CO129-563-17 Sino-Japanese War- attacks on shipping. For extracted photographs see CN 3-12 27-9-1937 - 17-1-1938 — Page 69

1

Enclosure No.

69

Yee Cheong, 28 years, shop foki, residing at Wing Yeung Salt and Sugar Company, Yung Long Wan Castle Peak, of Yan Ping, Chinese Territory, states:-

At about 14.30 hours on the 11th December, 1937, I was working in the above address when I heard the noise of big guns being fired (about 10 in number) from the direction of Ma Chau Chinese Territory end one loud explosion just on the beach

in front of the above address.

I ran out from the house and saw my fokies running towards the hills, I followed. As I ran away I noticed a Customs launch making for the shore towards us. I looked back again after a few minutes and saw the launch was then about 50 yards from the shore and the crew were jumping into the water with life belts on and swimming for the shore.

Away in the distance I could see a Japanese destroyer also making for the shore. It came from the direction of Ma

Chau. When the destroyer arrived in the centre of the stream, it stopped and two motor boats were lowered manned by about 15 to

20 men in each boat. One of the motor boats made for the customs

launch. The men boarded the custom launch and lowered the

Chinese flag and hoisted the Japanese flag. The other motor

boat came ashore.

The men walked around the Wing Yeung Company. I could not see whether they entered the house. I saw 2 Japanese sailors enter a matshed by the side of the house and come out with two crates with chickens inside and take them to the motor boat. The boat returned to the destroyer. It did not come ashore again. No shots were fired while they were ashore. I could see the sailors were around with rifles with fixed bayonets.

I remained up in the hills until the Japanese had taken the customs launch away and they had all left. It was then about 19.00 hours. The destroyer steamed away towards Ling Ting Chinese Territory with the customs launch following on its own

steam.