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Japanese that the Gendarmerie were going to arrest me on a charge of espionage, communication with the "enemy, etc. The 26th of January, 1943, was actually fixed for the date.
Consequently, when my arrest took place a few months later,
I had had time to arrange with Dr. P.C. Lai and Miss Helen Ho and others for certain vital services to be continued, including the weekly parcels of food and medical supplies to Shamshuipo Camp and Bowen Road (afterwards Central British School) Military Hospital, the maintenance of the tuberculosis wards at St. Paul's Hospital, etc. The bulk of the stores accumulated by the Informal Welfare Committee were eventually sent to Stanley Camp. My instructions were faithfully followed at considerable risk, since both Dr. Lai and Miss Ho were examined by the Gendarmerie and the latter was placed under police surveillance in a Chinese hotel and, subsequently, in St. Paul's Hospital for two months.
Both ladies continued to render valuable assistance during
the nineteen months or so of my imprisonment.
After my release from prison in December, 1944, followed by my internment in Ma Tau Chung Civilian Internment Camp, Miss Ho enabled me to care for the camp sick until I closed the camp (on the instructions of the Hon. Mr. F.C. Gimson) on the 1st of September, 1945. This help was all the more acceptable because I had to act as physician, surgeon, obstetrician and dental surgeon and was discharged from prison with but the few tattered rags that I stood up in and without drugs or instruments.
Conclusion.
In writing this somewhat inadequate report, I should be failing in my duty if I omitted to make special mention of persons of whom I have special knowledge who rendered conspicuous service to the British cause in Hong Kong between the surrender to the Japanese in December, 1941, and the arrival of the British Forces on the 30th of August, 1945.
The names are listed in Appendix 11.
It would be an injustice if I did not place on record my gratitude to certain Japanese nationals who accompanied the invading forces namely:-
(1) Colonel T. Eguchi, head of the Japanese Medical Department • who was responsible for obtaining the sanction of the Military Commander and, later, of Governor Lt.General Rensuke Isogai for me to remain at liberty after the 4th of January, 1942, so that I might carry supplies to the prisoners of war and civilian internees look after non-interned wives, children and dependants of Volunteers and internees, the sick and wounded in hospital and supervise the burial of the dead, clearing up the town, obtain food and fuel for hospital, organise water supply, drainage, sewerage, etc.
(2) Colonel T. Oda, head of the Foreign Department, who was my original sponsor to the Gendarmerie for remaining out of internment for sixteen months.
(3) Mr. A. Maejima, Foreign Department, who permitted me to send considerable quantities of stores of all kinds and funds (for canteen purchases) to Stanley Camp, and who tried, unsuccessfully, to have me released from prison.
(4) Colonel Nakagawa, Chief A.D.C. to Governor Isogai, who, Mr. Maejima, was responsible for the reprieve from execution and for my eventual release after a little over nineteen months.
(5) Reverend K. Watanabe, Military Interpreter to Colonel Tokunaga, who risked his life on many occasions by taking for me diphtheria
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