(34
38
En Clair
DEPARTMENTA L.
FROM NANKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE.
Sir R. Stevenson, No. 56.
16th January, 1948.
Repeated to Hong Kong.
IMMEDIATE.
D. 6.20 p.m. 16th January, 1948.
R. 7.20 p.m. 16th January, 1948.
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No, 56 of 16/1, repeated to Hong Kong.
My immediately preceding telegram.
Following is text of U.S.C.G.'s telegram to United States Embassy Nanking and State Department.
[Begins] Demonstrations in protest against eviction of squatters in so called walled city of Kowloon commenced to-day from in front of Chungshan memorial hall and proceeded through city with intent voted yesterday not to enter Shameen Island where almost all foreign consulates located.
Paraders not counted but totalled many thousands including students from all universities, colleges and middle schools and labour unions carrying posters with anti-British slogans and shouting such things as we want Kowloon back and down with England.
At first paraders orderly but at 12.30 they broke through the few guards on the two bridges connecting Shameen with remainder of city and massed in front of British Consulate, where by one p.m. they had pulled down British flag in British garden in front of British Consulate despite armed police attempt to protect it. Crowd rapidly increased, surrounding British Consulate and finally breaking into it. Crowd started by smashing windows and throwing furniture into street and garden and centre of compound where they set on fire. By two o'clock crowd had set fire to British Consulate building itself. We can see flames from this building and latest report is bad. British Consulate-General's residence has also been set on fire. There have been two distinct explosions but we cannot ascertain their nature. riembers of this staff are not going near British Consulate for fear of causing incident and all information based on reports from our Chinese employees, newspapermen and other friends. Assistant Military Attaché, Lieutenant Colonel Covington, lives on other side of British Consulate from our buildings. His wife and three sons have just arrived here safe but in highly nervous state, saying their building extremely hot from flames of British building. By 3.30 crowd set fire to British Chartered Bank of India and Australia which now in flames.
Mayor Au Yang Chu
of/