XN000022-1985-10-04 — Page 9

1

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1985

A BYSTANDER DISPUTED THE RIGHT OF THE GD TEAM TO REMOVE THE UMBRELLA, WHICH HAD BEEN SEIZED AS AN ABANDONED ARTICLE, AND AS A HEATED ARGUMENT AROSE, BETWEEN 30 AND 50 MEN SUDDENLY APPEARED FROM NEARBY ALLEYS AND STAIRWELLS, TAKING THE GDT MEMBERS BY SURPRISE.

THE GDT MEMBERS, WHO WERE UNARMED, WERE VICIOUSLY ATTACKED WITH IRON BARS, BUT THE BEAT-RADIO OPERATOR WITH THEM CALLED IMMEDIATELY FOR HELP FROM OTHER GD TEAMS IN THE DISTRICT, AND TWO TEAMS TOTALLING 24 MEN RAN TO THE IR ASSISTANCE.

THE USD CONTROL CENTRE ALSO MADE AN EMERGENCY CALL TO THE POLICE, AND THEY ARRIVED AND WITH THE HELP OF REINFORCEMENTS GOT THE SITUATION UNDER CONTROL.

+THIS WAS A WELL PLANNED AMBUSH, SAID THE SPOKESMAN.

+THE UMBRELLA WAS THE 'BAIT,' AND THE HEATED ARGUMENT WAS A DIVERSIONARY TACTIC TO ENSURE THAT THE GD TEAM WAS CAUGHT UNAWARES.+

THREE MEMBERS OF THE TEAM WHO HAD BEEN DETAINED FOR TREATMENT AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL WERE ALLOWED TO GO HOME TODAY.

MULTITUDE OF ACTIVITIES TO MARK CIVIC DAY FOR YOUTH

*****

A HOST OF ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN LINED UP THROUGHOUT THE 19 DISTRICTS IN SUPPORT OF THIS SUNDAY'S (OCTOBER 6) CIVIC DAY FOR YOUTH.

THERE WILL BE EXHIBITIONS, FORUMS, FUND-RAISING EVENTS, SOCIAL SERVICES ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY BUILDING PROJECTS.

THE CIVIC DAY FOR YOUTH IS A TERRITORY-WIDE EVENT ORGANISED BY THE CENTRAL CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE ON 1985 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR (CCCIYY) WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE 19 DISTRICT BOARDS.

THE AIM OF THE FUNCTION IS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTHS IN HONG KONG TO PARTICIPATE IN CIVIC-ORIENTED ACTIVITIES SO AS TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY.

ON SUNDAY. AFTER THE INITIATION CEREMONY AT EDINBURGH PLACE, DELEGATIONS FROM THE 19 DISTRICTS WILL RETURN TO THEIR OWN DISTRICT WHERE ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN ORGANISED FOR MORE THAN 10 000 YOUNG PEOPLE.

THE SECRETARY