Mum still improving. To Dance in evening with Tony and Olive.
Diary pages from this date
Dance S.S.Coll. Hall
Sir Elly Kadoorie, Mr. & Mrs. L. Kadoorie, Mr. W. Hunt left.
(Molestation & assaults on internees by Ind. guards) (see page 35)
At 10.30 a.m. William Hunt says goodbye to his fellow internees. The 'genial and efficient' Council chairman is due to leave for Shanghai with the Kadourie Family at 4.30 p.m.
Source:
Maryknoll Diary, May 2
Note:
Bill Hunt was a controversial figure, but undeniably effective as leader of the Americans. Wenzell Brown (Hong Kong Aftermath) portrays him as a gangster, while the Maryknollers, Emily Hahn, and British sources like George Wright-Nooth are much more positive. American oilman Norman Briggs (Taken In Hong Kong) calls him The Brain and seems equally admiring and disapproving.
He seems to have managed to get repatriated from Shanghai as Gwen Priestwood's Through Japanese Barbed Wire, published in 1944, contains statements he made about the events the day after her escape, and he provided information about radios in camp to the British Army Aid Group.
King Victor Emanuel taken over Govt of Italy. More allied troops landed in Belgium.
Fine day.
Dance at St Stephens.
Jap casualties arriving by launch.