CO129-589-18 Complaints against evacuation scheme 23-11-1940 - 24-10-1941 — Page 3

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12-8-41

This is the second petition to be received from an organised body representing the husbands and relatives of the women and children evacuated from Hong Kong last year. They ask for the 3. of S. to investigate the matter thoroughly and give instructions for the return of their wives and families.

To recapitulate once again the position, the evacuation of British European women and children from Hong Kong was ordered on the 28th June 1940 (see 5 on 13139/11/40). Under these instructions the scheme was to be applied to all such women regardeä as unessential to the defence of the Colony, and on the latter score nursing sisters and those whose services were regarded as essential by the Director of Medical Services, the A.R.P. authorities, the Chief Censor or the V.A.D. organisation, were exempt. After the evacuation had started a certain number of further exemptions were made to women who were dependent on business in Hong Kong for their livelihood, and in respect of whom it was felt that evacuation would be an intolerable hardship. According to a

telegram from the Governor dated the 30th July 1940 (101 on file quoted above) these numbered 237.

There were, however, a certain number of recalcitrants, and action against them came to a head in November 1940 when the Acting Governor stated he was faced with the problem of ordering the use of force to compel them to leave, or alternatively with the problem of imprisonment in a prison containing little accommodation suitable for Europeans. The total number of such persons under orders to leave was in the neighbourhood of 209. It was then decided that the problem of compulsory evacuation could only be considered from its standpoint as a factor

contributing to the capacity of Hong Kong to hold out in siege conditions, and that on these grounds it was not possible to regard the compulsory evacuation of the relatively few recalcitrants as essential. Instructions were, therefore, given on the 5th November (231A on file quoted above) for the suspension of the scheme, although no permission for return to Hong Kong of those already evacuated was possible.

This, of course, constituted one of the grievances felt by those whose wives and families had complied with the Order, and is referred to in the petition. The other grounds on which the petitioners ask for the return of their wives and families is that of alleged discrimination in the grant of exemptions in favour of the wives of Government officials and of the more highly placed members in the social community. This is a frequent charge, but I think it is inevitable in the circumstances. The Governor says that he dealt fully with the subject in a broadcast, a copy of which has not yet been received here, and in any case on general grounds I do not regard it as possible to accept this as a reason for the reversal of the Order already given which is the main point at issue.

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