Mr. Carter.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Sir
C
File No...
Permt. U.S. of S.
Parly. U.S. of S.
Minister of State
Secretary of State
Your Reference.......
Date
DRAFT PARLIAMENTARY STATEMENT
爬
DISTURBANCES IN HONG KONG
Х
wish to make
>
Leading to
disputa of Siciating
of disturbances es
originally
There arose
from
a labour dispute in two factories &
*
I am taking this early opportunity of making a statement to the abort
House on the disturbances in Hong Kong.
In the period between 120 6" and 22 nd May there was a serie's There was an industrial dispute in April in two factories-
producing artificial flowers
thew
But what began as a genuine labour
by local commonut's ed/for quite different ends.
dispute was taken up and exploited,
今
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 have led to disturbances
involving police action. There has been open incitement to violence
and to disaffection, through certain newspapers and through public
address systems mounted in private buildings.
3. Up to the 17th 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
FURTHER ACTION
on public buildings and on Government House itself, although unlawful,
were tolerated so long as demonstrators remained orderly. It became
necessary, however, on the 20th May, because of increasing rowdiness,
to disperse further unlawful assemblies and processions, although up
to the 22nd 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
constaple over whom petrol had been thrown no firearms have been used. The greatest
Very great/restraint has been exercised throughout by the police,
steet/res
(E6098) WI 42332-8537 50m 1/64 V.B. Gp 791
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/despite