13 Jun 1942, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

Professor R. C. Robertson has been forced by the Japanese to stay outside Stanley and continue his work at the Bacteriological Institute. Lindsay Ride of the British Army Aid Group wants such people smuggled out of Hong Kong to help with relief work, so Robertson is one of the first people to be contacted. On June 13 he sends the BAAG an account of conditions in Hong Kong:

 Food shortage increasing. Hot weather renders conditions camps very hard. Shortage medicines, unsuitable diet, overcrowding and defective sanitation chief difficulties. Stanley depends parcels of tinned goods sent in supplement rations. Need for international Red Cross representative. Selwyn {Selwyn-Clarke} is sole link Stanley and doing good work but needs are quite beyond his capacity. Beri-beri affecting about ten per cent. Press for agreement repatriation women and children, those over military age. HKU staff would appreciate if allowance can be made for dependants from sterling funds London…University staff are all alive in camp. Some very debilitated. Conditions telling most on over 50. Children also short of vitamin-containing food.

Source:

Edwin Ride, British Army Aid Group, 1981, 197-198