TAIKOO DOCKYARD during the Occupation, 1942-1945.
Extracts from reports in the BAAG Intelligence Summaries.
- Layout. [Map GSGS 3868, 1/20,000 HK&NT”, reference 253545].
- During Hostilities and aftermath.
Superficial damage caused by enemy fire.
There appears to have been little if any demolition carried out at Taikoo. It appears that as soon as the Japanese came the workers started looting and took away all valuables from the offices. Unfortunately they were not apparently interested in the drawings or plans which they left scattered on the floors. The foremen appear to have worked under some arrangement whereby the tools were their property; probably it was merely their responsibility that no tools were stolen. In any event it is asserted that because they had tools stored in the Dockyard they all went back to work for the Japanese. The Japanese policy was to first employ the number one of each department plus a token staff. These men spent about a month getting ready to restart work. At the end of this period work was started.
- During the Occupation.
The Taikoo Dockyard is now managed by the Mitsui interests, and is known as the Hongkong Shipbuilding Yard.
Considerable activity was reported at this dockyard in 1944, especially after the heavy bombing of the Kowloon Docks on 16 October 1944 when no other facilities for docking large vessels were available elsewhere in Hongkong. However, the raid of 16 January 1945 was said to have caused considerable damage to Taikoo, when more than half the workshops were reported to have been hit, and a number of vessels present in the docks were sunk or damaged. … The gate machinery of the large drydock, damaged by Allied aircraft , was still unserviceable at the end of 1944 although repairs were under way.
Prior to October 1944, the dockyard was supplied with power from the Hongkong Electric Co station at North Point, but subsequent to that date it was connected to the supply from the Taikoo Sugar Refinery Plant. However, the Japanese were reported to be removing machinery from the Refinery plant in the latter part of the year, and the dockyard is believed to be obtaining its electricity once again from North Point.
The dockyard is reported to be short of steel plates, tools, coal and timber.
No additional facilities are reported to have been added by the Japanese. The former General Office, however, has been converted into a storehouse, the present General Office being located on a small hiss South of the Sugar Refinery. The old Sawmill, badly damaged as a result of bombing, was rebuilt as a Carpenter’s Shop, while a former godown was converted as the Sawmill.
- Working Conditions.
Departments in 1944: Engineering (230 persons ), Assembly (300), Casting (130), Wood modelling (90), Refinery (70), Cylinder-making (150), No 1 Coppersmith´s workshop (80), No 2 Coppersmith’s workshop (60), Electrical (120), Cranes (80), Crane Engineering (180), Blueprints (70), Drilling (150), Receiving and despatching (150), Riveting (70), Fitters (80), Cement (90), Electric welding (80), Gas (55), Iron twisting (30), Lathe shops (80, Carpenters (190), Caulking (40), Drilling (35), Painters (50), Materials Stores (30), Transportation (150), Firemen (20), Steel Stores (20), Coxswains (40), Construction & Repairs (30), Drydock & Slipways (60). Total 3070.
Each Department is under the supervision of a Jap inspector. There are about 80 Japanese in the Dockyard.
Due to shortage of coal and other materials, night work was recently suspended.
- Among ships seen in dock in 1942.
Under construction: 2 minesweepers, 3 standard ships, 4 Marine patrol boats, 1 tug, 1 torpedo boat, Customs Cruiser Fei Shing.
Otherwise mostly repair work was carried out.
Among ships seen in dock in 1943.
Pak Chau Maru, Yum Yi Shan Maru, Hoi Nam Maru/SS Hoi Nam, Asosan Maru, Formosa Maru, 8 patrol boats (Ging´s Group), 15 patrol boats (Flying Hawk Group), 20 Speed boats (Dare-to-die/Dash Forward Groups), 20 Reserve Corps Speed boats, Carl Island/Kato, Hoi Tak Maru/Chunhsing, Hiu Tin Maru, Asusan Maru, Tai Lee Maru, Hoi Chu Maru, 1 Destroyer, Asosan, Shiren (former Swedish), Destroyer Gyo, Customs Cruiser, Minato, Destroyer Gojen,
Kwang Si Maru, Gyo Ei, Sai On Maru/Seian, Torpedo boat Magpie, Chuen Hing Maru.
Among ships seen in dock in 1944.
Heikai Maru/Pinghoi, Kofuku /Hirofuku Maru, Naval Supply Depot craft, SS Lee Hong, Fukuan Maru, Shinshu Maru, Joshu Maru, Tenichi Maru, Fukuei Maru, Banshu Maru, Police launch, Lighter, Tug, Koto/Nankai Maru/SS Fatshan, Ankai Maru, Dosei Maru, Tozan/Higashiyama Maru, Nansei Maru, Hiroshi/Ko, Taifu/Otomi Maru, Yokai Maru, Hakuun/Shirakumo Maru, Destroyer Hatsukari.
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