Enclosure No.4.
55
Detective Office,
Water Police Station,
12th December, 1937.
KIANG PAO LIEN, 23 years,
Acting First Officer, Customs Cruiser "CHA HSING",
Native of CHE KIANG,
States:-
At noon on 11th December, 1937, the ship left Hong Kong for DEEP BAY. At about 14.20 hours on that date I was in the Ward-room and the ship was about half a mile south-west of BLACK POINT in British Waters. I was actually lying down asleep when the Chief Engineer Mr. R.F. YOUNG came and told me a Japanese warship was firing at us. I then heard the sounds of shell fire. I heard about 20 shots. The Chief Engineer and I remained in the Ward-room and about a quarter of an hour later I felt the ship go aground. I then went to the main deck where I saw Captain COOK, who instructed me to abandon ship. I saw we were aground on the beach at YUNG LUNG WAN, British Territory. I assisted the Commander to take the ship's log, paper and contents of the safe ashore. I also assisted to secure the ship by dropping the anchors. At that time I could see a Japanese warship coming towards us from the direction of CHAK WAN. The Japanese warship was then about two and a half miles away, but I cannot say for certain whether
it was in Chinese or British Waters. After we had grounded the Japanese warship fired about five more shots and was still
proceeding towards us at full speed. The Commander myself and the remainder of the crew consisting of 24 or 25 men climbed over the bow and waded ashore. By this time the Japanese warship had anchored about a quarter of a mile away from our ship. I
was instructed by the Commander to remain in hiding on the hillside and observe what occurred. The boatswain LIANG HO and two seamen remained with me. The Commander had already left for CASTLE PEAK to report the matter. About half an hour later I saw a motor boat lowered from the Japanese warship and a number of men in uniform boarded it. The motor boat approached our ship, sailed round it,