122
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might have had disastrous results in such an undernourished, and, therefore, highly susceptible community, But our luck held and the camp emerged from its trials with a death rate which was probably unique in the Far East and the prospect of early return normal health of the large majority of its inhabitants.
Edinburgh.
6th March, 1946.
N. C. MACLEOD,
Deputy Director of Health Services,
Hong Kong
APPENDIX IV
Work of the International Welfare Committee in Stanley Internment Camp, Hong Kong.
January, 1942-August, 1945
When the Japanese Authorities rounded up the enemy national civilians in Hong Kong in January, 1942, for the purpose of interning them, many of the latter were without any personal possessions, clothes, household equipment, etc. of any kind. It became apparent in the Chinese hotels, which were the first stage of internment for many people, that some relief organisation would be necessary to provide the barest necessities for those who had lost everything. It was also obvious that the Japanese authorities were not prepared to make any distinction in their treatment of the infants, young children, the sick and the elderly among the interned community, and that some assistance would have to be given to these categories who were unprovided for, especially in matters of diet..
As soon as the camp on the Stanley Peninsula was established the representatives of the three national communities, the Dutch, American and the British, were asked to nominate representatives for a Committee to deal with distress. convened on 4th February, 1942-those present being Mr. A. Hartog (Dutch), Miss M. The hrst meeting was Dudley (American) and Miss N. E. Elliott and Miss M. S. Watson (British). The Inter- national Welfare Committee thereupon came into being with Miss M. S. Watson as Chairman, Mr. A. Hartog (Treasurer), Miss M. Dudley (Secretary), Miss N. E. Elliott (social worker) and a panel of medical practitioners, nominated by the British Medical Association, (Drs. Dean A. Smith, Annie Sydenham, and A. Balean) were asked to sit on the Committee and advise on medical matters. In July, 1942, Mr. F. C. Gimson (Hon. Colonial Secretary) took the Chair, and, at the request of the Camp Council, representatives of the four main residential Blocks were added to the Committee. Chairman, and Mr. E. W. Pudney agreed to act as Treasurer and Accountant following Miss M. S. Watson became Deputy the repatriation of Mr. Hartog, and Miss E. Rawlings as social worker on the departure of Miss Dudley for America on a similar repatriation ship. At the same time each residential block was asked to appoint (not elect) a welfare officer to be responsible for the distribution in an equitable manner of clothing and equipment to the residents. The panel of doctors was made responsible for the allocation of foodstuffs.
It is perhaps important at this point to emphasise the international character of the Welfare Committee. Whatever the source of such supplies as were receive‹, cach community was treated equally, according to the need of its individuals. It is also necessary to stress that the Committee at all times maintained a position, common to all humanitarian organisations of its kind, which was outside the range of Camp politics.
On the advice of Dr. P. S. Selwyn-Clarke (Hon. Director of Medical Services), a small quantity of money and clothing had been collected and brought into the camp for immediate distribution. Secondly, as soon as the Camp Canteen was established, arrangements were made for a very small profit to be added to the selling price of each article, this profit being handed over to the International Welfare Committee in the form of valuable foodstuffs for distribution on the advice of the medical panel. By far the largest part of the supplies received during the first year of internment, however, Dr. Selwyn-Clarke, who was allowed to remain in the town for relief and humanitarian were sent in by work for seventeen months until his imprisonment by the Japanese Authorities in May, 1943. By organising the Informal Welfare Committee, Hong Kong, and keeping in personal contact with the Stanley Camp, Dr. Selwyn-Clarke was able to arrange for the supply of foodstuffs, clothing, toilet articles, drugs and hospital supplies.
After his arrest, this personal contact was lost, and the International Red Cross delegate took over the problem of supplics. The purchase of essential special diets, etc. became increasingly more difficult and it was necessary for the Committee's panel of doctors to limit severely the quantities available for the sick and young children. was relieved to a small extent with the arrival of the British Red Cross parcels and supplies The situation
35
in November, 1942, and the Canadian parcels in September, 1944-
valuable foods were set aside for allocation by the medical panel, and, by very careful- A certain proportion stribution, was made to last until the Colony was relieved in August, 1945.
