HONG KONG

Grey River Argus, 18 November 1942, Page 6

HONG KONG

RUGBY, November 10. The Secretary of State for War (Sir James Grigg) announced in the House of Commons that a relatively short official list giving names of prisoners taken at Singapore had been recieved from Tokio, through the agency of . the International Red Cross Committee. The majority of the names of British Army, personnel captured at Hong Kong had been reported bvi the Japanese authorities. According to the latest information, British prisoners of war in the Far East were being made to work hard. In some cases the work was connected with aerodromes and fortifications and was thus of a kind not allowed by the 1929 convention. Morale was good, in spite of hardships. An assurance of good treatment had recently been given by ’the Japanese commander-'in-chief at Singapore The Japanese Government would still not allow the passage of ships carrying relief supplies under the auspices of the International Red Cross..

Sir James Grigg said that information had been received that a considerable improvement since the early days was apparent at the Stanley internment camp in Hong Kong. There was great overcrowding, but at the end of July the general health situation could be regarded as satisfactory. Medical supplies were running short, and the International Red Cross Committee was doing its utmost to ship them to Hong Kpn,g. An examination made by a British*, doctor in July showed a great health improvement since May, when conditions were at their worst. A welfare committee had made strenous efforts to arrange various forms of entertainment. The clothing shortage, especially of shoes,, had been acute. All possible steps would be taken to speed up> the working of the prisoners of war mail service.