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On MTB 10's return, more patrols were ordered by XDO MTB 11 being detailed to search for ship reported showing searchlight off Lingting, but if found I gave orders that being alone she was not to attack unless in a definitely favourable position. An MTB was also detailed by XDO to patrol Tathong and MTB 09 detailed but the weather being hard for such a MTB patrol to be effective, I ordered 09 to report state of sea and this patrol was later withdrawn. This was a very hard '24 hours: for ATB's but personnel ashore were also being driven. The following general signal was received this night:-
"H. E. the Governor has sent the following message
December 20th
to all H. M. Forces in H.K.
The time has come to advance against the enemy. The eyes of the Empire are upon us. Be strong. Be resolute and do
your duty.
Mark Young Governor
2031/19".
On Saturday, December 20th, the Chinese naval ratings working MTB motor cutter and motor boat did not appear for duty having left to look after their families in Hongkong, and Ig find it difficult to blame them, as after the scuttling the position to them must have appeared hopeless, and these crews had been hard worked, had slept each night in their boats and received rather meagre rations ever since December 8th. They had stayed longer than any other Chinese. MTB personnel now worked boats themselves as requisite.
Naval ratings and European Dockyard Defence Corps were now being used to reinforce the military.. At 1300 I was ordered to see the Extended Defence Officer and Commodore and proceeded to Headquarters and Dockyard on a motorcycle in heavy rain. There was a good deal of shelling on the Hongkong side but Aberdeen was quiet, I was given instructions by the Commodore to torpedo the S.S. APOEY at No. 13 buoy after dark as this ship was suspected of having a Japanese force on board, a small Jap motor boat having previously been fired upon before taking refuge at S. S. APOEY. I was not however to expend more thau 2 torpedocs. I proposed with his approval to go in at 2300 top of high water with MTB 10 and 11 and fire one torpedo from 10 and another from 11, if 10's failed, but ire no more, the difficulty being to obtain sufficient man in the harbour at hight to fire a pɔryedo in water over 40 feet depth; it being dmu ssible to take from rest. I was then given confidential instructions to carry a uropean guerilla leader, Mr. F.W.K. and his two assi tants in the boats of the Flotilla and to land with him north of Hongkong after scuttling, and to endeavour to pass through the Japanese lines with flotilla-
/personnel.
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