CO129-595-9 The British Military Administration of Hong Kong- report- 1946 11-7-1946 - 2-9-1946 — Page 70

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

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thrown upon it by enquiries into the activities of suspected renegades and quislings.

36.

Looting of woodwork and house fittings, which was prevalent in the period immediately following the occupation, has now ceased to present a serious problem, possibly because there is now very little left to loot. Traffic Police are again on duty and some improvement is evident in this sphere. Three radio jeeps have been provided by the U.S.A. Provost Marshal for use in crime detection.

37.

Lack of personnel has caused Police represent- ation in the New Territories to be limited to three British inspectors and a sprinkling of detectives who act as advisers to the military. The Water Police has been specially handicapped by the lack of launches. Three low-speed craft are at present in commission. Liquor licences and licences for pawnbrokers, money- changers and places of entertainment, are now being investigated and issued. The introduction of passport and immigration control has not yet been possible owing to lack of personnel.

38.

Police buildings have suffered heavily, five stations in Hong Kong and all but two in the New Territories being uninhabitable.

PRISONS..

39.

The prisons are controlled by one officer and one inspector out of a War Establishment of 38. A War Criminals Camp for 266 prisoners and a Quisling Internment Camp in which 98 persons are detained, have been established at Stanley under military control. 423 civil prisoners are at present under various sentences in Stanley Prison where the prison buildings are in a satisfactory condition. There is no female prison or reformatory.

FIRE BRIGADE.

40.

The Fire Brigade position is satisfactory. Practically all the former staff is available, all records are intact, apparatus is sufficient for present needs and the station buildings are undamaged.

MEDICAL & SANITARY.

41.

During the Japanese occupation most of the ordinary rules of hygiene were apparently ignored. Garbage and refuse had been allowed to accumulate in huge heaps in the main streets, costly sanitary fittings had been torn down, drains were blocked, the reservoir filters had remained untouched, and half a century of painstaking anti-malarial work had been undone by four years of cynical neglect. In addition, signs of malnutrition remain everywhere evident amongst the population and both hospitals and out-patent clinics were apparently pitifully inadequate.

42.

In spite of the delayed arrival of several key members of the Medical Staff, the non-arrival of carefully planned supplies and the almost total lack of transportation, considerable advances have been made.

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