Sex
Male
Status
Deceased
Chan Kai was a member of David Loie's Police Reserve group, which was formed early after the occupation of Hongkong, and later joined the BAAG on probation as M Group. The probation period ended in May 1943. David Loie was arrested on 30th May. Chan Kai left Hongkong for Waichow on 10th June but was sent back to Hongkong by Mr Mok (M Group) and was arrested on 3rd June 1943. He was taken to the Gendarmerie HQ in the Supreme Court building where he was tortured by the Japanese, and later transferred to Stanley jail where he was killed.
BAAG Roll of Honur.
Comments
No 112
There is no hard evidence so far as to the identity if No 112, who is mentioed by number only as a member of the ill-fated M Group. However, the wife of Chan Kai/Chen Wai Shui does mention this number in her postwar statement:
Statement by Cheung Shi Yuen, widow, 8.10.45: “My husband Chan Wai Shui, alias Chan Kai, left Hongkong about July 1943 for Waichow, he did not tell me what he was going to do. He returned to Hongkong in Oct. 1943 and then told me that he had joined the BAAG in Waichow and had been sent back to Hongkong on duty. On the 10th Nov 1943 at about 1700 hrs 3 Chinese detectives came looking for my husband, but he was out at the time. They said that they were looking for him because he worked for the BAAG. My husband’s brother had been arrested 3 days previously. I told them that my husband was at sea, but they said I was lying as they had seen him two days previously, and threatened to arrest me and my husband’s father. They then struck him with a piece of iron bar. My father-in-law could not stand this so he took them to my husband at my sister’s house 189 Sai Yee Street 2nd floor, and they arrested my husband. He was brought back to this address, they made him change into a Chinese suit before they took him away. I also was struck with the bar.
I asked them the reason for his arrest and they told me that he was a member of the BAAG: Next morning 3 Chinese detectives came to search the house. Nothing was found but they stayed in the house for three days with orders to arrest any visitors. On the afternoon of 14 Nov. 43 seven Chinese males came to my house with my husband. They told my husband to have a bath. Whilst he was bathing they searched the floor for pencil and paper. They found a new fountain pen and some paper in the drawer. While my husband was having his bath I saw that his body was covered with bruises around the waist and buttocks. They then took my husband away again.
Next day another detective came to the house saying that the pen they had taken the previous day was not the one they wanted. They wanted the pen he was using the day previous to his arrest. He said that if I did not produce the pen he would to back and beat up my husband again so I gave him an ordinary pen and he appeared to be satisfied.
About 10 days later a Chinese male came and took a statement off me about my husband’s activities. He asked me were there any more men of the BAAG in Hongkong and where their HQ was. I did not know.
Several times I took food and clothing to the Hongkong Central Police Station but I was never allowed to see my husband. The dirty clothing which I received in exchange was bloodstained. On 23 Feb. 44 I took some food to the same police station and whilst there I saw a Japanese. He snarled at me, “He is dead and he doesn’t need that. Do not come again or you will be arrested too”. On 28. Feb 44 I received a letter from the Yaumati District Gendarmeri stating that my husband had been executed and asking me to collect the deceased’s property from Stanley. I did not go.
Li Shu is one of the detectives who arrested my husband. He is now living at 20 Saigon Street with a woman. This man very rarely stays at home at night.
He told me he was spy No. 112 when he was brought back to the house on Nov. 13th.”
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Also, statement by Tim Wong, 20.10.1945:
“Cheung Yee, mother of Chen Kwong Man and Chen Kai of “M” group who were executed by the Japanese at Stanley for charge of espionage in assisting the BAAG in Waichow, states that Lee Shu, the detective who was attached to the Japanese gendarmes in Kowloon led a party of Chinese detectives in Kowloon and arrested Chen Kai as an agent for the British Army in China and the Chungking Government. Chen Kai suffered from severe tortures from the hands of Lee Shu and his men. Chen was later found guilty and executed by the Japanese.
Lee Shu’s present address is No.20 Saigon Street Yaumati, where he lives with his concubine. He goes home to sleep from 9-11 pm daily and leaves the house at about 9.30 am each morning.”
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Statement by Cheung Yee 18.10.45: “On 12th Nov 1943 about three days after the arrest of my elder son Chan Kong Man two Gendarmerie detectives Lee Shu and Yip Ng Chai came to my address and asked for my second son Chan Wai Chiu alias Chan Kai.
My second son was not at home because since my eldest son was arrested, I have hidden him elsewhere. Not being able to find my second son Lee Shu and Yip Ng Chai then turned their attentions to my husband, an old man of over 60 years. They beat the old man severely and threatened to arrest the whole family if we did not produce our second son whom they accused to be a BAAG agent. To save the old man from more beatings we brought them to the hiding place of our second son. They then arrested our second son Chan Wai Chin alias Chan Kai and took him to the Gendarmerie HQ at the Supreme Court.
No visitors were allowed to see him because he was charged with a political offence. Food was however allowed to be sent to him from outside. Three days after his arrest my second son was escorted home by six gendarmerie detectives. They searched the house very thoroughly but found nothing. They then left and brought my son back to the Supreme Court. When I saw my son on this occasion he was in a terrible condition with bruises all over his body.
On 28 Feb. 44 a letter was delivered to my address informing me that my second son Chan Wai Chin alias Chan Kai was sentenced to death and executed. This letter is attached.
My second son Chan Wai Chin alias Chan Kai left a wife and 2 children whom I am supporting.
Lee Shu, the gendarmerie detective who made the arrest, is now residing at No 20 Saigon Street.”