CO129-585-1 Sino-Japanese conflict- attacks on shipping 25-1-1940 - 2-10-1940 — Page 295

No. 104.

Sir,

I

RECE

11 MAR 1940

C. U

55835/10/1

f

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG.

27th February, 1940.

295

With reference to the previous correspondence

Governor's note of 42/-/39noted in the margin, regarding attacks by

2nd November, 19391 Governor's note of 2nd November, 1939, Governor's note of

6th November, 1939,43/-/39"

to Secretary of State.

Japanese vessels on fishing boats in British

waters, I have the honour to forward for your

consideration a copy of a police report and

Enclosure No.1. supporting statements regarding the seizure in British waters of two crgo boats of Hong Kong registry by a Japanese launch

on 21st January, 1940.

2.

Enclosure No.2.

(01)

Of

to

In this connection I forward also a copy of a letter dated 19th December, 1939, from His Majesty's Ambassador, Tokyo, and would suggest, in view of the repeated interference with supplies coming to this Colony,

that the desirability of making a strong protest to the

Japanese Government might be further considered.

3.

Hong Kong fishing vessels in or on their way to

or from their usual fishing grounds outside the waters of

the Colony and cargo boats of Hong Kong registry bound to

or from the Colony on their lawful occasions are continually

subject to attacks, the wanton barbarity of which, serving

no purpose in the prosecution of the war against China,

suggests that they form part of a deliberate attempt to

destroy the fishing industry of this Colony and to endanger

its normal food supplies. A particularly glaring example

of such an attack in which there is evidence that some

fifty fishing junks were damaged or destroyed at one time

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

вору

Kuaß

MALCOLM MACDONALD,

M.P.,

&C.

&C.,

&C.