William John WHITE [c.1883-1943]

William White was one of the people executed by the Japanese on 29th October, 1943.

The Japanese court-martial documents include these mentions of White:

The accused  William John WHITE was employed as a chauffeur and mechanic by the Public Health Section of the Governor General’s Department after the capture of HONGKONG by the Japanese.  In 1943 he was contacted by LOIE FOOK WING, whom he already knew, and urged to co-operate in espionage on behalf of the British organisation in China.  He agreed to this and set up a wireless post in his own house at 97 Wanchai Road, HONGKONG.  From February to May 1943 he several times received orders for LOIE FOOK WING from the British organisation at WAICHOW and passed them on to him.  At the beginning of May of the same year he made a report to LOIE FOOK WING on the organisation of the Public Health Section of the Governor General’s Department.  He was also instructed by LOIE FOOK WING to get into secret contact with the STANLEY Enemy Aliens Internment Camp. Through the intermediation of an Englishman named "SHINTON" who was employed by the Public Health Department, he was able to make use of LEUNG HUNG, the head coolie of the truck which brought supplies to the camp.  He was thus able to maintain liaison between the camp and the British organisation at WAICHOW, getting in messages to the former HONGKONG Government Police superintendent EVANS and the Police Chief SCOTT.  From December 42, when requested by the accused SOUZA, who was employed in the liquidation of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank to listen for the London broadcasts, he did secretly listen to the said broadcasts and report on them.

Henry Ching writes in his Occasional Paper #33 that William White was an Old Boy of the Diocesan Boys' School.