WARTIME PLOT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 238, 8 October 1945, Page 5

WARTIME PLOT

MASSACRE AVERTED 1941 Chinese Gangster Activities In Hongkong . N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 1 p.m. HONGKONG, Oct. 7. A plan by Chinese gangsters to massacre Hongkong's entire European population was thwarted 36 hours before it was due to be carried out. This sensational revelation was made by the former Director of Criminal Intelligence and Investigation, Mr. F. W. Shaftain, who has just retired. "This plan, which was to have been carried out on December 13, 1941, was not the work of fools," he said. "We discovered it just in time to prevent bloody slaughter." Mr. Shaftain refused to say how the plot was discovered and the messacre prevented, but it is learned that when the news of the plot leaked out Mr. Shaftain summoned underworld leaders and police officials, to a conference at which Chinese gangsters frankly admitted their plan and expressed determination to go ahead with it. They, pointed out that their own arrests would not prevent the plot being put into operation, as the movement behind it was overwhelmingly powerful. The conference began at 10 p.m. on December 11 and ended at 5 a.m. on December 12 when the gangsters agreed to be bought off. Mr. Shaftain refused to disclose the terms of settlement, but it is known that a huge sum was paid over to the underworld organisation. Most of this was subscribed by very wealthy Chinese citizens of the colony.