CO129-570-8 Sino-Japanese War- sinking of Chinese fishing boats by Japanese vessel 31-1-1938 - 22-12-1938 — Page 50

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"

The junks were technically Chinese and not

but they were licensed in Hongkong

registered in Hongkong;

for revenue purposes to ply in Hongkong waters and they

habitually did so. Some of them, however, were owned by

British subjects; there were British subjects on board and

amongst the survivors; and many of those killed must also

have been British.

The conclusions of the report have produced a

very painful impression on His Majesty's Government in the

United Kingdom and they reserve their right to address an

official communication to the Japanese Government at a

later stage, should this course seem desirable, as also

to publish the report or any part of it and to claim full

compensation for damage, suffering and loss of life caused

to British subjects. They would, however, be glad to learn

in the first place whether the competent Japanese

authorities have any observations on the report which they

would wish to offer.

British Embassy,

Tokyo.

13th January, 1938.

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