70 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

The block elections were postponed and took place last Wednesday when I was second in the poll, the order being Cooper, G.G. (168 votes), Price, DeVille, Kean and Hill so we have two new men on the committee and also a new Chairman D.O. Russell who beat Bennet in the Chairman's poll on the previous Saturday 112 to 100, after the result was declared we had a meeting and I was again appointed Block Quartermaster and a member of the kitchen sub-committee.

On Friday we each received 25 Yen but there is not to be any canteen until Wednesday so we have to wait in patience till then to get soya bean flour which we appreciate so much and goes so well with our rice and in our tea. Then later we received 4oz of peanut butter and on Saturday 1oz of sugar and for this we are very grateful. We realise the simple life now and any extras in the way of sugar, peanut butter and the like seem to give us a great kick and keeps us considerably on our weary and tiresome way.

I wrote my February postcard of 25 words to you last week, but there is very little that we are allowed to say but I hope you receive them all right tho' with the blockade of Hong Kong I hae my doots.

The camp is now under Military control and last week (Thursday) we all had to go to headquarters and sign an affidavit that we wouldn't attempt to escape. At this late juncture it would of course be silly to make any attempt and in any case it is nearly impossible to make the proper contact with the Chinese for such a venture. Then the camp is patrolled by Formosan guards and the penalty if caught trying to escape is death.

However the news of the Americans doing so well in the Marshall and Caroline Islands means that they are getting close to Hong Kong and the day of our release may not be so very far distant.

I am keeping well and fit, 154lbs in weight and getting on all right but tired of this aimless and useless life, I want to be doing something really useful outside and that of course is the reason why I work hard in here and keep myself as busy as possible all the time. 

The weather is still very cold and with the cold of course everyone is hungry and aye ready for food such as we get. We still get fish every day but I'm glad to say that the quality of vegetables has greatly improved.