Cypher
CONFIDENTIAL
OUTWARD TELEGRAM
FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
TO HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
Sent 31 May, 1967. 2200Z
87
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 63
- 1 JUN 1967
JAA
FLASH
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 1096
My immediately preceding telegram.
Text of Statement.
Begins.
TR
I wish to make a statement about Hong Kong.
191
2. In the period between the 6 and 22 May there was a series of disturbances. These arose originally from a labour dispute in two factories. But what began as a genuine labour dispute was then taken up and exploited by local communists for quite different ends. Organised demonstrations were mounted as a direct and deliberate challenge to the authority of the Hong Kong Government. In some cases these were orderly but in others they led to disturbances involving police action. There has been open incitement to violence and to disaffection.
30 Up to the 17 May the demonstrations were confined to parts of Kowloon: thereafter they spread to Victoria on Hong Kong Island. Processions, assemblies in public places and the sticking of posters on public buildings and on Government House itself, although unlawful, were tolerated so long as demonstrators remained orderly. It became necessary, however, on the 20 May, because of increasing rowdiness, to disperse further unlawful assemblies and processions,
although up to the 22 May orderly groups of 20 persons were still permitted to present petitions at Government House.
4. Throughout the disturbances the Hong Kong police have succeeded in controlling the situation with the minimum amount of force. Apart from the firing of three revolver shots, wounding one man, by a constable over whom petrol had been thrown no firearms have been used. The greatest restraint has been exercised throughout by the police, despite extreme provocation. The Secretary of State and I have already paid public tribute to them in Hong Kong, and I will do so again
now.
5. The casualties comprise 36 police and 70 demonstrators. Of these, two police and 14 other casualties were admitted to hospital. There has been only one death, that of a bystander who was killed by a stone. 788 persons were arrested, of whom 42 have been released or acquitted. Of the remainder 439 have been convicted of riot, unlawful assembly, assault, breaking curfew and other offences, and 307 cases are pending.