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16.
treatment.
Kowloon residents recaived slightly different
The Europeans were rounded up and interned at
owloon Hotel. Representatives of the Japanese Army sat at a desk in the hallway of the hotel and internees were compelled to bow each time as they passed. Later these internees were also sent to Stanley.
17. During the interval between the retreat of the British and the arrival of the Japanese Kowloon was in the hands of looters. Organised in angs and equipped with buses, cars, sharp knives they combed district by district. They ransacked Kowloon Godown, shot petty looters and commandeered their prizes. They stripped civilians in the street for their money and valuables. In each house they went to they moved out furniture and food and otherwise demanded protection fees. As soon 85 the Japanese forces marched in the following day the looting stopped and so the Tsim Sha Tsui area missed being looted. Today these same looters are the Self Preservation Corps and householders must pay then weekly fees.
18. Kowloon was without water for one day only and Hongkong for weeks. The China Light and Power station was destroyed but the Japanese repaired the old station. Hongkong residents were compelled to use well water. Even though the Japanese had peacefully occupied Kowloon, residents did not dare to appear on the streets until Christmas. From their roof tops they watched Hongkong being banbed and shelled and the incessant ferrying of Japanese troops from the mainland to Taikoo.
19. The European boarding houses in Kowloon are now occupied by Japanese soldiers as barracks. The stretch of European residences in Prince Edward Road were taken over by officers. The Peninsula Hotel houses sir Kark Young and the new Japanese Governor. It also seems to be a headquarters for Japanese Administration in Kowloon. In the barracks many young Chinese girls are employed as maida. The Japanese soldiers are fond of children and frequently may be seen playing ball with them on Kowloon streets. Themselves they play baseball at the Kowloon Cricket Club where the clubhouse has been divested of all woodwork including floorboards, windows and doors.
20. The British forces interned at Shamshuipo Barracks are permitted to receive parcels from friends and relatives, Certain days are allocated and at the appointed time the sentries inspect the parcels and then hand them over to a committee who distribute them to the designated soldiers and volunteers. During an outbreak of cholera no bread or vegetables were allowed to be sent in. After the escape of Europeans, Portuguese and Chinese the barbed wire barricades were considerably strengthened and the men were put on a diet of rice and salt for two weeks. Since then the men were put on their honour not to escape and parcels have been allowed again. As soon as the parcels have been handed in the civilian visitors must depart. No waving or shouting is allowed. The internees crowd behind the barbed wire barricades and look on silently. When there is any infringement of discipline the sentries shoot.
21. The men are given two meals a day of rice and beans. Sometimes they have meat and vegetables. According to volunteers they have plenty of rice. They are hungry for sugar which is scarce. During the day groups are sent out dn mamaŭl labour to the docks, airport and new territories.
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