BRITAIN WATCHING HONGKONG AREA

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 77, 23 December 1937, Page 5

BRITAIN WATCHING HONGKONG AREA

(British Offieial Wireless.)

Japanese Naval Movements in Adjacent Waters QUESTION IN COMMONS

(Eeceived 23, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Dec;. 122. Answering a question in the House of Oommons, the First Lord of the Ad miralty, Mr. A. Duff-Cooper, assured the House that Japanese naval movoinents in waters adjacent to Hongltong were being carefully watehed, but afidod: "I have no information on the subject I could usefully give the House at the present time." Mr. Anthony Eden, Foreign Secretary, in answering a somewhat similar question, also assured the House that the situation was being carefully watehed and that all possible protectiou would be afforded British trade interests in South China. In refening to Customs control at Shanghai, Mr. Anthony Eden said that che Japanese authorities there had nov yet received instructions from their Government but that the British Ambassador to Tokio was communicating with the Japanese Government to have the dispateh of instructions expedited. The Hongkong correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that 1000 highly trained and well-equipped troops of the Cantonese Army are marching to meet Japanese forces believed to be about to land at Bias Bay (reports a Press Assoeiatiou cable). The Cauton correspondent of the News-Chronicle says that Chinese antipiracy guards repulsed Monday's preliminary landing of 800 Japanese marines at Bias Bay. The euards held off the assailants pending reinforcements. When these arrived the guards went over the top of the newly-dug trenches and drove the Japanese back to their boats. There were heavy casualties ou both sides.