BAAG Reports and Weekly Intelligence Summaries: View pages

This document is a report of conditions in Stanley Internment Camp from "an unimpeachable source", understood to be Bishop O'Gara**.

To; Military Attache, H.B.M. Embassy, Chungking.

Reference : INT/HQ/21 dated 21st August, 1942. 

From:    Lt.-Colonel L.T. Ride, C. O.,  B.A.A.G., Kweilin.

Subject:-    STANLEY INTERNMENT CAMP.

SECTION I(a)

The following first hand information concerning conditions in STANLEY and treatment of internees comes from an unimpeachable source.

Food.

At first the daily rations consisted of rice and vegetables only, with a little meat or fish but this latter was so small in amount that it had to be made into soup. Salt and condiments were considered as luxuries. After continued protests, $300,000 (HK) was obtained through banks for the use of internees. This worked out at about $105 per head, $75 of which was handed over to internees to enable them to pruchase ((sic.)) food from outside and $30 per head was witheld by the Japanese for the communal purchase of "luxuries such as salt". After further representations bread was also supplied, but the rations still lack essential vitamins and are very unbalanced, being preponderatingly carbonhydrates. ((sic.))    

Health.

Medical conditions in the camp have left much to be desired. The small hospital is under the charge of Dr. Utley; Professor Digby has done remarkably good work in improvising materials required for running an operating theatre.

Dr. Dean Smith submitted a medical report on the Camp after the introduction of the bread ration and in it he stated there was a marked improvement in morale but none. in the actual health of internees. Deaths and cases of sickness have been fewer than expected. Dr. Selwyn-Clarke's work is appreciated in the Camp but every now and again an under current of distrust which is always present comes to the surface; the general rank and file still remember that he was one of the Government officials who took advantage of his position to flout authority and keep his wife and child in HONG KONG.

In some quarters there is a strong feeling of resentment when the difficult problems of health of women and children arise; the feeling amounts to this "we cannot make special allowances for you, because you had no right to be here in HONG KONG".

My informer is of the opinion that no person with any bodily weakness at all will come out STANLEY unscathed.
 
Morale.

This has slightly improved in the Camp; rumours mostly based on speeches attributed to Churchill are responsible for this. It is confidently expected that the British Government will send ships out specially to repatriate the HONG KONG internees.

SECTION III(c).

General Treatment of Internees.

There have been numerous cases of ill treatment of internees by guards, face slapping etc., and the Indian guards are now the worst offenders.    A typical example is the following: When Japanese officials visit the Camp no one is allowed to move about; on one such occasion orders were passed around, but Dr. Balean (Senior) did not hear them; he continued on his walk and was in consequence subjected to very humiliating face slapping.

Atrocities.

Maryknoll Mission STANLEY.

During the fighting around STANLEY, the mission was captured by the Japanese and in it were a number of our wounded as well as 16 unwounded soldiers of various units.The Japanese killed the wounded and then bound all the rest including the MaryKnoll fathers. The soldiers were questioned. The first to be questioned was a tall officer who said his name was Lawrence; when asked his unit, the Japanese could not understand his reply so he said "I build bridges"; "Ah," they said, "build bridges". The second was an officer of the Middlesex Regiment, my informer thinks his name was "Newman". The rest of the sixteen he does not remember excepting that they were from various different units. These sixteen were later marched off and my informer says he has a lasting mental picture of these men going to their doom being lead by Lawrence, a tall soldier with his head hold high. A short time after they passed round the corner screams were heard and later my informant was told by his servants that they were made to witness the usual ill treatment and murdering of the sixteen by bayonetting. The Chinese servants were compelled to dig shallow graves and bury the bodies near the mission.

The Maryknoll Fathers had every reason to believe they were to share the same fate but for some reason they were left alive but bound.

Colonel Black and Captain Whitney.

Owing to the fact that internees fear to put anything
on paper and to the fact that this atrocity is continually being discussed, many variations of the story now exist and my informer would not commit himself to any one although he has his opinion as to the fate of any man captured in uniform during the execution of his duty in the STANLEY area.

He quoted the bravery of on elderly woman ((Sister Elizabeth Mosey)) who had been a nurse during the last war and who was in charge of a number of wounded in REPULSE BAY HOTEL. When our troops left, she remained behind in charge of the wounded and met the Japanese in her uniform complete with medals. The Japanese commenced their usual practice of ripping the bandages off all the patients but the nurse resisted so strongly and continuously that in the end the Japanese left them alone and my informer is of the opinion that her brave action, which might well have cost her life, certainly saved the lives of all the wounded. (My informer does not remember the name of the nurse nor was he present in REPULSE BAY at the time but he believes the story, which was told to him in STANLEY, to be true. The nurse Is now in STANLEY. I shall try to identify her).

