8.
H.K.I.R. No. 5/38.
HONG KONG.
GENERAL.
SECRE T.
21
36
(ii)
S.S. "ASIAN" INCIDENT.
As reported in H.K.I.R. No. 4/38 Item 7(1)
Page 13 the "Asian" was taken to the Pescadores after capture.
The Captain of the "Asian" hoped that this seizure would be
reported by merchant ships passed on the way there. The
"Asian" (after capture) was flying a large Japanese flag at
the masthead with the Red Ensign at the stern besides having
Union Jacks painted on the ship's sides. No report however
was made and it is presumed that nothing special was noticed
about the "Asian's" appearance.
The Captain was not able to use his wireless
and, it is stated, got the news through to his Hong Kong
owners by means of a cable from the Pescadores to his wife.
He told the Japanese that his wife was ill and that he
would hold them responsible if he was not allowed to inform
her where he was!
The owners state that they had wirelessed the
ship previously and the signal was received but no reply was
forthcoming.
The Japanese Consul-General at Hong Kong seems to
have done his best to get the ship back. He stated to the
press in Hong Kong that 'The "Asian" was captured on the high
seas and an irregularity was discovered in her papers so she
was detained. On instructions from Tokyo I communicated with
the owners who placed at my disposal all available documents
dealing with the sale of this vessel. These proved to me that
the