CO129-563-17 Sino-Japanese War- attacks on shipping. For extracted photographs see CN 3-12 27-9-1937 - 17-1-1938 — Page 133

146

Chinese Mewitimes Curton, Strips would Of course not normally be termed vessels of

WM

See (37) on 6445/3/37

General.

the Commodore or himself that the Chinese vessel was well

within the three mile limit when it was fired upon. A full

statement is being forwarded by air mail, which appears to

put it beyond doubt that apart from the question of

territorial waters, armed Japanese troops actually went

ashore on British territory.

The Commodore-in-Charge, Hong Kong, stated that a

Japanese destroyer was frequently in the vicinity of this

area, and suggested that a daylight patrol should be

established by destroyer within the leased territorial

waters of the Colony. The Commodore-in-Charge, China

did not propose to take such a step, which might have the

effect of further prejudicing our relations with Japan, and

stated that he considered it provocative to allow Chinese

customs cruisers to "trade on the security of British

territorial waters" in pursuing their duties. He suggested

that this practice should be stopped.

x

Under the Convention of 1898 between the United

Kingdom and China, Chinese vessels of war, whether neutral

or otherwise, have the right to use the waters of Mirs Bay

and Deep Bay.

In a telegram of the 2nd of December, the

Commodore-in-Charge, China, stated that the reports from

secret agents continued to be received stating that Japanese

forces are expected to land in the vicinity of Hong Kong in

the near future, with the object in the first place of

destroying the Canton-Hankow Railway. In a telegram of

the 11th of December, the Governor of Hong Kong reported

that it appears likely that a Japanese force may land

during the latter half of December, north of the Colony's

northern border with the object of cutting the Kowloan-Canton

Railway