TNAG-0013-FCO40-49-Kowloon-disturbances-1967 — Page 58

CONFIDENTIAL

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Cyphery Cat A

IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (DTD)

Telno 1310.

CONFIDENTIAL

Bomb Outrages:

25 August 1967

Penalties.

16h che a HWB 14/40

I am urgently considering the desirability of making emergency regulations to provide for the death penalty for the unlawful possession of high explosives, bombs or similar devices in certain circumstances. Such regulations would be on the lines of Regulation 116A of the Emergency (Principal) Amendment (No.2.) Regulations 1950 to which you agreed in your telegram No. 1513 of 4 October 1950. Your file reference was 14237/15/50. These Regulations were rescinded in April 1956.

2. It would probably be necessary to revise the working of the Regulation to cover all cases of attempted murder (e.g. by the use of inflammable liquids).

3. There have to date (23 August) been the following bomb incidents:

Explosions 136

Bombs detonated or rendered harmless 202

Bombs found as a result of police search 43

False alarms and hoaxes 1189

Persons killed 2

Persons injured 61

You are aware from my telegram No. 1279 that two children aged 8 and 2 were killed on 20 August by a bomb left in a side street much used as a children's playground. On 24 August a popular announcer on commercial radio, Lam Bun, and his clansman were critically burned when a petrol bomb was thrown at their car. Lam had been outspokenly critical of the Communists and had been threatened. He has since died.

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5. These indiscriminate bomb attacks have outraged public opinion. On the adjournment debate in Legislative Council on 23 August an unofficial member advocated the death penalty for these offences; he has received considerable public support.

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6. I am also considering the question of corporal punishment for these offences.

7. A paper on the subject is being prepared for Executive Council where the matter was raised on 22 August.

8. The purpose of this telegram is to give you advance notice and to seek your preliminary views as early as possible.

O.A.G.

Sent 0900Z/ 25 August Recd 0910Z/ 25 August

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RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 63

29 AUG1967

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CONFIDENTIAL

HWB2/17