SHAYUCHUNG RECONNAISSANCE
Report on Tamshui-Shayuchung-Pingshan Tour 8/8/42 to 13/8/42
E.D.G. Hooper
The Journey
Mr. O.S. Tsui and I left Waichow by bicycle at 0900 hrs on the 8th August. We reached Pingtan at 1130 hrs and found we had missed the main Tamshui road. We accordingly attempted to regain the main track across country but found the going very bad. In addition, the weather was very hot. On our arrival at Leung Tsing at 1400 hrs I therefore decided to spend the night there as it was still another 20 miles on to Tamshui. Leung Tsing is the Headquarters of the powerful Yeung (楊) clan. The Japanese passed through this village in their attack on Canton in October 1938. Mr. Tsui and I called on the District Officer (or Village Headman) and were courteously received by him and provided with food and accommodation for the night, for which we paid N.C.$50.00. We explained the object of our mission, viz:
1) to convey the thanks of the British Government to the Chinese people who had done so much in the past to help British and Chinese passing through their territory on their way up from Hong Kong, and to make good any financial losses sustained by them in this connection;
2) to request their continued assistance in future and to assure them that the British Government would continue to pay for such assistance; and
3) to inform the local authorities concerned of the organisations now established in Waichow and Kukong for the Relief of ex-British government employees, members of the Services, and Volunteers, Chinese and European.
The District Officer replied that it was the duty of all Chinese to assist all European subjects of the Allied Nations when in distress; that the Central Government had issued strict instructions to this effect; and that of course they would continue to render such assistance. (This was invariably the reply to my address on the object of my mission throughout the course of my tour). He added that there were no outstanding debts locally in connection with escapees.
On the 9th, we left Leung Tsing at 0800 hrs for Tamshui, where we arrived at 1430 hrs. I had a letter of introduction to the Officer Commanding the Battalion of the 187th Division garrisoning Tamshui from General Cheung, but we were informed that the Battalion was being changed that day, another Battalion was taking over and the Battalion Commanders were very busy in consequence. I accordingly decided to defer my call until the following morning. That evening I sent you my message re my movements by No.77.
On the morning of the 10th, we called on the local Garrison Commander, Colonel Wong (who had previously dined with us in Waichow), presented my letter of introduction from General Cheung, explained my mission and said I was anxious to get on to Shayuchung and Pingshan as quickly as possible. Colonel Wong thereupon took us to see the District Officer, who provided us with letters of introduction to various Village Elders along the route and arranged for cyclists to take us as far as Saihang, after which we should have to walk to Shayuchung. We finally left Tamshui at 1000 hrs. At approximately 1230 hrs we arrived at Haling, where we presented the first of the letters of introduction given us by the District Officer at Tamshui. The local District Officer received us courteously and in the course of conversation remarked on the large numbers of refugees from Hong Kong passing through his district as a result of the present policy of the Japanese (i.e. raising of the MY/HK dollar rate from MY1.00 = HK$2.00 to MY1.00 = HK$4.00, resulting in a 100% rise in the cost of living) and the forcible deporting of the poor and starving. I had already had visible proof of the appalling state of these refugees and I accordingly gave the District Officer $150.00 as a small present from the British Government to provide free meals for a few such poor unfortunates. For this I received an official receipt and many expressions of gratitude. Soon after leaving Haling, we arrived at Saihang where we left our bicycles and proceeded on foot, with our guide, to Kwaichung, the Headquarters of Mr. Wong Chuk Ching, leader of the Fourth Official Guerilla Group, to whom I had a letter of introduction from General Cheung. We arrived at Kwaichung at 1600 hrs, were most hospitably received by Mr. Wong and his entourage and spent the night in his stronghold. I arranged with Mr. Wong to visit Shayuchung (about 2 ½ miles away) the following morning, and possibly also Namou, which is under his jurisdiction. Details of my dealings with Mr. Wong are to be found below.
On the morning of the 11th, Colonel Chen Hon Pui, Deputy Chief of Staff to General Cheung, suddenly turned up in the course of an Inspection Tour of the various Guerilla Groups. After some conversation, a party of us, including Colonel Chen but not Mr. Wong, left for Shayuchung on foot, where we saw Mr. Wong’s outpost quartered in the ruins of the old Kowloon Customs Station, and took a view of Mirs Bay with the aid of Maps and glasses. Visibility was bad and no Japanese patrol boats or craft could be seen. After a hurried sea bath, we returned to Kwaichung, picked up Mr. Wong, who was to accompany Colonel Chen back to Waichow for a conference of Guerilla leaders to take place on the 15th, and set out on foot for Pingshan, the Headquarters of Mr. Mok Kwing Yun, Leader of the Third Official Guerilla Group, to whom also I had a letter of introduction from General Cheung. We arrived at Pingshan at 1600 hrs, were met by Mr. Mok and his Adjutant, and spent the night in the large farmhouse occupied by him just outside Pingshan Market.
