11.7.38.
subject of
Pattacks of Jax warships on H. K. fishing fleet
-
"To Dr. J. Osear 7 hompson (23ackd) - 20·8-38
One sympathises with
DESTROYED UNDER/STATUTE
he Thampron.
But
10/0
we
have faded
to get fermanent fatrol of thin with os
Put by
P.Rages
2018.
Page
25. Gov. See
24
19.9.38.
to
Ref 11 on 28 file, td for consen summary of fishing junks & cargo boats band on H. IT, attacked by Jatinese during first six months of this year.
The Governor forwards a long list of
fishing junks operating from Hong Kong which
have been molested by Japanese vessels, and
asks that further consideration may be given to
the advisability of making representations on
this subject to the Japanese authorities.
As far as boats operating in the
territòrial waters of Hong Kong are concerned
Whitedim
it seems clear that the only safe method is a
of throne walls
patrol by a British vessel and it is satisfactory
to note from paragraph 3 that the intermittent
patrol which has been established has been
successful
Page
Page
age 10
10
(see minutes
on 7230/3/38)
General.
(see 19 on
7230/7/38? General)
successful in preventing these outrages in
territorial waters when a patrol boat is in sight.
would
My own feeling is that it will be desirable for a
permanent patrol of Hong Kong waters to be instituted.
It has hitherto been felt that it will be useless to
press this point t the Admiralty in the absence of
anything from the Governor, but I think the present
despatch gives us more than sufficient cause to press
now for the institution of a permanent patrol.
This will however, only effect fishing
vessels operating in the territorial waters of Hong
Kong and they will still be open to molestation
outside those waters. It has already been decided
that it would not be possible for the British patrol
boats to help in any way fishing junks stopped by
the Japanese outside territorial waters, and, short
of some system of convoy, which I imagine will prove
impossible in practice and in the absence of a much
stronger British Naval Force at Hong Kong, I presume
we can only rely upon representations being made to
the Japanese Government. I fear that their answer
is not likely to be very favourable.
? Copy 25 with enclosures in original to
F.0. saying that the S. of S. would suggest that in
view of the success of the intermittent patrol of
Hong Kong waters he would strongly urge that this
should now be made into a regular patrol. Say that
as far as fishing junks operating outside Hong Kong
territorial waters are concerned, it would appear
that short of some system of convoy, to which the
S. of S. assumes the practical difficulties would be
insuperable at the present time, the only course
which can usefully be adopted is to make
representations to the Japanese authorities, as
requested
age 10Page 11
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