resulting from bomb explosions are given in Chapter 10 above. Of the 35 other people who died, eight were policemen who were killed in the course of riots or other incidents and a further four were members of the public who died at the hands of the communists; 17 were rioters shot in the act by the Police; five (including the two men found dead at the China Gas Company's premises-vide paragraph 62) died from injuries received in the course of riots; and one died in Police custody.
191. The man who died in Police custody was Mr. Lee On and a Police corporal and two constables were subsequently charged with his murder. At their trial they were convicted of manslaughter; they appealed and at 31st December the case was still pending.* The decision to take proceedings against these men met with considerable public opposition based on the proposition that the Police had been subjected to such vicious attacks by the communists that they could not be blamed and should not be punished if they overstepped the law in retaliation. It was also claimed that Police morale would be seriously undermined if these men were punished. These arguments were clearly unacceptable: in a charge of such gravity no exceptions could be made if law and order were to be maintained.
192. The morale of the Police was not affected. Between May and December no member of the Police or Auxiliary Police was absent from duty without permission and normal vacancies arising in both forces were filled without difficulty.
193. By the standards of other countries the disturbances in Hong Kong and the casualties they caused were comparatively minor; during the same period 211 persons were killed and 7,098 persons were injured in traffic accidents in Hong Kong. However any needless death is to be deplored and, in the context of Hong Kong where disorders and riots are rare, the number of deaths and injuries that have been caused by confrontation is tragically high.
194. 465 persons were convicted of unlawful assembly, 318 of riot and over 1,000 for other offences arising from confrontation, while 52 people were detained under Emergency Regulation. A curfew was imposed five times in areas in Kowloon, three times in Hong Kong Island and once in the border area of the New Territories.
* The appeal was subsequently upheld and all three men were acquitted.
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