CO129-591-5 Report on activities of Post Office- Engineering Branch during Battle of Hong Kong 24-12-1943 - 26-2-1944 — Page 14

GENERAL

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1. Head Office control and direction of organisation was maintained at the G.P.0. until that building was evacuated about 19th December, when it was moved across to the Gloucester Building, where we installed ourselves on floors or wherever we could find a space to work, eat and sleep.

2. Transport and food control broke down on the very first day of hostilities. It was difficult to keep non-European staff together at first, when some of them and their families had no food for several days. I appointed some of my own staff to obtain food by whatever means they could, and although they were very successful afterwards it un- avoidably took them some days to work out suitable methods.

3. I obtained a car and driver from the Auxiliary Trans- port Service on 9th December but the Chinese driver would not face the travelling which soon took us through areas of heavy shelling and after a few days he abandoned the work. I was able, however, to carry on with my own car. The department radio van early received a direct hit and was disintegrated into the surrounding trees. Fortunately no one was in it at the time.

4. The behaviour of the staff generally was somewhat uneven, especially the non-Europeans, but with few exceptions they responded to suitable encouragement when inclined to falter.

5. The organisation of my sub-department was based on a flexibility designed to meet unexpected situations as they might arise rather than on any cut and dried plans. I believe that this proved to be the best and that we were able to render the maximum services possible under difficult circumstances.

XVI. OCCUPATION

On 25th December I was informed by the Postmaster General that the Colony had capitulated, and all remaining services ceased. On 26th December keys were handed over to the Japanese (Major Asano) in the studio waiting room. I had received instructions from the Hon. Colonial Secretary through the Postmaster General to give information and assistance which might be requested by the Japanese so long as it did not conflict with the Allied war effort.

XVII POST OCCUPATION

1. Several conferences were held by Major Asano with the Postmaster General and myself in which our co- operation was requested to re-establish broadcasting. Major Asano had a competent staff of his own.

2. One consequence was that the small transmitter was transferred from Kennedy Road to the Gloucester Building and subsequently operated by the Japanese as JPHA. The transfer was carried out by my staff and was subjected to considerable delay.

/In fact.