CO129-563-17 Sino-Japanese War- attacks on shipping. For extracted photographs see CN 3-12 27-9-1937 - 17-1-1938 — Page 29

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2.

more than three belligerent warships to the colony, any such warship which attempts to take permanent or semi-permanent asylum in Hongkong waters, or to use them as a base of operations or of supply should, after suitable warning, be immobilised on the ground that its activities are prejudicial to the safety of

the colony.

3. If hostilities develop in South China and if you consider that there is any risk of Chinese warships attempting to use Hongkong waters for such objectionable purposes as above it would appear desirable that the Chinese authorities should be warned informally against doing so. The reason given should be the practical consideration of safeguarding Hongkong territorial waters without reference to the legal question of neutrality during a state of war. Subject to your views, it might perhaps be most suitable if His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton were to speak on the subject either to the provincial authorities or

direct to the local naval authorities but I do not wish him to

do so without further explicit instructions from me.

Repeated to Peking No. 4, Canton No. 1, Hongkong unnumbered

and Commander-in-Chief Unnumbered.