Date.
District.
Time.
10.12.41
27. Aberdeen.
p.m.
28. Western.
15.00
29. Sham Shui
Po.
15.00
to 23.59
30. Tsim Sha Tsui and
15.30
Kowloon
Police H.Q.
15.
10.12.41
30
action had to be taken. No persons were found in charge of the shops and a Police guard was posted by the Divisional Inspector, Shaukiwan. An air raid was in progress during this incident.
Shaukiwan Police also turned out. Mobile picquets were maintained by the Unit.
The Officer in Charge organised force of volunteer Village Guards, 56 strong for Aberdeen. They even- tually did everything except fire brigade work when the other essential services broke down and personnel. de- serted.
Nos. 19 and 23 Godowns in Connaught Road West were hit by shells with casualties amongst the public. Police or Vital Post duty on No.23 Godown were evacuated and in future did duty from No.7 Station itself.
Police under L. S. A. 165 Rothwell opened fire at enemy plane machine gunning pedestrians in Lai Chi Kok Road and Tai Nam Street, causing it to bank sharply and fly
away.
de
He Hon. Commissioner of Police visited a scond time. announced to Senior Superintendent of Police,Kowloon, that Police evacuation from Kowloon would take place sometime during the next day and that Police were all to evacuate except for guards under Mr. Searle, Assis- tant Superintendent of Police, and Mr. Booker, Assis- tant Superintendent of Police, at the Star Ferry and Vehicular Ferry respectively, who would remain to prevent the ferries being rushed until the evacuation of all the essential services and persons with cross harbour permits and Europeans had been completed and the Military Authorities had taken charge of the piers. The Commissioner of Police informed Senior Superinten- dent of Police, Kowloon, that His Excellency the Gover- nor had directed that he, Senior Superintendent of Police, Kowloon, was to accompany the main Police party and was not to remain in charge of the piers as he wished. The evacuation of the main Police party in time was essential in order to reinforce the Police in Hong Kong and internal security there and that to secure this evacuation of the main party was his
The evacuation of the main principal responsibility. body of Police would, if possible, not take place with- out the prior consent of His Excellency the Governor conveyed to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kowloor by the Commissioner of Police, but if communications were interrupted the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kowloon, would have to act on his own initiatice, if possible after consultation with the Military Authori- ties.
The Commissioner of Police wrote out these orders and handed them to the Senior Superintendent of Police. The evacuation of Police families in Kow- loon was first arranged to take place the same night, but owing to the delay in the arrival of the necessar; billeting cards, (themselves authority to cross the harbour) from Hong Kong and considering the time it would take to warn and collect all the families at stations prior to going to the Star Ferry this was later cancelled by the Commissioner of Police. The Harbour Master was informed by the Senior Superinten- dent of Police, Kowloon that no evacuation would take place that night but decided to keep the Ferry launch
After the Commissioner of Police at the Godowns. left the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kowloon, made arrangements for the collection of families during the night and for the evacuation to commence
Instructions at 05.00 hours via the Star Ferry. were sent out about 23.59 hours, about an hour after the Commissioner had left, and the necessary billet-
Men had to ing cards were despatched to stations.
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