CO129-590-24 Situation in Hong Kong 25-4-1905 - 25-4-1905 — Page 64

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A BRING REPORT ON THE CONDITIONS EXISTING AT HUNG KONG BETWEEN THE DATES 25.12.41 and 11.5.42. SUBMITTED BY B.J.M. CHURN.

At the request of the Embassy, no notes or comments are given on the Food Problem.

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Hong Kong is used as a hospital base for wounded Japanese troops - shipping entering port carry human cargoes which are discharged and conveyed to the various hospitals during the night. ships leaving port are laden with spoils viz. rice, flour, sugar, steel, motor cars, cotton yarn, woollen piece goods and medical supplies. The godowns of the three godown companies Hong Kong & howloon wharf & Godown Co. Ltd.; China Provident Loan & Mortage Jo. Ltd. and Holt's wharf- are almost emptied of the above named commodities. The Rice Monopoly's godowns are constantly drawn on for both local consumption and for export. In April, the "Hong Kong News", japanese organ, spread over the front page a news item that a shipment of 2,000 tons of rice had arrived from Bangkok.

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cargo was discharged into Holt's wharf and on probing and enquiry from the stevedores working the ship,、it was discovered that the rice was loaded at Aberdeen, Hong Kong. The transport had met with Allied crafts and being badly holed, had limped back into port to discharge her cargo and to undergo repairs. The rice discharged was marked HKG.

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Towards the end of April, the Japanese Government re-engaged the godown staff of the three godown companies to check and make a physical count of the contents in godown. The following figures are of interest and concern only the Chinese Provident properties.

Rice Flour

8.12.41.

50,000 tons 7,000 tons

30.4.42.

5,000 tons 200 tons

The figures for April were culled by the staff of the China Provident who were re-enlisted by the Japanese Government.

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stocks in private Godowns and shops were sealed and in some cases, were commandeered without redress to the owners. In January, when the food problem was really acute, one rice merchant named Tang Hoy, proprietor of Mow Fung Tai, was caught by the authorities attempting to remove two bags of rice from his shop. He was tied to a pillar on wing Lok wharf for 36 hours and was released only when he had paid a substantial fine and the forced admittance by one of his coolies to theft of the rice. The coolie met with the supreme penalty.

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The former rice merchants headed by Li koon Chun and Ma Ying have formed a committee: to examine the possibilities of importing rice into the Colony. No progress was made due to (a) lack of bottoms (b) exchange difficulties.

shortly after the surrender and before the Military Authorities had organised themselves, pilfering and looting by Japanese officers of godowns were conducted on a grand scale. They looted only valuable cargo. Andrew Tze of the Clover lower Shop and Ho Sai Man, son of Ho Kam Tong, acted as guides, informants and leaders in these looting parties.

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Due to the shortage of firewood and fuel, all' Government buildings and unoccupied private properties were ransacked of all woodwork. All that remains of queen's College is four brick walls - the roof trusses, floors, window frames ete have been removed. The police are helpless in this connection. Unarmed, they cannot control these organised gangs or looters. Properties in reak and Mid-Level areas have all suffèred this

fate.

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