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SPECIAL REPORT ON HONG KONG COMPILED BY CALCUTTA CENSOR STATION.
This Censor Station was preparing a summary of information pertaining to conditions in Hong Kong, seen in the course of cen- sorship, when Mr. Anthony Eden made his speech in the House of Commons on the Hong Kong atrocities.
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His speech as reported in the Indian press gave the im- pression that the atrocities had been 'en masse' and with the approval of High Japanese officials, and had continued after the surrender. This came as a surprise, because the information seen by this Censor Station up to that time, disclosed that reports confirming the above, came solely from missionaries in China who did not receive them first hand, whereas, reports of atrocities having occurred to Europeans prior to Japanese Officers getting control of their troops within 24 hours after the capitulation, came from obviously much more reliable sources.
It was decided to continue collecting such information as was seen in censorship, and this is now compiled into a special. report.
Advantage has been taken of Miss Harrop's presence in Cal- cutta to discuss with her the contents of this report, which she states are accurate. It will be remembered that Mr. Anthony Eden disclosed in the House of Commons that his information regarding atrocities had been received from Miss Harrop. The information was sent in cipher and it was not possible for Miss Harrop to give full details.
In the course of conversation with Miss Harrop, the follow- ing information of interest has come to light:-
1. That the cases of raping and murdering European women occurred on parts of the Island captured and isolated a varying number of days before the surrender, and when the Japanese troops, flushed with victory were out of control,
2. Dr. Gordon King mentioned in Para 4 of the report below was the leading Gynaecologist in Hong Kong.
3. Owing to the high incidence of venereal diseases amongst Japanese troops, arrangements were made in Hong Kong for all European and Chinese women who were raped to receive special treat- ment, and Miss Harrop is of the opinion that Dr. Gordon King would be better placed than any other person, to obtain accurate infor- mation regarding the true facts of the raping of European women, He makes no comment on raping.
4.
She confirms that the Japanese, to save ammunition resorted to the use of bayonets.
5. She also confirms that British troops who did not 'knuckle under' to the Japanese were ill-treated and in some cases slaught- ered.
6. After the capitulation on Christmas Day, Hong Kong had its heaviest air-raid. Later it was confirmed that the Japanese Air Force carried out this raid in ignɔrance of the capitulation
7. After the capitulation, order was quickly restored, and to the best of her knowledge, no further cases of raping European women occurred.
1701/11/28
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