心
meat or fish was bad when received and was rejected.
en this happened, at first we went short - subsequently some effort was made to replace by tinned foods (See also under Paragraph 16.)".
Paragraph 15. - Management of Camp.
notes:
I am quoting directly from Mr.Thompson's
"The camp is under a Chinese Superintendent
3121
one CHENG KWOK LEUNG - I can only describe him as a pukka bastard in every respect. He is assisted by a number of Chinese block superintendents, whose job is more or less anooping on what we do. Around Cheng Kwok Leung revolve most of the difficulties experienced in the Camp. Behind him was a Japanese named MIYAKI - the temporary Camp Committee made every effort to get Cheng to improve basic conditions, but it was blocked at every turn. Apart from the question of beds and bedding mentioned above, the most pressing need was the or-. ganization of a Canteen at which supplementary food could be obtained by those who had the money. At first it wea possible by subterranean routes to get food purchased in Hongkong, and sent out in the ambulences Cheng soon put a stop to tuis One consignment valued at about Hongkong 500.00 was held up for over ten days but subsequently released - Another consign- ment of over Hongkong 30 .00 wes not released. In the meantime Cheng opened his own shop selling at greatly enhanced prices - even over the high prices prevailing in Hongkong. was most unsatisfactory but efforts to boycott this source were not successful. Our own Committee could do nothing to reach an arrangement which did not place them entirely at the mercy of Cheng and Miyaki. It was left to the Americans to arrive at a realistic conception of the situation. About the beginning of March an official Canteen was opened. The arrangement was Cheng supplied the goods at his prices, the bill having to be paid by the afternoon of the day of supply. The Canteen management added 10" for cover. Cheng seized the opportunity of adding the 10"% to his own price on the second day. eople had to queue up for anything up to four hours to get a chance of purchasing a limited ellowance. Subsequently a ticket system was introduced, every person having a chance of buying on an "A" series before the "B" series was introduced. Even then it was necessary to queue up for hours to get a chance of buying. Prices gradually rose When we left the prices of some items were as followe:-
Tinned mest
Butter
J
HKS 3.50 per 12 oz tin
#.
5.40
6.00 per lb.
Ham
Toilet
Paper
Jam
Tea
Cocoa
Juger
Tinned Herrings
Razor Blades Flour
1.50 per Roll
1.40 per small tin
10.00 per lb.
5.00 per lb.
2.50 per lb.
3.00 per tin
4.00 for 5
3:00 per 1b. but herdly procurable.
These are some of the prices quoted from memory. This Canteen system finally broke down - A quantity of delicasies supplied by Cheng at his price amounting to HK$3,000.00 was un- saleable. I do not know what further arrangements were under- way when we left.
Tobacco was unprocurable except through underground aources, very soon detected by Cheng and his minions. When
we
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