CO129-590-23 Situation in Hong Kong 25-4-1905 - 25-4-1905 — Page 88

the war.

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We were to be paid 3 months' salary when the war first oke out as an emergency measure but we did not receive a cent OW g to the fact that Kowloon was lost too quickly. I, myself, even did not manage to go over to Hong Kong to draw my savings from the bank in time.

I managed to visit the premises of Holt's Wharf once after the war and found that the place was almost intact with the exception that No.2 Pier was rendered unsafe for trucking. The roofs of

No.1 Godown were slightly damaged and were quickly repaired by the Japanese. All the floating crafts were in good order with the exception of M/L "Apeliotes" of which the engine was taken apart during the war and many parts were missing. The entire office records and blue prints were burned, including many of my own books and instruments.

Since it was very unsafe for intelligent Chinese to live in Hong Kong, I decided to leave Hong Kong secretly with my family. Towards the middle of March, we crossed the border by mixing ourselves in the crowds of refugees. We walked through 'No mans land' to enter Free China at a great risk. Altogether we travelled for 25 days to this city of Kweilin, the capital of Kwangsi. The whole journey was too costly and now I am in free China facing financial difficulty. I shall, therefore, be most grateful if you will kindly arrange to send me by cablegram a certain amount of money through Bank of China as a special favour. I consider myself still at your service and shall appreciate it if you will see your way to send me a small sum every month to cover my living expenses here. I am looking forward to receiving your instructions and am prepared to do anything as you may instruct me.

I sincerely hope that my above request will receive your most favourable consideration and that the war will soon end in our allies' favour when peace will be restored and I could be at your service again. Placing myself at your disposal, I remain,

Yours faithfully,

sgd.. C.H. TANG

P.S.

Wharf Engineer, Holt's Wharf, Kowloon.

Please address your cable and letters to:-

Mr. C.H. Tang,

c/o Mr. H.T. Jie (Dean of Elec. Dept.), Kwangsi University,

Kweilin, Kwangsi.