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anti-Chiang Kai Shek form of propaganda. In one of the first
issues the local Consul-General for Italy sent a message of
congratulations to the paper, an extract from which read as
follows at last we have an independent news paper in Hong
Kong woth reading and not a newspaper which is a tool in
the hands of the international Jewish bankers".
3. Colonel ISHINO and his staff of "attendants" have moved
the so-called "Military Chamber" from Conduit Road to Calder
Path, the reason for this shift not yet being apparent.
(ii) Lt. Col. OHIRA and Naval Commander KOSHIBA continue
to pay frequent visits to the Colony from Canton.
(iii) There has been a sudden increase in the number of
Japanese Naval and Military Officers visiting Hong Kong
recently.
4. During the early hours of 16.8.39 Japanese troops in
large numbers occupied shum Chun as well as all the villages
along the frontier and their forces were so formidable that
speculation existed as to the real intention of the Japanese
occupying ghum Chun for the second time since last November
and there were rumours that the move was the first step
towards blockading and encircling Hong Kong due to the
alleged transportation of arms and ammunition across the
frontier to the hinterland. In spite of this, however, it was
noticed that there was no sudden exodus of local Japanese
residents as was the case with Chinese and Europeans.
5. On 17.7.39 the Japanese gunboat "SAGA" arrived from
Cant on with OKAZAKI the Consul-General who was believed to
have made the trip for the purpose of discussing urgent
business with TAJIRI, the Hong Kong Consul-General.
6. A considerable decrease in the number of Japanese offic-
ials coming to and passing through the Colony has been noticed
and local Japanese residents' movements in and out of the
Colony have also decreased. The local Japanese population
still remains the same, i.e. approximately 750 adults.
R.
5.10.39
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