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14.
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The favourable results of the firm policy adopted against strikers by Government and private concerns were now becoming increasingly apparent; the Taikoo Dock reopened on 14th June and, like the Star Ferry, was to remain free of serious labour trouble for the rest of the month. With the exception of those on communist buildings, few posters remained, and new posters were promptly removed by police. Other police action included the arrest of 6 Taikoo Dock workers on 12th June, and 12 Y.G.S. workers on 16th June for offences arising out of the incidents earlier in the month (see paragraphs 6 and 2 above).
15.
For some time there had been talk in communist circles of a mass funeral procession of the three "martyrs" who had died dur- ing confrontation, (see paragraph 8 above). The communist press announced, on 21st June, that the A.C.A.P.S.C. had formed a funeral committee to co-ordinaté arrangements, and that thirty thousand Hong Kong dollars had been given to relatives of the dead. However, this procession was not held, the reason apparently being disagreement between the militant communists, who wanted a mass public demonstration of defiance, and the moderates, who were ready to settle for indoor ceremonies with less likelihood of a renewed clash with the police.
16.
It was now becoming apparent also that the communists realised that their piecemeal and unco-ordinated policies in the labour field had largely failed, and that they would have to play their trump card a general strike in public transport, public utilities, port facilities and the textile industry. However, evidence suggests that the date set for the strike, 24th June, was dictated by the demands of vociferous militant elements and not by the wishes of the communist labour leaders who considered that they were not yet prepared for such an ambitious move. The payment of substantial strike pay was offered by the Unions concerned, to be provided from the 10,000,000 from China and from donations, collected locally which, according to the communist press, amounted to several million dollars.
17.
As the proposed date for the general strike approached, an incident occurred which was to frighten off the less ardent advocates of violence and dispel from the minds of unionists the previously held theory that their premises were immune from Government action. On the afternoon of 23rd June two detectives were photographing posters displayed outside the premises of the Rubber and Plastic workers General Union (R.P.W.G.U.) in Canton Road, Kowloon, (Members of this union took part in the original confrontation incident on 6th May L.I.C. Internal Intell- igence Report for May, 1967, paragraph 3 refers), when about fifteen people from the premises attacked them with iron bars and sharpened files. Two uniformed police constables arrived upon the scene and several shots were fired. One of the assailants was mortally wounded and a detective seriously injured; the remaining assailants retreating into the union premises. Police reinforcements arrived, and the seige which resulted ended at 10 p.m. when entry to the Union was forced after fierce resistance, during which a number of police were injured, and 50 people were arrested, including nine union members who had previously jumped bail on 18th May. Three of those arrested subsequently died of injuries sustained during the seige, one having fallen from a height whilst attempting to evade arrest. Following the incident several small disturbances occurred in Kowloon, but a curfew was not necessary, and after the police had fired tear gas and made four arrests, order was restored.
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