COPY.
BRITISH COMMUNAL COUNCIL
148
A REVIEW OF ITS ACTIVITIES DURING THE PAST THREE MONTHS.
During the first three months of its existence the British Communal Council, which succeeded the British Temporary Camp Committee on the 1st March, 1942, has unceasingly worked for the general improvement of living conditions in Stanley Internment Camp. In particular, it has made every endeavour to obtain for internees a sufficiency of rations and a balanced diet. In this it has met with a small measure of success, due in the main to a closer contact with the Japanese Authorities following the appointment of Messrs. Nakazawa and T. Yamashita as Camp Superintendents in succession to Mr. K.L. Cheng.
Since its inception, the Council has followed the general policy outlined at its first meeting, namely, complete cooperation with the American and Dutch Communities, amicable and tactful relationship with the Japanese Administration, and the Chinese Block Supervisers and of initiating a programme aimed at securing the maximum benefit for all. At an early date the relationship between the Hong Kong Government (through the Colonial Secretary's Office) and the Council was defined by means of a memorandum, and a result smooth working between the two bodies has been assured.
An innovation which tended towards keeping Block Committees and internees better informed on matters discussed by the Council was introduced when the Council invited Block Chairmen,not already members of the Council, to attend Council Meetings.
As stated above, the Council, from the outset, has paid particular attention to the problem of obtaining for internees adequate food and a balanced diet. In this connection on 29th March and 6th May special letters were addressed by the Council to the Japanese Authorities stressing that the rations supplied were far below those advocated by medical and dietetic experts resident in the Camp. On these, and on many other occasions, the Council, through its Chairman, has requested increased quantities of food containing proteins, fats, carbohydrates and fresh fruits. So far, these requests have been the means of obtaining for internees increses principally in the flour and vegetable issues with a better assortment of the latter including sweet potatoes.
In this connection, the following figures supplied by Mr. W.J. Anderson, the Camp Quartermaster, should prove of interest to all concerned:-
Basic Ration.
Rice
each person per day
Flour
Sugar
40
per day
Salt
50
per day
Peanut Oil 50
#
per day
Beans
every other day
Milk
Firewood
10 each child under three years1/2 tin each person per day
1/2 catty 1/2 catty
(Scale laid down by the Authorities)
21st Jan, 1942
10 persons every other day 1 Ib
25th March. 1942.
1/2 b
5/16 catty
1 catty
1
Ib Ib 1 catty
17.04 ozs.
10.65 ozs.
1/2 catty
1
Ib
/N.B. the...
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.