On 5 June 1931, a mass stabbing occurred off the coast of Japan, aboard the Canadian Pacific Steamships liner RMS Empress of Canada.

Bilas was arrested and brought to Hong Kong, where he was declared insane and committed to a psychiatric hospital.

At approximately 9:30 a.m. (UTC+09:00) on 5 June 1931, Graciano Bilas, a 42-year-old Filipino steerage passenger, began stabbing people randomly with a pocketknife aboard the Empress of Canada.

[2] After engaging in a friendly conversation with a Canadian crew member, Bilas stabbed him and two others who happened to be nearby.

[1] Bilas was kept in the brig under armed guard as the ship sailed to Hong Kong, where he was charged with murder.