No. 93(10/72D(1)/40)
NOTE VERBALE
116
His Majesty's Embassy present their
compliments to the Imperial Japanese Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and have the honour to refer to their
Note Verbale No. 33 of the 7th February, regarding
attacks on Hong Kong fishing vessels by armed
Japanese vessels.
2. It is now reported that during the night of
the 21st January 1940 a cargo boat of Hong Kong
registry, No. 425 Y, whilst sailing towards Hong Kong
and about half a mile off Yung Lang Wong was approached
by a Japanese motor boat, fired on, boarded and then
taken in tow. Shortly afterwards, in Deep Bay, a
Becond cargo boat of Hong Kong registry, No. 265 V,
was also met, fired on, boarded and taken in tow.
The motor boat went on to Chek Wan, where it arrived
at about 4 a.m. on the following day, January 22nd.
At about 8 a.m. on the same morning the steam launch
Kwai Hing passed, towing two cargo boats, 8253 V and
2312 V. The launch was hailed, fired on and forced
to stop. The cargo on board the two boats originally
seized and on the two sampans was then transferred
to the other two cargo boats which the steam launch
Kwai Hing had in tow, and the Japanese ordered the
crew of the launch to take the goods into Hong Kong,
sell them and hand over the money to them later on.
All vessels were then released by the Japanese.
3./