CO129-609-5 Future policy- Press accounts of Chinese unrest over Kowloon evictions 19-1-1948 - 16-3-1948 — Page 97

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MOB DESTROY

BRITISH HOMES

STAFF ESCAPE AS CONSULATE BLAZES

HONG KONG, Friday.

THE British Consulate in

Canton was set on fire to-day by mobs protesting against the eviction by the British authori- ties of Chinese civilians in Kow- loon City and, according to re- ports, several members of the Consulate were attacked.

A mob of several thousands demonstrated outside the British Consular Offices. Stones were thrown and the building set alight and completely destroyed.

Mobs Unchecked

The mob then burned the houses of the British Consul Genral and the offices of Butterfield and Swires, in which the British In- formation Department and Reuters were situated, later attacking other buildings

The mobs were unchecked and fires raged without interference. Three hours later Chinese troops. police and fire brigades arrived. The Chinese left the island and everything became quiet.

The Consulate staff left the Consulate with Mr. Hall, the Con- sul-General, under police escort before the serious rioting began. Mr. Jock Murray, Press Attache, and his wife escaped into the home of the U.S. Naval Attache with Barbara Rollfe, Secretary_to__the Consul-General.-Reuter, B.U.P.

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