MOST SECRE
CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG UP TO DECEMBER, 1942.
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Foodstuffs were rationed, 6.4.of a cattie of rice being allowed Xenon per day. Vegetables were scarce and had to be brought across from the mainland. Potatoes were exported to JAPAN, as were also onions, and only Japanese could obtain the latter, the cost being between 2 and 3 yen per pound. The sugar ration was 1 lb. per head per month. Fish was commandeered for the Japanese.
Godowns had been
Business as a whole was paralysed emptied of goods which had been shipped to JAAN Notices in the newspapers stated that compensation would be naid for such commandeered goods, and that merchants should file their claims, but upto December 1942 no claims had been paid. Some retail shops are now doing business having been compelled to open by the Japanese HITEAWAYS and CRAWFORDS are open under
Japanese names, one of which is MATSUY A.
xchange and money.
20
Bank funds were controlled. of an account was allowed to be withdrawn as a first instalment. This caused a rush to withdraw money, and r. GEYBURN, the Manager of the HONG KONG and SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION appealed to the authorities to close the bank in order to cover the liabilities of exporters who owed money to the bank. This was done. The Yen was issued in military notes (GUFYO..
Hotels end fes.
ISEAN's Cafe was now called the "FUJI Safe". A part of each hotel was open to the public, the remainder being reserved for Japanese officials. Drinks were expensive but could be obtained.
Streets and buildings. Streets were gener lly clean, but all names have been altered, and all statues removed from "STATUE SQUARE". The HONG KONG LAND INVEST. ENT CO.'s buildings such as QUN's and KING's buildings and WINDS: R HOUSE have been taken over as Government and Military offices. Military officers were quartered in various residential districus The Governor of HONG KONG was residing in the HONGONG Bank building as being the safest
Hospitals and public health were being administered by the Japanese.
General. It was difficult to move about as all Japanese sentries had to be bowed to, and sla ping was prevalent. He ce it was better to stay indoors.
Cne
ropaganda. Broadcasts were in all languages. pronaganda deception was carried out as follows: Rice was removed from godowns, sent on & short sea trip, and brought back. It was then unloaded as "imported rice fro SAIGON", the Japanese claiming that they were importing food for the starving people. Photographs of the unloading of this rice were published in the newspapers.
2
A.R.P.
1
The air raid tunnels were closed and all surface shelters removed. There was NO black out until the first U.S.A.A.C. raid. There were two such raids but the damage done could not be seen, as affected areas were barricaded off, and debris quickly cleared away. It was sta.e. tha the barracks at KOWLOON received a direct hit.
/Page 2. Communications.
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