TNAG-0003-FCO40-39-Commission-of-Enquiry-into-the-Kowloon-disturbances-addition-1968 — Page 29

PART III THE DISTURBANCES

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to request the Governor to release SO. A group of six or seven demonstrators went by taxi to Government House where LO Kei handed in a note at about 4.35 p.m. The note read:

'Hong Kong people should be proud to have someone to fight against the "fare" increase, and there should be more supporters not necessarily on hunger strike'.

According to a newspaper reporter, these words had formed part of RAGGENSACK's earlier speech at the ferry concourse.

93. While waiting outside Government House, this group was joined by four or five demonstrators from Kowloon who had meanwhile been warned by Miss LUI of SO's arrest and had crossed the harbour and joined the main group. A photo- graph of some of the demonstrators speaking with press reporters outside Government House is at Plate 3. After handing in the note, they discussed their next move and decided to try and see Mrs. ELLIOTT, whom they knew to be prominently connected with the opposition to ferry fare increases. Miss LUI telephoned and ascertained that she was attending an Urban Council meeting. The group dispersed when asked to do so by the Police at about 5 p.m.

94. Visit to Central Government Offices. After leaving Government House, the demonstrators walked to the Central Government Offices, where they stood with placards soliciting signatures from passers-by. Meanwhile, LO Kei, RAGGENSACK, Miss LUI and a young man called LAM Siu Lok went up in the lift to the Urban Council Chamber seeking Mrs. ELLIOTT and, according to some witnesses, Mr. BERNACCHI, who was also attending the meeting of the Council. She was met coming out of the Chamber with Mr. BERNACCHI. Both were told of SO Sau Chung's arrest and their guidance was sought.

95. Mr. BERNACCHI apparently indicated the need for police permission to demonstrate and told the group to see the Secretary of the Reform Club next morning and make a statement. What Mrs. ELLIOTT said is not entirely clear. A journalist told us she used words to the effect that all Hong Kong would be proud of those who had helped SO 'as it would draw attention to circumstances in Hong Kong'. Mr. BERNACCHI in his evidence was not so specific as to her words, but maintained that she certainly indicated her support for what Mr. SO was doing. In her evidence to us she said that she had told them they were very brave but was worried lest they break the law.

96. Visit to Central Police Station. Mrs. ELLIOTT, RAGGENSACK, LO Kei, LAM Siu Lok and Miss LUI went by taxi to Central Police Station where Mrs. ELLIOTT and RAGGENSACK were permitted to interview SO Sau Chung at about 7.15 p.m. She offered to go bail for him which he refused and she discussed with him what course he should follow in court. SO asked Mrs. ELLIOTT and RAGGENSACK to carry on with his work but, again, there was some suggestion that he qualified this by an admonition not to break the law. At SO's request, Mrs.