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(c) Sich persons.-Three Diet Kitchens functioned in conjunction with the Baby Kitchens, for the supply of adequately cooked meals for the chronically sick and well as the temporarily sick in quarters patient. Fluid diets consisting of soya bean or fresh milk (when available from Dr. Selwyn-Clarke or the International Red Cross), strained vegetables, soups and congee were cooked for the many cases of gastro-enteritis which occurred; rice was cooked in a more careful manner than was possible in the general kitchens for the gastric and duodenal ulcer patients; milk and substantial puddings and other extras were given to many suffering from debility and gross under-weight.
Besides supplying the extras to the Diet Kitchens, the Committee distributed similar items of foodstuff to the Hospital for the patients, for whom the rations were quite unsuitable.
(d) 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, and substantial parcels were sent to each man daily. It was 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 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.
2. CLOTHING AND OTHER ITEMS
FF
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 "mintois or Chinese quilts, a collection of small sized rubber shoes, mostly useless, some second hand canvas for beds, and a small quantity of shoe repairing material. 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, mintois, toilet paper, toothbrushes and powder, sunglasses, enamel plates and mugs, etc. were received, also feeding bottles, chamber pots and prickly heat powder for infants. With this help the Camp for the first year was decently, and colourfully dressed (the shirts were locally made and designed for the African native), and much of the anxiety of the mothers with babies was relieved by the assistance given to them, especially.
One of the most serious clothes problems which recurred during the whole period of internment was that of shoes. The Camp terrain was heavy on footwear (the life of a rubber shoe was about a fortnight and that of a locally made leather shoe about two months), and such shoes as most internees were able to bring in were soon in a complete state of disrepair. Dr. Selwyn-Clarke was able during the first months to send to the Camp many hundred pairs of rubber and leather shoes and some repairing materials. The International Red Cross continued this work until the price of shoes and leather became prohibitive. Such supplies of clothes as were received from the first shipment from the British Red Cross in November, 1942, rather significantly did not include boots or shoes, and with the second issue of clothes, this time from the American Red Cross a few months before the Colony was relieved, only 30 pairs of boots were available for the Stanley Camp. The problem of the International Welfare Committee of maintaining2,500 people in a properly shod condition became insoluble, and, for the last two years a large part of the Camp was reduced to walking about barefooted.
The clothes situation similarly became so difficult over the last years that the Camp became extremely proficient in making and remaking garments. No piece of material was ever considered too poor to be used. Flour bags, saved from the days when bread was supplied in the rations, old blankets and pieces of curtain, were all collected, and the Committee with a group of helpers, patched and remodelled garments and distributed them to those who were thought to be in need.
The supply of strong beds was another difficult problem at all times since canvas beds did not last very long when used for sitting on during the daytime. Canvas for repairing covers was urgently required during the whole period and that supplied by the Japanese
37
authorities in June, 1944, was quite inadequate. The Bed-Repairing shop performed valuable service in patching canvases from old tents, ground sheets, sacks and flour ags, collected by the internees.
3. FACTORIES AND REPAIR SHOPS ORGANISED AND DIRECTED BY THE COMMITTEE
(a) Soya Bean Milk Factory.-A quantity, usually 50 pints, was processed daily from beans provided by Dr. Selwyn-Clarke, and, later, the International Red Cross. This valuable food was distributed on medical advice through the Diet and Baby Kitchens and the Hospital. The residue from the process was given to the Hospital for the manufacture of yeast, used for selected cases of avitaminosis.
(b) Shoe Repair Shop.-This shop repaired from 20 to 80 pairs of shoes weekly, though shortage of materials was a persistent difficulty.
(c) Bed Repair Shop.-This shop repaired approximately 20 beds weekly.
(d) Spectacle Repair Shop-for repair of frames only. For the first two years the Committee were able to arrange for spectacles to be prescribed by an Ophthalmic Surgeon in the Camp and supplied by an optician in town as well all repair work was undertaken by the same firm. The Japanese Authorities eventually refused permission for this as the price became prohibitive, and the Camp Repair shop undertook to mend frames only. The repairer was responsible for 20 pairs weekly.
To turn at last to the final stage of the life of the Committee, it was decided in July, 1945, to amalgamate the International Welfare Committee with the Camp Relief Fund, a similar organisation whose object was to help internees financially rather than with food or clothing. As the conditions in the Camp became progressively worse it was agreed that the amount of inevitable overlapping of function of these two organisations was leading to inefficiency and wastefulness. Consequently the old Welfare Committee was dissolved, and the Central Relief Committee was formed, with Mr. H. Butters (Hon. Financial Secretary) in the chair, and representatives from both the organisations being present. This new Committee was shortlived, since the Colony was happily relieved within a month of its inception.
In conclusion, the International Welfare Committee owed much to certain people who made it possible for the work to be carried on.
Firstly, the assistance given at great risk to himself, during the first 16 months, by Dr. Selwyn-Clarke, in sending to the internees so much that was vital to their health and comfort, is beyond praise,
Secondly, it is pleasant to place on record the valuable work done by a group of internees who undertook the duties of Welfare Officers in the Blocks. Their task was difficult and unappreciated in times of scarcity and strain, and they performed it with patience and good sense.
Thirdly, the social workers, Miss M. Dudley (Young Women's Christian Association, repatriated July, 1942), Miss N. E. Elliott (Social Service Centre for the Churches, Hong Kong, repatriated September, 1943) and Miss E. Rawlings (London Mission, Hong Kong) deserve great praise for their work in organising the equitable distribution of relief.
Fourthly, mention should be made of the valuable services of the three storekeepers, Mr. J. I. Barnes (Assistant Secretary, Medical Department, Hong Kong), Mr. C. Willcox (Hong Kong Police) and Mr. Pat White (Hong Kong-Shanghai Hotels, Ltd.), who carried the heavy responsibility of safe storage of welfare goods.
Lastly, the Committee was greatly helped by Mr. D. L. Newbigging, who, as Camp Supplies Officer, assisted in every possible way in the general effort to alleviate sickness and distress.
MARGARET S. WATSON.
Deputy Chairman, International Welfare Committee, Military Internment Camp, Hong Kong. Almoner, Medical Department,
Hong Kong.
(52077) Wt. 21837-4898 6 8/46 D.L.
G. 373
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