Murder of the three V.A.D.s at STANLEY.

C.S.M. S.D. Begg of the H.K.V.D.C. is interned in S'TANLEY. He was wounded in the fighting nearby and was in the STANLEY Hospital. At the time of the surrender; his wife was a nurse there and after the surrender she end some other nurses were in an adjoining room and he was able to speak to his wife. They consolled one another with the fact that although they had lost everything they still had each other. At this point my informer says that Begg, when telling the story breaks down, for on the morning following, his wife and two other nurses were found murdered. Begg has the complete story together with the name and unit of the officer responsible; this he cunningly obtained by asking the Japanese for the name of the officer to whom they were indebted for their safety in the area.

A short time ago five bodies were discovered in STANLEY and they were all identified as those of the three V.A.Ds., Lt.-Colonel Black and Captain Whitney. The bodies wore buried and in the case of Mrs. Begg who was a Roman Catholic, the grave was blessed by a bishop in the internment camp.

Murder of Doctor and Wife near STANLEY.

My informer has no doubt that this story reported to you in Appendix "D" attached to B/36 dated 7.8.42. - Report No.8 - is completely false.

Rev. and Mrs. Martin.

Several stories of ill treatment by Japanese soldiers of Rev. and Mrs. Martin have been in circulation amongst refugees. My informer told me that he was told the following by Rev. Martin himself!: When the Japanese captured STANLEY Rev. Martin and his wife were living in a part of St. Stephen's College, togther with a number of overseas students. They were all severely handled by the Japanese soldiers and Rev. Martin and his wife were tied to chairs with their hands behind their backs and beaten. The Japanese left them there for a while and Mrs. Martin feared that they would cut her fingers off in order to steal her rings. Rev. Martin by a superhuman effort managed to wriggle close enough to remove his wife's rings Later the soldiers returned and it appeared that they were going to undress Mrs. Martin whereupon Rev. Martin shrieked and shrieked at them until He was exhausted. They were then beaten mercilessly and left in the room; the Rev. Martin considers that he and his wife owe their lives to the fact that the Japanese believed that they had been beaten to death.

Headquarters, B.A.A.G., Kweilin,  21 August, 42.    

Lt.-Colonel, C.O., British Army Aid Group.

Distribution:
Copy No.l - Military Attache, Chungking.
"        No.2 -    "    "    "
"        No.3 - File.
"        No.4     "

**Although Bishop O'Gara isn't mentioned by name in this document, in a later BAAG document (B/61, dated 29th Aug 1942), Lt. Ride writes:

I left KUKONG on Saturday 15th, spent Sunday and Monday at HENG SHAN (near HENG YANG) returning to HENG YANG on Tuesday morning to go to KWEILIN by American Air Transport. Unfortunately I had been given false information about this plane, and had to come on by train on Wednesday 18th; it had this good outcome, however, that I was able to see Bishop O'Gara of whom I have already written concerning his views on STANLEY. (See B/51 dated 21.8.42.)

Thanks to Elizabeth Ride for supplying this document from her collection of material on the life and work of her father, Sir Lindsay Ride.

4. STANLEY INTERNMENT CAMP

It is reported from two sources that Dr. Selwyn-Clarke is to be sent to Stanley Camp. 68 said that it was because the Japanese discovered medical supplies in the Red Cross parcels send into P.O.Ws. Camps. These were traced to Dr. Selwyn-Clarke to whom the Japanese objected, not against supplying the drugs but the clandestine way in which it was done.

The second informant - 21 - said he had heard that the Japanese had sent an Indian named ABDULLAH to Dr. Selwyn-Clarke to ask for general guidance. The conversation was reported to the Japanese and rumour has it that the Japanese accuse Dr. Selwyn-Clarke of being in touch with H.B.M. Consul in Macao.

Recently a number of people have approached us offering to get in touch with Stanley. Knowing nothing of these people we have said we are not in the least bit interested, and hope the news gets back to the Japanese, who may well have sent some of these men to us.

2. STANLEY INTERMENT CAMP:

Hongkong News of 13 Jan. 43 reports mails from U.S.A. were delivered to internees.

