RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1977 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/np198x23n BEHIND JAPANESE BARBED WIRE: STANLEY INTERNMENT CAMP, HONG KONG 1942-1945 GEOFFREY CHARLES EMERSON* On Monday morning, December 8th 1941, a few minutes after 8 a.m. and a few hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, bombs dropped on Kai Tak airport and the battle of Hong Kong had begun. 17 days later, on Christmas Day 1941, Hong Kong surrendered. At that time there were approximately 3000 non-Chinese civilians of the Allied powers in Hong Kong. Until early January 1942, these people were on the whole left alone, most of them remaining at home because it was very dangerous to go out due to the breakdown of law and order which occurred with the surrender on Christmas Day. On 4th January 1942, a notice appeared in the Hongkong News (the only English-language newspaper published during the occupation) for all enemy nationals to assemble at Murray Parade Grounds (today the site of the Hilton Hotel). Many people, especially those on the Peak and in the University area, did not see this notice, but eventually about 1000 gathered at the Parade Grounds, and after registration they were marched through the centre of Hong Kong and interned in a number of hotel-brothels located on the waterfront (near the present Macau Ferry Pier). The American journalist Joseph Alsop, who was one of those caught in Hong Kong in 1941, wrote the following in The Saturday Evening Post: After trudging a mile and a half, we turned abruptly into a narrow alley and were halted before the grilled door of an ancient, dilapidated and very dirty building. Painted on the peeling plaster was an announcement in Chinese that it was the Stag Hotel, offering comfortable rooms at cheap rates. In reality, it was a Chinese brothel of the third class.† * Text of a paper read at a meeting of the Society on 13 April 1977. Mr. Emerson, M.Phil. (Hong Kong) is Vice Principal of St. Paul's College, Hong Kong, and President of the Hong Kong History Society. †The Stag Hotel was situated in Queen's Road Central to the west of the Central Market. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1977 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/np198x23n 42 G. C. EMERSON January 5 21 24 February Assembly at Murray Parade Grounds; internment in waterfront hotels Move to Stanley 1st meeting of Temporary Committee 1st meeting of British Communal Council June 29 American repatriation on "Asama Maru" 1st meeting of First British Community Council 1st Allied air raid on Hong Kong 1st Red Cross parcels, from Britain August November February April/May 1st meeting of Second British Community Council Arrests of bankers & Dr. Selwyn-Clarke (Director of Medical Services) 1st meeting of Third-British Community Council Canadians repatriated on "Teia Maru" Executions of seven internees September October January February September 2nd Red Cross parcels, from Canada Military took control: Civilian Internment Camp, H.K. became military Internment Camp, H.K. British Community Council dissolved; District Chairmen to run Camp 1944 January 16 Bombing of Bungalow C-14 internees killed March May August 15 3rd Red Cross parcels (part of Nov. 1942 shipment, from Britain) News of Germany's surrender Emperor's broadcast in Tokyo 16 Japanese informed Mr. Gimson of surrender 30 Rear Admiral Harcourt arrived; flag-raising ceremony in Camp ================================================================================