The skirmish Hostile_encounter was the first armed Bearing_arms conflict Hostile_encounter of the First Opium War Hostile_encounter and occurred Presence when British boats opened Process_start fire Use_firearm on Chinese war junks enforcing Action a food sales Commerce_sell embargo Process_end on the British community .

They encountered Hostile_encounter three Chinese junks , and Elliot sent Sending interpreter Karl Gutzlaff with demands Request to allow Preventing_or_letting the supply Supply of provisions .

He finally delivered Sending an ultimatum after several hours of correspondence : the junks would be sunk if supplies Supply were not received Receiving .

The stated Statement time period expired Process_end with no results , so the British opened Process_start fire Use_firearm on the junks , which returned Giving fire Use_firearm with support Supporting from the on-shore fort .

The larger junks pursued Self_motion the British boats which were sailing Departing away after running low on ammunition , but the British re-engaged Hostile_encounter the ships after replenishing Supply their ammunition , and the Chinese retreated Escaping to their former position , ending Process_end the clash Hostile_encounter in a stalemate .