At 0700 hrs on the morning of the 12th, word was brought that overnight the Japanese had landed at Namou and Siumuishan. Mr. Wong and his escort accordingly returned at once to Kwaichung and Mr. Mok, who was also to have accompanied us to Waichow for the conference, made preparations to lead his men to Siumuishan, which is in his district. Colonel Chen, Messrs. Cheung Kwok Kwan and Lee Siu Wah, Leaders of the 1st and 2nd Guerilla Groups in the Lin Shan Districts respectively, who were also proceeding to Waichow for the conference together with Colonel Chen, and ourselves, left Pingshan at 0900 hrs for Tamshui on bicycles. We arrived at Tamshui at 1200 hrs and spent the night in a hotel there. Finally, we all left Tamshui at 0630 hrs on the morning of the 13th by motorboat for Waichow, where we arrived at 1200 hrs.
General Remarks
I consider the tour was a most successful one and much credit is due to Mr. O.S. Tsui for his handling of the various interviews which took place, for his interpreting and for his ready flow of conversation in always a large gathering where he alone could speak English (apart from myself) and I could speak no Chinese .
The devastation and ruin in Tamshui and in all the villages and towns through which we passed was most noticeable, as was also the truly pitiful state of the many groups of refugees from Hong Kong and the New Territories which we passed en route throughout the whole length of our journey - visibly starving and in some cases lying by the wayside on the point of death.
The friendliness of every one we met, in the smallest way-side Teashop or Village, as well as in the larger Towns and Official Headquarters, was most marked. Groups of better nourished refugees would wave and smile and those who had a smattering of English would cry out “Hullo, Chum”, and the like. This was one of the most striking and touching impressions of my tour - they were in good heart and seemed genuinely glad to see a British uniform again.
The Guerilla Leaders
Wong Chuk Ching (王竹青): Definitely a personality (and his wife too). Older and better educated, seemingly, than the other Guerilla Leaders I met. A vigorous personality, independent, and definitely a man of action. Appears to be quite ruthless in his hatred of the Japanese. Promised every assistance to escapees passing through his territory - which covers roughly the coast from Namou to Shayuchung and the hinterland to Saihang. Put Thompson up on his way down to Hong Kong. Says that he always keeps five of his men, armed, in Hong Kong itself and does minor acts of sabotage, etc., and can get as many men as he wants in at any time. Is most anxious for large-scale action and promises his support in all things. His total force comprises some … [sic] men.
His men appeared tough and well armed - most of them I saw had the short Lee-Enfield rifle (obtained from Hongkong), but his personal bodyguard carried Mauser Automatic and Smith and Wesson .38 pistols. I understand they also have light machine guns. Equipment and uniforms are lacking, owing to shortage of funds, but this defect may be remedied as I understand the object of Colonel Chen’s tour is largely to do with the proper equipment of the Guerilla Groups by the Central Government. Ammunition also is not plentiful. Discipline, guard setting and the like appeared good and throughout I was impressed by an atmosphere of keenness and efficiency. I saw a group of soldiers armed with Lee-Enfield rifles, at Mr. Wong’s request, and found that they understood perfectly the ordinary handling of these weapons. They were not very clean, though I was told they were regularly cleaned once a week, and I explained to them the proper method of daily and after-firing cleaning, etc. I also told them that the sights were marked in yards (add 00) and not in metres, as they thought, and explained the art of aiming off into wind, of which they were ignorant. They told me they liked the rifles and found them very accurate. They asked me to strip the bolt, but this I told them was really an Armourer’s job (I had never done it myself). They replied that they found it necessary from time to time as some of the rifles were old and well-worn. Accordingly, at a later date, when Colonel Chen asked me privately for my views on the Guerillas I had seen, I told him all as set down above and suggested that the Government should send round a fully qualified Armourer to the various groups to instruct them in the proper handling and maintenance of the very wide variety of arms (obtained from various sources - largely British and Japanese I believe) employed by them. Colonel Chen assured me that this was already being done. Finally, as regards Mr. Wong, I gave him $500.00 as a small donation from the British Government towards Refugee Relief, for which he had informed me he was very short of funds, with many calls upon his purse owing to the greatly increased numbers passing through his districts. For this sum I received his official receipt.
