HC Deb 28 January 1942 vol 377 c701
22. Mr. Cocks

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether all British women and children and women and children of Allied nationality were evacuated from Hong Kong before the Japanese invasion?

Mr. George Hall

No, Sir. While all women and children had the opportunity to leave Hong Kong if they wished, and the United States Government advised their nationals to do so, the Government of Hong Kong took special measures for the evacuation only of those British European women and children who had no strong reasons, such as essential war work, for remaining.

Mr. Cocks

Is it a fact that all women and children who wanted to leave Hong Kong had arrangements made for their evacuation, or did some of them who wanted to leave have to stay behind?

Mr. Hall

No, Sir. All women and children who desired to leave were given facilities to leave. The difficulty was to get the women and children to leave.

Mr. Cocks

Did that apply to British subjects of Chinese origin?

Mr. Hall

They also were given the opportunity to leave if they so desired.

Mr. Mothers

As my hon. Friend knows, inquiries as to the welfare of those who remained are waiting an answer. Can he give any indication when that information is likely to be available?

Mr. Hall

No, Sir, I cannot.