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3.
of earlier curfewc and the presence of military forces
proved entirely affective in bringing rioting and disorder
to an end, after a period which had se.n considerable physi-
cal damage but little personal injury."
In their exazination of the immediate causes of the
disturbances the Commission found that the proposed trivial
increase in ferry fares was not in itself a factor but came at
a time when there was public apprehension and fear of rising
prices and inflation. There fears were exploited by opponents
of the increase, who based their campaign on the over-simplified
question of whether an increase in fares "aɛ wanted. The view.2
of the Transport Advisory Committe on hether an increase was
justified were not widely reported in the press.
2. The Commission found no reason to believe that the distur
bances were organised in any way by political or criminal
elements, nor did they find that political, economic or social
frustrations played much pert. The main reason: for partici-
pation given by the rioters themselves was curiosity and th
prospect of excitement.
5. A considerable secti n of the report deals with the evidence
given before the Commission by Mrs. Elliott, an Urban Councillor,
who me the most prominent of the leaders o° the opposition
against the fares increase. Before the Commission and at an
interview with the Colonial Secretary in London she alleged that
the Hong Kong police had plotted to "throw the blame on her for
the riots". The Commission's mport disposes of this allegation.
In remrd to her res onsibility for the events leading up to
the riots the Commission's comment was that "while well-weaning
people who do things which have unfortunate results cannot
escape responsibility.......it would be more profitable not to
dwell on whatever evanescent individual errors had or contributed
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