REPORT OF MESSRS. W. VALLESSUK, H. KVAMSO, and
R. BRODERSEN.
ESCAPE FROM HONG KONG.
Captain H. KVAMSO and the undersigned had for some time been discussing the possibilities of getting away from Hong Kong. The inactivity and the complete waste of time had for months caused depression and dissatisfaction among the unfortunate people in Hong Kong The wildest rumours went around, parti- cularly after each escape from the various Camps or from other parts of Hong Kong.
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The first difficulty to overcome was to get in touch with the right people, and in the end, I was fortunate enough to con- tact Mr. MONAGHAN, who is carrying on his own broker business. As Captain KVAMSO and myself approached Mr. MONAGHAN on the 3rd of February 1943, he told us that he was making arrangements for a Russian Radio Engineer, Mr. W. VALLESSUK, who intended to get away on or about the 10th of February, as arrangements for his escape had already been made from WAICHOW, and that another two people might be included in the same scheme. From that moment everything went according to plan, without a hitch.
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On wednesday, the 10th of February, 1943, all three of us arranged to meet at some Norwegian friends' house, 226 Frince Edward Road, Kowloon. At 5 p.m. two Chinese turned up. We left the house and followed the Chinese up to a certain house on TAI PO ROAD. From there, one Chinese took us back to Hong Kong by the Star Ferry, caught the tram car down to SHAUKIMAN. There was a blackout, and plenty of searchlights were in action. jumped off the tram somewhere between Taikoo Road and Shaukiwan terminus, were met by another Chinese who led us down a narrow dark lane. Two sampans were waiting; we jumped on board, lay down flat, face down, and off we went quickly but swiftly, straight across the harbour. After 28 minutes of intense anxiety, we reached the shore on the other side at CHOI KI LEN. Shortly afterwards, a group of armed Chinese turned up. At first, we thought they were Japanese but on closer examination, I noticed that one of them was wearing a Chinese uniform, and that settled our doubts. After half an hour's march along the shore and up through a valley, we arrived at a small village, MAH LAU TONG, where a nice Chinese meal was prepared for us. There we were introduced to KONG SHUI, the Guerilla Chief. After the meal, we proceeded to another village half an hour further along. There we were put up for the night and spent the whole of the next day inside the house. At dusk, our guide, KONG CHUN HON, turned up with our baggage. He had been walking overland with it. On we went from there down to the beach. sampan across JUNK BAY to HANG HOW, where we had a cup of hot coffee to cheer us up. Walking over the hills of the peninsula we eventually came to another boat, this time a bigger junk, sailing between the islands along the shore, and at 2 a.m. stepped ashore. Had half an hour's walk up to a small village where we were put up for the night. Spent the next day inside or in the immediate vicinity of the house. Were introduced to HENRY TAM, the local Guerilla Chief. He tried to impress us with original letters written by people who have escaped before, and we had to sign a letter of appreciation for the assistance granted us so far. At about 8 p.m. we started off on the toughest part of the journey, a 2 hour's walk over some high mountains down to a village on MIRS BAY. Armed sentries met us, and an escort of six went with us on the junk. Got past the dangerous point of KUN MOON, but no Japanese vessels were to be seen. At few miles from the other shore, we were transferred to a small sailing sampan, and after nearly 2 hours in penetrating cold and pitch darkness, we anchored up in the bay on the Free China side of MIRS BAY. Stayed on board until daybreak. Got ashore, passed through the Chinese fort, and walked up along to SHAYUCHUNG, where we were met by a couple of runners sent down from WAICHOW. Thence by chair to TAMSHUI, where we stayed overnight in a Chinese Hotel.
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