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Shortly
to cross into British territory or to make any contact
with Hong Kong police pickets in the vicinity.
after noon yesterday two companies of British troops were posted at various points on the frontier to relieve
the police. Other British troops are standing by should
they be needed. The General Officer Commanding the
British Troops in China has informed me that his officers
have established communication with the Japanese at the
railway bridge on the frontier and that it has been
learnt that all the Japanese have strict orders to
respect the frontier, of the exact situation of which
they are aware.
3. No shooting or bombing by the Japanese has
yet been heard or reported; but as soon as they arrived
a movement of refugees into British territory began and
it is estimated that five thousand refugees have since
entered the Colony, including one thousand from a refugee
camp just across the border in Chinese territory; arrangements are in hand to offer food and shelter to these refugees. A few persons in civilian dress surrendered arms on entering British territory with other refugees.
4. The intentions of the Japanese in carrying out
the present operations are not yet clear nor has it been
ascertained how long they intend to stay in the vicinity,
but it seems likely that they aim at permanently picketing
the frontier in order to control communications by that
route between the Colony and China. I shall report to
you
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