DON (110)
MOTOTO MON
En Clair
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
ста
FROM HONG KONG
NWA 712
(Information Officer)
D. 21st May, 1967 Re 20th
11
19402
PRESS
Hong Kong Government has announced that it will not, repeat not, tolerate any more disorderly gatherings such as occurred in Statue Square in Central District this (Saturday) afternoon.
Following events of today, Government tonight issued a statement which stated: "During past few days Government has permitted group protests at gates of Government House to proceed without interference. Until today, demonstrations associated with these protests have been noisy but not, repeat not, violent.
"Today, the demonstrations have lost their orderly and disciplined nature. Groups of demonstrators returning from Government House have mobbed around Statue Square and the Law Courts and have resorted to violence and rowdiness by molesting spectators and by attempting to block the tramlines with rubbish. These activities have been urged on by loudspeaker exhortations to further violence and disorder,
"It has therefore been decided that in the interests of the public, disorderly gatherings of this nature will not, repeat not, in future be permitted. People will, however, be allowed to continue to exercise their right to petition the Governor in small, orderly groups or by post, but disorderly processions or unlawful gatherings will not be allowed". (End of statement).
Noisy demonstrations took place all afternoon around Bank of China which has been headquarters for demonstrators marching to Government House.
Following chanting of slogans and pasting of posters around Government House marchers returned to vicinity of Bank where they interrupted the weekend calm of central area by noisy shouting.
At times passers-by were molested by the crowd. Photographers were approached and forced to expose their
However, visits by police parties to the scene evented serious trouble.
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