CO129-570-3 Sino-Japanese War- proposed refugee camp in demilitarised area of South China 1-6-1938 - 11-1-1939 — Page 52

COPY FOR REGISTRATION

Telegram from the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State

74

52

for the Colonies.

Dated 26th November,1938

RecoTECEIVED

8-28em 26th November, 1938.

2 € NOV 1938

TEPORT ANE. No 337.

C. O. REGY

Addressed to the Secretary of State for the

Colonies No 337, repeated to Tokyo No 101, Shangai No 206, Canton No 44. Refugee situation intensified gravely yesterday as a result of Japanese sweep-up which brought their troops close to the border at four points. Many thousands principally women and children crossed today and more expected tomorrow.

Pat Heung aerodrome camp filled early yesterday

and villages are now crammed so that nearly all today refugees camped in the open.

Matting shed material in the Colony exhausted. I hope to lodge some 2,000 in empty railway waggons today but this will only help small minority of homeless persons. Generally expected howevor that great majority will return home as soon as the Japanese troops have passed on.

Refugees are disallowed from proceeding southwards

of the line Taipo Patheung Yuenlong:

and the border not restricted.

movements between that line