Ed. (3746)
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret.
Secret Confidential. Bestricted. Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
DRAFT
LETTER
To:-
Tom Sargant Esq., V.B.E.,J.C., Secretary to the British Section of the International Commission of Jurists,
12 Crane Court,
Fleet Stret, E.C.4.
For signature by Lord Shepherd.
Type 1 +
From
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
A.W. Gaminara
22/12
Copy to Governor, Hong Kong with
(2)ન
cory of
enclosure.
I am replying to your letter of 15 December on the
subject of the new Public Order Ordinance of Hong Kong.
The following comments, which are of a general
nature, will I hope serve to assist in understanding the
background against which this legislation has be enacted.
in
four
There are in Hong Kong near million people, the
majority of whom live within some 33 square miles of the
colony's total area of 400 square miles. The average
population density in Hong Kong is approximately 10,000 per
square mile and in certain upban areas the density rises to
something like 5,000 per acre. In these conditions large
crowds can gather in a matter of moments. Once a crowd has
gathered, trouble makers or hooligans, if they in fact did
not cause the crowd to gather by their activities, quickly
cash in on its presence to create disorder.
Once created,
disorder rapidly develops and spreads through the narrow
streets and the task of the police force in maintaining law
and order is greatly increased.
that the is
Another point that I should like to make is
Чти Ordnance/es)
not a hurried piece of legislation arising from the
disturbances in Hong Kong this year. Active work in its
TOD
preparat
ation had been in progress for at least years before
its/ enactment. There were alterations to take account of the
experience gained during recent months, but the ordinance
/is