CO537-3708 — Page 23

LL. In consequence of the crowd's attack.on the

police and the attempts to prevent the police from

carrying out their duty, six persons were injured,

five superficially and one more seriously. The latter

had an abdominal wound caused by a bullet, most likely

an accidental ricochet. The latest information we have

from Hong Kong concerning the casualties is that the

condition of the five minor casualties is good. In the

other case, the bullet has been removed and his

condition was reported on the 13th January to be fair.

5. In the course of the evictions on the

5th January, two men were arrested and charged with

inciting the squatters to resist the police. They

were subsequently tried and sentenced to three months'

hard labour each. One of them admitted in cross-

examination that he had previously been in,

156th Division of Chinese Army attached to the

Political Propaganda Section.

6.

Formal representations have been made by the

Chinese Government to H. M. Ambassador at Nanking, and

the Chinese Minister and the Chinese Ambassador have

called on the Foreign Office with regard to this

matter.

The reply to the formal representations is

under consideration.

7.

The Governor's decision to clear the area was

a normal administrative measure taken as a precaution

against the threat of fire and disease. Alternative

sites were offered and it was open to the squatters to

remove the materials of their huts to these sites.

Had they done so the evictions would not have been

necessary. His Majesty's Ambassador, Nanking, has of

course kept His Majesty's Government and the Governor

of Hong Kong informed of the various representations

made by the Chinese Government.

/8.