25 May 1943, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp
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The Canberra Times picks up a report on conditions in Stanley:
Conditions In War Prison Camp At Hongkong
LONDON, Monday.
The "Daily Mail'' has published details of the Stanley prison camp, Hongkong, which were given by Sir Arthur Blackburn, the former British Counsellor at Chungking, who has been repatriated.
Stanley camp contains 3,000 prisoners, including 2,600 British. The rest are American and Dutch. It has its own court. Sir Athol((l)) MacGregor, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, who was among the leading officials in Hongkong interned, presides over the High Court. He hears civil cases and has made a decree nisi in divorce proceedings.
Magistrates preside over the camp police courts, which pass sentences for theft. The clergy hold services and solemnise weddings. There is a school and a hospital, and cooking teams provide hot meals twice a day.
Labour parties do wood-cutting, building, scavenging and road repairs and distribute food.
Over-crowding and shortage of food were the first big problems. Nine persons, including Sir Athol(l) MacGregor and his wife, shared one large room. Food rations were increased to seven ounces of rice, seven ounces of bread and a few ounces of meat a day. Sugar allowance was one and a half ounces a week.
Whenever Japanese officers visited the camp the internees were expected to bow. There had been several cases of men and women having their faces slapped because their attitude was considered disrespectful.
