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CHINA 5 HONGKONG
ANXIOUS TO BE IN THE RIGHT CAMP, CHINESE TOWNS TO
THE WEST OF THE FRONTIER PUT UP RED FLAGS AS SOON AS ONE RETREATING NATIONALIST FORCE DISAPPEARED AND PULLED THEM DOWN AS SOON AS ANOTHER CAME IN SIGHT.
VILLAGERS WHO MOVED INTO HONGKONG TERRITORY FOR SAFETY
TOOK CATTLE PIGS AND POULTRY WITH THEM TO AVOID "REQUISITIONING" BY HUNGRY NATIONALISTS.
AT ONE TIME THE INFLUX WAS SO LARGE THAT BRITISH POLICE CLOSED THE FRONTIER NEAR SHAMCHUN. POLICE SECURITY PATROLS WERE CONCENTRATING ALL UNREGISTERED CHINESE IN THE BORDER AREA AT ONE POINT. MOST OF THEM EXPECTED TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES AS SOON AS THE NATIONALISTS HAD GONE.
AT SHAMCHUN NATIONALISTS SHUNTING AN ARMOURED TRAIN, WITH ITS GUNS POINTED AT BRITISH POLICE, RAN IT ACROSS THE BORDER BRIDGE TO WITHIN INCHES OF THE DIVIDING LINE. BRITISH GUARDS PUT CONCRETE BLOCKS AND BARBED WIRE ACROSS THE RAILS.
REUTER 1811