CO129-563-15 Sino-Japanese War- Anti-Japanese demonstrations and evacuation of Japanese 1-9-1937 - 28-4-1938 — Page 40

ON REGISTRATION

18.

40

CYPHER TELEGRAM from the officer Auministering the Governing a

of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Dated 9th September, 1937, Received 5.7 p.m., 9th Septonba

'

No.185.

Addressed to Secretary of State for the Colonies

telegram No.183, of 8th September repeated to Nanking,

Commander-in-Chief, Tokyo, copy to Gencral officer Commandin

Commodore.

(4)

Your telegram No.153 Secret. Among Japanece who

evacuated Canton and came to Hong Kong were Consul General

and staff including Military and Naval Attachés. I have

definite evidence that two latter are conducting espionage

here. At an early stage I suggested to the Japanese Consu

General in Hong Kong that these two might be liable to

outrage from Chinese and he sympathetically promised to urg

Tokyo to agree to their removal from the Colony on these

grounds. This is no doubt on record in Tokyo. Further

arguments would be firstly that such Attachés though common

in Japanese consulates in China have never been countenance

in Hong Kong. Second that there can no longer be

legitimate work in Hong Kong for officers accredited to

Canton. If Tokyo counters with expectation of early returi

of consular staff to Canton it would be pointed out that

Formosa is within, easy distance.

+

General Officer Commandir g

and Commodore strongly urge that this be taken up with Tokyc

if possible without offending susceptibility.

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