0003160 "G.F. 316
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saw a number of running skirmishes with the crowd of demonstrators
estimates 1,000 - 2,000 strong and milling around in the Central
District, many attacking the Police with stones. Tear gas was used
to disperse them and by 6.30 p.m. the demonstrators had been broken
up into small parties and the situation returned almost to normal.
14.
The loudspeaker at the Bank of China, which on the previous
day had been broadcasting sedition, vitriolic propaganda and
incitement to violence, started up again, but was effectively
countered by public address systems mounted on nearby buildings
and directed at the offending speaker. As the latter started, so did
the former, at an increased volume, and this was in operation
throughout the day, either jamming the Bank of China with a repeat
of their broadcast so that it became a jumble, or with music which
became a feature of Central District and caused not only amusement,
but gave some pleasure and comfort to the general public.
15.
22nd May was to see a major effort on the part of the
Communists to pursue thei: campaign and to attempt to win sympathy
and support for their cause. By mid-morning, two large parties of
demonstrators from Communist schools and commercial organisations
confronted the Police at the bottom of Garden Road. After the
usual preliminaries, during which they were again told politely
that small groups of twenty might visit Government House, a
well rehearsed theatrical performance was staged. It was obvious
from the heckling and abuse hurled at the Police that the
Communists wished to provoke retaliation and it was inevitable that
something had to happen. When a Police officer was kicked in the
groin, the Police were ordered to use batons. Almost at the first
blow, a number of demonstrators fell to the ground without being
hit, screaming women throwing themselves on top of their male
colleagues. Those who had received slight injuries were used as
sources of supply of blood, with which to daub others who had not
suffered; bandages miraculously appeared from pockets and
demonstrators began bandaging themselves and their colleagues,
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