A Chronology of events relating to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp (January 1942-September 1945)
People make history, but not in circumstances of their own choosing.
Karl Marx
This chronology picks up the lives of some of the individuals eventually interned in Stanley Camp at the start of 1941 and follows them through the fighting (December 8-25, 1941), their time at Stanley (or in other places of internment) and their first few months of freedom in 1945.
It also contains important events in the general history of the Camp, and a series of 'Birds Eye Views' that outline the overall development of life in Stanley.
All sources used are given on each day they are cited, using a brief form that will nevertheless enable anyone interested to identify them.
One of the most important sources for this chronology (and for the history of the Camp in general) is Geoffrey Emerson's Hong Kong Internment. It was originally written in 1973 as Geoffrey's thesis. A copy of the thesis is available online from:
http://hub.hku.hk/handle/10722/39305
Recently the thesis has also been published as a printed book. This includes the original text, expanded with a new introduction and fresh discussions that recognize later work and information released since 1973. New illustrations, including a new map and photographs, as well as an up-to-date bibliography, have also been included in the book. Details of the printed book:
http://www.hkupress.org/Common/Reader/Products/ShowProduct.jsp?Pid=1&Ve…
A caveat about the term 'the Japanese' is given here:
https://jonmarkgreville2.wordpress.com/2012/01/22/reality-check-1-the-j…
The Chronology will always be liable to updating and correction, but is now available in a reasonably complete form.
Sample pages
The year begins with the Colony's British community obsessed with a war that's confined to far away places. The Hong Kong Daily Press headline announces apparently promising developments on the Greek front; but in the top right hand corner there's a reminder of another war, one much closer to home - an article about 50,000 Japanese soldiers massed in Canton, and a report of a possible attack on Hong Kong as part of 'a new Axis move in Europe' and a Japanese assault on French Indo-…
Today's Hong Kong Telegraph publishes (page 3) a picture of Chief Justice Sir Atholl MacGregor who's recently been made a Commander of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in recognition of his work for the St. John Ambulance Association. With him are his sponsors, Sir Robert Ho-tung and Ho Kom-tong.
There's a performance of Twelfth Night by the YMCA Amateur Dramatic Club - the first Shakespearean effort in Hong Kong…
Hong Kong's one hundreth anniversary celebrations get under way shortly after 8 p.m with broadcasts on ZBW from the Acting Governor Lieutenant-General E. F. Norton and community leaders.
Sir Robert Kotewall talks on 'Anglo-Chinese Co-operation - Past, Present and Future', praising the healthy and friendly rivalry that exists between the two communities in all spheres of public life and stressing Hong Kong's great industrial potential.
Source…
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