4. ESCAPE OF FREE BRITISH SUBJECT (THIRD NATIONAL - IRISH):

G.S. KENNEDY-SKIPTON, a Hongkong Government Cadet, arrived in Waichow on 27 Jan.43. He was brought out alone by a Chinese friend after a visit to TAIPO with his wife and two children, when they called on the Misses DILLON and JENNINGS at the Taipo Orphanage. His route was East immediately after crossing the road bridge at TAIPO MARKET and over the hills to LAI CHI WO (Map Ref: 292812) whence he went by boat at 0300 hrs. on 25 Jan.43 to TAI MUI SHA (Map Ref: 335891) and thence via PINGSHAN to TAMSHUI and WAICHOW. He hopes his wife and two daughters, aged 12 and 10 respectively, will be brought out later by the same guide. A letter from this gentleman, telling of his activities, was sent to H.Q. Kweilin under covering note Ref: Memo No.7/43 dated 21.Jan.43.

A verbal message from him for help to come out was received through one of his Chinese guides two weeks ago, but it was not thought fit to place our organisation at his disposal, and Captain Hooper merely quoted the first two lines of the "Old School Song" and said it was up to SKIPTON. It is assumed that this reference to his alma mater stirred his better instincts for he took the plunge almost immediately.

4. STANLEY INTERNMENT CAMP: (Source: G.S.KENNEDY-SKIPTON).

Some months ago a man named RANDALL of the Hongkong Telephone Company, who was a strong swimmer, attempted to escape by swimming, but on coming ashore was caught, beaten up and sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment.

Kennedy-Skipton.

Hyde states and I quote:

"Kennedy-Skipton left here on the 24th and s'pose he is your worry now. He is a stupid "tammy" ((spelling?)) but make no mistake about it he did a great many people a lot of harm since the surrender. He willingly co-operated with the enemy when there was no necessity to do so and put into their minds many ways of getting a great deal of money, which they did in the form of back crown rents and such like taxes which they might not have thought of. Night and all of us here think alike on this subject. He is a man who thought that things would never be as they are now and had his silly eye on the main chance."

Free Europeans.

If confirmation is required of the report already forwarded to the effect that our agents have had great difficulty in persuading Free Europeans to allow themselves to be escorted to safety by members of our organisation the following quotation will no doubt convince them:

"At the time of going to press I am unable to get anyone to go with 'J'. although I know a few useful men who are more or less free. God knows what keeps them there." "Give me the chance they get and I'd be out of this hell hole in two shakes."

I would add that Mr. Hyde has since had more luck and two Europeans are reported to be accompanying 'J' and have safely reached tamshui to-day. 'J' is a Russian radio expert who was sent to Hong Kong by the Admiralty to set up some special Radio sets in the M.T.B's. He is reported by Hyde to have connection or branch office in Chungking.

I hope he will prove to be a useful asset. The Japanese have been making strenuous efforts to induce 'J' to work for them and have previously refused his application to leave Hongkong.

Bankers.

The following message has been received from Sir Vandeleur Grayburn:

"Dear C. Letters recd. O.K. No reprisals to take. Signing very slow. Will take 6 months. No serious damage done to our shop so far. Some amounts collected. Caretakers say proceedings will take "many" months. I think we will stay put same period. News good. Doubt huns can last many months. Thumbs up. regards. Night."

NORWEGIANS:

The Hongkong News dated 16 Feb.43, contains the following announcement:-

"All Norwegians residing in the occupied territory of Hongkong are hereby ordered to present themselves at the Foreign Affairs Department on Friday, February 19, at 10 a.m."

Our two Norwegian friends left Hongkong on 10 Feb.43, and expected that their absence would be reported within two days. ((See Waichow Intelligence Summary #19 for details))

There is every indication that the Japanese resent these frequent disappearing acts and proclaimed Martial law in the border area, increasing all their posts after the disappearance of two batches of Indians via this route.

Whilst their attentions were concentrated on the border area another party of six Indians were succesfully brought out via the sea route. What their reactions to this news will be, we shudder to think.

NORWEGIANS IN HONG KONG.

SEAMEN.

((The original document shows asterisks against some names in the first column, but does not explain their meaning. I have included them here.))

RESIDENTS.

((Where entries in the following tables have the same number in the first column, the original document marked them as belonging to the same family.)) 

RESIDENTS (VOLUNTARILY INTERNED AT STANLEY CAMP)

NORWEGIANS IN SHATIN

NORWEGIAN PRISONERS OF WAR AT SHAMSHUIPO CAMP

The BAAG records include the comings and goings at Kai Tak Airport. Here's an example for 12th March 1943:

Bankers.

The following chit has been received from ALEC KENNEDY, the H.K. & S.B.C. Junior who is living with GRAYBURN. A reply can be delivered.

