the functions of Chinese Maritime Customs
vessels in Hong Kong, and whether or not such
vessels were regarded as armed ships, with
the duty inter alia of attacking Japanese
vessels. Sir J. Brennan was at the meeting,
and pointed out the traditional co-operation
of the Government of Hong Kong with the Chinese
Maritime Customs and the desirability from the
British point of view of our taking no line
which would militate against this. He also
was satisfied that those vessels were neither
designed nor instructed to fill the role of
warships; their duties were for the protection
of revenue.
The Naval Commander-in-Chief's
suggestion that the Chinese Customs vessels
should not be permitted in Hong Kong waters
during the present hostilities was not
supported at the meeting, though it was thought
that it might be possible in any particular
instance in which such a vessel was suspected
of loitering in Hong Kong waters overlong for
that
Could
its legitimate functions, it might not
improperly be warned to clear out.
As regards the question of the
establishment of a destroyer patrol in Hong
Kong waters in order to prevent any further
abuse of our territory by Japanese warships,
the Admiralty representative was much against
this on the ground that the presence of a
British warship might provoke a clash with the
Japanese and that our naval strength at Hong
Kong at present was far too small to enable us
to