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Hory Koup
145
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See 1 and 7 on 53838/10/37.
X An English
officer in the Chinese Maritime Customs Service
On the 5th of September it was reported that a
His
Japanese destroyer seized two vessels of the Chinese
maritime customs near the Colony of Hong Kong. In the
case of the first attack there was evidence that although
the customs vessel was outside the territorial waters, the
Japanese destroyer fired from within those waters.
Majesty's Government instructed His Majesty's Ambassador
in Tokyo to protest strongly to the Japanese Government
against this violation of the territorial waters of the
Colony, and request that urgent instructions be issued
to prevent the recurrence of such illegal acts.
On the 11th of December it was reported that
another Chinese maritime customs cruiser "Chahsing" was
fired at by a Japanese destroyer. The vessel was hit and
was run aground near Black Point, which is British
territory.
The Commander of the vessel was positive
that when he was fired at his vessel was well within
territorial waters, though the Japanese vessel was
probably outside territorial waters. The crew of the
vessel were recovered by the Hong Kong Police from the
village where they had taken refuge. The Police launch
then visited the bay where the "Chahsing" had been
beached, but found that she had been removed. Members
of the crew informed the Police that they had observed
from the shore the Japanese destroyer closing to within
about 14 miles from the shore. Two motor boats were
lowered from the destroyer and the "Chahsing" was towed
Two unexploded shells were found on the beach.
A house on the beach was hit by splinters, and a number
of chicken were taken from local houses.
off.
A telegram from the Governor of Hong Kong
reported that there was no doubt in the minds either of
the