Hong Kong Internment, 1942-1945: Life in the Japanese Civilian Camp at Stanley

A Note on Personal Interviews

A Note on Personal Interviews Personal interviews were held with twenty-three former internees in Hong Kong and in London. On nine occasions a tape recorder was used; only one person refused to be recorded, and for that interview notes were taken and another interview was held several days later to go over the notes. There were approximately thirty hours of recordings, all of which were transcribed soon after each interview. The recorded interviews were made in private residences, and a few interviews had to be conducted in public places, usually in restaurants, where recording was impossible. Before each interview, a series of questions was prepared which reflected the person’s role in the Camp if it was known. It was not always possible to put all the questions, because occasionally sensitive issues elicited little or no response, even infrequently antagonism. The interview of 22June 1970 was particularly useful. On that occasion seven former internees gathered together for nearly six hours. This proved especially useful because there was opportunity for amplification and clarification of points which arose. Nearly thirty years have passed since the end of the Second World War, memories fade and details are forgotten. I am hesitant to place very high validity on the interviews, at least for factual material other than simple things such as what food was eaten and how it was prepared. Information gained from the interviews does not play a major role in this thesis; the bulk of material has come from written sources. The main value of the interviews lay in the corroboration of facts and opinions gained from written sources. In addition, the interviews were helpful in giving a perspective of problems which sometimes escapes the written records. Writing, which allows time for careful consideration, often covers up, glosses over, exaggerates or simply ignores unpleasant or uninteresting matters to the writer. The same can, of course, occur in interviews, but this may be compensated by the spontaneity which often occurs with conversation. Further, when there are not many written records, interviews provide an additional source of information. In regard specifically to Stanley Camp, the amount of written material is relatively small considering that more than three thousand people were interned. Nearly everyone in the Camp, at one time or another, planned to write about the internment experience after liberation. But few accounts were produced. Most released internees Note(p.181-182).indd 181 1/11/08 2:11:02 PM 182 Hong Kong Internment, 1942 to 1945 became caught up in re-establishing themselves, and many simply wanted to forget the past and its unpleasant memories. Now, nearly thirty years after the event, people who never got around to writing down their experiences and memories or who wanted to forget, are willing to talk. And most interviewees appeared to speak quite freely, though a few were obviously very circumspect and discrete in what they uttered. Previous to each interview, the former internee was assured that his identity would remain only with the interviewer, and permission would be sought should anyone else wish to hear the tapes or read the transcripts. In the notes, material from personal interviews is noted by the date of the interview. Below are the dates and brief descriptions of the people interviewed. 1. 21 March 1970 female, approximately 60 years old, writer 2. 23 March 1970 female, approximately 60 years old, housewife, allowed to leave the Camp after a few months and remained in Hong Kong for the duration of the war under the charge of a Swiss national 3. 18 April 1970 female, approximately 65 years old, businesswoman 4. 11 May 1970 female, approximately 50 years old, musician 5. 16 May 1970 male, approximately 65 years old, missionary 6. 22 May 1970 female, approximately 65 years old, businesswoman 7. 25 May 1970 female, approximately 55 years old, housewife 8. 27 May 1970 male, approximately 75 years old, priest 9. 28 May 1970 and female, approximately 70 years old, 26 June 1970 businesswoman 10. 1 June 1970 female, approximately 60 years old, missionary 11. 22 June 1970 (group) female, approximately 50 years old, housewife 12. 22 June 1970 (group) female, approximately 65 years old, businesswoman 13. 22 June 1970 (group) female, approximately 65 years old, housewife 14. 22 June 1970 (group) female, approximately 55 years old, nurse 15. 22 June 1970 (group) female, approximately 55 years old, housewife 16. 22 June 1970 (group) female, approximately 45 years old, solicitor 17. 22 June 1970 (group) female, approximately 70 years...