CO129-592-2 Reports on current situation- medical work 3-3-1946 - 12-5-1947 — Page 123

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When the Japanese Authorities rounded up the enemy

national civilians in Hong-Kong in January 1942 for the purpose

of interning them, many of the latter were without any personal

possessions, clothes, household equipment, etc, of any kind.

It became apparent in the Chinese hotels, which were the first

stage of internment for many people, that some relief organisation

would be necessary to provide the barest necessities for those

who had lost everything.

authorities were not prepared to make any distinctions in their

treatment of the infants, young children, the sick and the

elderly among the interned community, and that some assistance

would have to be given to these categories who were unprovided

for, especially in matters of diet.

It was also obvious that the Japanese

As soon as the camp on the Stanley Peninsula was

established the representatives of the three national communities,

the Dutch, American and the British, were asked to nominate

representatives for a Committee to deal with distress, The

first meeting was convened on February 4th, 1942 those present

being Mr. A. Hartog (Dutch), Miss M. Dudley (American) and Miss

N. E. Elliott and Miss M. S. Watson (British) The International

Welfare Committee thereupon came into being with Miss M. S. Watson

as Chairman, Mr. A. Hartog (Treasurer), Miss M. Dudley (Secretary)

Miss N. E. Elliott (social worker) and a panel of medical

practitioners, nominated by the British Medical Association

(Drs. Dean A. Smith, Annie Sydenham, and A. Baker) were asked

to sit on the Committee and advise on medical matters. In July

1942, Mr. F. C. Gimson (Hon. Colonial Secretary) took the Chair,

and, at the request of the Camp Council; representatives of the

four main residential Blocks were added to the Committee.

Miss M. S. Watson became Deputy Chairman, and Mr. E. W. Pudney

Balean