1940-03-09 — Page 9

Saturday, MARCH 9, 1940.

“TELEGRAPH'S WEEK-END MAGAZINE:

THE COLONY in the last War: by Sir CHAS LUCAS. HONGKONG IN 1914.

ON the outbreak of war in 1914 there

was a considerable German element in the community, about 100 German merchants and their employees with an equal number of women and children.

In accordance with instructions from home, enemy reservists found in the Colony were arrested and detained as prisoners of war ín k camp on Stone-

cutters Island.

There were no first reservists among the German residents, but a number were arrested on board the ships that came into the port dur ing the early days of the war, and the residents included some 20 second reservists, the remain- der being exempt from military service owing to the nature of their employment or their age. The latter were at first provisionally allowed to re- main on parole, with restrictions of riovement in the Colony and uns un undertaking not to leave it; but soon the necessity for preventing any leakage of information as to the movements of British merchant ships entailed the internment or deportation of the entire German community, a few heads of firms who were over mili tary age being deported inder parole.

The Internment took place at the end of October. 1014, at a camp at Kowloom, to which the prisonera of war from Stonecutters Island were also transferred, and early in 1910 all the inmates of the camp were shipped to Austriin.

No turmoil or breach of the pence was, entisent by the presence of the German efernent in the Cubny

* * *

FROM the first, we are told in the Annual Report for 1014, "the entire comunmity showed a coinnenel- able spirit."

Wild rumours were. It is true, at first disseminated minong the Chinese papustion, with the result that be- tween 40,000 and 50,900 Chinese, for the most part women and children. Bed to the neighbouring province of China, but in to long time they were reassured and returned, and meanwhite the Chinese residents Colony, as a whole, were conspicious in publie pleit, at once offering to enrol those of their entry whe were British subjects as volunteers or Special Pony- stables, and to subscribe to war funds,

Th

The freedom of the port was necessarily restricted on the outbreak of war, and soon after hostilities began

a system of issuing permits for all imports and expict were instituted, with the cbject of controlling the movement of prohibited goods and preventing trade with the enemy. The system was maintained un the end.

the

With the coming of war Volunteer Force was mobilised and the members of the Volunteer Reserve Forces were enrolled in it, As soon as war became imminent practically 114 entire British

male community offered their ser- vices for the Volunteer Reserves.

Before the ruinours

of war the Volunteers numbered 330, and the Volunteer Re- serves 181, but before the war was a week.

old the number of

the Volunteers hal

risen, to 303 and of the Reserves to 310.

Owing to the impossibility of enrolling, arming, equipping, and -training-more-men,--munny - vandi-- dates were refused admittance to either corps and were utilised as Special Constables, to replace police seconded for military service. Nearly 200 Indian and Chinese police were, when the war begon, lent by the Colonial Government to the military authorities for various subsidiary military duties, their places being filed as far as possible by Special Constables.

*

WHEN, in n few weeks' time the police returned to their civil duties, those of the Special Constables who were inclgible for the ranks of the Volunteer Forces, or who dealred to romah with the Police Department, were, with # number of Indians, Chinese and Portuguese, being British sub- jects, enrolled under specini ordinance passed on October 22,, 1914 into a force called the Special Police Reserve,

was

The commandant

local barrister, Mr. F. C. Jenkin, c.B.E, neting under the control of the Captain Superintendent of Police. This force soon numbered 250 men, composed of 52 Europeuns, 24 Indians, 08 of Portuguese descent,

76 Chinese.

and

In a

The Cenotaph In

Hongkong

Chamber of Commerce

crnment or, after enrolment, by the military authorities, who sent the majority to the 6th Training Buttalion at Kirkee in India. As far as known, 75 men fram Hougtong died on active service, and the distinctions won included 1 D.S.O., 4 M.Cs, and 4 M.M.'s.

Mention should be made of an Imperial unit specially connected with Hongkong, the Hongkong und Singapore Mountain Battery, which served in the war in Sinaf and Palestine.

