Date.
District.
Time.
15.
Eastern.
16.
Emergency Unit
Hong Kong.
17.
Eastern.
18.
Upper Levels.
19.
Western.
20.
Emergency Unit Hong Kong.
21.
Western.
23.12.41.
Eastern.
40.
23.12.41
63
spot advised against such an attempt during daylight hours owing to the close proximity of the enemy and would not allow the party past Wong Chuk Hang Path. There was small spasmodic fire. The party observed two or three lorries lying across the road with some dead Naval ratings in them. They had been ambushed there a day or two previously. Our troops had re- taken the position since and manned a nearby pill box. The enemy were on Shouson Hill and also on Mount Cameron from which last they were in the process of retiring. Whilst Police were still there the Military in the Pill box received orders to open fire with machine guns on the enemy at Mount Cameron which they did. The Police party volunteered to make a second attempt later. The same party, except that Mr. Fay, Assistant Superintendent of Police, replaced Mr. Wright Nooth, proceeded again to Aberdeen in the evening to make a second attempt but this time were stopped at the Naval Headquarters at the Aberdeen Industrial School by Commander Millet and were not allowed to go on, so nothing further transpired. The party was in- formed that they could not undertake the work unless they were in a Military convoy as it was considered too dangerous. (See Entry No.16 of 23.12.41 and Entry No.1 of 25.12.41 for third, and fourth (successful) attempts.)
p.m. The British line withdrew to Caroline Hill Road, the
Monument and the Pharsee Cemetery.
17.00 The Unit was called out on a false report that looting
taking place at the Central Cinema.
19.00 Sub Inspector Madgewick and a Police party who were acting as a guard to the Military Hospital withdrew from the Jockey Club, with the Commissioner of Police 's and Director of Medical Services' approval, given in case the enemy broke through and found an armed party in the hospital.
20.45 A report was received that signalling was being carried
on from the Nethersole Hospital. Police under Mr. Wright Nooth, Assistant Superintendent of Police, searched and remained on the roof for two hours without result. 21.30 A report was made to the Station that the Japanese had
landed at Eastern Street. Police visited but found it to be untrue.
22.00 The Emergency Unit Europeans owing to shortage of mạn
formed part of a patrol covering a section of the water front. The Bata Shoe shop was found deserted and the stock was taken to Police Headquarters and handed over to the Storekeeper.
23.59 A Police patrol under L. S. A. 148 MacDonald reported the
landing of Japanese troops at the China Merchants Wharf. Police Headquarters were informed and Mr. Calthrop, Senior Superintendent of Police, passed on the information to the Military. Other Police however visited but found no traces of them. (As no further news of this landing was ever received it seems defi- nitely to have been an erroneous report.)
* 1
06.30 At 06.30 hours at the request of Col. Stewart, the
Officer Commanding East Brigade, Mr. Luscombe, Assis- / tant Superintendent of Police, took a volunteer party of Police consisting of himself, P.S. A.53 Brown, P.S.A, 185 Galvin, L. S. A.124 Oakley,L. S. A. 34 Flaherty to the Imperial Chemical Industries Godowns in Great George Street used for food storage by the Food Controller, about 200 yards in front of our front line in Percival Street. Col. Stewart complained that looting was going on and that the looters were masking his line