Immediately news of the capitulation was received , steps were taken to try to get the hospital into good working order . About a dozen of the Chinese staff returned , including three laundrymen , two cooks and some labouring coolies .
Many of the broken water pipes and punctured tanks were repaired , sanitary pits were dug and debris was cleared away . Large tarpaulins were placed over the holes in the roofs of Wards No. 2 and 4 and of the main operating theatre . Quantities of wood were cut into logs , and a store of coal was accumulated by hand .
One of the most important incidents of Boxing Day was the arrival at the hospital of a R.A.F. ambulance which had been preserved by an Admiralty and a R.A.F. employee , both English civilians . As the hospital had no transport of its own , this ambulance proved invaluable for the collection of provisions . On January 28 the Japanese provided the Principal Medical Officer and one of his medical staff each with a pass which permitted them to use this ambulance for the collection of food and the transfer of patients .
At the time of the capitulation there were 120 patients in the hospital . During the next fortnight 18 patients were received from the Queen Mary Hospital and 15 patients from the University Hospital . To make room for these extra patients , a number of Indian patients was transferred to the Tung Wah Hospital . The result was that , within a few days , food had to be provided for approximately 140 patients and a staff of 35 . This food was obtained by a surgeon lieutenant commander , R.N. , who visited the local Food Controller each day , and was very successful in obtaining supplies of flour , rice , beans and occasionally meat .
Meanwhile the P.M.O. was operating almost continuously for some days and patients needing surgical attention continued to be received from other hospitals .
By the middle of January 1942 , the work of the hospital was proceed ing very smoothly and most of the patients were making a good recovery .
From the time of the capitulation , Japanese officials had been visiting the hospital almost daily . Finally , at 1000 hours on January 18 , 1942 , the P.M.O. was ordered by the Japanese to be prepared to evacuate the hospital by 1700 hours on the same day , and to transfer his patients . and staff to St. Albert's Convent .
These orders entailed an enormous amount of work at short notice . Ten dangerously ill patients were transferred to Bowen Road Hospital , and called for very careful handling . Everything possible was done to transfer food and equipment at the same time .
In addition to organising this transfer , the P.M.O. was constantly . harried by the Japanese Authorities . Finally , he had formally to conduct a Japanese officer over every room of the entire hospital , afterwards surrendering the keys to him . In the words of the P.M.O .:
' It is not surprising that , with these various duties on my hands , I had no time to attend to my personal belongings . I lost my attaché case with all my private papers , receipts , valuables and many of the hospital records . The Superintending Sister similarly lost her attaché case with many of her valuables and records . At first , the sisters and nurses were told that they would be permitted to take only one valise each , but , after representations , I managed to get permission for them to take much more . But even so , they lost a very considerable amount of their personal belongings . '
One of the primary burdens , and one which weighed heavily on the shoulders of the P.M.O. , was that he was responsible for the finances of the Royal Naval Hospital , Hong Kong , as well as the cash and valuables of his patients . He distributed equally among the members of his sick berth staff the proceeds of the staff canteen funds . Patients ' cash and valuables had already been returned to them . The remaining hospital funds he employed in the purchase of extra food , hire of coolies and the purchase of quantities of petrol at an inflated price .