TNAG-0016-FCO40-52-Kowloon-disturbances-1968 — Page 76

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G.F. 323

CONFIDENTIAL

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Ordinance. Additionally, 63 persons have been charged with various offences arising from possession of simulated bombs. The offences have arisen from incidents involving bomb attacks, bomb planting and the carriage, manufacture or storage of bombs and explosives. Of the total arrests, 24 were made by, or following reports by, members of the public and the remainder by members of the security services, mainly police, either on the streets or during raids on premises. In addition to criminal charges, a total of 8 persons have been detained under the Emergency (Principal) Regulations or the Deportation of Aliens Ordinance.

Such persons are the leaders or key members of bomb fighting groups which have been neutralised during the later stages of the campaign.

CURRENT TRENDS

5.

The intensity of the bomb campaign has varied throughout, periods of relative quiet being followed by upsurges of bomb incidents. The latter periods often coincide with particular events such as the visit of Lord Shepherd, Hong Kong Week and the return of H.E. the Governor from vacation leave. Escalation of violence has frequently been incited by communist press.

6.

Following a particularly high number of incidents during October, which led to the strengthening of the Bomb Investigation Unit and re-organisation into its present structure, there was a gradual decline during the latter part of November. This trend continued until December 7th when there was a further sudden decrease following the return from China of KI Fung, the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong Branch of the New China News Agency. Whether the decrease was co- incidental or consequential to KI's return is a matter of conjecture, but it was certainly accompanied by a vastly moderated tone in the communist press.

7.

There are in fact two main alternative explanations for the almost dramatic turn of events in the bomb campaign:-

8.

(a)

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that the campaign is being phased out, either to be replaced by other tactics or to signal the end of the violent stages of the confron- tation, at least for the time being; or

that the communists are building up resources in preparation for a renewed and more violent bomb offensive.

Meanwhile, the general assessment made in the paper dated 27th November 1967 (folio 2) is still valid. The reduction in the number of bomb carriers has naturally led to a decrease in the number of arrests on the streets, but police investigations and the interrogation of persons in custody have not raised any reasons to doubt the conclusions reached earlier concern- ing the organisation of terrorist cells controlled by localised branches of various organisations which in turn work within general, rather than specific, central policy and control.

CONFIDENTIAL