TNAG-0003-FCO40-39-Commission-of-Enquiry-into-the-Kowloon-disturbances-addition-1968 — Page 25

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PART II THE STAR FERRY FARE ISSUE

17

Chinese Manufacturers' Association, that he had been told of thousands seeking a wage rise to cover the additional cost. As will be seen from other parts of this report, comment of this kind made a considerable impact on young and impression- able minds. The same newspaper gave considerable publicity to Mrs. ELLIOTT'S appeal on 20th March for a massive letter-writing campaign and to her sub- sequent appeal to 200 organizations on 3rd April: this appeal and the publicity given to it was to have a significant effect on subsequent events.

77. Whilst it is clear from all this that by the beginning of April, 1966 there was widespread interest in the Star Ferry fare issue it is no less clear that the Transport Advisory Committee and the man in the street were not seeking to answer the same question. The man in the street had been encouraged to think about, and to answer, a very simple query: do you want an increase in the price of transport? The Transport Advisory Committee was required to answer some- thing quite different, viz, under the terms of its franchise, is the Star Ferry Company entitled to an increase in fares? Failure to appreciate this difference played, we think, a significant part in creating the situation which led up to the events of the 4th to 9th April.

78. It may also be noted that, in effect, as a result of referring the company's request to the Transport Advisory Committee, a substantial part of the 12 months delay sought in Mrs. ELLIOTT's petition supervened and the company, as a result of the committee's advice and Government's ultimate decision, received con- siderably less than the increase in fares which had been requested; but these were matters that received little public notice.