I
14
OUTWARD TELEGRAM
FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
TO HONG KONG (O.A.G.)
28
En clair
Sent 10 July, 1967.
2300Z
IMMEDIATE No.1405
Addressed to 0.A.G. Hong Kong
18
Peking.
Following is full text of reply and supplementaries to private notice question today by Lord Balniel asking Secretary of State if he will make a statement about the border incidents in Hong Kong on Saturday and Sunday July 8th and 9th.
Mr. Bowden:
The incident begun when several hundred
demonstrators crossed the frontier at Sha Tau Kok at about 11.00 hours on Saturday, 8 July, and attacked the Police post there. The demonstrators included members of the People's Militia, a fact which has since been confirmed by the Communist Press in Hong Kong. The Police used tear gas and riot guns firing wooden projectiles to disperse the crowd. They then came under fire from several points, including automatic fire from Chinese territory. Five Police were killed and 11 wounded. Troops were brought in later to relieve the Post and completed this operation successfully without opening fire.
Her Majesty's Government Charge d'Affaires in Peking has strongly protested to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs about this incident and has made it clear that the Hong Kong authorities, with the full support of Her Majesty's Government, will take all necessary measures to maintain peace and security in Hong Kong.
Lord Balniel: We from these benches would
express our sympathy with the relatives of those who have been killed in the course of duty in maintaining law and order. Would the rt. hon. Gentleman agree that this incident really has added a new dimension of gravity to an already exceedingly difficult situation? Would it not be a considerable reassurance to the people of Hong Kong if he could clearly indicate that it is the Government's intention to maintain the status quo and the integrity of the new territories?
I should like to ask the Secretary of State a further question of an aspect which he did not mention. Can he say something about the water situation? In view of the fact that the water supplies to the Hong Kong Colony have been cut off, can we have an assurance that alternative supplies will be made available by the Government?
/Mr. Bowden:
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.