CO129-578-12 Sino-Japanese War- attacks on shipping 10-1-1939 - 17-11-1939 — Page 107

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junk 2012 HD was detained by a Japanese motor trawler fly-

ing the Japanese flag and with Japanese in uniform on board,

at a position approximately 29 21′ 58* latitude North and

119 51' 48" longitude East in Briti sh (Hongkong) territorial

waters. The three men on the sampan were removed and taken

to the Island of Lingting where one was decapitated by the

Japanese, one so severely wounded that he died an hour later,

while the third suffered a bad wound inflicted, according

to the medical officer's report, by a heavy chopping instru-

ment.

In bringing the matter to the attention of the

Japanese Government in a note dated the 15th August, his

Kajesty's Ambassador pointed out that, quite apart from the brutal nature of the proceedings, His Majesty's Government were much concerned by the sction of the Japanese vessel in

carrying out the forcible detention of the crew of the

sampan at a point within Hongkong territorial waters.

over, the two murdered men were themselves ritish bora, so

that in fact those in command of the trawler had forcibly

removed British-born persons in ritish territorial waters

and subsequently put them to death.

ore-

In a reply dated the 19th September, the Minister

for Foreign Affairs informed (is kajesty's ambassador that,

according to information received from the Navy, the latter

had explored every channel in carrying out strict investiga-

tions, but that there was absolutely no vessel of the Japanese

avy which had anything to do with the case such as that refer-

red to in Sir Robert Craigie's note.

His Majesty's Government have taken note of this

reply. They cannot but observe, however, that the evidence

submitted by the survivors is circumstantial and reliable.

They, therefor, trust that further investigations will be made.

In the meantime liis Majesty's Government are present-

ing a claim for compensation amounting to Hongkong 41,080.00.