accept payment.
→
/6th May
6th May
The dismissed workers who had assembled outside the Kowloon
factory for some days attempted to interfere with the movement of
produce from the factory. Police intervention resulted in 21 arrests
including that of the Union's Chairman.
7th May
The Rubber and Plastic Workers' Union pot in the evening
and attempted to put forwararku following demands:.
1.
2.
3.
4.
The immediate release of the arrested workers.
Punishment of the evil-doors and compensation.
Guarantee of the workers' personal safety.
No interference henceforth by the police in labour disputes.
8th Kav
The arrested workers appeared in Court. One had pleaded
guilty to a charge of unlawful assembly and was fined 100 H.K.dollars;
the others pleaded not guilty and were remanded on bail until the 16th
Mey. Six workers who claimed to represent about 200 workers in the Hong
Kong factory (mainly right-wing) asked the Labour Department to
inform the management of their desire to return to work. The line taken
in the loft-ing pross was that the British authorities in a planned and
promeditatod way have organised a series of bloody repressions of
workers and patriots in the Kowloon area amounting to fascist violence.
Prose The serbere also referred to the increased use of Hong kong by
"U.S. imperialism as an aggressive baso". It added that, ator the Xaçao
affair many U.S./Ching elements concentrated in Hong Konɛ-
The pross st-903-that-they-would carry out their activities. British
authorities in Hong Kong ought to recognise, the error that they
committed on the 6th
acce Kay and angede the workers' nem ismodiato donanda.
9th May
Press
The left-wing membans reported that the Executive Committee of the
Foderation of Trade Unions had issued a stateront condemning what it
described as polico interference in labour disputes and the
"unprecedented serious bloodshed and repressive violence". It alleged
that sono 100 "patriotic workers" who had been bystanders had been
boaton up. It accused the British authorities of attempting to treat the
workers as criminals.
which
11th May
Press
The left -ing/contained allegations of police brutality
towards those arrested and of the lack of nodical attention for them. It
also warned "those for Hong Kong British Special Agonta anil prison
underlings who have beaten up the Chinese compatriots" that if they
rozedn
obdurate national discipline will not tolor to them". The blood døbt
they oma to compatriots will one day have to be paid.
Through the
aft noon workɑra demonstratod outside the Kowloon artificial flower
works and hold an illegal mooting which grow to sono 1.500 pers: ns. The
demonstrators pushed against the factory gates and the management onllød
on the police for protection. The police tried to ronson with tho
demonstrators but they persisted and bottles and rofuse were throw at
the polioc. Scuffles developed and about 60 parsons more arrested. The
police used batons and baton shells only. In the evening the situation
deteriorated; the auxiliary polico more called out a e curfew covering
the disturbed area of N.E. Kowloon was dangzod fron 21.30 hours to 05.30
Mople hours (12th llay). By £1.00 hours 90
had been arrested and 11 injured (ora seriously). At 21.45 hours four
C.S.Gas shells wore fired in ono
instance, otherwise only batons and baton shells were used. In order
to provide personnel from the cuxiliary air force for helicopter
observation duties the Governor authorised a limited call-out by the
Commandor, Hong Kong Dofence Force. By midnight the affected area hed
returned to nor al, cost police units wore withdrawn but mobile patrols
contined to operate. 127 persons were arrested and 15 persons wore
injured. A total of 53 can-shella had been fired during the morning and
afternoon. Discussions wore known to be taking place between the Lofting
Federation of Trade Unions and the nein left-wing unions. The Kowloon
Motor Bus Co. opployees considered taking tokon strike action. Left-ing
member continued their allegations against the British authorities,
accusing them, inter alia, of "brazen anti-Chinese activity" and "taking
"U.S. Imperialism chestnuts out of the firo". It also described the
Governor as the "principal trouble-nakor" and alloged that "all the
criminal responsibility for the series of bloody suppression ecainos
must be laid at his door. It warned the Governor that the
Tho
It Booms
Chinese people-who have armed themselves with the over-victorious
thoughts of Heu- are not to be trifled with". The Governor reported that
all available information suggested that the disturbances on the 6th Kay
had not boon planned in advance either by by the rubber and plastic
workers' union or by any other organisation. The rank ani file had boon
encouraged to develop a "stragglo" arcinst the nanngament and what
started off as peaceful pickoting dogonorato into violenco. unlikely
that the Hong Kong loft-ming leadership rore at this stage looking for a
confrontation with Government but that the arrosts of the workers
dispute became a political struggle with the result that the leadership
now had little alternative but to exert all out pressure on the llong
Kong Government to accept the demands (soe paragraph above) who had been
made in the style of laceo. The loft-wing pross published
/thoir
I
otkey
their further demand that the Government should apologise to the
arrested workers. Up to this tine there had been some indications that
the left- wing had been trying to restrict the struggle to places where
disputes vero actually taking place. However, it had become clear that
they Creery having diffic.lty in now keeping the rank and filo under
control. The disturbances recomenced by about mid-lny and the Governor
imposol a curfox covering the same area as before, from 18.00 hours to
04.30 hours (13th May). The police intermittently had to deal with two
THE or three incidents involving groups of 200 - 300 persons. no police
companies were then engaged. One police inspector, ono sorgeant and 15
police constables had been injured and 2 police constables detained The
curfow was in hospital. Soveral cividians had also been injured.
