CO129-570-10 Sino-Japanese War- Japanese seizure of the S.S. ASIAN- claims 15-2-1938 - 12-12-1938 — Page 38

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the transfer was indeed a genuine one and I advised Tokyo

to that effect. On receipt of my assurances the "Asian" was

immediately released'.

It is understood that the statement "An irregularity

was discovered in her papers" may be taken up by the Hong Kong

authorities. The Harbour authorities feel that the Board of

Trade may pick on a remark of this nature, which, if true,

reflects on their supervision. It is just as likely, however,

that the Japanese Consul-General made this remark to give a

reason for the ship's detention.

The Japanese had evidently been warned that the

ship was formerly Chinese owned as the ship was taken shortly

after leaving Hong Kong territorial waters and an armed

boarding party of considerable strength came on board

immediately after making the signal to stop the ship.

The impression obtained from the Captain is, that

while according to their views the Japanese officers were

reasonably courteous, the men were not so, and were ill

disciplined, indulging in money thefts and so on.

The examination was prolonged in the usual

Japanese manner by asking the same questions time after time

in order to obtain some diverging statement and so improve

their case. The owner's report, and demand for compensation,

is to be handed to the Hong Kong Government shortly for

presentation to the Japanese.

(H.K.I.R. No. 5/38)

(S.O(I) Hong Kong).