CO129-590-24 Situation in Hong Kong 25-4-1905 - 25-4-1905 — Page 181

from Sober Surse Sous Lia

Extract from a letter from our Chungking Office, dated 22nd

May, 1942, giving information about Hong Kong received by them from a Russian Engineer, formerly employed

by Messrs Butterfield & Swire, who was in HongKong

at the time of the outbreak of hostilities.

This Engineer presumably reached Chungking from Hong Kong shortly before the date

of Chungking's letter.

95

180

As regards general conditions, he (the Engineer) considered the health situation perhaps better than might have been expected. The complete interuption of the sanitary services was rectified soon after the surrender, streets are reasonable clean and wholesale inoculation by the Japanese may be of advantage in the circumstances. He mentioned that unusually dry, if slightly cold, weather might have helped. Cases of Cholera and Beri-beri were reported, but not, as far as he could gather, in epidemic form.

The civilians in Stanley appear to be suffering most. They are given two meals per day, rice and vegetables on each occasion, and the unfortunate times chosen, 1 p.m. and 6.p.m. bring about distress during the longer interval. A milk supply for the hospital, probable with something to spare for the children, was maintained by the French Hospital until the end of February, when it was interupted by the Japanese Gendarmerie. It has, however, been resumed by the Japanese, largely, it is believed, at the instigation of Selwyn-Clark. Outside contact with Stanley is impossible.

The combatants, regulars and volunteers, at Shamshuipo, Argyll Street and North Toint camps, seem to be better off. Contact with the outside is not discouraged and, at Shamshuipo at least, Chinese and Portuguese have been able to pass baskets of food into the camps. Whether or not this is solely for the benefit of their own nationals cannot be determined.

Administrative conditions appeared to be in the chaotic state characteristic of the Japanese when civilian bodies and all branches of the services take a hand in matters. However, the arrival in March of a Governor may have brought some measure of central control. He knew of no attempt to form a puppet government.

We think the foregoing covers briefly the main points. We are discouraged from describing his escape on 28th March: it was unsensational-judicious play on ill health and his Russian origin opened the front door.