The Escape of the 2nd MTB Flotilla

 

A 1930's photo showing

(1) The APC building Now Marks & Spencers store

(2) Kings Theatre Now Louis Vuitton store

(3) The China building

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Admiral Chan Chak had an office in the APC building under the cover of Wah Kee & Co. or China & Company.

Phase one of the escape started in Queens Road where at about 15.45 Hrs on 25th December [Christmas Day] Ted Ross and David MacDougall, both in the Ministry of Information now based in the Gloucester hotel, went over to the Kings Theatre in Queens Road where Ted had parked the Buick he had taken from the vehicle compound. There they were joined by the Chinese liaison party consisting of Admiral Chan [Chen] Chak dressed in civilian clothes. Chan was the head of the Chinese liaeson party. Colonel Yee Shiu Kee of the Chinese Secret Service was the Admiral's 2nd in command,  Flag Lt Cdr Henry Hsu  the Admiral's A.D.C. and his Coxswain Yeung Chuen who was his bodyguard. Also there were five British officers from Fortress HQ, Sqd-Ldr Max Oxford [RAF],  Major Arthur Goring,  [Military Intelligence], brought in from Delhi to deal with the 5th columnists,  Super Intendant Bill Robinson of the Indian Police intelligence, Capt Peter MacMillan of the R. A. and Capt Freddie Guest of the Middlesex Regiment [The Diehard's]. Henry Hsu commandeered a soft top Austin car, and with Ted leading in the Buick the two cars  set off westwards down Queens Road through the chaos of a defeated city with blockades. Henry did not spare the horn, he had everybody moving out of the way. They were stopped several times by Japanese soldiers but they were able to proceed because Henry Hsu was shouting Banzai!, Long live the Emperor, and Chan Chak was extremely calm. On they drove, past the Queen Mary Hospital arriving at the Aberdeen Naval Base at 16:15.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A 1930's photo of the APCbuilding in Queens Road Central from Peddler Street