FO371-24688 — Page 13

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From: G.O.C. Hong Kong.

To

-:

IMMEDIATE.

The War Office.

7341 Cipher 21/6.

Tokyo 590 of 20th.

INDEXED

3441

1.1

SECRET CIPHER

TELEGRAM

SECRET.

10

jc

22 JUN 236

the

The chief reason for Evacua o

Chinese if t

women children is the danger

thes shd.be Evacuated

also possible shortage.

nisting & panic among

do

ROC

Japse that we

21/6/

if one 15 shout245 21/6ersonall 2

mean

business. 21/6 attack nor

think the danger of

di

"likes to get

control of climes.

immediate. We are more likes Japze demands for

Eoor organs operating in t'kong,

she.

Su

J.Brquan

Au Scott 2016

See our

Your 74485 (M. 0.2) 20/6 and Foreign Office telegram to

In my opinion there is no possible cause for panic but definite reason for being prudcnt as regards defence of Hong Kong.

F3-432 | 23 | 2 3

In his 1038 of 19th Ambassador states support of military extremists

growing hourly.

Japanese Consul General notified me confidentially today that Japanese Army would shortly occupy the districts of Po on (Namtau) Waichow and Tungkun north of the colony and marching with it. He emphasized this move was not repeat not directed against Hong-Kong but primarily for the purpose of increasing Wang Ching Wei's prestige by enlarging area under puppet control. Secondary considerations were cleaning up local guerillas and interrupt supplies of goods to China. He requested notificati on should be kept secret pending official statement by Japanesse. Above move has been forecast in previous telegrams and will probably be carried out by independant columns operating along East river, colony border and from Swatow where considerable activity is reported. Above communication docs not necessarily indicate Intention of attacking Hong Kong but obviously occupation of frontier districts places Japanese in a favourable position to do

Unless therefore it is considered Japanese are merely bluffing

SO.

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my/

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