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taken ashore. In exchange we receive oranges, firewood, vegetables and chestnuts which we bring down to Hong Kong.
We generally arrive at NAM TAU by night and have
to signal by flash-light, by day we attract attention by
ringing a bell.
I speak Japanese which I studied for over a year
in a Japanese school at Amoy.
the siren
About 08.30 hours on the 22.1.40. I was on board
the Steam Launch KWAI HING with two large junks in tow (Nos.
2312V and 2233V) we were then steaming off CHEK WAN when a Japanese motor boat signalledus to stop, I was asleep in the cabin of one of the junks. The coxswain sounded the
which awoke me. On getting up I saw the launch going alongside
the motor boat. Two Japanese in uniform boarded my junk, they
spoke to me in Japanese asking for $50.00 for a cargo of wood
which was on one of four junks alongside their motor boat.
There was a further cargo of dried ducks, taroes and vegetables
on board these junks. The Japanese asked me to take this
cargo to Hong Kong, sell it and bring the money back to them
on the next trip. They would be waiting there for my return.
At first I refused to do this, they told me if I refused I
would not be allowed to carry on my trade in that locality.
I agreed to carry out their wishes, because I was forced to do
it.
The cargo consisting of dried ducks, vegetables, taroes
and firewood were then transferred from the four junks to the
two junks being towed by the Steam Launch KWAI HING. At that
time I saw CHAN TONG a cargo owner on board one of these four
junks. This man suggested that I tow his junk to Hong Kong,
the Japanese refused to allow me to do so. The transferring
of the cargo occupied about 40 minutes. We then set sail for
Hong Kong. We arrived off Yaumati Typhoon Shelter about 17.30
hours and were arrested and detained by No.5 Police launch and
the junks were towed to Yaumati Slipway.
(sgd) R. CUNNINGHAM. Sub. Inspector.
23.1.40.
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