"Dear Duggie,

Yours 22/2/43 received. Much regret I cannot see my way to avail yourself of your kind offer. Situation changed since others left. Am now on parole. I have expressed desire to be repatriated. Other junior colleagues of mine of military age and experience would appreciate official view as to whether they should apply for repatriation despite pressure from seniors to remain here. Many thanks for your help.

Regards, Alec."

It is presumed that these young men possessing military training can do little to assist the War effort by remaining in Hong Kong presumably with the idea of re-opening the H.K. & Shanghai Bank when victory is won.

However, no reply will be despatched pending an official answer.

CIVILIAN INTERNEES. (Source 98)

A list of names with a view to carrying out a repatriation scheme has been sent to the Colonial Secretary, Mr. Gimson, who is interned at Stanley, for approval but it is generally believed nothing will come of this as Gimson is said to be against it. He is reported to be firmly convinced that no one should be repatriated who will be urgently needed when the Colony is recaptured.

GRAYBURN and STREATFIELD. were expected to be released on 25 Mar 43 but had not yet, on 31 Mar, returned to the bank.

63 reports that the cause of these two men's arrest was that a Japanese spy got possession of a HK$500 note in Waichow and sent it back to Hongkong before that issue of notes was in circulation. We know nothing of this alleged incident here.

Norwegians.

Hongkong News 20 Feb 43 contains a notice stating that all Norwegians would be interned 22 Feb 43. (This is our first information of the exact date of internment - if correct.)

RELEASED CHINESE EX VOLUNTEERS. (Source - A former Chinese Regt. soldier who worked in the Japs Anti-Epidemic Squad from Sept. 42 to the end of Mar 43.)

There are 27 Chinese formerly interned in S.S. Po camp now living in May Hall, Hongkong University. Most of these were formerly volunteers, and all of these except one are now working in the Anti-Epidemic Squad (chinese characters) of the Sanitary Department (chinese characters). Immediately after their release in Sept. 1942 there were 32 men in May Hall. Since that time five have escaped.

The duties of this squad are injections and innoculation. The head of the Sanitary Department (chinese characters) who was concurrently the head of the Anti-Epidemic Squad (chinese characters) is a Japanese civilian TUNG LAM MAU (chinese characters). The 2nd in command of the Anti-Epidemic Squad is Sir ROBERT HO TUNG's son-in-law YEUNG KWOK CHEUNG (chinese characters). Another important official in the Sanitary Department is CHOI AH LAI (chinese characters) formerly an assistant to the Professor of anatomy in the University of Hong Kong. He was also a Japanese censor under the British Government in Hong Kong and thought to be a Formosan. His position is 'chinese characters'.

EURASIANS:

Om 26 April J. L. QUIE and F. A. OZORIO arrived at A.H.Q. from HONGKONG. A joint statement is attached to this Sub-division at Appendix 'A': this contains much information about prisoners, internees, Third Nationals, etc.

OZORIO brought a letter from EMILY HAHN, an American journalist who is free in HONGKONG. The letter is addressed to:

MITCHELL DAWSON,
First National Bank Building,
CHICAGO Ill.

The following extract may be of interest:-

"Charles' arm has made what looks like a complete recovery, but I can't see very well at that distance." 

The above refers to Major CHARLES BOXER, who was wounded during hostilities and is now a prisoner in ARGYLE STREET P.W. Camp.

"I can manage by borrowing and selling things but that can't go on forever. Once upon a time we were told that the Red Cross would be allowed to lend money to Americans, but that idea evaporated. Their official here is not very effective. He is scared to death to ask for things and he would die of terror rather than insist."

The following information has been supplied by YEUNG TAK YI, a reliable Penang-born Chinese who arrived at A.H.Q on 27 Apr. 43:-

SIR VANDELEUR GRAYBURN AND MR. STREATFIELD:

These two men were found guilty - charge not known but suspected to be smuggling money into STANLEY INTERNMENT CAMP through DR. HARRY TALBOT - and are now in STANLEY PRISON together with other criminals. When they were at HAPPY VALLEY GENDARMERIE H.Q. food was at first allowed to be taken in to them; later this was not permitted but attempts were still made to send them vitamin tablets though the Indian guards. The Indians were later replaced by Japanese guards. Part of the sum of money with which this case is said to be connected was from Mr C. P. WONG to Mr. C. C. ROBERTS.

DR. SELWYN-CLARKE:

Dr. SELWYN-CLARKE has privately given money to wives of interned Volunteers to be sent into SHAMSHUIPO P.W. Camp for unknown regulars (Dr. SELWYN-CLARKE supplies the names of these regulars.)

