0003160 G.F. 316
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large number of onlookers, attracted by the demonstrators, and
also many hooligans. Despite repeated requests by the Police, the
crowd refused to disperse and gradually became more unruly.
As a
result Police were forced to fire a number of baton shells and make
several baton charges. As soon as the crowd was dispersed from
theimmediate area and the Police action ceased, it re-grouped.
As a result the Police were forced to engage in a number of running
clashes with the crowd which by now had broken out into open riot.
As the disturbances spread in the area of San Po Kong, it became
clear that the pro-Communist factory workers who had instigated the
initial outbreak were taking little or no part in the rioting and
the field was left open for the less responsible section of the
crowd egged on by a mob of young hooligans who had no connection
with the factory or the dispute. To assist in bringing the
situation under control, a curfew was imposed on the area from
9.30 that evening until 5.30 the following morning. By 10.30 p.m.
the remaining minor skirmishing was over and Kowloon remained quiet
under an uneasy blanket of the curfew until the following day.
In taking stock of the days events, it was significant to
note that the entire action was handled by Police using the minimum
of force, without the use of firearms and without calling upon the
military for assistance (despite subsequent allegations by the left-
wing press to the contrary).
6.
The next day, 12th May, there was still some skirmishing in
the streets of Kowloon, but the indications were that the communists
were concerned at the possibility of their union members getting
out of control. We now know that the Communist Federation of Trade
Unions (F.T.U.) Executive Committee decided that in order to
re-assert control the struggle must be brought on to a more
organised footing. There was no doubt in the minds of the
communist hierarchy that the incidents at San Po Kong were
spontaneous but, as these had brought their members into direct
conflict with the Hong Kong Government, they had to support them.
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/Accordingly,