INWARD TELEGRAM
T
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES
ANDED COPY (Amendmente * underlined)
Cypher (0.T.P.)
COPY FOR BEGI
FROM HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)
R.
D. 11th January, 1948.
11th
#
#
13.00 hrs.
4
IMMEDIATE
No. 38 Secret.
Addressed to British Ambassador, Nanking, No. 8. Repeated to S. of S.
by savingram to the Consul General,
Your telegram No. 12.
Canton.
Kowloon Walled City.
Considerable artificial agitation is now being (?group omitted) out of the evictions and exaggerated and misleading reports have been appearing in some sections of Chinese language press alleging that eviction was brutally carried out, attempting to compel pity #fer squatters. I am therefore releasing a statement to the press 10th January (?setting omitted) out the bare facts of eviction and stressing that constitutional policy removing the squatters from the various areas of the Colony which has been in progress for over one year, is in the interests of the health of the community as a whole. For full text see my immediately following telegram, I am also sending a copy to Mr. T.W. Kwek.
20 More serious development is a visit 7th January of Po On Magistrate to Kowloon City accompanied by several of his officials including Health and Police Advisers. Meeting was held Kowloon City at which the Magistrate addressed crowd under Chinese flag which a section of the Chinese press interpreting as reaffirmation of Chinese sovereignty. Various "comforting" Missions have also been organised by bodies in Hong Kong and Po On and Canton and subscriptions are being raised.
30 Considerable number of aquatters have now returned, at least 22 sheds re-erected. They have been encouraged to do so by agitatore and by Po On officiale, This is open challenge to authority which I am compelled to meet. Another operation is being carried out to-morrow to dismantle these hubs.
I am warning Kwek's office of this intended operation in order that they may send an observer if they wish. I cannot minimise the possibilities of resistance which the police are to be (7group omitted) instructions to meet,
4. Two men including Chu Pui Tong, Chairman of Kowloon City Residents' Association, but not himself one of the squatters, were arrested when the eviction was carried out, on intimidating the coolies demolishing the huts and inciting squatters resist the Police. They appeared in Court 10th January and adopted defiant attitude
/claiming
1