1937-01-07 — Page 19

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 1937.

SMUGGLING RAMP IN

HONGKONG.-II

Colony As Base For Operations

TAISHAŃ

LANTA U

ISLAND

DEEP BAY

UN LONG

TO CANTON

LINTANG

HONG KON

AUTHORITIES

TASK

CHINESE

HOPELESS

By A Special Correspondent

So much has been heard of the activities of smugglers operating on land and in waters adjacent to Hong- kong, that the impression may be created of a Chinese Customs Preventive Service supposedly helpless to cope with the situation."

This I am told, is far from being the case, and if assumed, would not be taking into account the immense difficulties generally associated with anti-smuggling work, but which are much increased in the present case by geographical considerations such as are to be found in no other part of the world.

These, geographical considera- tions could not have arisen if Hongkong is not-the free-port-it to is, adjacent necessarily Chinese territory coming within the operations of the Chinese Maritime Customs. Within this side of the frontier, or in British waters, a smuggler is completely

from interference, immune

where he copting, of course,

as opium, deala in goods such spirituous liquors, tobacco and Kasoline, which are the four sole articles within the scope of the Hongkong Preventive Department. On the other hand, all goods pay a tax which go into Chinese terri- tory; and inducements are many for the smuggler of seasonable lines.

ex-

Where Chinese official connivence another operate as has ceased to factor complicating the general situa- tion, as it has ceased with the TC- entry of the Customs recently into its autonomous state in Kwangtung, the geographical factor still remains as a problem satisfactory solution of which would have saved many millions in a year for the Customs.

H

A QUESTION OF BOUNDARY? : In brief, the situation would have resolved itself into a question of boundaries if that were not already considered

delimitatiori and the actually fixed. In the narrow waters, In the many Indentations between Chinese and British territory, would be difficult to have a line fair- ly dividing the two spheres of 'nu- thority; or, if one were drown, to avoid a constant referènce to com- pass and bearings in order to deter mine, at perhaps a critical moment, a' the curving line necessitated.. by numerous British islets, and rocks, from the point of view of the Cus- toms, so inconveniently presenting themselves in those inlets

and so within the legitimate sphere of Customs operation.

The fact can there be fully appreciated of the dificulties and limitations by which the Customs worker must always be handicap- ped, in a lask designed to prevent the enormous leakage known to be taking place despite the best efforis being brought to bear by a Pre- ventive service lacking nothing in efficiency.

BASES OF OPERATION

con-

If the graphic sketch which accom- panies this story, tells us anything, It is to be discerned at once in the relative ease with which the irabandist may establish himself at any point within British territory and yel near enough to the dividing line for that short, quick rush nerass with his goods at the appropriate instant.

We can therefore appreciate the good sense that has dictated his choice. of such places like Pengehou or Kulo Island, or.Shataukok and Un Long as tactleai bases of opera- tion and points of concentration for his goods, therein combining a technical but effective immunity with convenience to business.

Particularly is this the case with Pengehnu, a rock in size no larger than Statue Square, but upon whore extant has been bullt a godown

for contraband, of a size and nature demonstrating the expectatione of permanency of their owners. Lokmachau, at the foot of the British Police Station itself, is on- other place where goods are stored, and smugglers there carry their mer- chandise into China in full view of broth authorities!

A veritable thorn in the side of the Customs, this Pengehou Island has become, with other conveniently- placed localities like it, on establish- ed base for the smugglers. So much 50, their activities have called into action special devices entulling the much greater employment of personnel and material resources than would elsewhere be put into such a relatively small area.

Hemming this Ittle island, and that of Kuto, in on all sides, are numerous

brought Customs, Stations existence by the exceptional require-

into

By the Treaty of 1898, the entire basins of Mirs. Bay and Deep Boy, at both ends of the land frontier, are Dritish waters, within which no sus- pected Junk, lunch or other craft may be interfered with; but their Northern shores are Chinese territory,ments, including Namo, Tip Fook, forming, with the land frontier, in between, an uninterrupted dividing lipe of some 60 miles beyond which, this side of it, the operations of Customs men must always fall short.

