CONETDENTIAL
2
ABDITIGNAL BRINE SON VISIT OF SECRETARY OF STAFT FO HONG KONGA
MARCH 1967.
COMMISSION OF EQUIRY INTO THE KOWLOON DISTURBANCES 1966
A Commission of Enquiry under the Chairmanship of the Chier
Justice and consisting of three other members was appointed in May 1966
to enquire into the disturbances in Kowloon between 5th and 8th April
1966 sad the causes thereof, The Commission'a report was published on
the 21st February.
2.
In March, 1966 a report of the Transport Advisory Committee
on an application by the Star Ferry Co., for a fares increase was
published. It recommended a mall increase in the first class fare. The
application aroused public opposition. The subsequent events are summarised
in the concluding statement in the Commission's Report:
"On this isme (the fares inorezse) a substantial
gap was opened between informed and uninformed opinion
through which there came early in April groups of
youthrul demonstrators whose banner carrying, slogan
abouting and marches into the heart of Kowloon during
the bours, of darkness gave rise to a level of exeite-
mont and teenage hysteria which spilled over into
violenos and looting on the evening of the night of
6th/7th April. The violence was continued on the
following night by basis of youths, fortuitously gathered,
who had found in the events of the previous evening so
much attraction and excitement and so little danger that
they readily came back for more. Thereafter the deamıTOS
taken by the police, which had generally been
characterised by restraint, the introdue táom
/of