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Salvage
1. Between 10 to 20 ships of all sizes that were scuttled in Hongkong have been salvaged and repaired at the Kowloon Dockyard. The largest is the Jardine steamer Hin Sang (4,644 g.r.t) which was scuttled in Kowloon Bay. Repairs were completed in May/June 1943 and the ship was renamed the Kensei Maru.
Re-named Ships
Old Name
G.R.T.
Empire Dragon
6,580
Hin Sang
4,644
Wing We
1,200
Daylite
1,970
Northern Star (Ferry)
New Name Gyoten Maru. Kinsei Maru Gy onan Gyor yo Fun
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Shipping Routes
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2.
Early in February there were indications that small ships were to continue to be allocated to ship coal from Hongay to Hoihow, Hainan Island.
Coastal service round the Celebes is increasing since the formation of an Association which controls praus. It is claimed that 10,000 tons of goods are transported by praus, and that the Association is assisting the natives in building more. By the end of March, the first period of planned production, a further increase is expected.
Wooden ships
1. (a) Details of the progress of the wooden shipbuilding
programme at the Kin Sun Dock, Hongkong, up to september 1943, are now available. This dock is said to produce the engines as well as the ships. At that date the yard had completed four wooden ships: -
Nanshu Maru launched January 1943 and in service in February 1943, Hoku Maru.
Itate Maru lauched August 1943) Engine completed by Yamada Maru
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September but not installed.
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The keels for two more had been laid, but work on these was stopped from June-September because of shortage of wood. The yard had 20-30 motor car engines which were being converted for use as marine engines. The engines built in this yard were all of 115 h.p.
(b) The Kin Sun Dock is not known here, but is possibly a small slipway erected on the foreshore of one of the numerous bays in and around the island of Hongkong and the mainland of Kowloon. Earlier reports stated that the Nanshu
Maru was only given a trial run in April 1943.
2. (a) The Hip Tung Wo Iron Works, Hongkong are said to be
manufacturing oil engines of 115 h.p. Prior to the war they turned out an engine in two months, but under Japanese control this takes six months. Up to September 1943, they had completed three engines and had three more under construction. Metal is obtained locally, but is in short supply. The labour force is 340 workmen working two 4-hour shifts. The Luk Ho Kao Iron Works, Hongkong, are also equipped to make engines. Pre-war output was 30 engines a month (large and small). The factory is
now under Japanese control, but output is not known. A labour force of 300 workmen work on two shifts, one of 3 hours, and one of 5 hours.
(b) The Hip Tung Wo yard was quite a well known builder of high repute which produced engines and river, boats up to 750 tons. They also built under Government contract all kinds of launches up to 80 feet long and were Government contractors for ferrous and non-ferrous metal castings
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