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P. S. Chester Woods, Detective Staff,
Insp. Chu Heung, Chinese Detective Inspector, Five Chinese Detectives,
Liout. Comm. Ingham, R. N.,
Lieut. Drake Brockman, East Surrey Regt.,
with us was Colonel Wong Fuk Chi and Mr. Neal (late of H. K. P.) who is working with the Colonel in Piracy & Bandit Suppression.
We proceeded to Mirs Bay and anchored in Long Harbour at 18.30 hrs. as it was impossible to make Bias Bay before dark.
We weighed anchor at 05.30 hrs. on 18/1/25 and proceeded to Bias Bay and anchored at 07.30 hrs., 14 miles off Hachung Village where Colonel Wong Fuk Chi was to collect 200 of his troops.
As no junks or sampans came near us, Mr. Booth, P. S. Chester Woods and Colonel Wong Fuk Chi rowed ashore in the Tug's life-boat. On arrival there they found that the troops had left for a village called Pak Mong Fa about 13 miles inland, some three hours before they landed. Colonel Wong Fuk Chi then despatched a man on horseback to order them to return at once.
Mr. Booth and P. S. Chester Woods then returned to the Tug at 11.40 hrs., leaving Colonel Wong Fuk Chi ashore, who expected his troops to return to Hachung at 17.00 hrs. when he would bring them off to the ship in junks.
There was no sign of him up till midnight, when he returned with two junks and some 40-50 soldiers, and told us that the remainder of his men were following in four more junks.
It was then bitterly cold with a strong wind (blowing force 4-3) and a choppy sea. The troops came on board and sat on deck where they were given hot tea to drink. They all sat down in rows, and were extremely orderly and very well disciplined. The remaining four junks arrived about 02.00 hrs. 19/1/25. Colonel Wong Fuk Chi then told us his plan of operations which were as follows:--
(1) Six junks containing his troops, estimated at about 120 men, to leave II. M. Tug St. Monance at 04.00 hrs. on 19/1/1925 and land at daylight at the undermentioned villages and raid same.
(1) Kwai Chau, (2) Hai Chau, (3) Nim Shan.
(2) To cut off the retreat by land (.e. any pirates trying to escape from Nim Shan Village, Fan Lo Kong Village, Hai Chau Village and Kwai Chau Village) by placing picquets on the hill paths to the north of these villages. For this purpose, he had sent 50 men on foot from Hachung village to picquet the hill paths to the north of these villages.
(3) H. M. Tug St. Monance to move at daylight and anchor in Fan Lo Kong Harbour, as close to Fan Lo Kong Village as possible. A junk was to meet us and convey Wong Fuk Chi and us to the shore.
(4) To raid Fan Lo Kong Village and other villages after dealing with the villages
mentioned in (1).
We weighed anchor at 06.55 hrs. on 19/1/25 but had to anchor 6 miles south the west of Fan Lo Kong Village at 07.20 hrs. owing to there being a bar across entrance to Fan Lo Kong Harbour, which it was considered unwise to attempt to cross, The junk as we were drawing 15 feet and it had not been surveyed for some time. which Wong Fuk Chi had arranged to come out to meet us failed to turn up, and so at 10.25 hrs. the undermentioned went ashore in the Tug's life-boat with the European Chief Officer in charge.
Capt. Bloxham, Inspector Pincott, Mr. Neal,
Colonel Wong Fuk Chi, Insp. Chu Heung and 1 Chinese Detective.