MESSAGE
FROM: Commodore Hong Kong.
Foreign Office "R" Code.
IN
DATE: 29, 9, 37.
RECD: 1540.
66
9.8
ADDRESSED:- Admiralty Repeated C in C China, in FALMO TH, Governor Hong Kong, Nanking, Tokyo.
IMPORTANT.
*
87. Reference C in C's 261. Part one Master
S. S. SCHARNHORST reports on passage from Kobe to Hong Kong at 0340 on September 27th when seven miles 205 degrees from Pedro Blanco Rock he picked up nine Chinese males and one
Chinese female from small raft. At subsequent interrogation
by Hong Kong water police it was alleged that twelve junks were fishing off Chiland point when on passage to Hong Kong from Swatow. At about 0900 on September 22nd a Japanese submarine approached on the surface and when very close to fishing fleet opened fire eleven junks were sunk the twelfth was damaged but got away. The ten Chinese mentioned above
clung to their raft until rescured by SCHARNHORST. Nothing is known of the whereabouts of the remaining crews of sunken junks. No boat was lowered from submarine and no
attempt was made to rescue any of the junks' crews. I consider date September 22nd (corrupt group) erroneous as five days
on the raft appears improbable. Part two. Police report similar allegations by Chinese survivo re concerning three junks fired and sunk by Japanese submarine on September 20th in vicinity of Chilang Point. Crews of two numbering approximately 26 each totally missing. One killed two
wounded in third. Part three. Governor Hong Kong is proposing to Colonial Office a Commission of enquiry.
1302/29.
1st Lord.
1st S. L.
2nd S. L.
3rd S. L. 4th S. L.
D.C.N.S.
* timed 1006/23.
PAPL SEC. CIVIL LORD.
SEC. NAVAL SEC.
F. A. S. (S). O. D. (3). D. N. I. (6). M. (9).
A.C.N.S.
ES
(AIR).
4. C. N. S.
M. 34.
D. of P. (3).
D. S. D. 9.
N. I. D. 8. Hydrog.
Plans (Trade) (2).
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