27
-2-
At one time it was thought that he was using
Hongkong as a base to organise communist disturbances against the Government of Malaya. This view is shewn to be wrong, and probably arose owing to a misconception in Malaya of the nature of the patriotic aims of the leftist organisations to which reference has been made above in paragraph two. The suppression of these patriotic movements, as being inimical to the Imperialist policy of Malaya, undoubtedly encouraged their growth, and gave rise to so much internal trouble, which might have been avoided if the policy had been on more tolerant lines. (I give this as my personal view.) One may perhaps quote as a parallel example the longstanding conflict of interests with the Kuomintang Party in Malaya, a dispute which brought the Government of Malaya into direct opposition to the Central Government of China, and which was only in process of resultion immediately prior to the outbreak of the Pacific War.
The foregoing resume is given as indicative of the associations and objects of the Kwangtung Mass Anti- Japanese Guerillas, as there is probably little doubt that the present change of communism laid against them arises out of this association.
Prior to the outbreak of hostilities, it is claimed by them that LIU SHING CHI was associated with ADMIRAL CHAN CHAK in the discussions with the Governor of SIR MARK YOUNG, of proposals put forward by the Central Government for the mutual defence of the Colony. Owing to the sudden outbreak of fighting, these plans, which included guerilla activity, were not fully matured.
When hostilities broke out, a considerable number of young men, formerly employed in. Hongkong by foreigners, both domestically and industrially, at once joined the guerillas, forming what is now known as the "Hongkong and Kowloon Mass Anti-Japanese Guerillas". They recovered arms discarded by British troops, and at once commenced operations in and behind the Japanese lines. They continue to operate in all parts of the former New Territories of the Colony, and maintain forward cells in Kowloon and on the Island itself.
The help which these guerillas have freely given to British and Chinese escapees from the Colony requires no repetition. Madame YU HON MAU was herself helped to leave through their co-operation. The writer had personal experiences of then both during his own escape, and later when he had better opportunity to study them at close quarters. The sincerity of their opposition in all forms to the Japanesem and their desire to help the democratic cause, is patent to all those who have had contact with them. Unlike other units of guerillas, formerly bandits, now officially recognised by the Central Government, and enjoying a profitable revenue from the well-organised "refugee and loot recovery racket", they show no financial interest in the unhappy state of affairs in the Colony. In the Sai Kung area of the New Territories I have had personal observation of the help that they have given to refugees passing through that district, of the help that they have given in the cultivation of fields and planting of crops, and of the active measures they have taken both to eradicate brigandage, and to keep within bounds the demands of the "official" guerillas on the resources of the local inhabitants. Under the protection of these guerillas, this
Sheet 3/.....