FO371-46258 — Page 141

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Page 3 of Commander-in-Chief's Hongkong No. C. in C. Hongkong 5/67/3

of 6th October, 1945.

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10. After that we went ashore to visit the Prisoner of War Camps and hospitals both in Hongkong Island and in Kowloon. We first of all drove out to Stanley Camp, which housed all the civilian internees. On arriving we found everyone awaiting us and we had a most unforgettable welcome. Having met the leading members of the camp I was informed that they were preparing a ceremony for the hoisting of the Union Jack. They had refused to hoist the Union Jack until the Admiral appeared, as they wanted to do it properly. After a short delay we had a very touching ceremony,

when the Union Jack and also standards of all nationalities that were in Stanley camp, were hoisted, accompanied by the singing of "God Save the King" and a short reading by the two clergymen.

In conclusion three cheers were given for the King. The Union Jack was produced by an ex-Naval rating who had hidden this Union Jack in his bedding when Hongkong was captured, and had managed to hide it for the whole period so as to be ready for this occasion.

11.

The morale in Stanley Camp, as at all other camps that I visited afterwards, was extremely high despite the obvious effects of malnutrition which could be seen in every face. The enthusiasm and cheering really had to be seen and heard to be believed. It was so obviously spontaneous and seemed to express the pent-up feelings of all these years. I shall never forget it.

12.

After leaving Stanley Camp we proceeded over to the Kowloon side and visited, first, Shamshuipo Camp, which held all the European prisoners of war, then the camp for Indians, then the hospital for Indians, and finally the hospital for Europeans, In every camp and hospital there were the same scenes of enthusiasm. In the hospitals I had to go into every ward as they all wanted just to see a British Admiral again, and the doctors all said that our visit would do all their patients much more good than anything else even more good than the extra food and medical supplies we were able to bring them. One felt no doubt as to the truth of this statement.

13.

I transferred my Flag to INDOMITABLE again in the evening and sent orders to the Japanese Commander to come onboard the Flagship the following forenoon.

31st August.

For

14. The Japanese Commander was brought off at 0930 on 31st August together with some ten other Japanese representatives. I informed him that I had sent for him to give him instructions for the rounding- up of Japanese troops and evacuating the Island of Hongkong. He was in a rather truculent mood when he arrived and introduced the officers with him as his #1 'committee". I informed him that I did not deal with committees, that I only dealt with him, and that I should hold him personally responsible for the conduct of his troops in areas of the Colony which I had not specifically taken over. He tried several times to adopt the attitude that he was negotiating and made complaints. example, he complained that the Chinese had beaten up Japanese troops the night before outside the Dockyard. I informed him that in view of the way his troops had treated the Chinese in the last three and a half years, they had only themselves to blame if they were beaten up and that in point of fact, we had given his troops refuge in the Dockyard, disarmed them, and marched them back to their barracks under escort. I concluded by giving him orders that all Japanese troops and nationals were to be evacuated from the Island of Hongkong to Kowloon by 1600 on the next day, Saturday, 1st September, which order was carried out smoothly and effectively.

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