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PART III THE DISTURBANCES
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212. The effect of these two factors-smaller crowds, and a greater degree of police control is evident in the smaller amount of damage caused on this night (see details in Appendix 8) and the fewer casualties suffered. Also, fewer persons were arrested--a total of 237, of whom 198 were charged with breach of curfew, 12 with breach of curfew and other offences three with other offences and 24 released.
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CHAPTER 5.
THE EVENTS OF 8TH/9TH APRIL
213. In the light of the rioting which had occurred on the previous two nights, the security authorities decided that the most rigorous precautions were justified to prevent any further outbreaks of violence. Accordingly, at 3.30 p.m., the Governor ordered a curfew over Kowloon and New Kowloon between 7 p.m. on 8th April and 6 a.m. on 9th April. This was promulgated by every possible means and curfew passes were issued to those who had essential reasons for being on the streets during those hours.
214. Also, it was agreed by the District Commander, Kowloon and his military counterpart that army units would cordon the areas in which disturbances had occurred the previous night from Prince Edward Road in the north to Public Square Street in the south. Eight police companies were to be deployed inside this cordon to enforce the curfew and to stop any disturbances developing. This operation commenced at the onset of curfew and only minor opposition was en- countered by the police companies. The strength of forces available to the police was almost the same as on the previous night.
215. The prearranged curfew combined with patrols by police companies with- in the 'box' formed by the military cordon were almost entirely effective in clear- ing the streets. Photographs and evidence from press reporters confirm the District Commander's report that by 8 p.m. the curfew was nearly completely effective.
216. The only reported incidents on this night were as follows:
(a) At 7.30 p.m. bottles and stones were thrown at a platoon of the Wong Tai Sin company from the rooftop of a multi-storey building in Canton Road in Mong Kok. Several arrests were made as a result.
(b) At about the same time, a crowd of 50 persons at the junction of Soy Street and Canton Road was dispersed by another platoon of the same company.
(c) Between 8 and 8.25 p.m. action was taken against a group of youths in the area of Chungking Mansions in Tsim Sha Tsui. Two arrests were made and a number of bottles seized.
217. At 11.20 p.m. police companies were ordered to return to base and replaced by platoon patrols. The military cordons were withdrawn some time later after no further incidents had occurred.
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