From this frustration (if I'máy, use the term for_want of a better;", al-. though the effect remains the same) has emerged as 'curious situation where a smuggler, up to a certain very advanced pofat in Belush waters, may "wick his nose". at Customs officer, or cruiser, who, al-" though within sight; and hajling dit. tance, le unable to get at his quarry; „much less, to come within:grips, until the latter is fairly in Chinese territory

Sha: U Chung, Kalchung, Yim Tim; and the Chinese halt of Shataulok across the Sumchun creek.

These stations are disposed within fairly equal distance of each other, but the cordon traced by them, and Birelched out to the distance entailed, is not so effective that it has prevent- ed those short, sharp inrushes at points in between, as soon as the patrols have passed out of aight or hearing.

A fare, a torch or other light, would then 'signal, the "all clear"i

· across to" junka waiting, i my, Pat Pengchau. or in the offing, when it

KUTO

MIRS

SAY,

SET

would entail but a short trip in- shore before the contraband Was landed and moved rapidly inland.

NOT SO SAFE

But there were Occasions-und these ocensions had become more and more frequent of late-when contraband-running was not the safe or easy undertaking It would seem; risky and then it could become a and dangerous adventure assuredly-- for both sides.

I may be that an unusually em- cient spy system had erred in col- culations of the probable times of arrival at, or departure of a Customs foot patrol or éraft from a certain spot; or that a trap had been well- laid by the other side; but whatever. the implication, it had not frequently led to this result: a junk

of or whole band

contrabandista being ambushed or surprised,

in-

It is not the policy, I am told, of the Chinese Maritime Customs Ad- ministration to go into details, how- Lever interesting and sensational these

could be as news for the public. "But" from the fact that both sides are habitually armed (contrabangi car- riers are now necompanied by arm- ed escorts in the railo of a rife to every 20 carriers), and that smug- glers caught in a desperate situation, or, who think they have u reasonable chance of making a get-away, usual- ly do not hesitate to use their wen- poms, it may be reasonably inferred that the encounters on these occasions are of a sanguinary character.

To

That these encounters are also numerous-increasingly so of late is revealed by the recent record stained of 3,000 smugglers and carriers captured within one monili, In addition to more than 70 craft captured or destroyed at sea.

eight make this record possible, cruisers and a number of auxillary craft had been employed, on cruises sometimes extending to 20 days; while on land, a force of some 300 men covered possible points of entry with a triple cordon reaching back into the remoter villages.

PREPLEXING PROBLEM

Except to free them afterwards, what to do with wilful offenders when caught is u perplexing problem not to be solved by a limited prison accommodation falling far short of the enormous requirements suggested by the Agures given. But, as far as possible, other measures are adopted for the deterrent effect secured. Junks caught bringing in contraband are destroyed drastic punishment with a restraining influence on many a junk that had contemplated making a similar voyage out from Hongkong, sometimes with the full knowledge and in full view of the Customs launch following in its very wake.

It would be overstating the facts to ascribe the major part of these smuggling, operations to

any one particular persons or group, since every passenger in the six millions moving in a year between here and Conton, or any other paint it is pos- sible to reach by crossing the frontier, is, for the purposes of the Customs, a potential smuggler.

But where these activities are along well-defined channels as to present the appearance of organized direction--the same, direction that has made of l'engchau. Kuto, Un Long,

bure and Shataukok

bases it is pos- sible to assume that a substantial portion of the Illlelt trade has had behind it the well-directed

backing of large financial resources. If the Customs Administration knew of these potential Interests-as It may be inferred it did it Is n closely guarded secret, for the present at any rate... Meantime, the smuggler with all the advantages conferred by hie geographical position, this side of the boundary line, continues to sin in comfortable knowledge of personal "untouchability as one of these ad

vantages.

