30 Jun 1942, Harry Ching's wartime diary

((Following text not dated:))

Luigi Souza says Portuguese getting monthly rations flour and sugar at 75 and 60 cents catty respectively. Bill Shea says flour ration is also for Eurasians. At civil affairs bureau told flour ration available, but given only to groups. To office to consult Greaves. Decided to try and organise group. Told Duggie Laing about flour but he afraid may mean no rice. Discussed further with Bill Shea and Greaves. Pat Brown and Jas Hall suggest already formed Eurasian Welfare Committee handle flour. Bill Shea and I don't agree fearing be involved in relief scheme without funds. I suggest to Greaves we form separate Eurasian mutual aid league and apply for flour at once leaving others to come in and possibly amalgamate with or terminate Welfare Committee. This agreed. Calling ourselves Mutual Aid Society. Committee Greaves, self, Hall, Brown, later Grace Ablong and Kitty Fox roped in.

Kowloonites angry we didn't proceed as original Welfare Committee. Dot Lo also peeved because we went ahead alone. Advised them make separate application. At later meeting Greaves says Kowloonites unsuccessful. He explains Fujita of foreign affairs bureau now in Kowloon and claims Hongkong breaking rules. Flour ration should have proportionate reduction rice ration. If so we don't want it. Much argument at meeting on responsibility regarding repudiation rice ration. Greaves said was told at bureau flour ration won't affect rice ration. Resolved try get flour for Kowloon. Meeting delayed owing Dot Lo not turning up. Was detained by gendarmes two hours for investigation of file he was carrying containing committee minutes. Our application eventually approved.