Gas stoves are unobtainable and electric current is rigidly controlled. Penalties for exceeding the meagre allowance are severe and most people sit long periods in darkness, or with one candle if they can obtain it, to avoid incurring them. Public transport is cut to the minimum. Buses have been taken off the road and trams run on a much reduced schedule; they are always overcrowded owing to the fact that all Japanese in uniform (1.c. practically all Japanese in Hong Kong) are entitled to travel free. In Kowloon transport is reduced to rickshaws, horse- drawn vehicles (apparently using specially imported iongolian ponics) and bicycles: with the bicycles, the technique is for the coolie to ride, carrying his passenger astrido in the carrier.
Goverment House is being rebuilt in an exaggerated style of Japanese archi- tecture, presumably in the official residence of the Governor.
Ferries are run on a half-hour service except in rush, hours when the schedule is overy twenty minutes: sail-driven junk forries have also made their appearance. There are very few cars in the streets: Kotowall and Shou-Son-Chow, who seem to vic with cach other in pro-Japanese fervour and anti-British advocacy, are two rare exceptions to the rule that no one in Hong Kong now runs a car. These two gontlo- men are much in the public cyc. The Kotewall girls are among the few women who scem able to shop for anything save the bare necessities of life. (Mrs. Zaitzeff adds grinly that the other non-essential shoppers are the prostitutes from Wanchai). Some significance may attach to the fact that the three remaining Zimmern brothers, one of whom is engaged to the younger Kotowall daughter, have now been released from intermont. (Two of the original fivo Zimmern brothers were killed defending
Fong Kong.)
.
The Police have been reinforced by fresh Chinoso contingents drawn apparently from the north. Since the first American bombings the Indian police have grown markedly more polite to foreigners. At first they were hostile: now lirs. Zaitzoff frequently finds on pushing her way on to a crowded train that an Indian constable will instantly risc and offer her his scat, regardless whether Japanese are present or not. Shortly after the first American bombings also a strange metamorphosis was observed in the Japanese Commandant of the Shan-Shiu-Po Volunteer Internment Camp. This gentleman for the first time in eighteen months suddenly became concerned whether his prisoners had sufficient shelter from driving rain or beating sun: forthwith had a near-by go-dom opened and cleared and arranged to let his charges shelter there if the rain was too heavy or the sun too hot.
he
Cinemas are open in the town and show either Japanese films or pictures of the triumphs of Wang Ching Woi: When the show is frankly propagandist, admittance is free to all. any posters have been affixed to buildings in busy parts of the town: those depict a Chinese mother standing in an attitude of protection over her children while glancing fearfully at the sky. The caption reads "Remember that it is Ameri- can planes which arc killing innocent women and children". So far as līrs. Zaitzoff could see those posters had no appeal whatsoever. The bombings are in fact wel- comed, even when a near-miss at the Central Police Station killed upwards of 150 Chinese including children. The successful bombing of the oil tanks at Laichi Kok was a seven day wondor in the town. Fow ships now enter the harbour: those that do frequently anchor close to the Sham-Shui-Po internment camp presumably on the theory that they won't be bombed. The bombings have also caused a good deal of labour trouble, especially at the docks: the workers walked out and held fim against a threat of starvation. Finally a compromise was reached whereby they now work from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. (bomb free hours).
56
Only two of the air raid tunnels appear to be in use one which opens below Battery Path behind the Hong Kong Bank; the other on Queens Road East at the entrance to Wanchai. Both are reserved for Japanese: guards at the entrances permit no one else to enter during raids, and in fact no non-Japancsc now attempts it. All largo buildings in the city are being sand-bagged and the entrances protected with brick screens made from the blocks used in 1941 by the Colonial Government to construct blast-shelters for the public in open spaces. Those shelters have now been dismantled.
Mrs. Zaitzoff had no opportunity to see the Now Territories but they are said to bo deserted partly owing to fear of bandits and partly owing to the difficulty of getting supplies. In Kowloon the section between the Old Kowloon Police Station and Kai Tak had been laid flat to permit an extension of the airport. Only three old planes appear to usc Kai Tak regularly and on each occasion they have been observed to take off and disappear some minutes before the air raid warning is given.
As to Zindle, Mrs. 'Zaitzoff considers him sincere but ineffectual through lack of courage and rosolution. Mrs. Zaitzoff worked for many months on a scheme hatched by Dr. Selwyn Clarke whereby she, and a dozen Chinese ladies called twice weekly at a local hospital, and then picked up and delivered to the camp parcels of food and medicines ostensibly addressed to individuals as prosents from friends. The parcels were collected in the first instance from funds which Dr. Selwyn Clarke had persuaded
64251-1
28
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.