*

BEARING in mind the cosmo-

politan character of the pop- Iation of Hongkong and that It was in a unique degree a trading community, carrying on its life under abnormal difficulties and restrictions required by the war, the laws passed and the steps taken, not only to provide for hone

defence and internal security in auch manner an to release regular sokliers and European police for service at

the front, but also to send to the front every suitable and able- bodied civilian who could possibly be spared, deserve every acknow- ledgment.

No Tess noteworthy were the money contributions made by the Colony as a unit of the Empire

in aid of the expenditure of the war, and the subscriptions by the citizens of the Colony in money or kind to war charities.

Jn 1016 un ordinance was passed to raise a war loan

to up

t1D amount of $3 millions by the issue of bonds in the Colony. The sum thu raised was to be "placed it the disposal His Majesty's Government for the prosecution of

war."

present

In the following year, 1917, an- other ordinance was passed

"40 provide

for

a temporary increase

in the rates for the special purpose (f nereusing the contributions of the Colony to His Majesty's Gov- ernment towards the expenses of

present war."

This special war råte omounted to 7 per cent, and It was levied fer two years from July 1, 1917,

From the money averting under these two laws and from surplus revenues the

Colony handed over in all to the Imperial Gov ernment, S 1 free contribution in aid of war expenditure,

it

sum .of over $104 illions,

equivalent sterling

in

ta over £7,653,000. Over and above this stam, and over and above also the cost of Hongkong Defence Force, recom-lating to $539,000, some part of which expense would no doubt have been incurred in peace time, the war expenditure of the long- kong Government amounted $1,854,292,

mended that "some form of com- pulsory inditary service beyond the confines of the Colony" should be

subject to safeguarding #essential economic trades."

of artillery..a...company...otfront: the Hongkong _General. giberis, and a ballation of infantry, the caminand being given to Major H. A. Morgan of the Indian Army. Thus the whole Colony, so far as British subjects were

concerned, was organised for home defence, and the boys were represented by Hongkong volunteer cadets and the boy scouts of St. Joseph's College.

Meanwhile there had been an exodus of youn;; Britons to serve at the front, and the Colonial Government had found money to pay the passtiges of recruits for the British Army, not only, from tie Colony itself but also from other places in the Far East,

*

* *

THE annual report tell us that

was felt that in a short time the numbers rose

to over 500 and eventually to over

600. Four companies were formed.

one

two

T European and Indian com- pany, one Portuguese, and Chinese.

There was a maxim-gun section, motor-bicycle section, a mounted section, and a Chinese ambulance corps. The efficient help given by this useful body of men to regular police enabled 69 of the

the

•antan police to be relieved for

with the British Army in France. Under an amending ordin- ance, passed in 1917, the title of the force was changed to that of Hongkong Police Reserve.

* * *

IN August, 1917, a Military Ser-

vico Odinance was paned, under which all male British sub- jects in the Colony between the agen of 18 and 55, who were not specially exempled, were. ren- dered liable to military service) within the Colony,

Under this ordinance a" Hong- kong Defence Force was establlah- ed, which included the Volunteer Corpi and the Volunteer. Roserve but not the Epecial Police Reserve, and which consisted of a company

on.

Accorsins early in 1017.

ព

WILT

up to the end of 1914 seven local residents of the Colony left to take commissions as officers and 37 to enlist in the ranks, while from outside the Coleny two went to take commissions and 10 to en- list, and that by the end of 1915, 135 had left Hongkong to join up. In England of whom 62 had been members of the Volunteer Corps. Among the younger men of the European community who remain- ed behind there was growing dis- content as the war

went on 11 many Instances they

could be spared by their employers for service in the field.

