28 Dec 1941, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

The Japanese Victory Parade is held. Streets are cleared and Europeans forbidden to look on pain of death, although some risk a glimpse or two.

On a visit to Dina House, Phyllis Harrop meets Dr. Valentine, who tells her they had been trying to find her too. He takes her to see Colonel Eguchi (or Iguchi), the Japanese Director of Medical Services, and they discuss the question of prostitutes and the brothel system. She explains that there are no 'licensed houses' in Hong Kong {due to a pre-war attempt by the Government to wipe out prostitution.} Eguchi says he knows there are many 'girls' in Hong Kong and that he wants to introduce a licensed quarter as quickly as possible - the 'girls' would be medically examined and paid. He says that the new year is approaching and that there are 40,000 victorious troops in Hong Kong and that without such a system he cannot be responsible for the safety of any woman. At 5 p.m. Harrop goes with him to Wanchai and points out the brothels she's aware of  - 'I know them personally and have often raided them'.

The Japanese, under the orders of the former manager of the Yokohama Specie Bank, enter the HKSBC building and assemble the staff. Sir Vandeleur Grayburn is questioned at length and all keys are surrendered and the safes and treasuries sealed.

Policeman George Wright-Nooth is taken to Gendarmerie HQ. He's questioned by a Gendarmerie Major as to the districts where 'bad men' are to be found. He points to areas with many opium dens and gives vague names and addresses to avoid admitting that the main records have been destroyed. Wright-Nooth tells him that being confined to quarters makes it difficult for him to feed his Chinese and Indian policemen (he doesn't mention the Europeans): the Major immediately gives him a pass which reads in translation 'This officer can go anywhere. Do not stop him.'

The worst period in the ordeal of the Maryknoll Fathers comes to an end. Their bonds are removed and they are allowed to leave the garage for meals. They are back in the garage when the Japanese-speaking Major Kerr arrives. He's acting as an interpreter, and he manages to get some food to them and to the British soldiers who are being held in the room next to them. He also persuades a Japanese officer to allow them out of the garage and into a room in the House - at least this has a wooden floor not a cement one. They are allowed to spend the night in their lower chapel but there are still Japanese soldiers in Maryknoll House itself.

Sources:

Grayburn: Frank King, History of the HKSBC, Volume 3, 1988, 572-573

Harrop: Phyliis Harrop, Hong Kong Incident, 1943, 91-92

Wright-Nooth: George Wright-Nooth, Prisoner Of The Turnip Heads, 1994, 71-72 

Maryknoll: Maryknoll Diary, December 28, 1941

Notes:

1. One of the Europeans who claims to have watched the Victory Parade is George Wright-Nooth, but he dates it to December 29, which is undoubtedly wrong, assigning the events in the text to today. Wright-Nooth was on a visit to the Police HQ at the Gloucester Hotel from which he was able to see the part of the route that went along Des Voeux Road:

Nowhere was there any rejoicing. Everywhere was quiet except for marching feet and occasional military commands. Overhead three flights of planes flew up and down the route several times. Then the parade came in sight headed by a bugle band, a large part of which seemed composed of officers. They were followed by the general and other high ranking naval and military officers, all of whom were mounted. Following them on foot came a large party of Japanese soldiers carrying little white boxes on their chests. These contained the ashes of those Japanse killed in action. (page 75)

2. More of the story of the setting up of a Japanese brothel area can be read in Li Shu-Fan Hong Kong Surgeon, 1964, 113-115. Valentine and Eguchi  seem to have consulted Dr Li before Harrop, as Li claims that he suggested that Eguchi ask for five hundred 'prostitutes'  to be sent from Canton, which the Japanese had been occupying for three years, but the Colonel rejected the idea because it would have made him look ineffective. He says he showed Eguchi the brothels on a map of Wanchai, and like Harrop, that he stressed not all houses in that area were used for that purpose.

3. There is some confusion in the sources as to who was the British Deputy Director of Medical Services at this point, Dr. Valentine or Dr. MacLeod.