Anglican Bishop Ronald Hall leaves Hong Kong for an American lecture tour designed to raise funds for China relief. He will not return to the Colony until early October 1945.
Source:
China Mail, September 26, 1945, 3
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New Governor Sir Mark Aitchison Young arrives and is given a 'rousing welcome' at Queen's Pier. Those present include Major-General Christopher Maltby, Sir Atholl and Lady Gertrude MacGregor, George Kennedy-Skipton, Maurice Frederick Key, Selwyn-Selwyn Clarke, Sir Vandeleur Grayburn and Lady Mary, J. P.
Phyllis Harrop, the 'popular Lady Assistant to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs,' enters Queen Mary Hospital 'for a major operation'.
Source:
Hong Kong Daily Press, September 11, 1941, page 5
A typhoon passes close to the Colony - gale force winds, but not much rain and little damage.
A mass meeting of the evacuated wives is held in Melbourne, and as a result a cable is sent to the Honorary Secretary of the Evacuation Representation Committee, W. V. Taylor:
Please transmit to the Governor the following: Wives' position very desperate; great mental distress increasing daily; lifting of ban very vital; otherwise extremely serious results.
Taylor receives the message on the 24th, and releases it to the press on the next day.
Source:
Hong Kong Telegraph, September 29, 1941, page 3
About 400 'bachelor-husbands' (officially the Evacuation Representation Committee) meet at the Peninsula Hotel, Committee Chairman R. J. Banks presiding.
Mr. Banks states that even if the evacuation should be undone immediately, he would still demand a public enquiry into its operation.
Today is a fateful day for 2,000 young Canadians and their families: Prime Minister Mackenzie King and his cabinet make the final decision to send the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Rifles of Canada to reinforce Hong Kong. They'll leave Vancouver on October 27 and arrive in Hong Kong on November 16. They will become the first Canadians to see action in WW11 and the 1400 or so who survive will endure the dreadful conditions of Shamshuipo, Argyle Street and the Japanese labour camps.
Why did the Canadians get sent to Hong Kong? A New Theory
On 12 May this year the Jesuit authorities had agreed to open a new institution on the mainland - Wah Yan College, Kowloon. Today the Superior of that Mission, Father Patrick Joy, reports that 'people are very hopeful here that we have seen the worst of the Japanese menace.'
In Tokyo there's an important development.
The cabinet has been discussing the Japanese response to the American oil embargo. In early September the army and navy agreed that the state of the oil reserves and seasonal weather conditions meant that any campaign in south-east Asia would have to start not later than December. This requires a political decision in October, and the cabinet is deadlocked. The Foreign Ministry wants one more attempt at compromise, the armed services want the go-ahead.
The Japanese agree to continue a two-track policy: they'll prepare for the use of force, but continue diplomatic discussions to avoid it. But they're clear now that if diplomacy fails, they'll go to war. (See also October 17 and December 1.)
Source:
W. G. Beasley, Japanese Imperialism, 1987, 232
Churchill says if Japs and USA come to grips, Britain will follow USA 'within the hour.'
I'm a bit afraid that Xmas won't come.
Reply from Home Government about evacuation – no chance of people coming back yet.
This afternoon Soong Ching-Ling (Madame Sun Yatsen) opens a carnival on the naval recreation ground at Caroline Hill. The purpose of the event, which is scheduled to run for a month, is to raise funds for the Chinese Industrial Cooperatives, (Gung Ho) an organisation set up by New Zealander Rewi Alley and others to create a network of small-scale industrial enterprises to contribute to the Chinese war effort.
The rumour today is that the Japs are coming on Saturday.
The last meeting of the Legislative Council before the Japanese attack. Governor Sir Mark Young is presiding and also present is Major-General Christopher Maltby, overall commander of the Hong Kong garrison.
London news (radio) says that tanks are massing in the Canton area. Blackout. I am frightened.
Newspaper says Japan is calling up her reserves.
Walter Scott, Assistant Commissioner of Police, is hunting in the New Territories with leading surgeon Li Shu-Fan. They hear the sound of a formation of planes: Scott tells Li that they are protecting a transport loaded with Canadian troops.
We climbed to the top of the hill in silence, and looked down upon a huge, three- funnel Canadian Pacific transport steaming toward the entrance of Hong Kong harbor. Walter commented that these would probably be the only reinforcements allotted to us.
Once again Japs look like business, and they can't call it off every time.
The Canadian soldiers who arrived yesterday have been confined to barracks for two days but during this period Vince Calder and a friend go 'over the fence' to look around:
Cpl. Jack Burns and I were the first 2 Canadians in Jingles (sic) 'Palace Hotel' and from then on, he couldn't do enough for us (imagine a T-bone steak and all the trimmings for 28 cents).