TNAG-0003-FCO40-39-Commission-of-Enquiry-into-the-Kowloon-disturbances-addition-1968 — Page 113

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PART V PERSONS INVOLVED

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341. LO Kei learned of the arrest, he said, from RAGGENSACK but confirmed that the move to Government House (para. 92) was made at his own suggestion and that he handed to the A.D.C. the petition received from RAGGENSACK, although LO Kei claimed before us not to have known who wrote it. He said that the people accompanying them to Government House included reporters and detectives. He and RAGGENSACK with two others travelled in a taxi, the rest went on foot. The subsequent move which led to a meeting with Mrs. ELLIOTT and Mr. BERNACCHI outside the council chamber was, according to LO Kei, suggested by him in order lied to see either Mrs. ELLIOTT or Mr. BERNACCHI and he went on to tell us that he knew Mrs. ELLIOTT was a promoter of the drive against the Star Ferry fare increase and that Mr. BERNACCHI was a man who gladly helped the working class with advice about the law. The visit to the police station and LO Kei's telephone conversation with the Duty Officer at Tsim Sha Tsui have already been recounted (para. 96). The impression that this conversation was intended to provide some cover of legality for the subsequent demonstration is borne out by LO Kei's statement to us that he announced, in answer to questions by reporters outside the Central Police Station, that he had police permission to hold a procession and, in saying so, had this conversation in mind. RAGGENSACK gave evidence of ! hearing LO Kei at this time speaking softly over the telephone and saying 'Sir, SO is arrested now', followed by 'Well, he is in Central Police Station. Mrs. ELLIOTT is here already, Have one European boy this time', and then, 'Shall I carry on?' This sounded like a very different conversation from that recounted by the Duty Officer but we could get no further evidence of it and doubt if, merely on the strength of RAGGENSACK's account, it could be interpreted as indicating the existence of some wider planning.

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342. Be what as it may, LO Kei claimed that, after the visit to the police station and to SO's house, he, RAGGENSACK and Miss LUI were accompanied by reporters and detectives when they crossed to Kowloon, where about ten youngsters had already gathered with banners. He maintained that this was without any prior arrangement but seemingly he assumed control and began addressing passers-by, asking for their signatures and support in the protest against the rise in ferry fares. He took full responsibility for the subsequent procession, which he claimed was his idea. With RAGGENSACK by his side, he led about 12 or 13 persons up Salisbury Road to Nathan Road; the others merely followed, he said, when the demonstra- tion was suggested. By the time they got to Bute Street, the procession had grown to a large crowd but he was still in the lead when they got back to the Star Ferry. Whilst confirming that he had addressed the crowd, he claimed that he expressed himself badly when he questioned the continuation of the Colony and colonialism. What he really felt was that there was something abnormal in Hong Kong because whilst America was sending rockets to explore the moon, an 18th century system prevailed here. He said that he requested the crowd to disperse and that it was at RAGGENSACK's suggestion that the second procession up Nathan Road took place. As for himself, he claimed to have gone over to the bus stop outside the London