CO129-590-25 Accounts of events leading up to surrender and subsequent treatment of prisoners- etc 23-4-1942 - 28-9-1943 — Page 69

ENCLOSURE No. 2.

69

MOST SECRET.

SIR MARK YOUNG'S REMARKS ON ALLEGED ATROCITIES AT

HONG KONG.

Sir Mark Young stated that he is not in a position to give any information himself on the alleged atrocities after the surrender of Hong Kong, since he was not allowed to receive any visitors during the seven weeks he was confined in the Peninsular Hotel at Kowloon, nor was he allowed outside the hotel. He has been informed by his soldier servant, Private John Waller of the Middlesex Regiment, that there were some cases of maltreatment of wounded and that he had heard of one case where a man was shot, but not fatally, after surrender; otherwise he said that the treatment was good.

Although Sir Mark Young made frequent requests for information about casualties, these requests were ignored and finally refused, together with other requests, such as that he might see members of the Colonial Govern- ment, receive warm clothes from Government House, etcetera.

With reference to an article which appeared in the Japan Times and Advertiser on 14th (?) March, 1942, which said that on being informed by Japanese officials of Mr. Anthony Eden's statement in the House of Commons regarding alleged atrocities at Hong Kong, Sir Mark Young replied that he was "dumbfounded" at such baseless reports, Sir Mark Young wishes it made clear that this reply attributed to him is without the slightest foundation in fact. At no time was he approached by Japanese officials in this connection, nor did he make any comment whatsoever on Mr. Eden's statement. He does not, however, consider it desirable that this denial should be given any publicity.