FRENCH CONVENT:

In the French Convent ((was this the same as the French Hospital?)) some children of interned Volunteers are given education under a Miss CHEN. Parents are recommended by Dr. SELWYN-CLARKE to send their children there instead of to the other schools operated by the permission of the Japanese.

RED CROSS SUPPLIES:

The Japanese have refused to allow families of Indian and Chinese Volunteers to be given help by the RED CROSS. RED CROSS aid is similarly denied to families of "essential service workers"  (e.g. A.R.P. workers) killed during hostilities.

Considerable resentment has been expressed at this "discrimination".

VOLUNTEERS RELEASED ON GUARANTEE:

Three Volunteers, until recently prisoners in SHAMSHUIPO P.W.Camp, have been released under ROBERT KOTEWALL's guarantee. They are: FRED ZIMMERN, FRANCIS ZIMMERN, and ARCHIE ZIMMERN. They are now living in a garage in HATTON ROAD near KOTEWALL's house. ((Henry Ching: These three Zimmern brothers eventually married three daughters of Sir Robert Kotewall.))

There is a rumour that Volunteers may be released if a responsible person will guarantee that they will be given work.

P.W.'s SHIPPED AWAY:

Both Regular soldiers and Volunteers are amongst those sent away to JAPAN or FORMOSA. TEDDY FINCHER (of No.3 Coy. H.K.V.D.C) was seen in a lorry in NATHAN ROAD together with others bound for a ship. MRS. WOOKEY (Wife of a Volunteer) is certain that her husband, formerly a P.W. in SHAMSHUIPO P.W.Camp, is no longer in the Colony.

REPATRIATION:

Strong rumours have been heard from various sources to the effect that at least some of the civilian interneeys now in STANLEY INTERNMENT CAMP will shortly be exchanged and sent to Allied territory.

Appendix 'A'.

STATEMENT MADE BY J. L. QUIE AND F. A. OZORIO.

MORALE:

Among the Chinese and Foreign Community there is no doubt about the ultimate outcome of the war - complete victory for the United Nations. There was a wave of optimism during the winter that the war would be finished this year, but feeling has now become resigned that it will last two years or longer. The anti-Japanese feeling is very, very strong in all classes of the community. The Japanese, however, have the community completeley cowed with their "terror" tactics which they appear to deliberately foster in order to keep the population cowed. The anti-Japanese feeling amongst the Chinese is daily growing stronger due to the extreme difficulty of making a livelihood, the very high cost of living (the depreciation of the Hongkong Dollar - viz four to one Military Yen contributed greatly to this), the brutal treatment meted out to petty offenders and the forced evacuation of large numbers of the masses without any future means of livelihood. CIVIL INTERNMENT CAMP - STANLEY, SHAMSHUIPO & ARGYLE STREET PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS. Judging from chits smuggled in and out, the morale in these camps is high. The fact that parcels are permitted to be sent in once weekly has alleviated the hardships of these camps to a great extent.

ECONOMICALLY: The cost of living is rising and will undoubtedly continue to rise in the future. Business has consisted of dealings in stocks already in Hongkong and as these are being repidly depleted Chinese holders are reluctant to sell as there are no imports apart from a certain amount of foodstuffs. These conditions have been intensified since the Japanese took over KWONGCHOWWAN. The Japanese have placed practically everything under their control and Japanese firms are given preferences. All Public Utility Co's are being run by Japanese. A business tax has been instituted since the 1st April and is payable on profits made during the past year. Inspectors are being sent to all Chinese firms to examine books. The tax is (the figures are approximate) 10% on profits of Y5,000., 15% up to Y50,000., 20% up to Y100,000. - with a maximum of 30%. This tax will, no doubt, lead to a further rise in prices. A 10% tax has also been instituted on all drinks or meals taken in restaurants.

SHIP MOVEMENTS: Convoys appear to be arriving more regularly of late. These convoys consist of approximately 8 to 10 ships escorted by a destroyer and a sloop or 2 destroyers. The ships appear to be anything from 2,000 tons to 5,000 and anchor in Kowloon Bay, off Stonecutters and off Capsuimun. Hospital ships arrive regularly and appear to be loaded with other things than wounded. All scuttled ships in the harbour have been salvaged and put into commission by the Docks. The Docks are also extremely busy making wooden vessels run by auxiliary engines for coast trade.

