70 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

Today, in spite of prodigious quantities of rain, has been quite a gala day. Yesterday, after the official visit of some dozen officials headed by Messrs Hatori and Meijima, the news went round (like lightening) that everyone was to receive another MY20. This proved correct and our bank balance which this morning stood at MY2.45 now stands at MY42.45. After we had spent the MY30 Y raised for her house-coat we had a balance of MY9 left over from our previous balance. The corned mutton in the canteen selling at MY3.10 per 12 oz tin was marked ‘Limited quantity’ so we decided to try and buy two more tins before it sold out and the price went up once more, as it always does with each fresh consignment. We managed to find two people whose turn it was to buy at the canteen but who were not buying the mutton and bought their share. We were lucky for now the fresh lot is an inferior, un-labelled brand and costs MY3.85 per 12oz tin. Still, no doubt we shall buy a few tins of this lot too.

The other excitement today has been letters from home. This has really been a much greater thrill than the money. Apparently a new ship load of letters has arrived from Japan through the Red X organisation. They are all well censored letters! First censored in the country of origin; then in Tokyo, and finally by the Japanese in Hong Kong. Consequently they come into camp in driblets. Last Saturday I had a letter from Father and my first one from Betty. The only other letter I had had was the first joint one from Mother and Father; this one from Father was dated 25th October and Betty’s was dated 7th October.