The Chairman of which was Mr. E. HI. Sharp. R.C. appointed to Inquire whether and to what extent, having regard both to Imperial needs and toʻlocal con-"

it is practicable and

male British subjects of military age, resident in the should be allowed to for

with service

His Majesty's armies.

sitting for two months the Cammimion recommended the re- lense of 43 men, their inquiries having already indirectly resulted In the release of some 34 more. They reported that there were still men in the Colony who could well be spared, and they recommended the introduction of compulsory. service with the Brliish armies in the flok

pitions, that

ex-

This recammerdation, though on- dorsed by the Governor, was 'not at the time sanctioned by the

·Home Government.

la April 1010 there was renewed dissatisfaction on the part of some of the younger men in the Colony at the dimculties which they ex- 'perienced. In: obtaining release from their employers to go to the

Governor supported the re- commendation, it rece

received the ap- proval of the Secretary of State with the proviso that only men of

should pure British descent

be taken, and in June 1910 General Military Service Ordinee passed "to provide for the raising of H

force the members of which shall be liable to service with His Majesty's forces outside the Colony during the present war."

plied, with

wns

The terms of the ordinance up- specified exceptions, to all mole British subjects ordinarily resident in the Colony and between the ages of 18 and 40,

The cases of those who were not servants of the Government were Lo come before a General Military Service Tribunal, in the compert- tion of which there was to be u substantial commercial nujorlly; und in the case of appeals from this tribunal. as was allowed by the law, to the Governor in Coun- cil, three assessors might be ap- painted to assist in the hearing, two of whom were to be commer- cial me

men.

Ample provision was thus made to safeguard merchant employers' Those who were not Interests, exempted and were found medi- were to be enrolled in the cally "General Military Force of Hong- kong."

The services of Mr. Sharp were again secured for the Chairman- ship of the tribunal, and in his absence the Chief Justice of Hong- kong. Sir William Rees Davies, ucted as Chairman.

The prospect of this law being passed led to 38 men being re- leased for overseas service, and the direct result of the law when passed was the release of 51 men. The proceedings of the tribunal were, on instruction from home, suspended on November 22, 1610, after the signing of the Armistice, but the ordinance, together with the ordinance of 1017, continued In force until December 1019, when they were both repealed.

tho

Prior to the law the number of men resident in Hongkong who left the Colony to join His Maics- ty's forces Was 403, and number of

of non-residents 78. Of the 51 men who were releas- ed by the tribunal, 12 were allowed to go overseas to join the armies. and the remainder were allotted to various war services by the Gov-

tu

There was no doubt fhnt the various war charities would bc well supported by a community at once wealthy and open-handed.

Before the end of 1014, £17,000 had been sent to the Prince Wales National Relief Fund, and the total contributed to that fund, which was closed at the end of 1915, was over £41,000.

of

one

Much money was subscribed up to the end of 1015, but no central organisation was in exist- ence to deal with all the various war charities until in the latter part of that year a War Charilles Fund Committee was constituted for the

purpose.

The necounts of that committee show that for the three years 1916- 18 total subscriptions of $1,410,000 (over £200,000) passed through their hands, of which over £170,- 000 were remitted to London.

Almost every conceivable charity benefied, however remotely con- nected with the war. Among the beneficiaries the Red Cross headed the list with nearly £18,000, the Central Prisoners of War Com- mittee received £18,000, the Blind- ed Soldiers und Sailors nearly £15,000, King George's Fund for Sallors £11,000.

The allies were not forgotten, nearly £7,000 being sent to the French Red Cross, and, from London to Vladivostok, Hongkong money helped relief.

