0003160 G.F. 316
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Accordingly, a Workers of All Trades Anti-Persecution Struggle
Committee was formed, the membership of which was drawn from a
complete cross section of pro-Communist labour unions in the Colony.
The formation of this committee received widespread publicity in the
left-wing press, which at the same time devoted almost its entire
space, including special editions, to photographs and vitriolic
criticism of Police brutality. These articles were not only couched
in the most abusive terms, but included seditious appeals to the
public and the Police in particular to rise against the Government.
The F.T.U. now published their own version of the four demands
(see paragraph 4). They were as follows:-
(a) the Hong Kong Government must cease its brutality
immediately and ensure no repetition;
(b) all the arrested persons must be released immerliately;
(c) compensation must be paid by Government for all
injuries and damage and punish those responsible;
and
(a) the Hong Kong Government must apologise and admit
its guilt.
Coupled with these demands were unequivocal statements that the
struggle would "continued until victory was achieved".
During
There
the next few days, various meetings were held by the F.T.U. and its
affiliated unions at which plans were made not only for the
continuation of the struggle but also for its escalation.
was, however, still no hint of official Chinese People's Government
(C.P.G.) support.
7.
The scene for the next phase of the Communist campaign
was Hong Kong Island. The attack was now directed not only against
the Government and the Police but also against H.E. the Governor
personally. From 13th May large groups of pro-Communist workers,
staff from business houses, banking concerns etc. and students,
marched up the main thoroughfare of Garden Road in, at first, a
comparatively orderly fashion past the United States Consulate
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