Reply urgently required Priority Immédiate

Emergency

M.

Your Savingram to +6,

Emergency Regulation 116A

Serial No.

Time and date Simple

16

1736

hours

1953

Security efassification :-

Unclassified Restricted Confidential Secret Top-Secret- Guard-

I approve the continuance in force of

a

1953.

Emergency Regulation

116 A

for à further period

+ of

Octoba 1955

six months from 19th April,

Des paliù follows.

kte

Distribution :-

20

Further action :-

Secur

1

1

SECRET OUTWARD TELEGRAM

FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

TO HONG KONG (Sir A, Grantham)

Simplex

HKP 488/85/01

Sent 16th April, 1953.

17.30 hrs.

SECRET No. 388

Your Savingram No. 461.

Emergency Regulation 116A.

I approve the continuance in force of Emergency Regulation 116A for a
further period of six months from 19th April, 1953.

Despatch follows.

58

20

Colonial Secretariat

No. 2/3011/46

L

SAVINGRAM

To the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

From the Governor, Hong Kong.

Date

13th April, 1955......

No.

556

57

211

14237/2/1/46

cit

Сарус

With reference to Mr. Creech Jones' circular savingram of
18th July, 1946, on the subject of emergency legislation, and in
accordance with the request in the last paragraph, I report below the
general position for the six months' period from the 1st September,
1952, to 28th February, 1953.

2.

With reference to the Emergency (Principal) Regulations, 1949 (G.N.A.
277/49), regulation 4 has been declared to be in operation by G.N.A.
216/52.

3.

For the same period under review, certain Emergency Regulations have
been enacted under the Emergency Regulations Ordinance, 1922, viz

-

(a) Emergency (Special Constabulary) (Amendment)

Regulations, 1953, (G.II.A. 9/53)

These regulations amend the principal regulations by providing that
members of the Special Constabulary, when called out on active service
for a purpose connected with the peace and good order of the Colony,
shall henceforth be cligible to receive the same rates of pay and
allowances as other members of the Emergency Services would be eligible
to receive in the same circumstances. Heretofore, the pay and allowances
which members of the Special Constabulary were eligible to receive have
been equated to Police Force rates, and not to the rates applicable to
the Royal Hong Kong Defence Force and the Essential Services Corps;
which was considered to be inequitable.

(b) Emergency (Special Constabulary) (Amendment)

(No. 2) Regulations, 1953. (G.N.A. 36/53)

These regulations amend the principal

regulations by adding to the list of ranks which, by virtue of
regulation 2 and the Second Schedule of the principal regulations, are
to correspond to ranks in the Army.

4.

During this period only two units, all comprising land in
the New Territories, were requisitioned. are retrospective
requisitionings for the Army.

5.

Both

In the same period a total of nineteen and helf units were
de-requisitioned eight by the Army and eleven and half by the
Government. The latter figure includes the eight units which were
transferred to Government by the Army as mentioned in the last report.

cit

13

Mr.

Mr.

Mr.

Mr.

Sir

Mostumes 415

Hopkinm 4.5

Barton

Sidebotham 5/5 %. sf

- +

File No. HKP 480/55/07.

Adam para m

WILL

THOUT L

----

Permt. U.S. of S.

Parly. U.Ș. of S.

Minister of State

Secretary of State

Your Reference....

S MAY

10. 6-

Like undervannam 1+

Date..

56

беснев

7.5.53

DRAFT despatat

Hory Kay

No. 688

Gormor.

( ༢॰)

in

Str

I have ite

"

rifer

my

tilgram No. 388 of the 14th April 1953,

which I approved

force for

months from Hi

the continuance

further period of six

Hi 19K Apil 1953

Limergency Regulatim 116 A

that Trany, or furnished with request you to submit

report at the

Thould you

and

t

full

end of that period

desire

infru

further continuance of

t

recommend

this Regulation.

te

{

Such report should in particular,

Adda,

state what in Your Advisers

you

view and

Hat

%

Las

been the effect

FURTHER ACTION

of Emergency Regulation 116 A

would be the likely effect of

and

what

discontinuing it yter the

1812 October

i

1953.

I have etc.

OLIVER LYTTELTON

55

22

HKP 488/85/01

FECRET

HONG KONG

ОН

sir,

688

OGLONIAL OFFICE,

The Church House,

Great Smith Street,

London, S.W. 1.