GENERAL MILITARY MOVEMENTS: Troops appear to arrive regularly for training and after several months are shipped off or replaced by further recruits. The training is intensive, specialising in night fighting and none or very little parade ground stuff is indulged in. The training grounds are Gun Club Hill and ground attached, Marina ground and grounds of Kowloon Cricket Club and Bowling Green Club and Kings Park. Troops are quartered in Whitfield Barracks, Gun Club Hill, Humphreys and Carnarvon buildings and houses along Mody Road, Water Police Station, Y.M.C.A., Diocesan Girls School. It is believed that patrols in the New Territories have been geratly increased due to the escape of Indian soldiers.

Hongkong & Shanghai Bank: Occupied as Governor's Offices.

Hongkong Club: Admiralty.

Supreme Court: Chief of Gendarmes.

MURRAY BARRACKS: Occupied by troops and trained on Murray parade Ground.

Kowloon Magistracy: Opposite Alhambra Theatre - occupied by Chief Gendarmes for Kowloon.

King's Building and Union Building: Opposite Hongkong Post Office - occupied by Water Police.

Light Anti Aircraft Guns are in positions on Hongkong & Shanghai Bank, Supreme Court, Bank of Canton, Peninsula Hotel, Kowloon Water Police Station, Observatory Hill, Gun Club Hill. One Heavy anti aircraft gun fixed between Green Island Cement Co. premises and Kowloon Docks.

Chinese Councils: Appear (recently) to be making as few speeches as possible with the exception of LAU TIT SING, who, it is believed, is very pro-Japanese.

Recent Deaths: CRESSAL (PUISNE JUDGE) in Stanley, HOUSTON (POLICE MAGISTRATE), CHRISTENSEN (2nd BATTERY) in SHAMSHUIPO and GEORGE CROSS (FORMER C. M. CUSTOMS, RETD.).

SIR VANDELEUR GRAYBURN & R. P. STREATFIELD (H.K. & SHANGHAI BANK): Sentenced (sentence unknown) to Stanley Gaol for supplying money to be smuggled into Stanley for use of internees. DR. TALBOT said to have been 'third degreed' upon the same charge.

VOLUNTEER FAMILIES & DEPENDANTS: these people are undergoing more hardship and privation. An allowance is now being given through the International Red Cross of Y25 per month per person which is totally inadequate. Many families have been able to supplement this income by the sale of personal belongings but this cannot continue much longer. A number of the women have been driven to acts of prostitution. No words can emphasize strongly enough the necessity for increasing this allowance. These families, Chinese, Portuguese and other nationalities considered by the Japanese to be non-enemy are not allowed in Stanley Internment Camp. The belgian Government make an allowance of Y75 per month per person to those of their subjects who are in Stanley where food is provided. Information would be welcomed by the writers upon the following particular case - H. P. LIM, an Australian born Eurasian, was attached to Command Headquarters for some years as an assistant surveyor. Upon outbreak of war, he was drafted to the R.E.'s with rank of Staff Sergeant. He is now a prisoner of War in Japan. His wife ((Lily Lim)), an American born Chinese, wishes to know if she would receive an adequate living allowance if she were able to get into Free China or if she would be able to receive assistance to reach her home in America. She has one daughter nine years of age. She is receiving Y30 per month which she has supplemented by the sale of personal belongings. As these have practically all gone her future is desparate.

LEE WAN. (REGD. IN DOCKYARD NO.L901) - This man carried the writers' passport and papers to TAMSHUI (taking a different route to that of the writers) and was formerly Mess Compradore to the Dockyard Police and the R.A.M.C. stationed at SHAUKIWAN. Apparently some accounts were due him at the outbreak of war and he would like to know if he could collect anything here. He proposes to return to Hongkong during the course of the next few days.

CONCLUSION: The Japanese appear to be confident of their ability to retain Hongkong and are taking long term steps to supplement their war effort. Buildings damaged during hostilities have been or are being repaired. The old Government House is being repaired for use of quarters. The last census figures (issued two months ago) showed the 2,000 Japanese civilian families are now residing in Hongkong and Kowloon. The writers own personal opinion is that they are not so confident. The Japanese are buying as much Real Estate as they can under Chinese names with the result that the price of property is booming. The prices paid are ridiculously high which in the writers opinion evinces the desire to get rid of Yen which in turn is a "no confidence" sign.

The above is supplementary to the notes taken by your goodself yesterday. Any further information will be gladly given.

