Thursday, January 23, 2014

72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries


24 Jan 1942: RE Jones Diary

Posted: 23 Dec 2011 10:02 PM PST

Book / Document: 
R. E. Jones Wartime diary
Date of events described: 
Sat, 1942-01-24

Shifted from Prison to E Block Indian Qtrs. 4 per room. Everyone searched pretty well when we left gaol. It is nice to be able to walk round anyway.

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

Posted: 10 Jan 2012 08:30 AM PST

Date of events described: 
Sat, 1942-01-24

Elections are held for the Camp Temporary Committee, which will be tasked with setting up the basic systems necessary for daily life in Stanley.

Most of those elected were merchants and businessmen, with only two officials of the former government - J. A. Fraser and H. R. Butters. Ben Wylie (SCMP) was chair. Other members include D. L. Newbigging (Jardine Matheson) and L. R. Neilson.

 

The first meeting of the Committee is held the same day. Although Franklin Gimson is not yet interned in Stanley he manages to attend.

The committee meets almost daily. Subjects discussed include the internees' hopes for repatriation of women, children, the sick and men over military age, sanitation, discipline, and the problem of food allocation to dogs.

 

Most of the British and American civilians still left on the Peak arrive at Stanley.

By general consent, the Americans are moving into a better organised situation than the British:

As soon as they arrived, the Americans were taken care of. If they did not get a room assignment immediately, they at least had a temporary one before nightfall. Unfortunately, the British were not as organized. When they arrived, they had absolutely no idea of where to go.

Sources:

Elections: Geoffrey Emerson, Hong Kong Internment, 2008, 10

Meeting: Emerson, op. cit, 60-61

Americans and British: Norman H. Briggs (cited in Tony Banham, We Shall Suffer There, 2009, entries for January 24)

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