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1st January. 1942.
New Year's Day. Everything seems to be quiet. I have been out for a short walk. Decided to arrange an office for North and to try to form some connection with our old friends. although I really do not see what we can do at the moment. All cars on the streets have been rounded up except those which are too damaged to be of any use at the moment. Cricket Club is being used as a car dump.
Went up to queen Mary this morning to see 0.G. Events at Race Course were ghastly a ccording to her story. she confirmed she escaped only by fainting. Hospital very full of wounded. talked to some of them and tried to cheer them up.
Soldiers seem to be everywhere but apart from being stopped by sentries for examination, we were not interferred with.
2nd January 1942.
Lists of casualties are gradually coming in, but so far no news of those trapped at Repulse Bay, Stanley and North point areas prior to surrender. There are hundreds of names missing and without help from the Japs. we cannot compile proper lists. We have been refused permission to go over to Kowloon and get the names of prisoners of war. Our letters receive no replies and nothing can be done.
Large numbers of people are applying to return to Kowlbon and Japs. have asked us to prepare lists of residents.
Former civil servants have been ordered by the Japs. to register with them. Indian police have been allowed to carry on under the Japs and many of the Chinese have gone over to them. Of course they have to live and most of them have families.
Thereis talk of banks opening after the holidays. Money is becoming a problem. There is very little small change and people are hard pressed to change ten dollar bills. Notes of large denomination cannot be changed at all. Military yen are beginning to make their appearance. and a notice has been issed to the effect that H.K. can be changed into Mil. Yen at the rate of M.Y. 1 to H.K.$.2. Only ten dollars at one time may be changed. No larger notes will be a ccepted.
Letters have been sent to the Jap, High Command regarding the status of Sir Arthur and Lady Blackburn and other members of the Embassy staff.
3rd Jan. 1942.
It is almost impossible to walk down Queens Rd. due to the crowds of Chinese and the hawker stalls. The people are wandering about, some einlessly others with a look of astonishment on their faces at this whole ghastly mess, which is worse than tragedy. Words cannot express the feeling that what has been accomplished in a hundred years has completely crumbled in a few days.
Newspapers are now appearing and the editorials are slamm.ng "the opression of the people and the maltreatment of them at the hands of the British Imperialists". There are also signs of anti British feeling amongst the Chinese people and I en afraid the resu. ts are going to be anything but bright when the time comes.
We are wondering when we shall be interned and where it will take place. Sometimes I feel that we shall be safer in camps than we shall be if we are allowed to remain ffee. In a few weeks time when the food supplies have run out and the Chinese cannot get food. they will definitely turn against us. and we may then expect trouble. It is evident that there feelings are against us by the amount of looting that has taken place and the way in which homes and houses have been broken into and smashed. Although I must confess Chinese homes and houses have also suffered. This evening the light in certain areas came on but no power.
This afternoon B. came in and told us the story of the death of his wife. Foor man. He was in a dreadful state. He was wounded at repulse Bay and swam to Stanley on the 30th Dec. to be with his wife on Xmas Eve. He stayed with he. until 3.0 pm on Xmas afternoon and then she left him to go on duty. He heard her voice in the duty room until about 5.0. Then the Japs.
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