Знайсним

2am

ENAMS

RADIO BROADCAST

Dance - Music from The Hongkong Hotel

CHILDREN'S CONCERT

Radia Programme Broadcast by Z.B.W. on a wavelength of 355 metres (843 .c.'s), 31.40

(9.52 megacycles).

H.KT. p.m.

metres

5. A Relay of Dance Musle from the Root-Garden of the Hongkong Hotel.

C From the Studio,

A Children's Concert G.30 Marck Weber, and His Orchestra.

The Hermit (Clemens Schmaistich); Forest Idyll (Esslinger); Where my Caravan has rested (Lohr); Love's old sweet song (Molloy); Entry of the Spring Flowers (Kockert); You shall be the King of my heart; Waldteufel Waltz Potpourri (arr. Silbermann).

7 p.m. Norman Allin (bass) and Fritz Kreisler (violin).

Bass Solos-The

Own King's (Crofts and Bonheur), True till death (LL.B. and Scott Gatty); Violin Solos Serenade Espagnol (Spanish Serenade), (Glazounov), Jota (De Fulia); Bass Solos-On to Philadel phia (Temple and, Haynes), A West and Country Courting (O'Reilly Sanderson); Violin Solos-Fair Rose- mary (Kreister), Randino (Kreisler): Bass Solo-Father O'Flynn (Graves, urr. Villers Stanford).

7.30 Closing Local Stock Quola- tions and Hongkong Exchange Mar ket Report.

7.35 Talkie Tunes.

"Palm Springs"-I don't want to make history....Francis Day (So- prano): "The Cousin from nowhere" .Charles Kuliman Goodnight., (Tenor); "Everything is Rhythm" Selection.... Louis Levy and Gaumont British Symphony; "Keep

His

This sketch map with the red your seats please"--Keep your seats

please.. George Formby (Come- dian); "Going Places"-Plano Med-

line drawn to mark the delimita-Picas

8 pm, Time, Weather and An- nouncements.

8.05 From the Studio.

Pro-

tion of British and Chinese ley: "Sing Baby Sing"-When did

you leave Heaven? jurisdiction, graphically portrays the operations of the many smuggling ramps, big and small,

A Chinese Concert, conducted from this Colony,

11 p.m. Close Down. 8.05-11 p.m. European Pengchau and Kuto Islands, and other bases of operations by grammo from ZEK. on a fre

quency of 610 kllacycles. smugglers, mentioned in the 8.05 p.m. Concerto No. 2 in C atory, are shown as well as their respective distances from Chi- nese territory.

JUTLAND VETERAN

IS DEAD

COMMANDED

GERMAN WARSHIP

F

SEYDLITZ

minor, Op. 18 (Rachmaninoff), played by Sergei Rachmaninof and the Philadelphin Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Leopold Stokowski.

8.45 "Ruy Hlas"-Overture (Mendelssohn), played by the Symphony Orchestra, Conducted by Dr. Malcolm Sargent.

8.65 London-News nouncements.

and

AД-

9.15 Reginald Dixon at the Cinema Organ,

9.30 Len Fillis and His Novelty Orchestra with The Mills Brothers (Vocal),

Orchestra-Lullabyland-The music of lullabies; Vocal-Shoe Shine Boy: Rhythm saved the world; Orchestra Songs of Home; Vocal-Sweet Lucy Brown-and-Londen Rhythm.

Jack Hylton and His 10 p.m.

Ben. Orchestra. London--Blg

10.30 London-The Two Leslies and Bertha Willmott in "Silly Songs we used to sing." With the B.B.C. Orchestra, Conducted by Charles Shadwell. -

Presented by Max Kester. (Electrical Recording).

