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1.
QUARTERLY SUBHARY OF JAPANESE ACTIVITIES.
FIRST QUARTER- 1939.
The local Consul-General left suddenly for Japan
on 4.2.39 following the death of his wife at Tokyo on 3.2.39.
It is reported however that whilst there he attended an
important conference in connection with the South China
situation consequent upon the Japanese bombing of British
territory on 21.2.39. He returned to Hong Kong on 29.3.39
accompanied by MATSUDAIRA, Vice-Consul at Canton, who has
bean stationed temporarily at Shanghai; and IWAI, who purports to be Vice-Consul at Shanghai, but is suspected to be a safe
hand courier making regular trips between Shanghai, Amoy,
Siong Kong and Formosa.
(11) ÚDA, the local Consul, made a sudden trip to Franch Indo-
China in January, allegedly to make contact with espionage
agents.
Identification
(111) Increases have again been made in the local Consulate
staff, suesting further pressure of work.
certificates are being issued through the Consulate to approved Chinese who wish to return to Canton, but it is reported that
only the poorer class Chinese are taking advantage of this.
2.
The increase in the local Japanese population, first noticed after the fall of Canton, has been steadily maintained
throughout the quarter and the adult population now stands at
441 males and 230 females, making a total of 679, but is still far short of the number of residents in iiong Kong prior to
hostilities. Of those who have returned a large proportion
is made up of wives and families following representations made to the local Consulate through the liong Kong Japanese Residents' Association, that they be allowed to return to
liong Kong. Japanese movements in and out of the Colony have shown
a substantial increase since the beginning of the year. A
considerable number of those arriving and departing have been leading officials and industrialists from Formosa and Japan on
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