TNAG-0003-FCO40-39-Commission-of-Enquiry-into-the-Kowloon-disturbances-addition-1968 — Page 114

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PART V PERSONS INVOLVED

Theatre where at mid-night he boarded a bus for home. It is of interest to note RAGGENSACK's description of LO Kei on this evening. He was, RAGGENSACK said, like a general or a trainer, marching up and down, asking the crowd to halt, left turn, right turn, hold up the signs etc. LO Kei's early schooling in Canton may have given him some experience in political marches.

343. The following morning, 6th April, LO Kei called for Miss LUI about 8 a.m. as arranged, he said, the previous evening. After breakfast together, they crossed the harbour and met some reporters on arrival in Hong Kong. Their visit to the Western Magistracy and the subsequent meetings with LEE Tak Yee and MOK Lok Wai and the writing of statements at the Reform Club have already been described (para. 109) as has the subsequent second visit to Government House, after which LO Kei and the others left in a van belonging to the World News Evening Press. This was followed by the visit to the South Kowloon Magistracy and LO Kei's telephone call to the Reform Club (paras. 115-117). On the phone he learned about the meeting arranged for 5.30 that afternoon at Mr. BERNACCHI's office, information which he passed on to LEE Tak Yee and MOK Lok Wai. He told us that later in the day whilst reading a newspaper outside a restaurant in Shanghai Street, Kowloon, he was approached by a press reporter who told him that Commercial Radio wanted him. As a result, he went to Com- mercial Radio at Lai Chi Kok, thus missing the meeting at Mr. BERNACCHI's office. Commercial Radio was, apparently, less enthusiastic about the interview than the reporter had allegedly claimed but he was seen by one of the staff and a recording made, although it was not broadcast. A transcript of the recording was however made available to us and indicated very clearly LO Kei's intentions at that time and his unreliability as a witness.

344. In his evidence to us, he appeared anxious to create the impression that the demonstration on the evening of the 6th had little or nothing to do with him. He said that many people had suggested a further demonstration and the line he took was 'I myself had no power to stop them from holding such a demonstration but I (did) hope that they would not do anything which would infringe the law. He testified that in the course of the interview, 'I further said that possibly there might be some people assembling outside the Star Ferry for demonstration on the same evening, although I would not agree with the demonstration'. This contrasts with the transcript of his tape-recording which concludes with:

"Tonight any workers, students, resident associations, trade unions and organization and residents, if they have time, they may go to the Tsim Sha Tsui Concourse to meet together. It does not matter whether they live in Hong Kong side or Kowloon side, they should gather there. They should prepare some PAI LAUS, slogans etc. It has also been promised me that pickets will be available to maintain order in the demonstration, Demonstrators have promised me that they will not damage public property and avoid breaking the law.

I also hope that police and Hong Kong citizens will co-operate because every citizen is a tax-payer.'