CO129-566-7 J.J. Richards- arrest as Japanese spy by Chinese authorities 13-1-1938 - 12-9-1938 — Page 8

Copy.

Enclosure No. 1.

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JOSEPH JAMES RICHARD, age 35, British Eurasian subject,

claims to have been born in Hong Kong of English father and

Eurasian mother. Holds British passport No. 8290 issued

at Hong Kong on 21.2.1933 which describes him as a British

subject born at Hong Kong 31.3. 1902, he previously held

British passport No. 154 issued at Hankow, 30.4. 1924.

Claims that his father, now dead many years, was a British

Consul at Hankow. Does not remember his mother. Claims

that in 1927 was working for Brunner Mond & Co. at Hankow,

and produces photographs of himself as a member of the

Hankow Volunteers. He resides at 494, Nathan Road, 1st

floor with his Chinese (English speaking) wife and five

children. He speaks English, Cantonese and Northern

dialects and is well educated and well versed in politics.

Wears European style cbthing. First came to notice in

Hong Kong in November 1936 when on his arrest for drunk

etc, documents dealing with Chinese politics were found

in his pockets. He claimed to be the principal of the

National United Trading Company but a visit to his address

showed no business and he could not produce papers

concerning scrap iron deals that he claimed. He next

came to notice in June 1937 when assisted by the Japanese

acting Consul-General at Hong Kong he made efforts to

secure admission on board the Soviet floating dock then

in Hong Kong. On 24.6.37 documents on his person were

examined without his knowledge and found to contain notes

on the floating dock and other notes covering unimportant

enquiries apparently made by him. Enquiries then showed

that although he still claimed to be the National United

Trading Company he was in fact employed by the Japanese

Consulate at Hong Kong as an enquiry agent and observation

showed he made daily visits to the Consulate where he