7 ley, 1953.

No. of copies sent.........

3.

I have the honour to refer to my telegram No. 388 of the 16th April
1953, in which I approved the continuance in force for a further period
of six months from the 19th April 1953 of Emergency Regulation 116A, and
to request that I may be furni shod with a full report at the end of
that period should you desire to recommend the further continuance in
force of this Regulation, Such report should, in particular, state what
in your view and that of Your Advisers has been the effect of Emergency
Regulation 116A and what would be the likely effect of discontinuing it
after the 18th October 1953.

I have the honour to be,

sir,

Your most obedient,

humble servant,

GOVERNOR,

OLIVER LYTTELTON

SIR ALEXANDER GRANTHAM, G.C.MG.,

etc.,

etc.,

etc.

53,

ERM.CH. HKP 188/85/01

YOUR REFERENCE 2/3011/46

HOT ONG

701

NO.

THE COLONIAL OFFICE,

THE CHUNCH HOUSE,

GREAT SHITH STREET,

LONDON, 2. V. 1.

8. Nay, 1955.

sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your savingram
No. 556 of 13th April 1953 on the subject of emergency legislation in
Hong Kong, the contents of which have been noted

with interest.

GOVERNOR,

I have the honour to be

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

OLIVER LYTTELTON

SIR ALEXANDER GRANTHAH, G.C.MG.,

etc.,

etc..

etc.,

Mr.

Mr.

Mr.

File No. MKP 488/85/01

54 23

Littler /5 Harris ||$

-------- A

---- I

Permt. U.S. of S.

Parly. U.S. of S.

Minister of State

----IILI

3.

7

Mr.

Sir

---

DRAFT Despatch

trong xong No 701

Sovernor

Secretary of State

Date.

8. May 1953.

Your Reference 2/3011/46

thir,

I have etc to ask. receipt of your (21) savingsan No. 556 of 13th April
1953 the subject of emergency legislation Hong Kong, the contents of
which have been noted with interest.

in

FURTHER ACTION

(27686) (1) WI. 27142--5502 5m paris 10:50 GSM.

I have to.

OLIVER LYTTELTON

527

4

H:40/4

3

CANE

HONGKONG MAY 27

REUTER -TWO CHINESE WERE TODAY GIVEN

LONG PRISON SENTENCES AND 12 STROKES OF THE CANE EACH FOR POSSESSING
ARMS WITHOUT A LICENCE AND CARRYING EXPLOSIVES.

USTICE A D SCHOLES, WHO PASSED SENTENCE, SAID THE NATURE OF THE WEAPONS
MADE THE CASE "VERY SERIOUS.

CH

SPREAD BEFORE HIM ON A TABLE IN THE CRIMINAL COURT WERE THE ARMS
INVOLVED - 17 REVOLVERS, ONE AUTOMATIC PISTOL, OVER 800 ROUNDS OF
AMMUNITION, 136 POUNDS OF HIGH EXPLOSIVES, 97 DEMOLITION DEVICES, 192
BLOCKS OF NAPALM (JELLIED PETROL) AND 430 DETONATORS.

THE ACCUSED, LAM KAR, 36, WAS SENT TO PRISON FOR 10 YEARS AND
CHEUNG KEUNG, 20, FOR EIGHT YEARS.

1125

REUTER BD

452

ふく

23/3231/50

SAVINGRAM

To the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

From the Governor, Hong Kong.

Date 10June, 1953.

No. 8.36.

22

SECRET

"That

}

50 25

HONIAL OFFIC

Your despatch No.688 of 7th May.

Emergency Regulation 1164

I regret that I see no prospect of being able to recommend the
discontinuance in force of this regulation for the present. The
following figures illustrate the incidence of armed crimes in recent
years:-

A

Crimes involving arms

Jan

1949

1950

1951

1952

Abril 1953

Murder (involving firearms)

5

10

7

2

1

Armed Robberies and attempts

129

191

55

42

8

Armed Highway robberies

32

32

59

15

56

5

Armed robberies in British Waters

20

24

2

4

1

Possession of arms (or explosives) 136

170

93

69

40

Other crimes involving arms (or explosives)

4

13

2

1

Total. 326

147

B - Ratio of Armed and Unarmed Robberies

obberies 172

155

Jan

1949

1950

1951

1952

Anril 1953

Armed

181

254

72

82

14

Unarmed

41

59

55

53

20

2.

