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In October, 1945, Captain Staley, I.A.0.C., visited two tunnels at the junction of Argyle Street and Kadoorie Ave. and saw mixed ammunition and explosives not properly stored and ordered their removal. He did not enter the tunnels. In Novembe 1945, Flight Lieutenant Duke, in charge of the clearance reported verbally to Captain Staley that the two tunnels had been cleared of all explosives. During the work, guards were provided by the R. A.F. and were reloved when the tunnels were cleared.
About 22nd December, 1945, Captain Hawdon, Royal Marines, was informed of the existence of a tunnel in Kadoorie Ave. and was ordered to investigate it. He found explosives including cordite lying about at the entrance, and says there was evidence of British manufacture. This may well have been captured British material, since a later statement says definitely that all the ammunition in the tunnel was placed there by the Japanese and no additional ammunition was placed in the tunnel by Allied Forces.
Captain Hawdon advised closing the tunnel with the ammunition inside, and asked for a police guard.
Work commenced on 27th December, 1945, and loose explosives
The roof was very were gatheed and put back in the tunnel. unsafe, falls had occurred, timber props had been removed and some of the explosive buried. He could see 25 yards into the tunnel and thought it unwise to climb in over the piles of explosive as this would have meant touching the roof, which was in such a
There bad condition that earth fell away when touched by hand. were two other tunnels which were searched and found empty.
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A mound of earth was constructed to block the mouth of the tunnel but the next day it was found torn down. It appeared that
The mound looters had also removed some of the loose explosive. was reconstructed and when work was resumed on 31st December, 1945,
/it
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