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MIB's lay to West of Aberdeen Island or Tolograph Bay for the night, those going out of harbour attracting a few rounds from the field gun which was preferable to the route by Aberdeen Channel whore machine-gun fire was oncountered probably from Benott's Hill.
December 25th. Thursday, December 25th, openod with a bomb dropped on Wost side of Abordoon Island near MTB borth, anchorage thon being shifted close inshore, and it was discovered that Aberdeen Harbour was commanded by field gun fire and Aberdeen Channel by machine-gun fire from Bonnott's Hill.
MTB 10's transmitter bo came out of order and could not be put right so all signals had to be passed visually to another boat for transmission; in addition coding with an emergency 'playfair' code had to be done by Officers, so that on this day when speed was vital I was considerably handicapped. At 1515 I received from DO the single word "00" T.0.0. 1315, later receiving "Co all boats T.0.0. 1555". As I had not got the two important Chinese personages, Admiral Chan Chal and Colonel S-K Yee on board and had no news of them, and as also movement by daylight would be obvious to the encry, I con- sulted with Mr. F.V.K. with whom I had been told by the Commodore and IDO to collaborate closely in the matter of escape from Hongkong and I decided to wait, delay being of mutual advantage. In view of Commodore's bignal 1540/20/12/41 to S.N.O... Should you be forced to withdraw from Abordcen sond all you have afloat to Sandy and Tolograph Boye" I kopt MB's 07 and 09 the ro. MTB 11, MTB 10 and 27 (transmitting boat for 10) kopt together thus putting MTB's at several possible' picking up points. I sent the following signal to XDO "Proposo go after dark must pick up two Chinese at Aberdoon Dock. Con I enter after dark 1530/25", and receiving no reply I sent the following signal to Commodore "Ask Commissi onor of Police for Chan and Yce to rondezvous Queen Mary Hospital entrance from sovon p.m. important 1655/25",
The following reply from Commodoro was received "Your 1655 not approved proceed immoùintoly with K.1830/25", but by the time this was received and docoded I had already made contact with part of Admiral Chan Chok's party and had them to complete the operation if feasible and advisable as I so considored it from my knowledge of the conditions obtaining.
About 1830 Licutenant Commander Yoorath of DO's staff with a Mr.Hallnday, Merchant Service Engineer, appeared in a rowing boat from Aberdoon Harbour, with verbal instructions to mo from XDO to go but at this time MTB 27 signalled to me that a man was swimming out to us from Abordeon Izland and ho'proved to be the advance party of Admiral Chan Chak's party whose motor boat had been machine-gunned while mistakonly pass ing Bonnett's Hill (military officers were on board who must have known onery was in cccupation) on their way to join MTB's by Abordeon Channel instead of by the safer route by Aberdeen Harbour where only Shollfire could have boon oncountered. Licutonont Cormander Yoo- rath had come by that way and encountered only dosultory shellfire. The latter having delivered his massage to mo, elected with Mr. Halliday to join the escape party.
I was informed that Admiral Chan Chok and party were hiding and that Colonel Yoo was boliovod killed. I then sont MTB 11 to contact the other MTB's C7 and 09 as W/T communication ms not satisfactory, with instructions to them to suit my orders. MTB 11's startors would not work and MIB 10 had to lash alongisdo and "tow her engines in" beth boats passing in rango of field gun on way to Tolograph Bay. On return MTB 10 roceived one or two shots close and so I concluded that no surronder or immobilisation of craft could have taken place or fire would have consod; thus no scruplos about escaping after possible surrender were felt.
December 25th. About 1900 MTB 10 and 27 then proceeded to take oscaped party from Headquarters on board by skiff from Abordoen Island, party consisting of Major Goring, Squadron Loader Oxford, Captain MacMillan, Captain Guest of the Staff, also Mr. Robinson of Indian Polico, Mosers. MacDougal and Ross of the Ministry of Information and Admiral Chan Chak's Flag Libutonant Comandor Hsu Hong and his coxswain. Admiral Chan Chak was said to be hiding in a cave wounded and without his artificial log and Commndor Hsu Heng with Ablo Scaman A.L.Downey S.T. D/J109308 wont in a skiff into onry's field of fire to pick him up, but could not find him and roturned; Lieuton at Comrander
John Humphroy.