effective and the areas concerned were generally quiet apart from the
odd incident. 3 police companies remained on patrol. One person was
found on the 15th floor balcony of a re-settlement block on long Tai Sin
with a fractured skull and subsequently died in hospital.
13th May
For the period 08.00 hours on 12th May to 06.00 hours on 13th lay,
arrests totalled 106. 17 police on were injured (nono seriously) and
there were no civilian casualties. The tone of the loft-wing members
steadily deteriorated to such a degree that the possibility of
prosecution eithor for seditious publications or other attempts to cause
disaffection in the police forco presonted itself. A crend of 1000 2000
persons gathered at the plastic flower factory in Kowloon. Tho p lice
moved
Subsequently
in to disperse it and made a call nurber of arrests. crowds gathered in
four nearby re-settlement estatos. The police more attacked, cars set on
fire and a block of staff quarters was also set on
Sutreequentry firo. The situation became
tanso,when it(becano Imów that the Federation of Trade Unions had
established a "llong Kong and Kowloon all-industries Workers
anti-persecution Committee" and had called for the establishment of an
"all circles" Committee on Haono linos. Up to this point left-wing
action outside the industries immediately concerned in the disputes had
cen confined to mistering moral and financial support for the arrested
workers and for the four demands referred to in above paragraph
A chango in this attitude now becaso apparent and there were indications
that in many left-wing circles the line was being taken that the dispute
hnd oscalated as a result of doliberate Govern ent aation and that the
Left must therefore prepare for a further escalation.
the It became known that plans were, being made to organise A physical
defence of left-wing pieritics and alco demonstrations in which children
(as in Kacao) would play a prominent part A stage of paychological
warfare had been reached in which the main weapons of the Left had been
Properties
/the
T
(So fosse quite unsuccesfoly
the sustained press campaign nimed at undermining the police
as well as discrediting the Government and i
destroyin
in its will and
public Confidence in it
to resist. Capacity to
*th Hay
15th Hay
A curfon was imposed from 19.00 hours, 13th lay to 04.00 hours
on the 14th May. During the period from 08.00 hours 13th Hay to
06.03 hours 14th May 110 arrests were unde bringing tho tot since the
disturbances started to 391. The Governor asked the U.. Consulate-
Genoral to arrange with the U.S. Raval cuthorities for the postpone-
nucloar
ment of tho visit to Hong Kong of the U.S.Warchip "MIHBRIDEE" which
had been scheduled for 19th May. The line taken by the loft-wing pebera
was that "the violence of the Hong Kong British continues to escalate.
The aroa, steeped in blood, continues to spread". A great deal of space
was devoted by the embors to calls for the formation of anti-
persecution struggle committees on the lines of that organised by the
F.2.U. One left-wing newspaper (^~en Wei Pao")editorial alleged that
the Hong Kong British authorities were carrying out "mad racialist
suppression", that is to say, "wo are now freel with not only a class
struggle but also a racial struggle". Up to 6 p.n, thorɑ had been
only one minor incident during the day: one arrest had boon made
bringing to 392 the total number of arrests nale since the disturbances
started.
A left-wing member Pross editorial contained a reference to the
"impermissibility" of prosocuting the 21 workers arrested in the
incident of 6th May and due to appear for trial on the 16th May.
Infomation was received from Peking that the British Chargo d'Affairos
there had been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that
norning and handed a copy of a statement by the Chinese Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, which is being published. The statement in offect
declared the solid support of the Chinese Government and people
for "their compatriota in Hong Kong"; domandad that the British
Government should instruct the British authorities in liong Kong to
accept the demanda put forward by the workers (seo paragraph
abovo; offer apologies" to the victims and compensato them for all
their losses"; adding that the Chinese Government and people were
determined to carry the struggle through to the end and thit should
the British Government and the British authorities in Hong Kong cling to
their "averso course" they must be held roep nsible for all the
15th May
16th May
grave consequences arising therofrom.
