CO129-578-11 Sino-Japanese War- refugees 17-1-1939 - 5-12-1939 — Page 47

COPY.

Oryl.

Origton 83838/31/59. S.

SECRET (2).

Sir,

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG.

53435/2/39

22

kej jess 47

17th August, 1939.

I have the honour to inform you that in the early hours of Wednesday, 16th August, 1939, Japanese troops appeared again in Chinese Territory on the frontier of the New Territories of Hong Kong in the area extending from Deep Bay on the West to Shum Chun on the railway just beyond the British frontier. comprising infantry and cavalry, were estimated as

The troops,

numbering about five hundred and were accompanied by light artillery. In the course of the morning six Japanese aeroplanes were also observed flying continuously over Chinese territory in the neighbourhood: they did not however approach the frontier. The Japanese proceeded to occupy Shum Chun and the district right up to the Chinese Maritime Customs Station, where the railway crosses the frontier. It was further reported this morning, 17th August, 1939, that the Japanese were extending their operations eastwards from Shum Chun and had occupied another station of the Chinese Maritime Customs some distance east of Shum Chun in the vicinity of the road which runs along the eastern half of the

border on the British side.

2. The Japanese on their arrivel did not attempt

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

MALCOLM MACDONALD, M.P., etc., etc., etc.

to