M) General Conditions

General Conditions

In retrospect, and after comparing notes with men released from prisoners-of-war camps, it seems clear that Hong Kong civilians were far from being the worst sufferers from Japanese anti-foreignism and barbarism. They were seriously underfed and wretchedly accommodated, but on the other hand, the area in which they were placed was healthy. Allowed access to books, they were also permitted to engage in studies and attend lectures and entertainments arranged by themselves. Religious exercises were not interfered with, and were maintained throughout internment. The chief suffering, in addition to perpetual hunger, was anxiety as to the future, for the Japanese showed great indifference at times, to the maintenance of regular supplies of the poor rations they provided. (The Camp built up a secret food reserve against the possibility that, during hostilities for the re-capture of the Colony, the Japanese would be too busy to bring in any food at all. One reason for secrecy was that the Japanese had a habit of cutting down supplies if they found any food was being accumulated.)

There is no doubt that those who remained in Hong Kong and were not interned had a much worse time, living in constant dread of visits from the Gendarmerie and maintaining life only by selling all their possessions, at prices which dissipated in a few months the accumulations of decades.