CONFIDENTIAL
2
(c)
direct GIS to inform Government departments, public utilities, essential civil firms and the general public of the area and duration of the curfew.
CURFEW AREA AND DURATION
4.
It is not possible to say, in the absence of knowledge of all the circumstances which might be prevailing at the time, what area and duration will have to be put under curfew to enable the Security Forces to restore law and order. But in general the following principles will be observed :
(a)
(b)
(c)
curfews will be imposed over the smallest area practicable, and blanket curfews eg. the whole of Kowloon, will be avoided as far as possible;
curfews will be imposed for the shortest possible time consistent with the restoration of law and order, although it could prove necessary in certain circumstances to extend a curfew during its course (curfews of more than 12 hours duration will be avoided if possible. Before the re-imposition of a curfew, there should be a break of at last several
hours
to minimise disruption to everyday life); and
every effort will be made to give a
minimum of 3 hours' notice of a curfew to enable people to return home before it comes into force. Sometimes it might be necessary to impose a curfew at very short notice because a situation cannot be allowed to become out of control simply to enable the public to be given a warning of pre-determined length; the CNTA and SWD will be responsible for co-ordinating the opening of reception accommodate people stranded
centres to during a curfew.
CONFIDENTIAL