131
17. An advertisement was placed in the local newspapers inviting offers of accommodation in private houses and the Committee guaranteed payment of standard rates of $3 a day for adults and $2 a day for children under 15 in cases where the refugees had no funds immediately available.
It was not necessary, however, to billet out many except on medical grounds.
18. On 30th August a special centre was arranged by the Trustees of the Ohel Leah" Synagogue for Orthodox Jews, who wished to have special kosher food. This Centre was most successfully and economically run by Mrs. A. Raymond who was ably assisted by Mrs. D. S. Gubbay, Mrs. R. Weill and Mrs. H. Joseph. The standard rates as detailed above were paid by the Committee but when the Centre closed down approximately 25% was returned and duly apportioned to reduce the bills of individual refugees.
II.
Disembarkation and Reception.
19. The arrangements for the disembarkation of the refugees and their convey- ance to the Centres were in the hands of Mr. F. C. Barry, Secretary of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited. He was ably assisted by Mr: A. K. Dimond, Manager of the Peninsula Hotel; Mr. F. Lee, Harbour Representative of the Hotel Company; Mr. Mok Yee Lick of the Tourist Department and Mr. Fred Poon of the Garage Department of the Hotel Company. The arrangements were carried out in excellent fashion.
СБ
20. It was unfortunate that the first ship, the P. & O. S.S. Rajputana", arrived alongside the wharf after dark and in heavy tropical rain. Those who had accommodation reserved for them were allowed to leave as soon as they could, while those who wished to have accommodation found for them were advised to remain on board until the following day. Out of a total of 1,029 on board, 273 only were transferred to Happy Valley on the morning of 20th August. The s.s. "Empress of Asia" arrived on the afternoon of Saturday, 21st August. Again those for whom On this occasion accommodation had been arranged were allowed to leave first.
1 -
there were several parties of employees of the big business firms in China, Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Company, Limited, (Ewo Cotton Mills and Paton & Baldwins), Imperial Chemical Industries, Limited, the British-American Tobacco Company, the Banks, Sassoons and so forth. These were allowed to leave the ship first and cross the wharf to the firms' launches waiting there, before the Police cordon at the end of the wharf was broken and the general public, who were meeting friends, allowed on board the ship.
VIR
21. Those who had no accommodation were transferred to Happy Valley that evening. Out of a total of 1,
Out of a total of 1,368 on board the " Empress of Asia" about 300 only sought refuge in the Centre.
22. It was unfortunate that on both occasions the weather played us a sorry trick and for the next few days the refugees suffered considerable discomfort on account of heavy rain.
23. The total numbers in the Centres at Happy Valley and Central British School on the night of Sunday, 22nd August, were 528 and 41 respectively.
Maron" on the 23rd
24. Disembarkation from the "Patroclus" and the August was more easily accomplished. 58 joined the Happy Valley Centre and 20 Central British School from the "Patroclus", while a further 40 were transferred were from Happy Valley to Central British School and 40 men from the "Maron". accommodated at Hankow Barracks, Shamshuipo.
25. The "Empress of Canada" arrived on 28th August with 910 refugees of which 572 were British subjects. Of these 115 were transferred to Happy Valley and 40 to Central British School, while 27 men arrived at Shamshuipo. The total in
16
Page 135Page 136
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.