1.
APPENDIX "B".
Extracts made from reports of certain officers summaris-
ing important Police aspects of the
Siege.
74
Mr. L.H.C. Calthrop, Senior Superintendent of Police, Kowloon, in commenting on events taking place before the evacuation of Kowloon adds:- (i) Telephonic communication throughout the period of the war whilst Police were still in Kowloon was appalling and became even worse on the morning of the 11th December. It often took literally hours to get on to the required number. Throughout the morning and afternoon of the 11th December both Chief Inspector Smith and myself tried repeatedly to get into touch with Brigade and Command Headquarters without success, except in the single in- stance quoted in the Diary under Entry No.7 of the 11th December. (ii) Kowloon Brigade Headquarters found little time to provide adequate liaison in the shape of information to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kowloon. Sub Inspector Brittain, the Police liaison officer, was given very little information. When the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kowloon, rang up Kowloon Brigade Headquarters he was referred to Command Headquarters, or vice versa, (when he rang up the latter).
2.
Chief Inspector Smith in commenting on the same events agreed with the above and adds a further comment:- "I heard that street fighting had occurred outside the Alhambra Theatre after Police had arrived at the Kowloon Godowns on evacuation from stations and I understood that this report was made earlier."!
3.
Mr. A.R.S. Major, Director Special Branch states that:- "The chief work of the Special Branch during the war was (i) dealing with applications from or on behalf of European enemy nationals for release. About eleven males and ten females were so liberated. (ii) Investigation of reports con- cerning fifth columnists and raids in connection thereto. Frequent allega- tions from outside sources that signalling was going on were received by the Special Branch but none were found to have any foundation. (iii) The Direc- tor Special Branch attended frequent conferences in connection with (a) Fifth columists, (b) Chung King representatives and (c) Triad Societies, (iv) Requests from the Japanese Consul General. "
(2) He further states:- (i) Hill Crest, the Headquarters of the Special Branch was hit repeatedly by shells and near misses by bombs. (ii) Telephonic communication was bad. (iii) Difficulties were experienced in keeping the Chinese staff together as they complained that their families could not obtain rice. Only a small proportion remained working until the
end of the war.
4.
G. S. Wilson, Assistant Superintendent of Police, and assistant to Mr. W. P. Thompson, Superintendent of Police, in general charge of Hong Kor Stations, states that:- "Throughout the war continuous reports were received by Mr. Thompson and myself of (i) serious food queue riots reported by the Food Control but these were greatly exaggerated except at Shaukiwan where several rice shops were looted by workmen from the Taikoo Docks, encouraged by Triad Societies. The headquarters of the Shaukiwan Triad Society was suc- cessfully raided by Police, (iii) Fifth colummist activities were reported by telephone on numerous occasions and almost invariably found groundless."
(2) He further states:- "Food control arrangements broke down. Police and their families were not fed properly. The Public were not served fast enough. Rice shops had to be opened forcibly by the Police. Other food shops were allowed by the Food Controller to remain closed,"
5.
Mr. H. WE Heath, Assistant Superintendent of Police, No.2 Sub Area Commander reports:- "There was no looting on any big scale. Many reports of signalling by Fifth columnists were received by Police but most of them were found on investigation to be groundless. I can only remember three cases of any foundation. (ii) One man was arrested in Wanchai with a mirror in his possession suspected of having used it for signalling. He was sent to the Criminal Investigation Department, Police Headquarters, for further investi- gation. (ii) A man was seen waving a white piece of cloth on the hillside at Shaukiwan and was arrested. He claimed to have been merely dusting the cloth, a flour sat. He also was sent to the Criminal Investigation Depart-
One Indian idam ment, Police Headquarters for further investigation. (iii). medan soldier was seen by Inspector Russell signalling with a mirror at the