- 2 -
297
<
25 mintes,
in tow. Shortly afterwards witnesses say 20 ·
whilst still in Deep Bay a second cargo boat No.265V was
also met, fired on, boarded, and taken in tow. The Motor
Boat proceeded to Lin Tin Island in Chinese waters, and
when off the island picked up two sampans. The Motor Boat
went on to Chek Wan, where it arrived at about 04.00 hours
on the following day, 22.1.40. At about 08.00 hours on
22.1.40, the Steam Launch Kwai Hing passed towing cargo
boats Nos: 2233V and 23127. The launch was hailed, fired
on, and forced to stop. The cargo on board cargo boats
425Y and 265V and 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 Steam
Launch Kwai Hing through a man named Chan Choi on this 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.
These men, Chan Tong and Tsang Tai On (Traders)
who were on board cargo boat No.425Y and Pun Kam Lun, master
of cargo boat No.265V landed at Chek Wan, and proceeded to
Hong Kong to report the matter to the Police. When this was
reported to me, I gave instructions that harbour launches
were to be on the alert for cargo boats Nos: 2233V and
2312V. These boats were subsequently found, the crews
brought to Tsim Sha Tsui, and the cargo recovered.
4.
The story that the first two boats were attacked
in British waters depends on the above mentioned three men.
No other member of the crews have reported to Police, and
their boats are presumably still in Chinese waters. Police