195. Considerable damage was caused to public transport, including taxis, to Government and private vehicles and to buildings and other property. Attacks were made on 35 buses and trams, 30 taxis and public cars, 23 Government vehicles and 66 other vehicles, of which 6 buses and trams, 12 taxis and 20 private cars were seriously damaged or destroyed. Over 100 buildings (including 24 banks and 6 cinemas) were damaged.
196. A summary of the casualties and damage is given at Appendix VI. Damage to Government property is estimated at $320,000.
197. A board was appointed to examine claims for compensation for personal injuries caused during the disorders and claims by depend- ants of those who died from such injuries, and to make recommenda- tions for the payment of ex gratia awards. By 31st December 72 claims had been dealt with and a total of $392,800 paid out in awards from Government funds. Further claims were under consideration."
*
198. In the economic field the disturbances of the summer resulted in substantial withdrawals of bank deposits as well as a drop in the number of tourists visiting the Colony. This was however only a tem- porary phase: from the end of August the level of deposits with the banks began to increase and the tourist trade, which had not been seriously reduced, returned to normal. Industrial production was not affected at all and exports have continued at substantially higher levels than previous years. The communist campaign against what was de- scribed as the expropriation of the savings of 'the masses' by the adjustment of the Hong Kong dollar following the devaluation of sterling by Great Britain caused some apprehension of a general in- crease in retail prices; but in fact the economy is adjusting itself satisfactorily to the changed conditions. It is still too early to assess the long term results of confrontation but, with confidence in the Colony restored, there is reason to suppose that its prosperity will continue undiminished.
199. It is not possible to make any accurate assessment of the financial losses suffered by the communists themselves through reduced imports to the Colony, the loss of trade in their department stores and the cost of mounting their campaign. It is however believed that in one item alone the payment of 'strike pay' to the workers who were
* In March 1968 the terms of reference of the board were extended to cover
claims for damage to property arising from the disturbances.
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