15 Oct 1942, Harry Ching's wartime diary
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((Following text not dated:))
Awful lot of dysentery, typhoid and dengue.
Reportedly 10,000 Japanese in Hongkong against 500 before the war.
Fish very dear. Small fish (fry) at $4. We live mostly on beans. Shocked to discover spent hundred dollars in four days.
To town for flour. Up five sen. North Point and Causeway Bay Eurasians refused rice because get flour. Complaint to Peter Sin who is in charge of rice rationing scheme. Says will fix.
Reported Third Nationals now not allowed to leave. Henry Ahwee discourages going in. Says here safer and more comfortable. Going in full of uncertainty. Arthur Woo says similarly. Connie Hamson urges me try and arrange repatriation.
Early in month panic up town. Everyone buying. Reserve food for something or other. Firewood supply exhausted says one vendor. Nothing in market. Rumour government employees given fifteen days rice and everyone asked stock rice and firewood.
Beginning second week of month high flying Jap aeroplanes up daily. Rumours protecting fleet outside.
