146
Chinese Mewitimes Curton, Strips would Of course not normally be termed vessels of
WM
See (37) on 6445/3/37
General.
the Commodore or himself that the Chinese vessel was well
within the three mile limit when it was fired upon. A full
statement is being forwarded by air mail, which appears to
put it beyond doubt that apart from the question of
territorial waters, armed Japanese troops actually went
ashore on British territory.
The Commodore-in-Charge, Hong Kong, stated that a
Japanese destroyer was frequently in the vicinity of this
area, and suggested that a daylight patrol should be
established by destroyer within the leased territorial
waters of the Colony. The Commodore-in-Charge, China
did not propose to take such a step, which might have the
effect of further prejudicing our relations with Japan, and
stated that he considered it provocative to allow Chinese
customs cruisers to "trade on the security of British
territorial waters" in pursuing their duties. He suggested
that this practice should be stopped.
x
Under the Convention of 1898 between the United
Kingdom and China, Chinese vessels of war, whether neutral
or otherwise, have the right to use the waters of Mirs Bay
and Deep Bay.
In a telegram of the 2nd of December, the
Commodore-in-Charge, China, stated that the reports from
secret agents continued to be received stating that Japanese
forces are expected to land in the vicinity of Hong Kong in
the near future, with the object in the first place of
destroying the Canton-Hankow Railway. In a telegram of
the 11th of December, the Governor of Hong Kong reported
that it appears likely that a Japanese force may land
during the latter half of December, north of the Colony's
northern border with the object of cutting the Kowloan-Canton
Railway