0003130 G.F. 316
4.
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At this stage of the disturbances all available
information suggested that the incidents were not planned in advance
by the Rubber and Plastic Workers' Union (R.P.W.U.), to which the
left-wing workers belonged, nor by any other local communist
organisation. The initiative appeared to have been taken by the
workers themselves. Their increased militancy and the relaxation of
rigid control which permitted its expression both stemmed from the
teaching of the Cultural Revolution. However, during the two days
following the incident, not only the R.P.W.U., but also the
Federation of Trade Unions (F.T.U.) called meetings to express
support. At the former meeting it was decided to make four demands
upon Government through the press. They were that:
(a) the Hong Kong Government must cease its brutality
immediately and ensure no repetition;
(b) all the arrested persons must be released immediately; (c) compensation must be paid by Government for all
injuries and damage and those responsible punished; (d) there must be no Governmental interference in labour
disputes.
The F.T.U., in turn, supported the union and announced that they would also issue vigorous protests. On the following days the campaign of vilification directed against the alleged brutality
of the Police reached white heat. Reference was made to "blood
being repaid by blood". Meetings were held by all pro-Communist
organisations in support of the San Po Kong workers and posters began appearing in the windows of pro-Communist premises in Kowloon
calling upon Government to accede to the demands and protesting
against Police brutality.
5.
By the evening of the 10th May the atmosphere was even
more tense. On the morning of the 11th May a large crowd assembled
outside the San Po Kong factory.
This steadily increased until
by about 4 p.in. some 1500 persons were in the area, including a
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