10.50 London-Oddities phone Records).

Berlin, Jan. - 6. The death of Captain Moritz von Egidy, at the age of 06 years, who commanded the German battle- cruiser Seydlitz in the Battle of Jutland, recalls that the Seydiitz Variety was, hit no fewer than twenty-six times, and also torpedoed in her hold during the engagement. ·

The warship Just managed to limp to a home port, where she beached.--Reuter” Spocini.

was

Australian

Banking

Governor

SIR ERNEST RIDDLE ARRIVES HERE

Sir Ernest Riddle, Governor of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, arrived in Hongkong this morning on the Rawalpindi from India. Sir Ernest is accompanied by Lady Riddle and will continue his voyage to Vancouver after a short stay In Hongkong, from there talking a liner to Australia across the Pacific.

Sir Ernest's, rip has been purely for health reasona and this morning voyage he stated that during the abroad he had, carefully kept clear of all matters, relating to economics and banking...

NEW CAPITAL ISSUES

LAST YEAR'S BRITISH

FIGURES

11 p.m. Close Down.

(Grama-

DAVENTRY PROGRAMMES

are observed by. Daventry.

The following wave-jongtha and frequencies

Frequency Wavelength 8,600 k.. 49.59 metres k.c. 81.00 metres 31.30 metrs

23.62 meires 25.23

metrom metnes

Alzn

GSA

GSU

D.KID

0,68 k..

GAD

11.780. k.c.

GRE

17,868

x.c.

QSF GB

15,180 k.e. 17,300 k.e.

10.81

10.86 metres

GKH

20.470 k..

13.97 metres

CHI

16,260

k.e.

10.GJ metres

G8J

GXL

21,640 6,110

x.c.

k.c...

19,68 metren 109,10 meiten metrre Factres

OSI

GSP

15,480 .. 19.74 10,810 .. 10.63 Transmission 1

108.3., 0.8.0., 0.8.P.)

¿ p.m.

Big Ben, Children of the Stars'

4.46 pm. A Valoneella Recital, 5.5 p.m. Food for Thought," 6.24 p.m.

Hasle of the Hours." 5.10.1m. The News and Announcements. Gireenwich Time Signal at 6.45 p.on.

Transmission 2

(G.B.D., G.B.G., 0.8.3L)

79.

7.80

H piti,

m,

Big Ben Munia by Mozart

John Londoner at Home1. Danes. Mule,

#.20 D. 'Food for Thought*

A Recital of Bangu.

40 p.m. 8.53 p.m. The News krs! Aunourrénventa. Greenwich Time_Signal at 9.15 p.m. 9,15 pm. The B.B.C. Well Orchesten

Transmission 3

(0.5.0., 0.8., 0.9.1.)

10 p.m. Dig Ben, Reginald Poort, at the

BBC Theatre Organ,

10.50 p.m.

10.50 pm

Blily Bones wa Used to Sloz."

00027

11 m. Polit den Off-duty" 11.20 p.m. T Central Band of

Madesty's Royal Air Fores.

Ita

11.15 am. A Violin Itecital, 12.80 am, The News and Announcements. |__Greenwich_Time Signal at 18.45 km. 12,50 am, · Dance Music? Kumbas,

ALEKHINE WINS

London, Jan. 0. London, Jan: 6. Dr. Alekhine, the famous chess New capital Issues in the United champion, won the International Kingdom totalled £217,221,000 Iast tournament at Hastings to-day with year. This was close on £10,000,- score of 8 out of a possible 9 points, 000 less than 1930, the last year be- and Reuben Fine, an American, was foro the world depression, and second with 7.5 points.-Reuter compares with £88,600,000 in 1991, from which dale consistent annual recovery has been maintained.

the muni Of last year's issues, the

boords group cipalities and, public accounted for £40,000,000, the rail- way group for £81,260,000, and coal, iron, steel and engineering, includ- ing motors and aviation, for over 22,250,000, while the Investment and finance group approached. £22,- 000,000,-British”.Wireless..

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