15 Jan 1942, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

15 Jan 1942, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

Date(s) of events described: 
Thu, 15 Jan 1942

A meeting is held between the Japanese and internee representatives at the Asia Hotel, one of the largest of the hotel-brothels.

At this meeting it is announced that the internees will be moved to a camp on the Stanley Peninsula consisting of the buildings of St. Stephen's College and the outbuildings of Stanley Prison (but not the prison itself).

One of the internee representatives is Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke, the Medical Director, whose idea it was to intern the Allied civilians at Stanley. 

The plan is to move everyone tomorrow, but Selwyn-Clarke gets a postponement on the grounds that Stanley isn't ready. The original idea is also to not send those outside the hotels (e.g. on the Peak or at the University) to the new camp, and, according to John Stericker, the fact that in the end almost all 'white' enemy civilians are to be in Stanley accounts for the massive over-crowding.

Source:

John Stericker, Captive Colony, 1945, Chapter 111, pages 5-6