CO129-590-22 Situation in enemy occupied Hong Kong 19-1-1943 - 20-11-1943 — Page 71

FORTNIGHTLY INTELLIGENCE REPORT NO.1

Far Eastern Bureau,

British Ministry of Information,

New Delhi.

POLITICAL

1.

HONG KONG

58

70

CONFIDENTIAL

Period ended

September 25th,1943.

News of officials

W

Japanese: Yukio Sanada, former Chief

Justice of the Tokyo District

Court, arrived in Hongkong on September 10th to take up his post as first Chief of the Justice Department of the Hongkong Government- General, which was established on September 1st "to meet the Government-General's expanding judicial business." (Domei in English, September 10th).

2.

Enlistment office: Indian National Army. An enlistment

office for the "Indian National Army" was established in Hongkong at the office of the Indian Independence League and volunteers began enlisting on September 15th, the first day of its opening. Only men between the ages of 18 and 45 were qualified for application. (Domei in English, September 16th).

3. Italians in Hongkong: The Governor-General of Hong kong announced on September 15th that Italian nationals and their properties in Hongkong would be given full protection. The majority of the Italians connected with religious bodies and their activities would not be hampered. Surveillance of Italians was to be limited to the prevention of "anti-Axis activities." (Domei in English, September 16th).

ECONOMIC

4.

Prices of foodstuffs in Hongkong: According to the Hongkong

News, prices of foodstuffs in Hongkong for the period of May 29th to June 1st were as follows: prices quoted are in Military Yen and are stated to be official prices per catty: Chicken Y4.87 to Y10.60, Beef Y3.60, Mutton Y2.80, Pork Y5.33, Ducks Y .31; Geese from Y3.90 to Y7.61. Chicken eggs were quoted at YO.38 each, duck eggs YO.47 cach, and salted eggs YO.30 each. Fish ranged from Y1.20 to Y4.56 per catty. (Hongkong News May 29th and 30th, and June 1st).

5. Rice rations for third nationals in Hongkong: According to the Hongkong

News, third nationals in Hongkong were to be treated in the same way as Chinese with regard to rice rations from March 4th and each person was to be allowed 3.2 ounces (Chinese) of rice and 3.2 ounces of of flour per day. (Hongkong News March 4th).

6.

Economy in electrical consumption in Hongkong: According to

the Hongkong News, a Japanese-controlled newspaper published in Hongkong various restaurants in Hongkong dis continued the use of electric fans from June 1st in response to the Government's "request" for economy in the use of electricity. It was stated that patrons would not be inconvenienced from the heat since paper and straw fans were to be provided for their convenience. (Hongkong News, May 27th).