7
14
26. On 3rd December two platoons of the 5th/2nd Punjabis under the com mand of Captain J. M. Hunt marching along the frontier from Lo Wu to Ta Ku Ling, in British Territory, were fired on by a party of 30 or 40 men. The fire was returned.
27. On 9th December a Chinese police officer who was inside a shop in British Sha Tau Kok was fired at by a Chinese named Wong Chun Wa, stangling outside the shop. The man subsequently escaped, and efforts to induce the Canton authorities to deal with the man have had no effect.
Ferry.
28. On 14th December No. XI Police motor boat was fired on at the Lok Ma Chart
[NOTE:-Repeated complaints to the Cantom Authorities produced nothing but evasive replies. There was however a lull in the series of outrages until July, when negotiations for the cessation of the Boycott were actually proceeding in Canton.]
29. At about 3 p.m. on 20th July, 1926, the Police Motor Boat No. X, while patrolling the Sham Chun River, which was heavily in flood, went ashore on the Chinese side of the river. The two European policemen, who with one Indian constable and four Chinese boatmen made up the crew, endeavoured to refloat the boat but were interrupted in their efforts by the arrival of strike pickets who fired one shot. The boat's crew then stood to their arms, but did not return the fire although occasional shots were fired over the boat. About 6.30 p.m. further pickets arrived who demanded the surrender of the boat, the crew and all aims, and added that the military would be called in and force used if the crew refused to comply. Cut off by a flooded river in rear, and with insufficient am- munition for a prolonged resistance, the Sergeant in charge decided to surrender under protest. On the 21st July when the news became known, an urgent protest was sent to the Canton Authorities through H.B.M. Consul-General, while a company of troops was despatched to the British side of the Lo Wu Bridge. Mr. A. E. Wood accompanied by the District Officer and the Asst. Supt. of Police, N.T., then visited Sham Chom and made representations at the headquarters. Finally the entire boat's crew, who had been im- prisoned all night, were released with all arms and ammunition, and a promise was made that no interference with men engaged in refloating the boat should be made, provided that they should he unarmed while on lunese soil.
This undertaking was properly observed on both sides, save that on the evening of 24th July while a salvage boat was passing Chik Mei Village, lower down stream, three or four shots were fired at it from Chinese Territory by a man in a blue uniform.
30. On 10th August, 1926, Trading Junk No. T1099 H. left Un Long Creek, British Territory, and at about 8 a.m. next day she was boarded, while at anchor becalmed. bry a green launch flying the Strike-pickets' flag. On learning that the junk came from Un Long Creek the pickets insisted on searching the cargo. They then stole $30.00 in money, one cannon, one rifle, nine muskets, powder and ammunition, and the junk's dingly. The steersman of the junk reported that he had seen the launch in question operating in those waters for some time.
The usual representations have been made at Canton but nothing has eventuated.
31. On 2nd September, 1926, Trading Junk No. T654 H. while on a voyage from Hong Kong to Chung Hau in Chinese Territory, was, when off Chik Wan, near Tai Chan Customs Station, stopped by a launch flying the pickets' flag. The pickets, on learning they had come from Hong Kong, stole 2 rifles, 150 rounds of ammunition, 4 muskets, and 20 lbs. of bullets. They also kidnapped one of the crew, named Kwock Yung Kwai.
A complaint have been laid before the Canton Authorities by the Consul General but no satisfaction has been obtained.
The re-
[NOTE--The latter half of this Chronological List has been revised and added to, in the light of subsequent events, since the transmission of the original despatch vised account is being sent to the Secretary of State.]
!
418
Q
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.