6. Although the whole Police Force was mobilized for nine weeks during 1967 and for seven months was pre-occupied with internal security problems, it was nevertheless able to a very great extent to maintain its normal routine duties. This is revealed by the information provided in the body of this Report and in the appendices.
7. Mr. M. J. MACOUN, C.M.G., O.B.E. the Overseas Police Adviser, paid an informal working visit to the Hong Kong Police Force from 5th to 11th October, 1967, during the course of which he had a number of meetings with several Senior Government Officers and with all Senior Police Officers and visited many formations. In commenting on his visit he said that throughout it he had encountered a marked atmosphere of disciplined efficiency, confidence and enthusiasm. Various recommenda- tions made by Mr. MACOUN have since been examined and in many cases implemented.
INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE POLICE
Confrontation
8. In the course of a labour dispute at the Hong Kong Artificial Flower Works, San Po Kong, Kowloon, a crowd on the 6th May forcibly prevented a lorry from taking products from the factory to the docks. This began the period of confrontation between communist elements and the Government which continued for a period of about seven months. To begin with trouble took the form of rioting in some of the heavily populated resettlement areas of Kowloon. A curfew was imposed, and within a few days the situation was brought under control. Soon afterwards, however, a rash of virulent posters appeared in the urban areas, and petitioners began to visit Government House. Deputa- tions to Government House increased in size and became more noisy and disorderly; and on 28th May about 3,000 persons joined in a protest march. They were prevented from going to Government House, and later gathered in Statue Square. During the days which followed rioting took place on Hong Kong Island; but as a result of the imposition of a curfew and the banning of processions and thanks to the firm action taken by the Police order was quickly restored.
9. Then followed a period during which transport workers and dockyard workers remained on strike; but apart from causing consider- able inconvenience to members of the public these strikes achieved little and in due course fizzled out.
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