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(h) One pair European black evening trousers with tailor's name and Singa-
pore marked on buttons,
(i) Four gold hair clips,
One new travelling rug,
(k) Four new red blankets,
One new metal Thermos flask,
(m) Two sets of buttons made from Dutch East Indian coins and Straits
Settlement coins.
(n) One gilt badge and chain.
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This prisoner was asked to explain his possession of these articles and stated that his uncle had given them to him that morning to take to a village nearby. He was then sent under escort to the address given by him as his uncle's residence. The prisoner and escort returned about 17.00 hrs and the Officer i/c reported the prisoner's uncle had left the village some six weeks before, and that he had not returned or been seen since. He ao, was then subjected to the "3rd Degree" but refused to give any information. Wong Fuk Chi got very angry at this and at one time I certainly thought that he would shoot im himself on the spot. However, he was eventually sent away under escort, the Colonel remarking to me that they would probably make him talk later on.
As Mr. Booth and the remainder of our party had not turned up yet, I wrote a note to Mr. Booth telling him what had happened, which was taken back to the ship by the Chief Officer. I then took photos of these prisoners and we then walked round the village until about 19.00 hours when we returned and had an excellent Chinese dinner provided by the Colonel.
About 20.00 hours his. informers began to return. From them it was learned that a well known pirate named Chan Shui Wai and other bad characters were living in cer- tain houses in Fan Lo Kong Market which is situated about two miles from Nim Shan Market where we were.
It was then decided to raid Fan Lo Kong Village (about 10,000 inhabitants) at dawn next morning 20th January, 1925, and that we would leave at 05.00 hours, and after posting sentries at the gates in the village and at cross roads near the area in which the suspect houses were, they would proceed direct to the houses which were to be raid- ed.
About 22.00 hours I received a note from the remainder of the party on board saying that the junk sent for them had arrived about 17.00 hours, but that they were not coming ashore till they knew our further plans. Inspector Pincott, Mr. Neal and I then tried to get some sleep, and we were called at 05.00 hours. On going outside the house we found about 100 soldiers fallen in ready for the march. We then learned that Colonel Wong Fuk Chi was not to accompany us and that we were to be in charge of his friend who had come up from Hong Kong with us.
The troops moved off in complete silence and maintained complete silence during the march. Their discipline was excellent, and no one spoke or even smoked, and they all seemed to realize that silence was necessary to effect a surprise.
The march lasted about 40 minutes and we arrived at Fan Lo Kong Village at about 06.0 hours. The troops then split up into several small parties of 8-10 men and went round the outside wall in either direction, to occupy the gates into the village.
The Officer in Charge of the troops then took Inspector Pincott and myself through the centre of the village (which was absolutely deserted) to the headmans house. We knocked on the door for some time and getting no reply, the door was smashed in. We found the headman in an inner room and he was told to come with us. We then started to return to the centre of the village where the houses were situated which were to be raided.
In the meantime sentries at the gates and cross roads had been posted, and about six parties of 10 men each had been detailed to raid each suspect house.