Cypher/Cat A
SECRET
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
Telno 1285
SECRET
22 August 1967
997
TOP COPY
(D.T.D.)
HW
Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 1285 of 22 August. Repeated for information to Peking POLAD Singapore Washington and Canberra.
The principal features of the Communist confrontation during the period 11-21 August have been: --
between 11 and 21
(a) The continuation of bomb incidents; August, 417 reports of bombs were received of which 86 proved to be genuine. 60 of these were detonated by bomb disposal teams whilst 26 either exploded on impact or before the arrival of the bomb squads. In two recent cases, gelignite was used and the first fatalities in the "bomb war" occurred on 20 August, when two children were killed - aged 8 and 2 after picking up a carrier bag in which a bomb had been concealed. Eight people, including a member of a bomb disposal team, have been injured by other explosions. Two arrests have been made of people found in possession of "hoax" bombs, and four juveniles have been arrested in possession of a live bomb; all have been charged.
(b) The larceny from two dangerous goods stores of a total of 723 sticks of gelignite together with a quantity of black gun powder, safety fuse wire and detonators. Action has now been completed to remove explosives from dangerous goods stores to the Government Central Explosives Depot.
(c) Isolated incidents of mob violence on two occasions one on Hong Kong Island and one in Kowloon. During one of these outbreaks a new
type of home made percussion grenade was used in attacks on police.
(d) A violent reaction by workers from Chinese territory to security forces removing inflammatory posters on British territory at Man Kam To on the night of 10 August. During this incident workers and other civilians from Chinese territory seized weapons from the security forces and compelled the senior officers present to sign a document. The CCA took defensive action and made no attempt to intervene.
(e) An incident at Takuling on 11 August during which some 30 farm workers from Chinese territory attacked the security forces. Tear gas and baton shells were used to disperse the attackers: this was followed by two bursts of IMG fire into British territory by the CCA to flank of the security forces. Even allowing for these warning shots the CCA are considered to have adopted a defensive posture during this occurance. During the incident at least one tear gas cartridge fell on Chinese territory.
(f) Incursion into the fish market building in She Tau Kok by 100 stone throwing civilians from C.T. on 13 August which was repelled by use of tear gas.
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RECEIVED IN!
ARCHIVES No.63
25 1967
SECRET
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Page 75Page 76
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