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SECRET (2).
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG.
17th August, 1939.
Sir,
I have the honour to inform you that in the
early hours of Wednesday, 16th August, 1939, Japanese troops appeared again in Chinese Territory on the
frontier of the New Territories of Hong Kong in the area
extending from Deep Bay on the West to Shum Chun on the railway just beyond the British frontier. The troops, comprising infantry and cavalry, were estimated as
numbering about five hundred and were accompanied by
light artillery. In the course of the morning six Japanese aeroplanes were also observed flying continuously
over Chinese territory in the neighbourhood: they did
not however approach the frontier. The Japanese proceeded to occupy Shum Chun and the district right up to the
Chinese Maritime Customs Station, where the railway
crosses the frontier. It was further reported this
morning, 17th August, 1939, that the Japanese were extending their operations eastwards from Shum Chun and
had occupied another station of the Chinese Maritime
Customs some distance east of Shum Chum in the vicinity
of the road which runs along the eastern half of the
border on the British side.
2. The Japanese on their arrival did not attempt
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
MALCOLM MACDONALD, M.P., etc., etc., etc.
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