Item 5. Statement by Mr. D.J. Sluss,
Vice-Chancellor, Hong Kong University. Mr. Sloss made the following statement:-
The difficulties met with in running schools in Hong Kong during the perid of internment had been similar to those described in Mr. Cheeseman's Memorandum on the interment camp in Malaya, i.e. lack of accommo- dation and books, together with an extraordinary apathy amongst the people in the beginning. This apathy could be explained by the collapse in Hong Kong coming so suddenly and completely that the inhabitants were thrown off their balance. A much larger proportion of European children had to be dealt with in Hong Kong than in Malaya, but schools which wore started for their education had at first little backing from the White British community in fact there was a good deal of opposition which showed itself in unwillingness to help rovide the accommodation that was necessary. Even to the end of the internment period the schools were overcrowded. Little by little, mainly as a result of friendly co-operation with the Chinese in the town (the Red Cross were not allowed to help); a few bo ks and some stati nery were collected. Unfortunately, many books and much material became fuel in the first rather dreadful winter, The British community became gradually more friendly and helpful.
N.B. A whole fage
(p. 8 of the minutes)
is missing
here.
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