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

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

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covertly received small chits, the one he received on

24.6.37 bearing the English writing:- "TNT, 10 Large

tanks, Army Blanket, Barbed wire. " This was not in

Richard's writing. Questioned indirectly as to his

daily visits to the Japanese consulate he claimed to be employed teaching Cantonese to the consular staff

but no teaching was disclosed by observation.

T

On 21/22.7.37 Richard accompanied Hisakichi OKAMOTO the acting Japanese Consul-general at Hong Kong to Macau

where they stayed overnight. The Hong Kong "NIPPO" reported

the visit was a goodwill visit to H. E. the Governor of

Macau but discussion of land options was suspected though

not confirmed.

Richard is very talkative and has occasional bouts

of excessive drinking and has several times expressed a

desire to attach himself to the police as a secret detective.

His personal documents were again seen on 13.10.37

and included a questionnarie written in Chinese with ten

questions several of which asked for details of movements

of Chinese officials; particulars of a foreign anti-

Japanese society in Canton; the effect and general opinion

of "our bombing" in Kwang Tung; economic conditions in

Canton whilst "we are at war there"; details of Kwang Sai

regiments sent North and a question re foreign aviators.

Amongst these documents were also particulars, sketches

and quantities of trench mortars, shells and the names

and addresses of several Japanese and foreign suspects

living in Hong Kong.

Richards contacts include two H.M. Naval Yard

British employees and a suspect British aviator. A recent

contact was CHIU FUN a Eurasian or Chinese of 74, Castle

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