Diary pages from this date

Cloudy morning, but fortunately not windy.  A few more cases of dysentery admitted to hosp today.  Camp sanitation far from satisfactory yet.  Large number of Indians marched out of camp today being sent either to Gun Club Hill or Argyle St.  Waited all afternoon for the promised medical supplies but they did not come.  Cooked some of the rice left over from bkfst for lunch, quite a good meal.  Discussed important affairs with Barrow who is of the same general opinion as I am but has different ideas of the best method of execution. 

Inspected camp at 1500 hrs still very unsatisfactory.  Suggested at the next commander’s meeting that each A.D. Comdr allot cook houses, ablution sheds and latrines to the subsidiary units or huts, and that police be appointed at the ablution sheds to see that mess tins are cleaned into provided receptacles and not tipped into drains.  Sub. Units should appoint orderly officers to visit huts etc after meals and inspect gutters.  Small dumps of refuse not to be left lying near gutters, but to be taken to the incinerator.  Arranged for Brig Peffers to inspect hospital daily at 1115 hrs. 

Clear night, moon rose at 2015 hrs.  Low tide about 1400 hrs.  No sign of Lt Sawamoto and the promised equipment.  Went all round camp again after dark, making note of important affairs.  Visited pier at 2200 hrs.  OK.  Rice for dinner.

Due to our living conditions, it was not long before disease and sickness broke out. Dysentery spread rapidly through the camp. On the 4th January I contracted it and was sent to the makeshift hospital with a temperature of 104°. However, the Japanese, realising their own troops would suffer if they did not stop the epidemic, now ordered all serious cases to be taken to Bowen Road Hospital.

The journey to the hospital was interesting, or would have been, had we been in the condition to take notice: we saw street upon street in ruins, and in many cases, whole blocks had been destroyed in the street fighting and bombing. On arrival at Bowen Road Hospital, we discovered that although large red crosses were prominently displayed on the roof tops, the place had been hit repeatedly by dive-bombers, which had completely destroyed the whole centre block.

Although the buildings were riddled with shrapnel and bullet holes, the hospital had functioned marvelously, and many lives had been saved by the skill and determination of the doctors and nursing staff. Fortunately, there was a large reserve of medicines and drugs (most of which were later taken over by the Japanese) and we soon recovered. 

Today Hong Kong's 'European' civilians begin the journey that will lead to Stanley Camp.

The Japanese-run English language newspaper The Hong Kong News publishes a notice telling enemy civilians to assemble on the Murray Parade Ground tomorrow. Placards to this effect are also sent to the main residential areas and posted on the streets. But some people in outlying areas don't see the notice, while others choose to ignore it.

Up until today the civilians have been scattered all over the former colony: there's a substantial number at the Kowloon Hotel, some are in a camp at North Point, some in public edifices like the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Building or the Lane, Crawford Headquarters, while others are in some else's house. It's probably rare to find a family living on their own at their pre-war address. The concentration effect that has already moved them into larger groupings is about to get much stronger.

Sources:

Hong Kong News: Geoffrey Emerson, Hong Kong Internment, 2007, 36

Notices posted: John Stericker, A Tear for the Dragon, 1958, 140.

Notice orders all enemy civilians assemble ((at)) Murray Parade Ground to be interned, must make own arrangements for protecting homes and take only personal belongings.

What to do? No-one we can leave in charge of our home. Debate exhaustively, and read notice over and over. "Enemy subjects in this order include British, American, Dutch, Panamanian and other nationals whose countries are at war with Japan, exempting Chinese and Indian." Japs could not possibly intern all British subjects. We decide do nothing. 

Smith family across the road of Irish ancestry. Father in Naval Dockyard, son a Volunteer and son-in-law a police officer - all now prisoners-of-war. Mother and daughter walk out bravely, abandon their flat, wave goodbye to us and step into rickshaws for two mile ride to assembly point. Back half hour later, advised call themselves Irish and thus neutral. 

Manila gone? Went to DI [scrounged?arranged?] my gear again OK & retrieved my wedding suit.