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to man all border posts, and to be in position fully equipped by 5.30 p.m. the same day. Sha Tin and Castle Peak stations were closed immediately; men from the former station were posted at Man Kam To under canvas; Indian police from Castle Peak, Sai Kung and Sha Tau Kok stations were sent to garrison the Sha Tau Kok blockhouse. Additional police from the European, Chinese and Indian contingents, finally totalling 66 men, were drafted from Hong Kong and Kowloon Stations to augment the New Territory police on the frontier, and in the Government refugee camp at Kam Tin, which was established on October 14th.
23. On October 12th with the help of the Controller of Stores and the Medical Department, large amounts of stores and camp equipment were rapidly assembled at Central compound and transported out to the New Territories by van and train. The Royal Army Ordnance Corps also rendered valuable co-operation in supplying tents, a field kitchen and other equipment outside the scope of Police stores.
24. On October 13th, the Kowloon-Canton highway was closed, and on October 15th, the railway service beyond Shum Chun was discontinued. The frontier, however, remained quiet until November 24th; it was then estimated that approximately 20,000 refugees had passed over into British territory. Railway trucks were used as additional refugee camps at Fan Ling and Cha Hang.
25. At 8.00 p.m. on November 25th, about 200 armed Chinese soldiers crossed the border at Lin Ma Hang blockhouse and surrendered; they were detained at Ta Ku Ling.
26. On November 26th, fighting became general along the border from Shum Chun and near Sha Tau Kok. The Shum Chun wireless station was shelled by the Japanese; one shell landed in Liu Pok village, British territory, wounding three persons, one of whom subsequently died. Many Chinese soldiers crossed the border during the day and were detained, and a further large number were later rounded up at Un Long.
27. During the Japanese advance on Lo Wu, bullets fell freely in British territory, round the Lo Wu blockhouse; two police officers narrowly escaped death when a shell exploded near their motor cycle. On two occasions, Japanese detachments crossed over into British territory but retired after representations were made by British police and military authorities. Shum Chun was finally captured by the Japanese at noon on November 26th.
28. From November 25th, the influx of refugees increased tremendously to an estimated total of 80,000 persons; many emergency refugee camps were established in the New Territories by various Hong Kong charitable organisations to care for these people.
29. On November 27th, the military authorities took over control of the Sha Tau Kok blockhouse, Man Kam To and Lo Wu, and on November 29th they took over all border posts; police, however, were retained in reserve.
This arrangement remained in force up till December 6th when police resumed full control.
On November 29th and subsequent dates all interned Chinese soldiers were removed from the New Territories and interned in the S.S. "Lee Hong", pending their removal to Ma Tau Chung camp on December 8th.
30. Hong Kong Police Reserve. Owing to the need for drafting additional regular police to the border, the Police Reserve was called out on active service as from October 15th, 1938. Men from all contingents rendered efficient service to the end of the year in the urban areas, to make up for shortage of regular police. I take the opportunity to express my thanks for these services.
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to man all border posts, and to be in position fully equipped by 5.30 p.m. the same day. Sha Tin and Castle Peak stations were closed immediately; men from the former station were posted at Man Kam To under canvas; Indian police from Castle Peak, Sai Kung and Sha Tau Kok stations were sent to garrison the Sha Tau Kok blockhouse. Additional police from the European, Chinese and Indian contingents, finally totalling 66 men, were drafted from Hong Kong and Kowloon Stations to augment the New Territory police on the frontier, and in the Government refugee camp at Kam Tin, which was established on October 14th
23. On October 12th with the help of the Controller of Stores and the Medical Department, large amounts of stores and camp equipment were rapidly assembled at Central compound and transported out to the New Territories by van and train. The Royal Army Ordnance Corps also rendered valuable co-operation in supplying tents, a field kitchen and other equipment outside the scope of Police stores.
24. On October 13th, the Kowloon-Canton highway was closed, and on October 15th, the railway service beyond Shum Chun was discontinued. The frontier, however, remained quiet until November 24th; it was then estimated that approximately 20,000 refugees had passed over into British territory. Railway trucks were used as additional refugee camps at Fan Ling and Cha Hang.
25. At 8.00 p.m. on November 25th, about 200 armed Chinese soldiers crossed the border at Lin Ma Hang blockhouse and surrendered; they were detained at Ta Ku Ling.
26. On November 26th, fighting became general along the border from Shum Chun and near Sha Tau Kok. The Shum Chun wireless station was shelled by the Japanese; one shell landed in Liu Pok village, British territory, wounding three persons, one of whom subsequently died. Many Chinese soldiers crossed the border during the day and were detained, and a further large number were later rounded up at Un Long.
27. During the Japanese advance on Lo Wu, bullets fell freely in British territory, round the Lo Wu blockhouse; two police officers narrowly_escaped death when a shell exploded near their motor cycle. On two occasions, Japanese detachments crossed over into British territory but retired after representations were made by British police and military authorities. Shum Chun was finally captured by the Japanese at noon on November 26th.
28: From November 25th, the influx of refugees increased tremendously to an estimated total of 80,000 persons; many emergency refugee camps were established in the New Territories by various Hong Kong charitable organisations to care for these people.
29. On November 27th, the military authorities took over control of the Sha Tau Kok blockhouse, Man Kam To and Lo Wu, and on November 29th they took over all border posts; police, however, were retained in reserve.
This ar- rangement remained in force up till December 6th when police resumed full control.
On November 29th and subsequent dates all interned Chinese soldiers were removed from the New Territories and interned in the S.S. "Lee Hong", pending their removal to Ma Tau Chung camp on December 8th.
30, Hong Kong Police Reserve. Owing to the need for drafting additional regular police to the border, the Police Reserve was called out on active service as From October 15th, 1938. Men from all contingents rendered efficient service to the end of the year in the urban areas, to make up for shortage of regular police. I take the opportunity to express my thanks for these services.
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