(Sd.) J. L. QUIE

(Sd.) F. A. OZORIO

27th April, 1943. - WAICHOW

INTERROGATION: 26 Apr. and 27 Apr. 43

J. L. QUIE and F. A. OZORIO, arrived WAICHOW 24 Apr. 43

J.L. QUIE: Before hostilities Secretary of Humphres Estate & Finance Co., Ltd.; Secretary of Peak Tramways & Managing Director of Q.B. Piggeries near YEUN LONG, N.T.; Asst. Q.M. of 2nd Battery, H.K.V.D.C.

Quie said he was 3 weeks in NORTH POINT CAMP then in S.S.P. ((Shamshuipo camp)) from which he escaped early in Feb.42 by cutting the wire about half way along the most Northerly sector, between the two sentry points and running across to shelter of buildings North of the vegetable patch just outside the wire. An R.E. Staff Sgt., LIM H. P. (see QUIE's report) gave him the wire cutters and OLIVER and PULLEN (both of 2nd Battery, H.K.V.D.C.) kept watch. B.S.M. ROSE (2nd Bty. H.K.V.D.C.) undertook to fake the roll call for 48 hours. (He has said that he knows how to get in touch with the P's.W. in S.S.P. and that it's easy, but he apparently did not try to find out if his escape was noticed, when and what were repercussions if any. B. HERSCHEND, the Dane, was writing a lengthy report on H.K. when he left WAICHOW and it is thought this may contain some reference to QUIE about whom he spoke strongly as being pro-Japanese, running his Q.B. Piggery for them and having taken a trip to SHANGHAI). After escape QUIE says he took a Chinese name, but obtained no Third National Pass but did have inoculation certificates, etc. He had Hongkong $10,000 with which he entered into the diamond business and did other brokerage jobs. He said his Q.B. Piggery was seized by the Japanese and he got no payment of any kind for the 2,000 or so animals there. All his clothes were saved from his former house in Boundary Street, KOWLOON. He lived after his escape in HOMUNTIN with a Chinese family. He came out with OZORIO and between them they have 9 pieces of luggage - everything they posess - a draft for U.S.$2,000 on the Belgian Ambassador in CHUNGKING obtained through his friend MARTIN, Manager of Belgian Bank in Hongkong. The draft bears MARS???'s ((Name unclear. Martin Heyes suggests it could be J H Marsman)) name. He and OZORIO spent H.K.$4,000 coming out and had some H.K.$700 plus a little C.N. Currency on arrival in WAICHOW. He holds a British Passport and carries a letter obtained from CLARK of Humphreys Estate & Finance Co., Ltd., who is in STANLEY.

F. A. OZORIO was, before hostilities, employed by DALZIEL in Central Dairy Supply Co., Ltd. During hostilities, he worked for Food Controller in KOWLOON and then joined a Volunteer Medical Unit under Capt. RODRIGUES was with whom he could not cross to Hongkong. ((Henry Ching thinks this was A M Rodrigues: "I think there were two Captains in the HKVDC in 1941 named Rodrigues. One was Captain A.M.Rodrigues who was in the Field Ambulance, and I think this is the one referred to.  I believe this was the Albert Rodrigues who in later years became Sir Albert and was appointed to the Legislative Council.  The other was a Captain J.S.Rodrigues – don’t know his unit.")) He stayed in KOWLOON when the Japanese arrived and has done nothing since. He carries a mutilated British Passport issued in SWATOW where he once worked.

QUIE and OZORIO got a Chinese to bring out their passports and other papers by a different route when they left Hongkong. They are fed up with conditions in Hongkong under the Japanese and have come to offer their serivices to the British.

Between them they have supplied the following information:-

They found that if they dressed well they were not interfered with by the Japanese. They made several preparatory trips to TAIPO by train to test the possibility of coming out unmolested. Their luggage was carried by road when they did come (by train) and they got past the Japanese sentries, near TAIPO on the road leading to EU TONG SEN's house ((ie "Sirmio")) on the East Side of TAIPO BAY, by paying some money.

S.S.P. and ARGYLE STREET P.W.CAMPS: Conditions are now not really bad. Volunteers get parcels weekly. Regular O.R's for a long time got parcels from their girl friends, but funds have gradually diminished and they get few now. Parcels were stopped for about 6 months during 1942 but were resumed just before Xmas when the first Red Cross supplies arrived. In 1942, sickness was severe - dysentery and typhoid - but now the men are divided into three categories A, B and C. A class look well and are now taken out to work. In 1942, work parties at Railway tunnel and Kai Tak could frequently be seen bringing back on stretchers men who had collapsed. B class work inside the S.S.P. Camp and C class are sick. RED CROSS representatives are frightened of the Japanese and are ineffective. ZINDL is in charge and several other Swiss including SUTER (later of S.O.C.O.N.Y.). once in '42, a request to inspect S.S.P. was refused and after 3 days a very cursory inspection was allowed. P's.W. chief needs are cholera and dysentery and eye medicines and vaccines, shoes, sunglasses. Attached is a copy of letter from Miss EMILY HAHN about RED CROSS matters. ((No copy of that letter found.))

