TNAG-0014-FCO40-50-Kowloon-disturbances-1967 — Page 167

En Clair

IMMEDIATE

HONG KONG

ΤΟ

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.)

455

Telno 1361

8 September 1967

UNCLASSIFIED

Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 1361 of

8 September,

Repeated for information to POLAD Singapore, Washington and Canberra.

(vi)

SITREP for the period 041200 - 081800,

My telegram No. 1345.

There has been a definite lull in activity, The frontier has been quiet and the number of genuine bombs and even reports has gone down although there are still enough to keep the general public, otherwise fairly confident, on edge. Food supplies continue to be erratic but, despite high prices and shortages, there is no sign of discontent on these grounds nor have the Communist sought to exploit them.

2. Out of 181 bomb reports up to 080800, only 16 were genuine. Two of these were placed in the basement of the South China Morning Post, one exploding causing negligible damage. This is the first attack on an English language newspaper. There were no casualties from bombs. Two more people have been arrested bringing the total arrests of those implicated in the bomb campaign to over thirty. Another "factory" has been found, with evidence of a recent pre- mature explosion which, it is reported, injured three people. have been further minor recoveries of fuses and detonators.

There

3. The frontier has been quiet except for propaganda broadcasts which have referred to the Sha Tau Kok anti traitor squad as being responsible for the bomb in the Gurkha 0.P. and have also attacked the building of the new frontier fence. On two occasions, a Chinese has crossed into British territory and delivered an inflammatory oration using a loud hailer.

40

A Communist school was inspected without incident on 7 September. The Education Department Inspectors were received at least with courtesy, if not with enthusiasm, and there were no incidents. No inflammatory material, even Communist newspapers, was on display although Chairman Mao and extracts from his thoughts were displayed.

5. Emergency regulations have been enacted and all fireworks have been withdrawn and centralised under military guard. The intention is to destroy them.

O.A.G.

Sent 09492 8 September Recd 0955Z 8 September

NNNNN

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

C.O. H.K. & W.I.D. "C"

I. & G.D.

F.E. & P.Do-

J.IP.G.D. J.I.R.D.

441

F.0. F.E.D.

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

}

Overseas Police Adviser ED IN Overseas Labour Adviser

45604788492

PAR

ES No. 63

11 SEP1967

HWB 1/10