Lator in the day the Governor issued a statement in Hong Kong
in the course of which he recalled assurances already given to the
public about the maintenance of lm and order. Ho alded that"tho
polico do not and will not involve themselves in labour disputes but
will only enforce the law when it is brokon."
The position remained quiot on the ground on thoro woro no
indications of umisial occurroncos in the frontier area, The courts
moro however familier with the situation in Macao in relation to
the Consular Forait Office and Consul'a roop nse was highly
unsatisfactory.
Unruly groups had plastered the three buildings with posters and
alogans. The car of the Consul and Vice-Consul had boon similarly
иджей treated and rondered useless. The Fort üthorities had aade no
effort
to intervene making it clear that they regarded the trouble as a quarrel
between the British and the Chinoso and that they did not propose to
become invlved. The Consul was forced to close the Consulate and he
ond the Vice-Consul vacated their rosidoneos and novod to an hotel.
The Governor reported that the reaction of the ordinary citizens
of Hong Kong left-wing mould depend on their judgment of how H.H.G.
would react and whether H.H.G. man fully determined that law and order
should be maintained. lio further reported that there was good evidence
that the statement that he had made (800 paragraph
above) had a
beneficial effect and had been widely volcomed. The Hong Kong Govern-
ment had boom trying for the past for days to stimulate local neutral
and non-left wing organisations and personalitius into coming out with
public expressions of a desire for ponce and at bility in Hong Kong
and with similar indications of lack of support for pro-ont left-wing
agitation. He suggested that any Hong Kong Cinoso groups in England
who could be stimulated into taking similar netion would possibly be
helpful.
/Tho
The loft-ring members took the line that the expression of
support by the Chinese Government should reinforce the confidence
of local patriots.
Poking reported that the Chinose Goverment would naturally
rogard any notion against their mouth-piocas in Hong Kong as a further
provacation not; and recommended that if possible no doɑision on
this (see paragraph
above) should be takon until it was seon how
the Chinese intended to proveed in Hong Kong and co long as thoro was
any hope of a compromiso.
16th May
Teking reported that demonstrations against the British Mission
had begun on the night of 15th Hoy, when the walls of Chancery, his
House, staff quariërs and many other parts of Feking were liberally
plastered with posters applauding the Chinero Ambassador's statement
end con.leaning the activities of the British and Hong Kong Governments.
The 20 persons arrested on 6th Hay (coo paragraph nbove)
appeared at the South Kowloon lagistrates' Court. A crowd of about
150 spectators had assemblad in Court and started chanting, a further
crowd of roughly the same number also joined in. The Court was
adjourned twice when the Director for Public Prosecutions applied for
a hearing in the absence of the general public (the members excepted).
This was agreed and the Court resumed and adjournod at 17.40 hours
until 17th May after only 2 prosecution witnesses had been heard. The
crowd dispersed peacefully.
PRIORITY MARKINGS
1
Emergency Immediate Priority
Reply urgently required
NI
H.6.31
Tile No... HW11/12. DRAFT
*TELEGRAM
"SAVINGRAM
* Delete whichever is inapplicable. If necessary, "Priority" may be
inserted before "Savingram."
Mr........Hall
Mr....
Mr.
phoned
Mr........
Sir......
745
Permt. U.S. of S.
Parly. US. of S.
Minister of State
Secretary of State
ENCLOSURES
(Savingrams only)
Addressed
IMMEDIATE
(Insert appropriate priority marking)
Governor Hong Kong
HK 380
#631
No.
10381.
MEDIUM
SAVINGRAMS ONLY
Your reference
€.
Cypher
(Delete whichever
is inapplicable)
Seoret
{Insert appropriate security, etc., marking}
File References
SECURITY, ETC., MARKINGS
Top Secret Secret Confidential Restricted Linclassified Personal Guard
Repeated
142
12)
No.
(Insect appropriate priority marking)
Tapes // 5
FOR USE IN TELEGRAPH BRANCH of m
Despatched..
Code
On...........
재요..
.19
At.....
2241-2
Cypher OTT Simplex Eu clair
.Hrs.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
DISTRIBUTION AND
FURTHER ACTION
For Galsworthy from Hall.
