CO129-592-4 Reports on current situation- Police 14-11-1945 - 1-7-1946 — Page 78

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ad to carry on for eleven days existing on the 25% surplus stores laid in from the 13th December onwards. )"

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Sub Inspector Fowlie, Officer in Charge Criminal Investigation De rtment, Eastern Division, reports:- "The activities of fifth columnists in Wanchai, important as near the front line from the night of the 18th onwards, were not very marked. The Military Authorities reported that sniping was being carried on by them, but although the detectives, headed by myself, carried out regular patrols throughout with a view to detection, and suppression we never experienced any ourselves. A number of cases of signalling were reported but none were substantiated. In the investigations and raids that followed two gangs of suspects were rounded up and handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department, Police Headquarters, No case of sabotage was reported to the Police. We arrested a large number of looters and would be looters who were also handed over to the Criminal In- vestigation Department, Police Headquarters. About thirty members of a gang of would-be extortionists were arrested on one occasion. They had placarded a number of shops in Queen's Road East, Hennessey and Lockhart Roads stating that the premises would be "protected". A number of the men had, as our information led us to expect, file daggers in their possession. There was no serious looting in Wanchai until the front line was in Percival Street and even then it took place in premises beyond it, i. e. The Imperial Chemical Industries Godowns and the Dairy Farm Ice & Cold Storage plant at East Point. "

12. Police Sergeant A 214 Mawer, officer in Charge, Bay View, states:- "There were no rice riots or trouble in the district owing to the resource of Mr.J. Kotewall of the A.R. P. who organised the Kai Fong and persuaded them to buy rice and sell it at Government rates to genuine inhabitants of the Bay View area. All the A.R. P. personnel refused to evacuate when the enemy landing was reported and awaited the arrival of the Japanese.

13. Police Sergeant A. Simpson, Officer in Charge, Stanley, states:- "(i) There was no bombing of Stanley village. The Japanese concentrated on the Forts and Prison. (ii) The attack on Stanley Peninsula was met by a few inen, many of them not regular troops and although reinforcements were asked for they were nou sen. The Middlesex Headquarters at the Preparatory School did not turn them out until I went there myself at about 23,59 hours on the 24th December and reported to the Officer Commanding, a Captain, that the Japanese had broken through past No.1 Bungalow, and yet they must have heard the fighting at Stanley Village. (iii) The Stanley Warders plantoon took part energetically in the defence of Stanley. They bore the brunt of the fighting in the village itself."