to the front yet another urgent problem.
The Japanese barred the majority of Chinese, Eurasian and Portuguese wives from accompanying their husbands into captivity. It went to one's heart to see a mother, with a baby in her arms and leading another child by the hand, standing in the street outside one of the hotels, deprived of the protection and support of her husband, and not infrequently, homeless and without food.
E.
Japanese opposition to Red Cross.
When pressed to permit the organisation of the International Red Cross to meet the situation consequent upon the surrender, the Japanese Commander gave a verbal reply that the time was not considered opportune. In an endeavour to overcome this obstacle, I called together the neutral consular representatives who courageously consented to form a Red Cross Committee if this was permitted by the Japanese. This move was soon countered by the abolition of all consuls (including the Japanese Consulate staff who had been most helpful!). I tried once more, describing the neutral consuls by name and others as members of a prospective relief committee, but omitting any reference to the Red Cross.
F.
H.K. Informal Welfare Committee.
On the 16th March, 1942, I received a written reply to my request to say that I could organise an informal committee, but that I was forbidden to communicate with or raise funds from outside the Captured Territory of Hong Kong.
(2) Membership of Committee.
The members of this Committee were: Mr. A.W. Gibson (U.S.A., Representative of V.0.C. in the Far East), Dr. G. Henry (U.S.A., formerly Chairman of Red Cross in Canton), Mr. E. Pawley (U.S.A. China Representative of Aviation Co.), Mr. F.D. Angus (British, Accountant Medical Department), with myself as Chairman.
(3) First duty of committee.
One of the first duties of this committee was to endeavour to assist the non-interned wives, children and dependants of prisoners of war and interned civi lians by finding accommodation, by small allowances and gifts of food, etc.
G./