Ministers will be discussing Hong Kong situation
on Thursday morning. I hope telegram approving Governor's
proposals will issue immediately thereafter but because of time faoter
it will not reach Hong Kong until Thursday
night. I thought you would wish to know position before
your own departure.
N/e
PAD
NO PRINTING
Delete whichever
*
inapplicable)
L
SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
(143)
Cypher
D. 22 May, 1967. R. 22
**
1100Z
こ
FLASH SECRET
No. 662.
Addressed to Commonwealth Office.
Repeated
11
11
"POLAD Singapore No. 115. "Peking No. 248. "Washington No. 129.
(s. of S. please pass FLASH to Singapore and Peking and PRIORITY to
Washington).
My telegram No. 641.
Hong Kong Disturbances.
Over the past two days the situation has deteriorated. There has
been an increase in the number of violent incidents, particularly in the
central area of Hong Kong; and known pro-communist elements have been
involved in many of these. An important feature has been the continuous
broadcasting from the Bank of China (which has not opened for business
today) of incitements to violence against Government and Europeans
generally, including such slogans as "kill Trench", "police turn your
weapons (i.e. against your Officers)". The pro-Communist press is giving
full and approving accounts of violent action by demonstrators and
calling for their extension. There have been token strikes today by the
bus companies and taxis.
2. The key to the situation here is the maintenance of public confidence
and especially police morale.
The
police have stood up very well to the harassments of the last few days,
but there are two adverse factors in the situation: (a) fatigue which is
now beginning to tell on them; and (b) the constant barrage of Communist
propaganda directed specifically to the subversion and intimidation of
the rank and file. We believe that Communist tactics over the next few
days will be to create incidents in several places at once, so as to
extend the police while maintaining the propaganda barrage. Public
morale is still holding surprising well, but there is increasing
interference with daily life; and there are signs that unless we are
Been to take effective action to control the situation, instead of
simply acting to block individual communist initiatives, public
confidence will slip. A landslide could quickly follow.
ра
77A
MALT municheveri
SECRET
SECRET
3. We have considered various new measures to deal with the situation.
These include:-
(i) picking up and if possible deporting, and
failing that detaining, a selection (e.g. up to 24) of the known leaders
of the present campaign;
(11)
(111)
action to neutralize several of the buildings from which the campaign is
being directed, notably (i) the Bank of China and (ii) the
communist-controlled Federation of Trade Union Head Quarters and the
Workers' Club. This might be achieved by declaring 24 hour curfews in
areas around the buildings, or possibly declaring them closed areas
under the Public Order Ordinance (Cap. 245);
action against the principal communist newspaper "Wen Wei Po" the
official C.P.G. organ in Hong Kong, for either sedition or inciting
police to disaffection;
(iv) bring commando ship BULWARK on a visit to
Hong Kong,
4. Each of foregoing actions would entail certain amount of risk of
escalation, and possible complications with Peking. We face a dilemma,
in that:-
(2) we obviously wish so far as possible to avoid
action which could lead to more C.P.G. involvement (and there is some
evidence C.P.G. themselves wish to
avoid this); but
(b) holding the situation here requires that Government
should retain the initiative.
Since (b) is imperative, we must be prepared to face some risk under
(a). On this basis pros and cons of various courses in paragraph 3
above, as we see them are as follows:-
Course (i)
5.
The disruption of leadership would be a distinct and positive gain, at
least in the short term. It would be seen by our friends here as firm
action. But since it is unlikely that China would accept persons
concerned as deportees, the probability is that they would have to be
detained indefinitely in Hong Kong. This would provide local communists
and Peking with a standing grievance, and would inevitably lead to
creation of a further "demand".
Course (ii)
6
This would seriously hamper the communist leadership in their
control and development of anti-Government operations. For a while they
would be bottled up in their existing Headquarters, cut off from outside
contacts. At very least
/it
{
:
SECRET
(
SECRET
it would disrupt their communications (e.g. Government could pick up all
their couriers) And they might well eventually have to move to other
premises where it would be easier for Government to keep them under
closer
surveillance.
Further advantage is that it would enable us to isolate Bank of China
without taking direct action against the building which could involve us
with the C.P.G.. As an immediate measure I have deployed loudspeakers
blaring forth cheerful Chinese tunes to drown the inflammatory
broadcasts coming from the Bank.
But this is not sufficient in itself, since the Bank building remains
one of the principal rallying points for demonstrations; and anyhow we
know it is one of the main communist control points.
