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But I am anticipating events in this rather inadequate
Christmas, 1941, was a very gloomy one for all excebt the Japanese invaders. Many felt completely overwhelmed by the disaster that had befallen Hong Kong.
Many wounded were still waiting conveyance to hospital. The streets were cluttered up with dead and piled high with accumulations of refuse and debris from damaged build- ings. Electric light and power had failed for a week previously. Water mains had been holed by shell and bomb and the population were forced to obtain water from polluted wells and hill-streams. House drainage no longer functioned owing to lack of water for flushin purposes and to the blocking of sewers.
Shelling, bombing and fire had destroyed many houses
and thousands were rendered homeless.
The Japanese Military Commander did not make things easier by promulgating a standstill order which effectively stopped all vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Under the circumstances, it was necessary to take the initiative and to obtain official permits for ambulances, dead carts, dust carts and lorries for carrying food, fuel, medical supplies, etc.
It was vital for a few engineers to be released from detention (at least temporarily) in order to restart the water supply as quickly as possible.
The Japanese Commander agreed to my requests and allowed me, for the time being, to retain control over the coolie staff employed on town cleansing and refuse and night soil removal and burial of the dead. This agreement was not given, I fear, from humanitarian motives, but because the Japanese feare the effect of a serious outbreak of infectious disease (e.g. cholera) on the lives and efficiency of the troops forming the army of occupation. ..few days after the surrender, the Japanese interned all British and Indian troops in four nain camps, one of the four situ ted on Hong Kong Island bein. closed down later. Lack of bedding, gross overcrowding of nutments, an entirely inadequate diet, associated with insanitary, fly-infested surroundings and heavy manual labour soon combined to exact a considerable toll of suffering and der th amongst the inmates of these camps.
Over 200 died in camp of diphtheria, dysentery and malnutrition. Some are unlikely to regain their normal strength and faculties. This figure does not, of course, include the Indian troops who were starved and ill-treated and who, in many cases, sacrificed their lives rather than fight against the mother-country.
From time to time the Japanese military authorities allowed parcels to be sent into the camps from the town.
A group of voluntary workers (Chinese, Portuguese, Third Nationals and a few British Europeans who escaped intern- ment) was organised to collect and carry such parcels of food, drugs, clothes, shoes, toilet articles, etc., to the camps. They not only helped to maintain good spirits but saved many lives and prevented much suffering.
After an escape or an attempted escape or for some other reason (or for no reason at all!), the Japanese stopped all parcels. when this happened it was necessary to invoke the aid of Japanese with humanitarian outlook who were prepared to risk their liberty and their lives by smuggling into the camps such
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