CO129-563-15 Sino-Japanese War- Anti-Japanese demonstrations and evacuation of Japanese 1-9-1937 - 28-4-1938 — Page 22

Na

SECRET. (2)

AIR MAIL.

Copy to Tokyo.

to F.O-

35

198

.0.M

Sir,

340 ہے

22

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG,

23rd September, 1937.

(26) With reference to your secret telegram

No. 171 of the 16th September, 1937, on the subject

of the arrangements for the safety and accommodation

of Japanese residents of Hong Kong I have the honour

to inform you that the number of Japanese normally

resident in this Colony is in the neighbourhood

of 1,100.

2.

During the early days of the war no

special action seemed to be called for beyond the

institution of special police patrols in the vicinity

of Japanese establishments and residences; with the

extension of operations to South China, however, the

local Chinese population, which hitherto had behaved

with great restraint, showed signs of excitement.

A foolish rumour, that poisoned food-stuffs were

being distributed by Japanese agents, was widely

circulated, and, although no attacks on Japanese

were recorded, a number of Northern Chinese, whose

appearance and unfamiliar dialect made them objects

of suspicion, were set upon and injured by crowds.

3.

The Inspector General of Police advised

me that he was unable, in the circumstances, to

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

W.G.A.ORMSBY-GORE, P.C., M.P.,

&C.,

&c.,

&C.