16.
CONFIDENTIAL
Simulated bombs vary widely in nature and prosent no difficulty in manufacture. Those planted together with real bombs are generally more realistic than individual productions.
The Bomber?
17.
Although in one or two cases persons arrested in possession of bombs have been from the criminal element with no strong political beliefs, they have been exceptions to the rule. The vast majority are militant communists completely indoctrinated and prepared to continue their activities in the face of death. Union members and youthful students comprise the najority. Males and females have been used although the former are in the majority. Ages vary, but youths and men in their twenties are the most significant age groups. They are tough and stubborn and have thown strong resistance to hostile interrogation, although occasional outbursts occur when they admit an offence committed in furtherence of the "struggle" and launch into a tirade against the "oppressors".
Dividends from questioning have therefore been few in the past, but recent vigorous and continuous interrogation has produced results. Such methods supported by strategem provide the only chance of success,
Times, Places, Targets.
18. There has been no firn geographical pattern to bomb incidents which have been fairly distributed over the urban areas. Some areas, however, have been more heavily and Frequently affected than others as, for example, the Me Tau Waż, Ma Tou Chung Road areas of Kowloon and the Johnston Road area in Hong Kong. Such areas usually have a preponderence of left-wing premises, Commercial areas and major traffic routes are also popular targets.
19.
Although much of the bomb planting appears to have been indiscriminate, it is clear that in many cases the intention has been to disrupt traffic flow and public services. There have been major disruptions on occasions, but better planning and co-ordination on the part of the communists could have resulted in far more serious and far reaching effects.
20.
There have been attacks on specific targets including police stations, police patrols, bomb disposal teams, leading hotels and Government and Militasy premises. Those have generally been sporadic with no obvious reason for selection. In some cases, however, targets, areas and times have been selected to meet a particular occasion, as for example the arrival of Lord Shepherd, Hong Kong Week, the opening of Lion Rock Tunnel, etc. but again better planning and co-ordination could have had more serious consequences.
21. The most popular periods of the day for the laying of bombs are in the early morning or under the cover of darkness in the evening although these periods are by no means exclusivo, rany incidents occurring in broad daylight.
Control and Planning
22.
So far,all indications are that terrorist bomb activities are perpetrated by small localized units exhorted by the Communist hierarchy in Hong Kong, working through the medium of the press, unions and political agents. The whole pattern of the activities indicates a lack of central control, co-ordination and plaming. It suggests individual or group effort within an approved campaign policy.
CONFIDENTIAL /4.......
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