15 May 1942, Harry Ching's wartime diary

((Following text not dated:))

Story of boy kidnapped from mother's side and head found in air raid shelter. Alleged cannibals blamed. Story of hawker selling excellent jook (('jook' is a Cantonese word for a rice-porridge, or congee)). Customers include police. He absent, they investigated, found him cooking human flesh.

Banks paid divvy. Only up to $500. I was paid with one $500 note. Tried to buy necessities and get change. Won't take big notes at all. Friend changes for me at $65 for $100. 

Price of soya beans down from $3 to $1.90. Now is time to stock up. Milk at 60 cents a bottle prohibitive. Soap $2 a bar. Earlier in month some fish cheap $1 per catty, but stingray. No fish in market lately, and we can't afford meat. Only rice and greens for supper.

Many people we know have left. Eddie Ho Tung going to Shanghai, also Jas Hall. Paper says walking parties for Shanghai still being formed. But on road everyone gets robbed or gypped. Must pay protection money. American internees are leaving on exchange. Some American Chinese also going. 

People cutting up furniture for firewood. A shop sold us 10 piculs for $1. Authorities trying to stop it. Gendarmes patrolling Central because looters still stripping empty houses of woodwork. Rumour possession of tree wood punishable. Much police shooting at night at tree cutters. Paper says plenty firewood. Official price one dollar for 12 catties which lasts a day and a half.

Beggars being arrested. Seems all badly dressed and bare-foot people rounded up for deportation. Many arrests in kai yim. Some taken allegedly for blood transfusion. Rumour 20,000 people wanted for blood transfusions. Chinese paper advises people not to go out for a few days because of arrests. Streets empty.

Whole blocks Wanchai houses being taken over. Residents suddenly ordered quit. Include Faure's family. 

To town to Eurasian Welfare Committee meeting. Greaves gave more details of Sykes set up. Began before rice ration bureau opened when he helped Chinese buy rice from authorities. After ration bureau opened the recipients continued to get help thus getting extra rice for which they paid 60 cents.