CO129-590-25 Accounts of events leading up to surrender and subsequent treatment of prisoners- etc 23-4-1942 - 28-9-1943 — Page 18

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the Japanese they are slaves, have no hope whatsoever for their future and their lives are always in dangers. After robbing off all their property, the Japanese let them starve

o death. The whole city is lead. In other oris, as they actually put it, they are now living in a hell. They do not support the Japanese, and, in fact, they wish most earnestly at an early date the British could stage a good show by blow- ing the Japanese out and coming back to stay. In their hearts there is a burning desire of British administration to which they will always be loyal. Judging inem from my experience I should say that they would do anything for British if they have an opportunity.

By the Tokyo government .ongkong; has been designed a base of operations an. naval repairing station. Its gov- ernor is a military man who in the capacity of commander-in- chief had once proclaimed that it has tremendous value as far as military operations are concerned and is to be kept for such purpose. However, the land is controlled by army and water by navy, and between them there are always con- flicts in exercising their powers. is result the people are suffered. Its garrison force is very light and it is á gen- eral belief that the British can regain the possession_of it easily. Desiues, its supply is utterly inadequate. To avoid any hazard of air raids, which the Japanese authori- ties are expecting, the governor hau made the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Building his headquarters. It is my conviction that the Great Britain will find no difficulty to recover the colony if a counter attack be launched with a combined force of land, water and air, together with the support of the people in ongkong by creating troubles against the Japanese internally. It would, too, starve them severely and drie then out if a rigid blockade be enforeed. For all these, if to be effective, the cooperation of the Chinese Government is absolutely necessary.

Terhaps, you now may think that the recovery of ongkong is rather useless for when the war be over China