Mok Kwing Yun (莫烱炎): Struck me as being of rather a dreamy and diffident disposition. Young, quiet, and does not make a very strong impression. On the other hand, I did not have the same chance of seeing him alone, as I did in the case of Mr. Wong, owing to the presence of the large party. Also he was obviously suffering badly from stomach trouble. He promised every assistance to escapees passing through his territory, which extends roughly along the coast from Shayuchung to Shatau. On the other hand, he is very near the Japanese at Shataukok, and surprise landings at such places as Shatau, Taimuisha and Shiumuisha in his area are frequent. It is quite certain that, as pointed out very strongly by Mr. Wong, escapees from Hongkong using Mirs Bay should keep as far away from Shataukok as possible, and make for Namou or Shayuchung, where Wong’s men can guarantee their safety. Even Pingshan Island, off Namou, should be avoided, as although Wong has his agents there, the Japanese have theirs also.
I did not see as much of Mok’s men as I did of Wong’s, though on my way into Pingshan on the morning of our return to Tamshui, I passed groups proceeding to the front to cope with the recent Japanese landing. They appeared quite well armed, with a great variety of weapons, including a few automatic rifles, but again any standard equipment or uniform was conspicuous by its absence. Mr. Mok is said to command some … [sic] men.
Messrs. Lee Chiu Wah (李超華)) and Cheung Kwok Kwan (張鳳鈞): Very young Guerilla Leaders, whose districts I hope to visit at some future date. Lee is of a very cheerful disposition, very friendly, and I should think is a very capable leader. Cheung is rather taciturn and made less impression on me.
(signed) E.D.G. Hooper
Captain
Waichow, 14.8.42.
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Clagues’s Covering Letter
To: Lt.Col. L.T. Ride, OBE
Commanding Officer, BAAG
Kukong
From: Major J.D. Clague
Commanding Officer, AHQ
Waichow 16th August 1942
Subject: Reconnaissance of Regular and Guerilla Units South of Waichow.
Herewith F.O.G. dispatches to date and both Capt. Hooper’s and Mr. Tsui’s report on their recent visit to the Sayuchung Area.
A general idea of the guerrilla situation can be obtained from the enclosed reports. However, what is of equally great importance is the question of how much they are capable of implementing their pledges in actual fact.
If I am not much mistaken, this is a question the Local Military are equally anxious to find out and in my opinion they are probably as far off knowing the answer as we ourselves. Our enquiries are continuing and we hope in due course to get information regarding the armament possessed and the standard and reliability of each group.
There is to my mind little doubt that these guerillas can be relied on to help in any scheme which may be drawn up. It is difficult to say with any degree of certainty that they could be relied on to carry out any specific task given to them, but there is no question that they would be an invaluable force for mopping up small outposts and creating havoc under cover of the general chaos. If at all possible, I will extract details of the recent conference concerning equipment and strength.
What is of the greatest importance is that we will be in an excellent position to express an opinion which I think H.Q. will have difficulty in disregarding because if they know so relatively little about the troops in the unoccupied area, how can they possibly know much about those in the occupied area.
The relations between ourselves and the local Military continue to be most cordial and make for good liaison.
Regarding the possibility of an attack on Hong Kong, please see Intelligence Summary No.3.
(s) J. Douglas Clague
Major
Commanding Officer, AHQ, Waichow.
Extract from Intelligence Summary No 3.
“Although nothing definite has been said there are several pointers which indicate that the Waichow Army HQ may have had instructions to concentrate on preparations with a view to a possible attack on Hong Kong:
1. The intelligence officer, 187 Division, has stated that the main aim of our intelligence should be to obtain all possible information which would be of use in an attack on Hong Kong.
2. He also states that the task of the newly formed Guerrillas Unit referred to in summary No.2 is to go into the New Territories in civilian clothes ahead of an advancing force. Lieut. Holmes in a private dispatch from Lung Kong states he is very favourably impressed by the efficiency of the leaders and organization of this new group with whom he spent several days.
3. The guerrillas generally have been inspected recently by the Chief of Staff’s assistant.
4. A new position - that of Colonel Chan, previously intelligence officer – has been created and appears to be designed to act as liaison with the guerrilla forces.
5. A conference of guerrilla leaders took place yesterday 14th inst. at Waichow HQ. Whilst nothing definite has been said about an attack in the near future, General Cheung (Commander Waichow Garrison) has made frequent references to the desirability and necessity of taking back Hong Kong at some future date and he personally wishes to take part in it.
6. All the guerrillas contacted to date appear anxious to “go to it”, and any influence they are in a position to exert will undoubtedly weigh on the side of those anxious for an offensive.
7. 11.8.1942. Our Forward Operational Group report that Chinese Regulars and Guerrillas have recently moved their HQ forward in the Lung Kong Area.”
[End of extract]
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