Course (iii)
7. The worrying thing about not taking action against the worst offender
among the communist press is that it is daily in flagrant breach of the
law, and if we continue to ignore this it may well be taken as sign of
weakness. But it would obviously be regarded by Peking as a provocation
(see Peking telegram No. 483 of 15 May). Furthermore there are 9 other
communist newspapers here which could all continue the campaign unless
similar action were taken against them.
Course (iv)
8. It would take three and a half days for BULWARK to reach Hong Kong.
Her presence here, with a commando aboard, would undoubtedly strengthen
public and police morale, and both Commissioner of Police and CBF are
strongly in favour. Her arrival here might be represented by Peking as
sabre- rattling, although they could have no legitimate grounds for
doing so. It would not of course be publicised here as a reinforcement,
but simply as a routine visit. Practice here
- is not to publicise visits of H.M. ships in advance.
9.
Recommendations.
My advisers and I have discussed these courses with CBF,
Galsworthy and Bolland, and we all agree in recommending course (ii) and
course (iv) at this stage.
10. I am holding a meeting of my Executive Council tomorrow (Tuesday)
morning, and I intend to seek their views on courses (i), (ii) and
(iii), but on a contingency planning basis only. However, I would hope
that I may have urgently your approval for courses (11) and (iv) and
would welcome your early comments on the other two courses.
11.
Galsworthy will be telegraphing separately about useful discussions held
this morning on labour matters.
Passed as requested with advance copies to
Foreign Office F.E. Dept.).
SECRET
/Distribution
SECRET
Distribution
H.K. WID 'C' I.G.D.
J.I.C. EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
Copies also sent to:-
P.S. to Prime Minister
Cabinet Office
Foreign Office
11
11
11
Treasury
Export Credits Guarantee
Department
D.I.O., J.I.R. Mr. de la Mare
Mr. Bolland
Mr. Wilson
Mr. Denвon
Mr. Foggon
Mr. D. Hawkins
Mr. C.P. Rawlings.
SECRET
!
Miglin
(144)
Minister of State
163
Please sce Hong Kong telegram 662.
The Governor would like urgent approval of two courses of action. -
II Action to neutralise several of the
buildings from which the campaign is
being directed, i.c. notably the Bank of
China and the Communist-controlled Federation of Trade Union
Headquarters,
IV
and
that H.M.S. Bulwark, a Commando-carrier,
equipped with helicopters, should visit Hong Kong on a "routine visit".
When the telegram came in this morning I was
able to have a brief word with Sir Saville Garner
and his initial reation was that these two
courses should be approved. You will see from
paragraph 9 of the telegram thut
Sir Arthur Galsworthy and Mr. Bolland agree with these reactions and so
does the Commander of the
British Forces in Hong Kong.
I have had a brief word with the Ministry of Defonce, who are urgently
considering the question of the availability of H‚μ‚S. Bulwark, I shall
also consult the Foreign Office.
+
I submit the draft of a short telegram which
I hope we will be able to clear with the Ministry of Defence and the
Foreign Office this afternoon.
HOH.
(H.P. Hall) 22 May 1967
PA
>
XXXX
SECRET
GOVERNER ZONG KENG
Í OLAD, SINGAPORE PEKING
CHHINGTON
Your telegrum No. 662.
Disturbances.
Ministero approve courses II and IV.
2. (A course 11 imposition of curier might be
preferable to declaration of closed areas but
Ministers leave decision on actual method to you.
3. On course IV Ministry of telence ore
issuing necessary instructions forthwith.
24. Comments on other to ecurses will follow:
luter.
145
1.
2.
The Acpula Under-fecretary in change of The Dependent Tentoni
Dursion of Commonweddin office is at present in Hong Kong, wieră other
officials,
ма
As my colleagues will be aware, the present
troubles in Hong Kong had their origin in a labour
dispute, which was not handled wisely by
management in its early stages somewhat provocatively7. It was after a
lockout and wholesale dismissals that the
Concernel.
1250
first scuffles occurred, outside the factory We have
A
now heard that the dispute is over, and that there has
been a resumption of work.
A full account of the history of the disturbance is quien at Annex A.
However, the origin seems now to be probably almost
irrelevant in the light of the pattern of demonstrations
and violence of the last ten days. It may help my
colleagues to know that on the whole the assessments and
analyses of television and responsible press reports
in the last few days accord with my own interpretation,
based on the most reliable sources available to us. Briefly
this is as follows.
(a) A loosening of control by mainland China of the
C.P.G. in Hong Kong has resulted from recent developments
in the Cultural Revolution, The first mass demonstrations