CONFIDENTIAL
PO DE DESCONNOLIDARICI
By 2230
opened fire in self defence injuring three of the crowd, two of whom subsequently died. Police had three casualties, including one killed in the melee. violence had grown in the eastern district with the crowds stopping and stoning trams and buses, setting one bus on fire, demonstrating outside a Right-wing newspaper and threatening to set fire to buildings. Three American servicemen were also chased. Crowds, dispersed by police action including the use of tear gas, continually reformed until shortly after midnight when the ringleader of a hostile group, which refused to disperse, was shot and killed by the police. Shortly after this, order was restored. During this time, there were three minor incidents in Kowloon, where several buses were also attacked, one being set on fire. Total casualties were one policeman and three civilians killed, ten policemen and three others injured. There were 22 arrests.
The characteristics of the last two days' demonstrations were the use of students in comparatively minor demonstrations as bait in the area of a mainland store or office with an ambush party ready to take on the police when they arrived. The violence which developed marked a new phase. It is of interest that there was little support from the general public on the island; although some hooligans joined in, the response was much less than occurred in May in Kowloon. The reasons for this new violent development is probably frustration over previous lack of success, though the incident at Sha Tau Kok may have had some influence.
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Situation in Sha Tau Kok.
5.
About midnight 9/10 July an improvised bomb was thrown into British territory slightly injuring a Gurkha soldier. The local commander arranged for the police to broadcast a message by loudspeaker to the local Chinese commander seeking his co-operation in preventing incidents like this. Only response was broadcasting by the Chinese of the Peking Note on Sha Tau Kok incident. The majority of inhabitants of British territory have now voluntarily withdrawn to stay with friends deeper inside new territories. If all continues to be quiet, they may well return. If not, Sha Tau Kok (B.T.) may become a virtually dead town a sort of no man's land.
6.
There have been several reports that formal applications are to be made by relations or their authorised representatives for the handing over of the bodies of the original seven dead men. The presence near the mortuary of a large number cameramen and reporters mainly from pro-Communist papers during the day seemed to confirm that such a move was planned. Nothing, however, eventuated.
7.
There were no incidents until just after 16.00 when a crowd of about 400 formed near the Star Ferry, Kowloon, probably coming from the large C. P.G. owned building opposite. They beat up a bus driver and a European soldier, then moved up Nathan Road shouting slogans and stoning buses until dispersing without further incident in the Jordan Road area. The soldier was admitted to hospital suffering from slight concussion.
(Passed as requested)
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CONFIDENTIAL