FO371-27622 — Page 71

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III.

HOUSING

14

The housing of 3,500 women and children evacuated from Hong

It should be Kong beginning July 3, 1940, was no small problem.

taken into account that in addition to these, a large number of

women and children, including Americans, who evacuated at their

own expense, had reserved a considerable part of available accom-

modations. Only 48 hours' notice of their evacuation had been

given these British women, and a similar short notice was also

received by Manila authorities concerning their arrival. However,

anticipating this evacuation, a Housing Section had been appointed.

Houses, apartments, boarding houses, halls, and institutions were

investigated and a card index file system set up, giving the name,

address, number of people that can be accommodated, charges by

day, week, or month, with or without board, furnished or unfur-

nished, whether children were permitted, etc. This index was

invaluable for individual housing but accommodations listed were

entirely inadequate for the emergency. As stated in Sections I

and II of this report, arrangements were made for the shelter and

care of a large number at Fort Wm. McKinley. Barracks were pre-

pared and all other necessary arrangements were made for this

purpose. These arrangements provided a common center to which

large groups could be taken immediately upon debarkation, and

from which point they could be gradually cleared to other facil-

ities arranged.

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