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cons ting as it did of a disordered cluster of overcrowded wooden huts without proper sanitary arrangements, presented grave danger to health and a serious risk of fire. As a normal administrative measure of precaution therefore against the threat of fire and disease, the Hongkong Government decided that the huts must be removed. Eviction notices were accordingly served on the 27th November on the Occupants of the huts, some 54 in number. The date of expiry of the notices was the 11th December, 1947. The squatters failed comply with the notices and summonses were then issued by the Court. Alternative sites were offered them and it was open to them to remove the materials of their existing huts to those sites. The case came before the Court on the 16th December and eviction orders were made. A translation of the Magistrate's order and the notice offering alternative sites was published in the Press on the 17th December and copies were served on the squatters on the 22nd and 29th December. Eviction and dis- mantling of the huts was carried out without disturbance on the 5th January.
On the 7th January the Magistrate of Po On District of Kwangtung Province adjoining Hongkong, paid a visit to the "Walled City", accompanied by several of his officials including Health and Police Advisers. A meeting was held when he addressed the crowd under the Chinese flag. This was interpreted in the Chinese press as reaffirming Chinese sovereignty. In defiance of the Court's order, a number of huts were illegally re-erected on the former sites. Police. action to move them on the 12th January was met by resistance. As the police party approached through a narrow alley leading to the "Walled City", they were met by loud shouts and a heavy barrage of stones from a crowd of over 100 persons. Several of the police were hit and the mob was obviously acting on a pre- arranged plan. Police efforts to quieten the mob were drowned in the clamour, and it was necessary for the police then to fire warning shots from revolvers into the ground. These warnings were without effect on the crowd and tear smoke was then used, which had the desired effect of dispersing the crowd. The police were then able to remove the huts in accordance with their orders. Six persons were later, I regret to state, discovered to have received hurts, five suffering minor injuries and one having an abdominal wound from a bullet, most probably by an accidental richochet. The last-named, according to latest reports, is now out of danger. I would particularly draw Your Excellency's attention to the fact that the police were outside the socalled Kowloon City when they were attacked. Some of the attackers were inside and some outside the city, but it is impossible to say with certainty whether the casualties referred to were sustained inside or outside it.
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