CO129-592-2 Reports on current situation- medical work 3-3-1946 - 12-5-1947 — Page 128

163

6.

(a) Prisoners in the Gaol

After a series of arrests of Stanley internees was made by

the Japanese Gendarmerie, representations were made to the

authorities by the Colonial Secretary to allow the sending of

parcels of food to augment the slender rations of these prisoners

while under investigation. This was allowed after some delay,

It was

and substantial parcels were sent to each man daily.

subsequently discovered that only a small proportion of these

parcels was received by the prisoners. After sentence, and the

period of investigation, remand and trial occupied several months,

all food parcels were stopped by the Prison Authorities, and the

only contact was by underground methods, involving loyal warders

in considerable risk, and usually proving unsuccessful.

Following the death of Sir Vandeleur Grayburn in gaol, however,

the Prison Authorities allowed two biscuits and vitamin pills

daily to be sent to each sentenced prisoner. These biscuits

baked at first with modest ingredients, were improved imperceptibly

and finally contained concentrated vitamins and proteins. It is

estimated that about fifty per cent of these were received by the

prisoners, though the vitamin pills were almost all received.

Clothing and Other Items

II.

The Japanese Authorities supplied nothing in the way of

clothing, bedding or household equipment during the whole period

of three and a half years, with the exception of four hundred

'muntois' or Chinese quilts, a collection of small sized rubber

shoes, mostly useless, some secondhand canvas for beds, and a

small quantity of shoe repairing materials.

A regional survey of need was made in the first few weeks

of the camp.

A list was drawn up from this and sent to Dr.

Selwyn-Clarke, Informal Welfare Committee, Hong-Kong, who made

the necessary purchases in Town. Large quantities of shirts,

shorts, dress materials, vests, underpants, towels and sewing

materials were sent to the Camp by this means. Camp beds,

blankets, mantois, toilet paper, toothbrushes and powder, sunglasses

enamel plates and mugs, etc. were received, also feeding bottles,