"Our Days" were plentiful In number, fruitful in results, and £10,000 subscribed on St. Andrew's Day 1818, testifled to the strength of the Scottish element in this Far Eastern Colony.

came

of

Various ladies' Associations did excellent work, the Hongkong Association of War Workers, Queen Mary's Needlework Guld, and others, and 105,000 items, gar- ments of different kinds, surgical dressings and the like were for- warded by

a War Chorlties Store Sub-committee, Large gifts tobacco and cigars

from tobacco companies,

and Lady -Glass Fund received stron

in kind. The Investment in war loans by companies and Individuals in the Colony amounted to £0.090,000, of which £177,000 were invested. In the United States War Loans. An appreciable proportion of tha money thus invested was through -the nigency of the Hongkong and

Roberts'

South China War Savings Assocla- tion.

war

AMONG the efforts of

nblu

Hongkong not the least valu-

was propaganda work, to counteract the netivities of Ger- man agents in China and to en- Highten the Chinese as to German methods in the prosecution of the till'.

Only late in the day did the Huine Government fully appreciate the extent to which the allied cause suffered in neutral countries from skilfully comprised and wklely diffused enemy misrepresentations and set itself through the Ministry of Information to overtake remedy the mischief.

and

It was decided that systematic Instruction as in German atrocities should be given in all schools, and a small book of "War Stories", written by Mr. B. James of the Education Department, was pub- lished.

had much success, some 5,000 coples were distributed, it found its way to the most remote parts of China, and some of the stories were adopted by the Director of Educh- tion in the Philippines in his appeal schools to contribute to the fourth Liberty Loan.

to

Story tellers were engaged and trained to Illuminate the Chinese as to German proceedings, Ten were in regular employment with an aggregate monthly nudience of 30,000 bearers, the work being largely done on the steamers plying between Hongkong and the neigh- houring ports of Canton, Maeno and Kongmoon.

A cinema tour was also attempted but without success, owing to the disturbed state of the country at the time and the flooding of the West river.

HONGKONG was one of the

colonies, mainly Naval and Military stations, for which, in view of any grave crisis arising at a future time, an Order in Council had been passed on Oc- tober 26, 1896.

During the Wir some other colonies than those to which the Order Wan originally applicable were included with its scope, and its contents were enlarged by an Amending Order in Council on March 21, 1910.

When proclaimed in a colony, us it was proclaimed in Hongkong un August 5, 1914, the day after the outbreak of way; it gave to the Governor 'very wide emergency powers similar to those exercised by military authorities under mar-

Jelu

Under it a large number of regulations,were made In the course of the war, dealing with the sub- of allen seamen, ship buildings. and ship repairing, discipline in Admiralty transports, censorship. and the control of the port, with fixing of maximum prices and various other matters.

At the same tune a great many ordinance, 'passed in the normal way by the Legislative Council of the Colony, were called forth by the

war.

Such legislation, us elsewhere, closely followed the lines of war legislation in the United Kingdoni, except so far as local conditions required modifter or additional legislation.

The revenue of 1015 showed a further Increase, that of 1910 a very great increase, and the figures mounted throughout the war,

The revenue for 1918 was in much more than double that Aigures

of 1013,

This result was not appreciably due to increased taxation.

sum

Vas

Duties on tobacco were imposed by an ordinance of 1010 and a sub- stantial

forthcoming from this source, while an estate duty was levied under an ordinance, of 1915. But war taxes, as such, were rather conspicuous by their absence, the War

rate, to which reference is already been made, being raised for the specific purpose of making a contribution to the war expenses of the Empire and not for that of malding two ends meet In the Colony,

Content under British rule and protection, freed from any possi-

bility of German menace,

and

in

charge of a Governor who had o life experience of their mode of ilving and trend of thought, the overwhelming Chinese population

Fave

no cause for anxiety but Identified their own interests with those of the Empire, as standing for justice and freedom of life and trade.

*

JUDGED by revenue returns, Hongkong prospered amaz- ingly during the war. In 1914, In spite of the initial effect of the war, almost universally reflected in decline of receipts, the revenue was larger than ever before, and at the and of the year there was an ample surplus in the Colonial Treasury.

The surplus was convèrted into a deficit in 1915, but only through a very large Increase of extraordin- ary expenditure in that year due to charging to current account much expenditure on railway construc- tion which in normal times would have been met by loan,

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