TNAG-0003-FCO40-39-Commission-of-Enquiry-into-the-Kowloon-disturbances-addition-1968 — Page 139

PART VI CONCLUSIONS

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to provide large crowds in the streets of Kowloon and a favourable framework for the events which occurred. We have, however, no evidence at all that the date of the first demonstration march was in any way the result of an active choice. The date of SO's first appearance may well have been, but there is no evidence that he could have foreseen the resulting Kowloon demonstrations.

The Place

435. It is difficult to find in the evidence any clear and direct connection between the location of the demonstration and the rioting. In our analysis the main relationship derived from the fact that the original demonstrations were planned to draw the maximum attention and were therefore directed towards Nathan Road, which is the entertainment centre and main traffic artery of Kowloon.

436. It seems to be in accordance with the pattern of these events, that the protest marches of the 5/6th should have been repeated on the 6/7th-even ignor- ing the possibility of prior organization-in the same location. It also seems to flow logically from this that repeated demonstrations in this most crowded thoroughfare would be bound to generate an atmosphere of intense excitement and, given certain other factors, inevitably to burst into disorder.

437. Nevertheless, and although we believe that the prime relationship is as described above, it is possible that the location had some effect on events in other respects. Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei are the most densely populated areas in Kow- loon and almost entirely lacking in open space. Furthermore, the overcrowding of the tenements and streets is exacerbated by the flow of industrial, commercial, and private traffic through the area and by the influx of thousands of persons visiting the cinemas, restaurants, tea-houses and shops with which the district abounds. These two factors distinguish them from other overcrowded areas such as Western District or Wanchai on Hong Kong Island, but the location was not shown to provide any clear link in the causation since many of the persons convicted of rioting were residents of other areas. It may be significant, however that residents of the resettlement estates who enjoy low rents, a somewhat lower density of population, greater security of tenure and slightly more contact with authority appear to have been less included to join the demonstrations than people in Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei. But it would be dangerous to overemphasize this point since some residents of resettlement areas did participate in the disturbances and, had the demonstrations been concentrated in these areas, the result might have been different.

The Participants

438. The picture, which appears to have gained considerable currency, of a peaceful demonstration being taken over by entirely different and hooligan ele- ments, who ousted the original participants and completely transformed the scene,