Monday, April 14, 2014

72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

15 Apr 1942, R. E. Jones Wartime diary

Posted: 13 Mar 2012 12:30 AM PDT

Book / Document: 
R. E. Jones Wartime diary
Date of events described: 
Wed, 1942-04-15

No news & all quiet. Where will the Japs go next I wonder, Australia?

Have resigned myself to a longer wait & refuse to let our so called news influence me.

Made some XX

15 Apr 1942, Harry Ching's wartime diary

Posted: 13 Mar 2013 06:36 AM PDT

Book / Document: 
Harry Ching's wartime diary
Date of events described: 
Wed, 1942-04-15

((Following text not dated:))

Cars being taken from racecourse. Paper says being returned to owners, but rumour forty being shipped to Canton daily.

Street names being changed to Japanese. Happy Valley becomes Aobadani.

Julie Rakusen said goodbye. Going Shanghai. Many people talking going. Fare officially $60. Black market $1,000.

Inoculation squad dirty, unshaven, three were university students. One very bullying and bad mannered. Japanese silent throughout. Chinese always perform in their presence.

On several occasions have sold eggs - six hens give three eggs daily which sell for $1. Sold rooster for $6 but failed sell two more.

Telephone rental $9 monthly. Last month's electricity bill $13.68. So far using half kwh nightly, but later got it down to one-tenth. Market prices include chicken $5.80 a catty, beef $4.80 a catty, pork $5 a catty, fish $2 a catty, potatoes 75 cents a catty. Paid $2.10 for 3 catties of rice. Tried "Shanghai oil" for cooking $2 a catty, made us ill. Neighbour says it's wood oil.

Eurasian meeting held at St John's Hall. Fellow named Sykes, half Indian, running relief scheme. Apparently got rice in beginning with Septic's help. Financed by Shanghai Chinese. Later, when ration started, continued to get extra rice. Those who couldn't pay in full paid what could afford or nothing. Our meeting is to regularise Eurasian position. Sykes calls his show Eurasian and may prejudice us all. Fair attendance at meeting. I preside. Sykes Fund and Welfare Fund causing confusion. George She will try get Welfare Fund for us. Perhaps $12,000. Agree form Welfare Committee. I become Vice President, Greaves President. Sykes apparently annoyed with our move, later strikes Eurasians off his list. His list now only Anglo-Indians. Dot Lo later says Sykes seems all right. He and not Septic raised the money for relief. 200 Chinese, mostly Shanghaians, pay him $1 a day.
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