The functions of the Committee were outlined as follows:-
(a) To enquire into the specific needs of individual internees and to make these known,
collectively, to the organisation in Hong Kong.
(b) To distribute equitably on a selective basis the articles received.
(c) To allocate, on a basis of medical necessity only, the various foodstuffs received. (d) To keep accurate records of the health and nutrition of infants and young children
and children up to the school leaving age.
In relation to (c) it should perhaps be emphasised that the function of the Committee was not to supply extra nourishinent to the Camp as a whole, though the Japanese rations were at all times grossly inadequate, but to provide extra or alternative diets for the infants, young children, the chronically and temporarily sick, for all of whom the rations, besides being inadequate, were entirely unsuitable.
I. NUTRITIONAL
Details of Distribution
A detailed report on the nutrition of the Camp has been made by Dr. Dean A. Smith' M.O. in charge Nutrition Clinic. A short description of the types of cases assisted may be of some interest, however;
(a) For the first six months, when supplies were relatively plentiful, a clinic was held daily and patients attended such as those suffering from (1) deficiency diseases, i.e., beri-beri, ulceration of the mouth, scurvy and pellagra, (2) malnutrition, extreme loss of weight, low blood pressure, giddiness, etc. (3) diseases of long standing, i.e., gastric ulcers, diabetes, coeliac disease, anaemia, etc. (4) acute conditions, i.e., gastro-enteritis, etc. (5) debility following hospitalisation. These patients were advised and given extra foodstuffs such as milk, fruit juices, dried fruits, vegetables, tinned meats and fish and oats. Later the Medical Panel were forced through lack of suitable supplies to cut down these issues and to concentrate almost entirely on giving extras to the Hospital and Diet Kitchens, where the goods could be cooked and given out on a semi-communal basis. Severe cases of beri-beri and central nerve blindness, however, continued to be helped almost to the end of internment, a daily dose of bran being given to the former (incidentally this helped to conserve the limited supply of thiamine available), and peanut butter, eggs, egg yolk, soya bean milk, all rich in the essential vitamins, to the latter.
(b) Infants and young children.--A detailed report has already been prepared by Dr. Annie Sydenham, Camp Child Welfare Officer, regarding the health and nutrition of the children.
During the first few weeks of the Camp a Milk Board was set up, consisting of Dr. D. J. Valentine, Camp Medical Officer, the three Medical advisers to the Committee and Miss M. S. Watson, and, after an exhaustive survey of all available milk supplies and the estimated needs over a long-term period, a schedule of consumption was drawn up. This schedule was varied at different times, but it is interesting to note that at no time did the Camp run out of this most essential item of diet for infants, many of whom were born in this Camp.
Every effort was made to maintain the health of the children of school age. A careful nutritional survey was made every six months by Dr. Sydenham. Acting on this, the Medical panel allocated valuable foodstuffs which were distributed as school meals. During the first winter months, bowls of porridge and milk were given as additions to the poor rations. Later, gelatine and dried fruits, cocoa, oranges, sweets, honey, peanuts and peanut butter were supplied at intervals. Over the last eighteen months it became increasingly more difficult to maintain this standard, and much to its regret the Committee were forced to discontinue this distribution. From that point it became apparent in the half-yearly surveys that the children were not keeping up a normal rate of growth, as measured in height and weight, as a consequence of the inadequacy of the Japanese rations.
Three Baby Kitchens were established in different parts of the Camp. The Japanese rations, with the addition of milk, eggs, flavourings, sugar, honey, cornflour, fruit, etc. were cooked in such a way as to be suitable for infants. This service came to an end about nine months before the end of internment as the amount of firewood supplied by the Japanese vas insufficient to allow of cooking subsidiary to the general kitchens. Fruit juices, shark liver oil and calcium continued to be administered, however.
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