CO537-3705 — Page 192

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 dismantling of the

huts was carried out without disturbance on the

5th January.

3.

Police

On the 7th January the Magistrate of Po On, a district of the Kwangtung Province adjoining Hong Kong, paid a visit to the "walled City", which is fifteen to twenty miles from the frontier, 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. 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. 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.

4. In