CO129-590-22 Situation in enemy occupied Hong Kong 19-1-1943 - 20-11-1943 — Page 33

SECRET

33

7th December,

1943

HONG KONG REFUGEES ABOARD THE "GRIPSHOLM"

The following officers (or dependents of officers) of the Hong Kong Government arrived in New York on the Gripsholm on December 1st, 1943.

Name

Sgt. Charles Medley

and wife

Sgt. David Mann

and wife

E. D. Robbins

wife and child

L/Sgt. D. R. Fyffe

R. P. orris

Dr. Greaves

irs.. Zaitzeff

and child

iliss G. Collard

(Nursing Sister)

Address in Canada

c/o. Mr. J. W. Donald,

P.O. Box 272 Victoria. B.C.

c/o. W. Marshall, B.C. Electric Co. Vancouver, B.C.

c/o High Conmissioner's Office, Earnscliffe, Ottawa

c/o Miss L Fyffe 11 Nickle Avenue Mount Dennis, Toronto. c/o. ir. J. Paterson, British Trade Commissioner, Montreal

c/o High Commissioner's Office, Earnscliffe, Ottawa.

c/o irs. Kimball-Nichols, 5911 Blenheim Street, Vancouver, B.C.

Asa Court, Suite 17, Langside Street, Winnipeg.

Remarks

Holds himself at disposal of Colonial Office.

Will

report to High Commissioner, Ottawa and await further instructions through him.

Both ditto.

Mir. Robins ditto..

Ditto Anxious to proceed to Scotland as soon as possible for leave.

Ditto. Anxious to join his family in Australia for period of leave.

Inclined to retire from service.

Will report to High Commissioner, Ottawa and await conclusion of arrangements reference her maintenance in Canada.

As for Sgt. Hedley.

The party was held incommunicado in New York and sent on by train to liontreal where I met them on December 2nd.

2. Through the courtesy of Mr. Paterson, a room was put at my disposal in the British Trade Commissioner's Office where I interviewed the party indi- vidually on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th December. lir. Paturson and two members of his staff, Mrs. McBride and Mr Jefferies, went out of their way to be as helpful as possible and welcomed the repatriates with every courtesy. Mrs. McBride in particular undertook a great deal of extra secretarial work in addition to her regular duties.

3.

During the voyage on the Gripsholm reports were prepared on the basis of the pooled knowledge of the exchange party, with reference to conditions in the Far East and to details of imprisoned or interned Allied personnel remaining in Japanese hands. I understand that these reports will be available to the High Commissioner's Office and will no doubt be forwarded to London in que course.

4. Without prejudice to the above, I thought it wise to suggest to all members of the Hong Kong party that they should each prepare a short personal account of conditions as they saw them, together with any facts which might be of interest to the colonial authorities. This will no doubt result in duplication but may serve to fill some gaps in the picture. These personal reports will be submitted to the High Commissioner's office for safe hand transmission to London.

5.

With the exception of Dr. Greaves, kir. R. P. Morris and Sgt. Fyffe, all members of the party looked surprisingly well. The sen voyage had worked wonders. The three first named, however, are in need of a long rest.

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