COPY
81
SHANGHAI REFUGEES COMMITTEE 2nd Floor, Post Office Bldg.
Hong Kong 4th September, 1937.
Hon. C. S.
1.
We first heard that refugees were coming on 16th
August. A Committee was formed to make arrangements for their
reception and accommodation and met for the first time at 10.30
a.m. on 17th August. Mr. J.H.Taggart of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels Company Limited was placed in charge of preparing the Jockey Club stands at Happy Valley for acomodating the refugees. Later the Central British School in Kowloon was prepared under the super-
vision of Mr. D. M. Richards the Headmaster. Several huts in
Hankow Barracks at Shamshuipo were made available by the Military
Authorities for the accommodation of men.
The Jockey Club stands have been lent free of
charge for the period of one month and while they have proved
an excellent clearing centre, catering is likely to be expensive
there and there is the possibility of a claim from the Jockey
Club if they are unable to resume racing on September 25th. It
is proposed therefore to remove the refugees now at Happy Valley
to Lai Chi Kok, where commodious sheds, originally built for
quarantine purposes and later used as an overflow from Victoria
Gaol, are being prepared for their use. As the school holidays
end on September 12th consideration is being given to finding
alternative accommodation for those now in Central British School.
The Victoria Hospital, which was closed when the Queen Mary
Hospital was opened, has so far been retained for use as a hospital
if necessary. Such a contingency now appears remote. Other
accommodation may be available and it is intended to remove
the refugees from Central British School in time for the School
to reopen if possible by September 27th a fortnight late.
2.
The maximum number in the centres was on 28th August
when 528 women and children were at Happy Valley, 138 in Central
British School and 66 men in Shamshuipo Barracks.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.