No. 104.
Sir,
I
RECE
11 MAR 1940
C. U
55835/10/1
f
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG.
27th February, 1940.
295
With reference to the previous correspondence
Governor's note of 42/-/39noted in the margin, regarding attacks by
2nd November, 19391 Governor's note of 2nd November, 1939, Governor's note of
6th November, 1939,43/-/39"
to Secretary of State.
Japanese vessels on fishing boats in British
waters, I have the honour to forward for your
consideration a copy of a police report and
Enclosure No.1. supporting statements regarding the seizure in British waters of two crgo boats of Hong Kong registry by a Japanese launch
on 21st January, 1940.
2.
Enclosure No.2.
(01)
Of
to
In this connection I forward also a copy of a letter dated 19th December, 1939, from His Majesty's Ambassador, Tokyo, and would suggest, in view of the repeated interference with supplies coming to this Colony,
that the desirability of making a strong protest to the
Japanese Government might be further considered.
3.
Hong Kong fishing vessels in or on their way to
or from their usual fishing grounds outside the waters of
the Colony and cargo boats of Hong Kong registry bound to
or from the Colony on their lawful occasions are continually
subject to attacks, the wanton barbarity of which, serving
no purpose in the prosecution of the war against China,
suggests that they form part of a deliberate attempt to
destroy the fishing industry of this Colony and to endanger
its normal food supplies. A particularly glaring example
of such an attack in which there is evidence that some
fifty fishing junks were damaged or destroyed at one time
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
вору
Kuaß
MALCOLM MACDONALD,
M.P.,
&C.
&C.,
&C.