CO129-578-11 Sino-Japanese War- refugees 17-1-1939 - 5-12-1939 — Page 48

48

Shortly

to cross into British territory or to make any contact

with Hong Kong police pickets in the vicinity.

after noon yesterday two companies of British troops

were posted at various points on the frontier to relieve

the police. Other British troops are standing by should

they be needed. The General Officer Commanding the

British Troops in China has informed me that his officers

have established communication with the Japanese at the

railway bridge on the frontier and that it has been

learnt that all the Japanese have strict orders to

respect the frontier, of the exact situation of which

they are aware.

3. No shooting or bombing by the Japanese has

yet been heard or reported; but as soon as they arrived

a movement of refugees into British territory began and

it is estimated that five thousand refugees have since

entered the Colony, including one thousand from a refugee

camp just across the border in Chinese territory;

arrangements are in hand to offer food and shelter to

these refugees. A few persons in civilian dress surrendered

arms on entering British territory with other refugees.

4. The intentions of the Japanese in carrying out

the present operations are not yet clear nor has it been

ascertained how long they intend to stay in the vicinity,

but it seems likely that they air at permanently picketing

the frontier in order to control communications by that

route between the Colony and China. I shall report to

you