17 Nov 1944, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

17 Nov 1944, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

Primary tabs

Submitted by brian edgar on Mon, 2016-09-19 17:10
Book / Document: 
Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp
Date(s) of events described: 
Fri, 17 Nov 1944

Although matters have been improved by the experience of war and internment, the vicious racism of 'old Hong Kong' survives both in attitude and regulation.

This morning Franklin Gimson meets Vincent Morrison of the Police, a re-captured escaper who has fallen in love with the woman who nursed him when he was released half-dead from Stanley Prison. The problem is that Marie Barton's mother is Sino-Portuguese, which means that Morrison will lose his job for marrying a Eurasian.

Morrison tells Gimson that the Commissioner of Police has told him that he has six months to prove that the Barton family were 'of pure Portuguese descent'. Gimson feels sorry for him, and considers that if he placed his case before the Secretary of State {in London} he would be allowed to keep his job and stay in the police. He offers him the possibility of  a transfer to another force, but doesn't think he'll accept.

Source:

Franklin Gimson Diary, Weston Library, Oxford, p. 110 (recto)

  • Log in or register to post comments

Comments

Submitted by David on Tue, 2016-09-20 14:45.

There must have been a change in attitude about mixed marriages sometime soon after this. Vincent & Marie got married less than two months later: http://gwulo.com/70-years-ago?field_book_doc_page_date_value[value][year...

But it didn't cost him his job as he's shown being promoted in the police force in 1949 and again in 1952: http://gwulo.com/comment/32093#comment-32093

Submitted by brian edgar on Wed, 2016-09-21 20:42.

I'm reading through the Gimson diary and I've come across two references to the Commissioner of Police (John Pennefather-Evans) which praise his openness to 'liberal' ideas - so perhaps Gimson won him over. As soon as I've come across a definite reference or finished the diary I'll update appropriately.

Submitted by David on Thu, 2016-09-22 14:18.

Thanks Brian. Gimson's diary is giving some interesting glimpses of life in the camp.