The Norwegians arrive in Stanley today. They'd been allowed to stay in town, but are interned because two of them escaped. (See entry for February 10, 1943).
Some had been working pre-war in Hong Kong, others were merchant seamen in port when the hostilities began.
Note:
For more about the Norwegians see:
http://www.warsailors.com/POWs/pows3.html#foreignships
(40) Norwegians arr'd
Police impromptu concert.
Bright & chilly.
Cookhouse.
((G.))
Norwegians arrived, quite cheerful & with good news too.
Walk with Steve pm.
((G.))
Sir Vandeleur Grayburn and his deputy E. P. Streatfield go to the head of Foreign Affairs Mr. Oda and confess their role in the attempt to smuggle money into Stanley (see February 20). They keep the name of Charles Hyde - who'd also given Dr. Talbot money - out of it, probably because Hyde is the most active BAAG agent amongst the bankers. Oda tells them this is a serious matter. But they have to wait to find out what action, if any, will be taken against them.
Source:
Nice day, cold.
1st Aid Class, bandaging.
((G.))
Walk with Steve pm.
Vaccinated anti-small pox.
((G.))
NORWEGIANS:
The Hongkong News dated 16 Feb.43, contains the following announcement:-
"All Norwegians residing in the occupied territory of Hongkong are hereby ordered to present themselves at the Foreign Affairs Department on Friday, February 19, at 10 a.m."
Our two Norwegian friends left Hongkong on 10 Feb.43, and expected that their absence would be reported within two days. ((See Waichow Intelligence Summary #19 for details))
The first meeting of the Hong Kong Fellowship is held at the Queen Mary Hall, Y.W.C.A., in London's Great Russell Street. The organisers had recived 500-600 acceptances to their invitations but nearly 900 turn up and some people are unable to get into either hall.
A.A. fire at plane overhead 1.30pm.
Vaccination against small-pox.
1lb Flour issued.
Bright but cold.
((G.))
The Daily Mirror publishes an account on page 4 of yesterday’s inaugural meeting of the Hong Kong Fellowship. The paper describes speakers having to go out into the streets to address an overflow of ‘hundreds’ of people from all over the country. Six hundred had been invited but over a thousand formed ‘a long, anxious queue before the doors’.
Issue of 1lb. flour.
I.Q. mtg. disclosed (billeting) privileged persons. Sir A. MacGregor, Cressall, Williamson((sp - probably S T Williamson)), Shields, Anderson (QM), Capt. Macrae.
To finish the story of our wedding anniversary with Mrs Minn: Marjorie Begden and Mrs Hyde-Lay, the two ladies who met Y at the church and saw everything about her was in order before she set sail up the aisle, Y and I were the guests. It was a very cold day, too cold to have the party on the verandah, so we had it in the small servants’ kitchen in which ‘C’ bungalow now cooks its rice.
I used to try and write in the evenings but every evening is full up now. A Discussion Group on Mondays, I.Q. Committee Tuesdays, Committee of D.G. [Discussion Group] on Thursdays, I.Q. Committee again on Fridays, then I have meetings every afternoon except Thursdays and Saturdays. It's all quite interesting but it ties one down a bit.
What a mercy it is that the food arrived, for the daily rations supplied by the Japs have fallen off again and we are receiving very small supplies. Fortunately they have maintained the flour ration and each day we receive about 6 to 8 oz of bread with an occasional meat pasty meal. For about the last month, however, we have had fish instead of meat and so have not had pasties, but the extra flour has been issued to us dry and we are able to make pancakes or cakes etc. on our hot plates.
The Norwegians arrived in camp on Monday and a lot of them were merry and bright and their news is that the European war should be over by the end of April. We all do hope so.
Two of the Standard Ships have been on trial and we think they must be the two ships nearest to completion from Kowloon and Taikoo Docks. I hope they don't get very far when they start on their voyages.
6 pkts. Hatamen cigs. $4.80.
4 c. beef, 2 M & V, 2 lbs sugar issue.
I will add that through the kind offices of a friend of ours (who shall be, at present nameless) we have been able to obtain MY100 from town. I am still hardly able to believe our luck, and incidentally it shows the faith that many, at any rate, of the more wealthy Chinese have in the ultimate victory of our allies.