OBJECTIVE: Bomb Kowloon docks
TIME OVER TARGET: ~12:45 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT:
Pages tagged:
Wrote music all day “The Inchcape Rock”.
Fine.
Nothing happened.
((Barbara Anslow: Mr Jones' mention of the music of 'Inchcape Rock' immediately reminded me of hearing this sung by a fantastic men's choir in the 'Prison officers' Club' alias Recreation Hall, a truly professional performance by a large number of half-starved men.))
The next day's Hong Kong News reported an attempted raid had been driven back before it reached Hong Kong:
Tonight I received two glorious and loving letters of 29th Nov and 13th Dec 1942 and its grand to know that you were fit and well and getting on all right. Letters a year old are the usual thing but I am fortunate in comparison with some internees who have either never received a letter or like G. Rodger who has only received one from his wife and that was dated over 18 months ago. Actually your 5th January letter I received on the 26th August, 2 1/2 months ago.
No concert.
A talk by Miss P. A. Ayrton does NOT take place. It was to be called 'Confessions of A Militant Suffragette' but was banned by the Japanese authorities perhaps because of the word 'militant'.
Leslie Steyn reports from Port Elizabeth, South Africa, giving brief statements from some of the Gripsholm repatriates.
Fine.
No news.
Japs report attempted air-raid on N.Ts. by 20 & then 40 planes.
Bungalows being searched?
No concert.
Issue of 25 yen
Fine, windy.
Y25 paid out.
Hattori came in & gave list of categories for next repatriation.
1.Children under 15 without parents.
2.A. Persons whose retention will result in grave consequences
B. Persons over 70.
3.Women with children under 15.
4.Women.
No hopes whatever for men.
No war news. Choir practice in Kitchen at St Stephens.
Tonight I received a parcel from Lo Fung I and Young Lo containing 4lb sweet potatoes, dried onion and some curry powder. Very nice and thoughtful of them. It is fine that some are still faithful to us.
Repatriation is now in full swing again and is expected to take place next month. The categories are children without parents, women with children, old and infirm and certain women, that is war widows. There will be a lot of sad hearts amongst the women but we have no sympathy for shirkers or dodgers call them what you like. However more of this anon.
Yesterday the delegates gathered in Tokyo to begin an international conference of leaders of the Great East Asia Co-Prosperity Zone. This is in effect the Japanese Empire, and 'The Captured Territory of Hong Kong' is part of it, although not represented at the Conference. The delegates had been welcomed by Japanese premier Hideki Tojo with a speech contrasting the 'materialistic civilisation' of the West with 'the spiritual essence' of Greater East Asia.
Today the Conference issues a joint statement:
Fine.
5 Pkts cigs.
Uneventful day.
With Steve pm.
Remembrance Day – Short / Myhill
I've been in hospital since Monday afternoon. I had "scitters" in the morning and then my temp flared up - over 103 when I got here about 4. But it hasn't been malaria nor dysentery as I have thought more than once it would be. I had a setback on Friday night - up every 2 hours but it was just some yeast I had taken. I have had a terrible chill, my nose, lips and even under my chin have all broken out -I'm in an awful mess! They say I must try and shave - my moustache as well - as the thing - herpes - is spread from hair follicle to the next. So I shall have torture this afternoon.
Fine.
Nothing doing.
Plenty of rumours in connection with Dec. exchange.
With Steve pm.
Fine. Another dead day.
With Steve pm after his practice.
Fine.
Ground rice for Richards. ((I'm not sure who Richards was))
Choir practice at Social Hall 5-6pm.
Steve to dress rehearsal.
With M & E. Committee having fun selecting the 700.
Rome & Odessa captured. Strong force collected in Ceylon for out attack on Burma. Turkey has allowed passage of our troops & has opened the Dards.? ((Dave Kohl: "Dards" would be The Dardenelles, probably, the gateway opposite the Bosphorus.))
A Block ?? ???? ((unclear)) bread baked by M.Q. Bakery