TNAG-0017-FCO40-53-Kowloon-disturbances-1968 — Page 4

CYPHER/CAT A

ROUTIE HONG KONG

CONFIDENTIAL

TELEGRAK NO. 2081

RECEIVED IN

VES.63

ONFIDENTIAL

Гнилін

TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

12 OCTOBER 1968

H W f.a

#54/10

757)

ADDRESSED COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AS MY TELEGRAM NO. 2081 DATED 12TH

CCTCEER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING AND SAVING TO POLAD

SINGAPORE.

759

MY TELEGRAM NO. 2063 : CHINESE NATIONAL DAY INCIDENTS.

ASSISTANT POLITICAL ADVISER THIS MORNING TELEPHONED THE FOLLOWING

REPLY TO THE NCNA STATEMENT:-

1 t THE STATEMENT CONVEYED TO THE POLITICAL ADVISER BY MR. PUN TAK

HSING AND MR. TAM KON OF THE HSINHUA NEWS AGENCY HAS BEEN GIVEN

CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.

IT IS NOT THE POLICY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO HINDER THE

CELEBRATION OF ANY COUNTRY'S NATIONAL DAY, PROVIDED THAT THE

CELEBRATIONS ARE CONDUCTED IN A PEACEFUL AND ORDERLY MANNER IN

CONFORMITY WITH THE LAW. AS REGARDS THE INCIDENTS ON THE EVENING OF

3RD CCTCDER IN THE VICINITY OF STATUE SQUARE, ACTION WAS TAKEN BY

THE POLICE ONLY WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR THAT SOME MEMBERS OF THE CROWD

WERE BEHAVING IN A DISORDERLY FASHION OR WERE OBSTRUCTING THE PASSAGE

OF PEDESTRIANS AND VEHICLES. THE ACTION THEN TAKEN WAS STRICTLY

LIMITED IN SCOPE AND, IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDING POLICE INSTRUCTIONS

MINIMUM FORCE WAS USED. THE TIMELY INTERVENTION OF THE POLICE ON THIS

OCCASION MAY WELL HAVE PREVENTED A MORE SERIOUS INCIDENT.

THE ALLEGATION THAT REPORTERS OF THE HS INHUA NEWS AGENCY WERE

ASSAULTED BY THE POLICE HAS BEEN CAREFULLY INVESTIGATED BUT IS WITH-

CUT FOUNDATION. AT ABOUT 2130 ON THE EVENING OF 3RD OCTOBER A GROUP

OF PEOPLE WERE SEEN BY THE POLICE TO BE OBSTRUCTING THE PAVEMENT ON

THE NORTH SIDE OF DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL, FLANKING STATUE SQUARE.

THEY WERE ASKED BY A POLICE OFFICER TO MOVE ON AND MOST COMPLIED.

ONE OF THOSE WHO DID NOT MOVE REFUSED TO COMPLY WITH A SECOND

LAST PAPER

2..

1.EX,

CONFIDENTIAL

752

/REQUEST