The bottom fell out of the HK dollar - now worth only half as much as before.
Madame Le Bon visited camp and was in a great state about it. ((I think she made trusses etc. for hernia cases))
Worried lest the value of our $75 parcels drops ((only a few internees had so far received their parcels.))
People haven't left for Shanghai.
Robert Hammond is sick.
(See entry for July 23)
Sources:
Robert Hammond, Bondservants of the Japanese, 1957 (originally 1942), 79
Up early and we unpacked and found all our baggage today.
This afternoon we had a very pleasant time. Took a bus to the zoo. Met Thodes on the same bus and so had a nice time. The park was most interesting. The trees were so tropical, the fine sandy paths, the crisp air, the rustling of the leaves, all in all it was an afternoon we shall always remember. The children enjoyed it much, too.
We took a taxi back to the ship; saw the native women carrying heavy burdens on their heads. It’s fun to handle the local money, 25 Escutas to U.S. Dollar.
Many people didn’t get settled properly so they are lining up again this evening. It is a mess to get 1550 people settled in this high big floating hotel. One can get lost and it takes ages to get located again.
The beauty parlor is huge. I’ve made an appointment for Monday.
The cost of pressing laundry etc. is terrific. I don’t intend to have things done.
Yesterday a noted lady took all the American children on a picnic - 99 of them - gave them all a grand treat.
Bobby feels much better but gets hopeless crabby spells.
Later—what a night followed after the above. Lorenz came and said we were to move. Everybody had to move. We made a grand improvement but 95% of the others were disappointed. Husbands and wives were separated etc. Really all a mad scramble. Many folks again had no bed.
Exchange – 1 Yen = $4 H.K. (Canteen postponed) Hong Kong News 20 cts per copy
Japs de-valued HK$ from $2=M.Y.1 to $4=M.Y.1.
Went for swim. Many memories of previous years.
Bodies on Cemetery beach buried today.
(Canton fallen? Russians in bad way.)
Majority of shops in town closed through Jap. manipulation of $.
Pork.
The next day ((ie the 24th)) we were given the opportunity of going to a certain place in the city where foreign nationals had collected some clothes for us refugees. Ella found a number of items for our family which was sorely needed.
The older children were given an outing by a foreign lady living in the port.