FROM HONG KONG

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 50, 27 August 1940, Page 10

FROM HONG KONG

VISITORS ARRIVE

SOME ENGLISH CHILDREN

The war in Europe was responsible for the arrival in New Zealand today of a number of visitors who would not in peace-time be in this part of the world. They include British residents on holiday from the Far East, English children seeking sanctuary in the Dominion,-and some women from Hong Kong

Mr. N. K. Littlejohn, of Hong Kong, accompanied by his wife and six-months-old baby, proposes to spend four months on a leisurely tour of New Zealand, which the family is visiting for the first time. "Had it not been for the war," he said, "we would have spent my leave in the United Kingdom, but under existing conditions we have decided to put the time in having a look at Australia and New Zealand."

! The family left Hong Kong before the evacuation of British women residents was decided upon, and Mrs. Littlej ohn presumes that she will not be permitted to return to her home until the crisis there no longer exists. Mr. and Mrs. Littlejohn left Hong Kong, where Mr. Littlejohn is in the Government service, three months ago, and, apart from a month travelling, have spent the time touring in Australia and visiting relatives, there. Mr. Littlejohn said he had been favourably impressed with the Commonwealth and was now looking forward to seeing New Zealand. He proposes to spend two months in the North Island and two months in the south. If conditions do not improve in the East he may^consider making his home in New Zealand or Australia. Even after only a few hours' acquaintance with this country he thinks it may become his home.

Mr. Littlejohn spoke of the interference with trade in Hong Kong as a result of the Sino-Japanese war and said that when the Japanese cut the railway some time ago they interrupted all trade between Hong Kong and the interior. Hong Kong had been more or less blockaded by the Japanese for a considerable time, but this did not prevent the Chinese from smuggling large quantities of goods through. Even in the Japanese occupied areas the Chinese were still carrying on a very effective passive resistance. HONG KONG WOMEN. Other Hong Kong residents who reached the Dominion today included Mrs. M. Groves, accompanied by a schoolboy son, and Mrs. M. S. Peaker, who has a baby five months old with her. All four left Hong Kong under the scheme to evacuate British women and children. "The evacuation has caused the temporary breaking up of families and a good deal of personal upset and inconvenience," said Mrs. Peaker, "but we regard it as a clear warning by Britain that she means business as far as the protection of her Eastern possessions is concerned. We were given a week to get ready and so had reasonable time to make the necessary arrangements." Mrs. Peaker's husband is a university lecturer, and meanwhile he is carrying on the home in the hope that it will : not be long before conditions return to : normal and his wife is able to come : back again. Mrs. Peaker said that all : the evacuees had been treated with the • greatest kindness and consideration in ; Australia. The worst part of the trip was a tedious month's wait for a boat in Manila. Mrs. Peaker will stay in/ New Zealand with her aunt, Mrs. J. Kingsland, of Christchurch. Mrs. Kingsland sent an invitation to her by cablegram as soon as she knew that, the evacuation had been ordered. [

"Up to the time of our leaving. Hong Kong the war had had practically no effect on normal life there," said Mrs. Peaker, "and we do not expect to find things different when we return." CHILDREN FROM ENGLAND. England's younger generation was represented in today's arrivals by several children, including four sisters of school age, the daughters of Dr. K. J. L. Scott, of Woking, near London. Their names, from the eldest down, are Josephine, Briony, Juliette, and Lorraine. All were dressed in fawn coats and berets to match, and the two youngest had a doll and a teddy bear, obviously regarded as their most valuable possessions. They are looking forward to their stay in New .Zealand with their aunt, Mrs. A. Fairbairn, of Christchurch, who met them in Australia. Their mother is a sister of Mrs. Fairbairn, and Dr. Scott, too. is a New Zealander. The children look upon their visit to this country as an unexpected holiday. They said they had a lovely trip to Australia in a big liner.