CO129-590-23 Situation in Hong Kong 25-4-1905 - 25-4-1905 — Page 194

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

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Police were declared Militia today.

Orders were given to remove cars f om compound as they can be seen from the air.

12th December. 1941.

a result

7.30 am. telephone message from Inspector Moreton to collect important papers from our own office. as office has been very badly damaged as of last night's explosion. Found office to be a complete shambles. doors windows and their framework smashed to bits. Caught in th ee raids on the way back took me nearly three hours to get back to H.Q. which is normally twn minutes. Further reports of landings,troops now believed to be in the North Point area. Further troops believed at have landed at Aberdeen. Communique states "we are holding our position".

Compound has been painted to resemble trees. but still cars around the sides as well as transport lorries and buses.

are parked

Arrests are being carried out of 5th Colums. and they are being executed. Several have already been shot. SK. reports situation rega:ding Triads and looters is in hand.

1th December 1941.

Further raids all morning and more troops supposed to have landed. C. came in this afternoon with some papers for me. brought with him a lorry load of Chinese sappers, gave them all some tea and sandwiches. They were all

Decided to remove screws from window very cheerful and anxious to fight. frames in case of serious raids and collapse of building. No wire cutters can be found and none can be obtained outside.

ilore executions of 5th Cols. taken place today. One found with small transmitter attached to his chest. and Jap. passes in his possession.

Caught in the N.Y.K. building.

14th December. 1941.

"Better the day better the deed". Its Sunday a nd its been hellish. Bombing and shelling was particularly bad all morning. After lunch bombing seemed to be getting nearer. Suddenly about 3.30 some instinct made me shout "down everybody here comes something", and although everybody went to cover I was too far away. I dropped on the fluor and crawled as far as possible under the desk but in spite of that a terrific gust of air went over my head. the windows flew open g following a heavy explosion and I emerged covered in brick dust and debris. I felt a bit shaken but whilst I was decided I was all inone piece, somebody came down and said Th mpson was wounded. I went upstairs to his office and found the office had taken the full force of the explosion and Thompson wa badly cut about the face and head. Was bleeding profusely. Saunders also wounded. Cleaned them both up and sent them off to hospital. Wilson was stunned but otherwise unhurt. Hopkins was killed and two A.T.S. drivers (Chinese) who had been in the compound were also killed. Two Indian wounded and two Chinese wounded. The result of the raid was three direct hits on the station, one which we got fell directl ̧ alongside the blast wall at the main door to H.Q. and went down the grating, blow.ng out Thompson's office and demolishing the bar. All cars in the compound were on fire and two containing amunition were going off like fire orackers. A stick of bombs had been dropped across the station and surrounding area.

C.P. decided it was better if Mrs. J. and I slept in Gloucester Hotel tonight as he considered station unsafe, we now have no windows, and we have come to conclusion we are definitely a target. Later ordered to arrange accommodation for complete staff to be housed in Gloucester hotel and a new police H.Q. will be formed there.

Reverting back to this afternoon. It must be noted that the bombing at Central took place five or ten minutes after the all clear had been sounded.

If it had not been for that fac Hopkins would not have been killed. He was on his way up from the shelter. It seems to be a habit of ` these bombers to hide behind the clouds until the all clear has been sou ded and then to reappear. This has been noticed on several occasions.

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