3.

These figures show that:-

(a) There has been a marked decline in the number of

offences involving arms since the introduction of regulation 116A in
October, 1950.

(b) During the same period, there has been no com-

parable reduction in the number of unarmed robberies.

The present depressed economic state of the Colony makes it essential to
guard against the danger of a sharp increase

CANE

SAVINGRAM

To the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

From the Governor, Hong Kong.

Date

No.

in the incidence of crimes of violence involving the use of arms, which
might reasonably be expected in the circumstances to occur. I am
satisfied that the present actual reduction in such crimes as shewn in
the figures quoted can largely be attributed to the deterrent effect of
the regulation. This effect moreover must be due mainly to the mere
existence of the regulation, since it is of course employed with the
greatest restraint and has been invoked on three occasions only since it
was brought into force.

4.

Not only does the regulation have a deterrent effect but (as is shown by
the fact that it was asked for in the first place by Unofficial Members
of Executive Council) it creates a valuable sense of security amongst
the law abiding members of the community and re-inforces confidence in
Government's power to maintain order. The maintenance of this sense of
security is also, in itself, a contributory factor in minimizing the
danger of an increase in armed grimes.

5.

It is for these reasons that I am convinced it would be unwise to
discontinue the regulation in the foreseeable future.

51

OCT:pe

L

1

Saving

the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

To the Officer Administering the Government of...

48

182 1,58/85/01/20

BUNG KO

Date

No....

30 1017.

Jime, 1953.

Saving

SECTET

3

No, u. copios sent

Your Savingran llo, 836 of 10th June, 1953.

Emergency Regulation 116A

I am grateful for your savingram under reference, the contents of which
have been noted,

2. I do not propose to offer any comments at this stage. I would,
however, be obliged if, should you wish to continus the Regulation in
force for a further six months from Uctober, you would during September
next provide details to bring the information contained in your
savingram under reference up to date.

SECUR

C.O.

Mr. Littler

ittler*%

Barton

Mr.

TELEGRAM/

To

Draft

49

File No.

* SAVINGRAM

*The word Priority may be entered hara, If necessary.

Repeated to:-

2

Mr. Hopkinson 136

2316

Mr. Harria.

GOVERNOR,

HONG KONG

2. 77 D. 27

HKP 488/85/01

Sent.

30.6.53

hours

.194..

Mr.

Sir Side botham 23/6

In Parkin

Permt. U.S. Lof Parly. U.S. of S.

S. of S.

adme.

Priority:-

Nil.

Reply urgently required. Important.

Immediate.

Most Imanadiate.

To be transmitted :-

In Clear

Code-

Cypher

No.

1019

Restricter.

Confidential.

Secret.

Top Secret and Personal.

(25)

!

Your Savingram No. 836 of 10th June, 1953.

Emergency Regulation 1164

I am grateful for your savingram under

noted reference, the contents of which have been
examined

with considerable interest.

2. I do not propose to offer any comments

at this stage. I would, however, be obliged if,

·

should you wish to continue the Regulation in force

Jaring

a-further six months from October, you would

ember hext,

details

ime provide in Mebium-to bring the information

K

contained in your savingram under reference up to date,

SECER

REARMS

-

X

(c) M. did (this is interesting

rice of recent f MER. HEA)

4.452

Rm pile.

47

HONGKONG JUNE 30 REUTER JUDGE C.W. REECE TODAY SENTENCED TO DEATH A
30-YEAR OLD UNEMPLOYED CHINESE, HUI SHEK YUEN, WHO PLEADED GUILTY TO
USING FIREARMS IN A STREET GUN BATTLE WITH POLICE.

HUI WAS CHARGED UNDER EMERGENCY REGULATIONS WHICH PROVIDE THE
DEATH PENALTY FOR THE USE OF FIREARMS. HE AND A POLICE DETECTIVE WERE
BOTH INJURED BY GUNFIRE ON JANUARY 22 THIS YEAR.

HUI, ASKING FOR MERCY, SAID HE HAD NO INTENTION OF FIRING UNTIL THE
DETECTIVE FIRED AT HIM.

JUDGE REECE, AN ENGLISHMAN, SAID THE MERCY PLEA WOULD BE
PASSED TO THE PROPER AUTHORITY.

REUTER BQ OF

IERS 1

REUTER

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