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6.
(a) Prisoners in the Gaol
After a series of arrests of Stanley internees was made by
the Japanese Gendarmerie, representations were made to the
authorities by the Colonial Secretary to allow the sending of
parcels of food to augment the slender rations of these prisoners
while under investigation. This was allowed after some delay,
It was
and substantial parcels were sent to each man daily.
subsequently discovered that only a small proportion of these
parcels was received by the prisoners. After sentence, and the
period of investigation, remand and trial occupied several months,
all food parcels were stopped by the Prison Authorities, and the
only contact was by underground methods, involving loyal warders
in considerable risk, and usually proving unsuccessful.
Following the death of Sir Vandeleur Grayburn in gaol, however,
the Prison Authorities allowed two biscuits and vitamin pills
daily to be sent to each sentenced prisoner. These biscuits
baked at first with modest ingredients, were improved imperceptibly
and finally contained concentrated vitamins and proteins. It is
estimated that about fifty per cent of these were received by the
prisoners, though the vitamin pills were almost all received.
Clothing and Other Items
II.
The Japanese Authorities supplied nothing in the way of
clothing, bedding or household equipment during the whole period
of three and a half years, with the exception of four hundred
'muntois' or Chinese quilts, a collection of small sized rubber
shoes, mostly useless, some secondhand canvas for beds, and a
small quantity of shoe repairing materials.
A regional survey of need was made in the first few weeks
of the camp.
A list was drawn up from this and sent to Dr.
Selwyn-Clarke, Informal Welfare Committee, Hong-Kong, who made
the necessary purchases in Town. Large quantities of shirts,
shorts, dress materials, vests, underpants, towels and sewing
materials were sent to the Camp by this means. Camp beds,
blankets, mantois, toilet paper, toothbrushes and powder, sunglasses
enamel plates and mugs, etc. were received, also feeding bottles,