CO129-595-9 The British Military Administration of Hong Kong- report- 1946 11-7-1946 - 2-9-1946 — Page 117

QUARTERLY REVIEW

Report on Conditions in Hong Kong at 27.11.45

157

This Report is presented whilst the Colony is

under the control of a Military Administration of which the

future Civil body is but a part. It is recognized that

one of the first objectives of the Military Administration

is to provide accomodation for the Services but, in view of

the fact that hostilities have ceased, it is considered that

the needs of the Civil population have not, as yet, received

the consideration they merit.

An overriding impression is that little or no

effort had been made by the enemy during the last year or so

to maintain any of the Public Services.

Damage is undoubtedly less than we had been led to

believe from reports received. Work on repairs has to date

been restricted, due to lack of supervisory staff and paucity

of some materials, particularly timber, but much has been done

in organisation of labour generally; consequently, we have

still to face a large programme of replacement and renovation.

Buildings. and Accomodation: Within the City and

its immediate precincts, such damage as appears is mainly the

result of lack of all maintenance

bombing and shell fire

damage being of minor account. In the Peak District and in

Tural

the urban areas, damage to buildings is much more extensive,

mainly through the looting of all woodwork; in some cases,

to such an extent that only the walls of buildings remain

standing. Of Government buildings, many of the Quarters

suffered severely since in the main they are in these districts.

All of the Leighton Hill quarters were destroyed by gun fire.

Of the Government schools, Queen's and King's Colleges are

completely gutted as are several of the University buildings.