CO129-579-11-1 Sino-Japanese War- seizure of unauthorized wireless transmitting apparatus 13-2-1939 - 7-5-1940 — Page 139

K6XX SECRET.

Copy to B.A., Shanghai.No.11.

B.A., Tokyo.

Sir,

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG,

No.11.

13th February, 1939.

138

Gpy to FO. &

Quod (5)

I have the honour to forward a copy of a report

which has been made by the Assistant Superintendent of

Police, New Territories, upon the establishment of a

wireless transmitting and receiving set in a building at

Sha Tau Kok, which though actually on Chinese soil abuts

on the path which at that point is the Anglo-Chinese

border.

2. As you are aware from my secret telegram No.345

dated November 28th, 1938, the village of Sha Tau Kok lies

astride the eastern end of the Anglo-Chinese border on

Mirs Bay.

There can be no doubt that the intention of

the Chinese authorities is to dismantle their apparatus,

should Japanese troops appear in the neighbourhood; to take

it over the border into British territory pending the

disappearance of the Japanese; and then to re-erect it in

Chinese territory. This is exactly what was done by the

Chinese at Shum Chun when the Japanese troops came there

in October last, and that set is again at work just on

the Chinese side of the frontier.

3. It is presumable that the Japanese authorities

would take strong exception to British connivance at such

a process and I wish to avoid giving them any legitimate

ground for complaint against this Government. That has

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

MALCOLM MACDONALD, M.P.,

&C.,

&C.

&C.,