Cypher
COFT
CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 13th May 1967 R. 13th
1 21 52
15 MA
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६३
IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIAL
No.599
(n)
Addressed to Commonwealth Office
Peking No.214
Repeated
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POLAD Singapore No. 81
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Washington No.112
(C.O. please pass IMMEDIATE to all)
My telegram No.594 (not to Washington).
Kowloon Disturbances.
This morning a crowd which eventually reached between 1,000 and 2,000 gathered at the plastic flower factory in San Po Kong. The police moved in to disperse it and there were a small number of arrests. Subsequently crowds gathered in four nearby resettlement estates. The police were attacked, cars set on fire and a block of staff quarters was set on fire. Some 300 workers have gathered outside the cement works, so far in an orderly manner. The situation is tense and rumours are beginning to fly about further action by Left-wing unions. A curfew will be imposed in the same limited area from 7 p.m. to 4 a.m.
2. The Left-wing press this morning remains highly critical and biased, but personal criticism of myself has been avoided. A number of Left-wing organisations, including the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, the Banks, 'The New China' News Agency and unions have formally expressed support for the "patriotic compatriots who have suffered suppression" and protested at the 'premeditated fascist violence ↑ of the British authorities in Hong Kong etc. The Federation of Trade Unions has established a 'Hong Kong and Kowloon All Industries Workers Anti-Persecution Committee' and called for the establishment of a similar 'All Circles' committee (as in Macau).
3. A number of Left-wing delegations has attempted to see me to protest about particular incidents and/or the general situation. They have all been received by my A.D.C. and have, after argument and chanting of slogans left letters of protest.
(Passed as requested)
Distribution
H.K. W.I.D. 'C' I.G.D.
LAST
REF.
(EX)
REF.
20/a/22
JI.C. EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 63
15 M 1967
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CONFIDENTIAL
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