Date.*
'District.
16.12.41mergency Unit
2
2.
3.
Hong Kong.
Hong Kong.
Western.
4.
Eastern & Shaukiwan.
5.
Police H.Q & Central.
6.
Police H. Q. & Central.
7.
Central.
8.
Gough Hill.
9
Aberdeen.
33.
16.
12. 4
48 i
Time.
08.00
J
Called to Hong Kong Football Club on a false report that looting was taking place. On the way back the Police Club was visited and found deserted so the property was removed to Central.
Many air raids took place during the day. Shelling of district intensified becoming so severe that even the supplying of food to Police Dispersal Points and Vital Posts became difficult and danger- ous. Five Fifth Columnists were arrested by Mili- tary at Jubilee Fort and were handed over to the Special Branch after investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department, Western. The area between Hill Road and Belcher's Street received particularly severe damage and big fires were started. The Fire Brigade could not cope with the conflagration, and blasting operations by the Royal Engineers to create fire breaks had to be carried out.
The shelling of Eastern and Shaukiwan districts increased in intensity and continuity. The pill boxes and defences along King's Road and the water front received concentrated fire. No.2 Station was shelled. The Sikh Gudhwara was hit with casualties. One Sikh Police Constable at least and one Mohammadin Police Constable's wife were killed. Shelling was also directed at Stubbs Road. The number of civilian casualties in the district was fairly high. In Shaukiwan district the shelling along King's Road, particularly between the Tsang Fook Piano Factory and the Ritz, was very severe and the road was badly torn up by mortar shells. Some bombing of Taikoo Docks and Sai Wan Ho commenced. The shelling con- tinued all night.
New cooks were supplied from the Food Control Office to replace those absconded. The Chinese Police in the meanwhile had made no attempt to prepare their meals. Orders were received during the day to trans- fer Police Food Control to the Gloucester Building. The On Luk Yuen Cafe kitchen was taken over for the supply of Chinese meals. The feeding of European Police was undertaken by the Gloucester Building Staff but adequate arrangements for them was not made by the Hotel.
Partial evacuation of Police to the Gloucester and Pedder Buildings took place. Police Headquarters officers were established in the former while both buildings were used for the billeting of personnel. Half the Emergency Unit moved down.
At the request of the Military Authorities Mr.Cal- throp, Senior Superintendent of Police, arranged for Indian troops to be posted at Central which was put into use as Battalion Headquarters.
Owing to heavy shelling which began during the night and continuing incessantly the Weihaiwei Police left their post at the Peak Wireless Station Vital Post and reported to Station. They were very shaky so Mr. Wright Nooth, directed them to do duty from the Station. The Wireless Staff had already evacuated. The Peak Tramway was badly damaged by shelling or bombing and the Tramway employees refused to continue work. Police Reserve on this Vital Post, H. 20, desert- ed.
The supply of rice ran short in the village. The Officer in Charge arranged daily supply of 36 bags to be made available in shops at Aberdeen and Aplichau.
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