CO537-3705 — Page 268

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JAI

XXI

XII

INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

Cypher (0.T. P. )

COPY FOR REGIST

EIVED

IN

FROM HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)

IMMEL

D. 12th January, 1948, R. 12th

#

#*

16.25 hrs.

No. 4 Ssera to

1940

I

I I

REG

Z

Addressed to S. of B.

Repeateŭ to British Ambassador, Nanking, No.11 and

Canton ac savingram,

ll

4.

My telegram No.8 to Nanking,

Kowloon aquatters.

I regret to report that polios were met with obviously pre-arranged resistance when they went to remove the re-erected squattere huts at Kowloon City this morning, Volleys of stones were thrown at police, who fired warning shots into the ground. These warnings had no (repeat no) effect on the mob. Police then threw tear smoke cannisters and crowd immediately dispersed, enabling the hats to be removed without further trouble. I would particularly draw

your attention to the fact that police were outeide Kowloon City when they were attacked. Some of attackers were outside and some inside City. It is impossible to say whether casualtise wore sustained inside or outside the City.

2. Five persons were then discovered to be wounded. Another casualty presented himself some hours later. This one had an abdominal wound caused by a bullet, most likely accidental ricochet, The bullet has been removed but his condition is serious. The other casualties suffered minor injuries oply, probably none of them from bullet wounds.

3.

I`issued a statement this morning, which has already been telegraphed to you. In view of paragraph 2 above, I am issuing a further brief statement.

4. A police post is now being maintained at Kowloon City, where for the moment all is quiet.

5. Reference to paragraph 3 of my telegram under reference, despite every attempt it was not (repeat not) possible to contact anyone in authority in Kwok's office until 9 a,m. this morning (1.6. after operation had started), although a junior in Kwok'à office was informed at 4 p.. yesterday that it was desired to meet someone in authority regarding Kowloon City on a matter of urgency.

6. Some 53 soldiers in uniform were present, apparently by chance, during this morning'e operation in Kowloon city, but were not (repeat not) obstructive.

7. Reports obtained from special branch tend to got that whole of Kowloon City agitation is being artiClOL&LLY stimulated by Kuomintang organisation in Hong Kong. Thase

ka.

/report