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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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the storm we had to wait till 14.00 hours at which hour we started for Kat O. When we had got opposite the Custom House (about 300 yards off), we had, owing to the strong wind, to make for Kuk Po to get under the lee of the land. I heard no shouting or firing from the foreshore at Sha Tau Kok. About one hour later, when we were between Ah Kung Tsui and Yeung Shu Au, I heard someone shout: "Turn back" and your sampan must come back." On looking round I saw a sampan with 4 or 5 men coming up behind us. One of the men had a rifle which he pointed in our direction (I did not hear a shot being fired), so we turned back and went alongside and one of the men, armed with a stick, jumped on board our sampan and ordered us back to Sha Tau Kok where we arrived at about 15.30 hours. We were then marched to the
Tung Wo School where Cheung Yau and I were tied up with rope and kept in a different part of the school from Cheung Kiu. We were not questioned or beaten, and were allowed to go at about 17.00 hours. We then returned to Kat O, picking up on the way Wang Fong Po who had jumped overboard near Yeung Shu Au. We had only some cloth and groceries on board.
Cheung Tau (Chinese characters), 44 years, states:-
I am a fisherman and reside at Kat 0, where I was born. This witness corroborates the statements of Cheung Po.
HON CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE.
Frontier Incidents.
Shataukok (Chinese characters) & Mirs Bay.
The situation is quiet generally, the only disturbing element being the notorious Wong Chun Wa (Chinese characters) and his "Nung Man" (Chinese characters) at Chinese Shataukok. I attach a report from the Officer in Charge, Shataukok, describing another of those boundary incidents that again nearly led to a fracas.
18th September, 1927.
W. G. GERRARD, Assistant Superintendent of Police,
(New Territories). Shataukok (Chinese characters) Police Station,
17th September, 1927.
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE (NEW TERRITORIES). SIR,
At about 14.30 hours on the 16th instant, Lance Corporal Khan Bahudar and another soldier who were on picquet duty at the Boundary Road, stopped Wong Chun Wa (Chinese characters) and two of the
"Nung Man"
(Chinese characters) (all armed) when they were attempting to walk down the Boundary Road. Police Sergeant B.367, Nur Shah, who was in charge of the picquet was sent for and when he arrived he told Wong Chun Wa that he or his men could not walk down the Boundary Road while armed. Wong Chun Wa then told the Sergeant that he had as much right to use the road as the British had, etc. He refused to go away and said that he was going to walk down the road, at the same time the two men who were with him loaded their rifles. Police Sergeant B.367 then drew his revolver and
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ordered the picquet to fix bayonets. Wong Chun Wa then took one of the loaded rifles and pointed it at the piquet (held rifle in "Examine Arms" position). He then abused the Indians and went away towards the tower. Wong Chun Wa's concubine was with him at the time and she said to the "Nung Man" "ni ti m pa kou" meaning the picquet. Shortly afterwards one of the "Nung Man" came and stood inside the Chinese boundary and abused the picquet. The Sergeant sent a message for me to go down, but when I arrived none of the "Nung Man" could
J. FENDER,
be seen.
No. 386. (Extract.) SIR,
Acting Sub-Inspector, Officer in Charge.
Enclosure 2b in No. 23.
H.B.M. Consulate General, Canton,
26th September, 1927.
I have the honour to refer to Your Excellency's despatch No. 339 of the 21st September, regarding the provocative conduct of the Nung Man, or peasants' corps, at Shataukok on the borders of the Hong Kong New Territories.
2. Shortly after reading your despatch, I happened to receive a visit from Mr. Tam Lai-ting, who is related by marriage to General Li Fuk-lam and is, I know, a close confidant of the latter. I therefore asked Mr. Tam to convey your message to the General and ask if the Nung Man could not be removed from Shataukok and be replaced by General Li's own troops. Mr. Tam promised to do so, but he explained that General Li Fuk-lam was already opposed to the Peasant Corps and would like nothing better than to get rid of them, but they were not under his control and it was doubtful whether he could do much at the present time.
3. I imagine that the Peasant Corps is part of the Kuomintang scheme for organising and educating the agricultural population in the Nationalist party principles, and that it is a body which the regular militarists have to handle with care. The organization of the peasants was, as you know, begun under Russian communist guidance and was given a violently anti-foreign complexion, which it still retains. I have also addressed a written protest to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, a copy of which I enclose, requesting a removal of the Nung Man and their leader from Shataukok, so as to avoid a serious incident. A copy of the Chinese text of my letter has been sent to General Feng I have had Tsuk-man, the Commissioner of Labour and Agriculture.
to request an interview with General Feng on other matters, when I will refer to this question as well.
His Excellency,
The Governor,
Hong Kong.
I have, etc.,
J. F. BRENAN,
Acting Consul-General,
*