They frequently said communication with the camps was easy and frequent. When asked how they said P's.W. inside made friends with the guards - chifly Formosans - who, for a sum, dealt with correspondence, etc. Major BOXER and COOKS (of Kowloon Dock) correspond with outsiders from ARGYLE STREET. Informants knew that in S.S.P. S. LEONARD of Dairy Farm and R.A.S. WATSON of China Mail carried on correspondence and "95% of non-regulars" do the same.

Some deaths in P.W. Camps they mentioned were :-

HOUSTON - H.K. Government Cadet, about 2 months ago.
CHRISTIANSEN - A Dane (2nd Bty. H.K.V.D.C.) just before Xmas (S.S.P.)
PETER LLOYD - 3rd degreed as result of ALKO (sic!) PEARCE's escape and died. 

ESCAPES: About October 42, OZORIO was for some reason called to a gendarmerie station where he saw 3 Canadians, with long beards, in a pitiable condition, apparently having dysentery and being left in an uncleaned cell after beating and torture. He heard 4 other Canadians were captured a wek later in WANCHAI. He knew no names.

STANLEY INTERNMENT CAMP: Conditions are said not to be bad and again it is easy to contact outsiders. The chief intermediary being CHESTER BENNET, and American formerly U.B.Beer salesman in LOXLEY & CO., who is free and who can be contacted at a bookshop run by PASCALL (a Jew, nationality not known, - formerly HARRIS Book Shop) in Ice House Street. BENNETT takes shoes to be repaired for internees and is general agent for them. DA SILVA - lawyer - "helps him and is pro-British".

Those allowed out of Stanley, and now free, include:-

• KERRISON - Inland Revenue Dept,. in which he is now again working.
• ERIC HUMPHREYS & HALLIGAN ((Maybe George Halligan?)) - Engineers working at French Hospital for food and M.Y.15 a month.
• MACLAREN - working in Gas Works, East point.
• SELWYN-CLARKE and his assistant ANGUS - In Medical Dept. People used to be able to see SELWYN-CLARKE freely and he distributed funds to the needy. Japanese now will not allow free access to him.
• GRO?ER, GREGORY, JACKSON and some Russians - Work at Dairy Farm.

Those over 55 years old are allowed out if guaranteed. Informants thought a Chinese "shop guarantee" was sufficient. Amongst the guaranteed free are:

• DR. MALTHRN ((spelling?)), an American.
• HILL, a British subject. ((There were several people with this surname - I'm not sure who it refers to.))

DEATHS:

CRESSAL - Puisne Judge, died early Apr. 43.

BANKERS:

QUIE had lunch every Monday with STREATFIELD and MARTIN (of Belgian Bank). The bankers say their work could have been finished six months ago and will be finished shortly when they expect to go to STANLEY.

Formerly anyone could enter the Bank and talk to whom they pleased. Now - since GRAYBURN's imprisonment - names and addresses must be left at the door.

INDIANS: Indian P. W. are worst treated. A former Indian police Reservist, DIN, now an Inspector with Office in Ice House Street, sent a message by QUIE to say Indians were at heart loyal but might be misunderstood for working for the Japanese.

MILITARY:

On MARINA PARADE GROUND alsongside K.C.Railway beside CHATHAM ROAD, KOWLOON, are stocked drums of oil.

Japanese troops train a lot here and on former KOWLOON CRICKET CLUB Ground COX's PATH, KOWLOON, especially at night when bayonet practice, etc. is also done.

On STONECUTTERS, there has been some building. Japanese style roofs can be seen and W/T masts have been erected.

Naval H.Q. are in Hongkong Club.

Convoys appear to sail weekly and consist of about 8 ships of 2/3,000 tons accompanied by two or more destroyers.

Hospital Ships come in about twice weekly and are laden down NOT with wounded. This is a standing joke amongst the populace.

ADMINISTRATION: OZORIO says he has seen Chinese tortured with the water treatment at former 2/14 Punjab Officers' Mess in Cameron Road (leading into CHATHAM ROAD) Kowloon.

MACAO:

The British Consul - REEVES - is said to have forbidden foreigners to escape from MACAO. 

He pays Macao $125 monthly to foreigners and Macao $90 monthly to locals.

H.B.W. 28 Apr 43.