CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT.A.
IMMEDIATE
FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING
21
TELNO. 597 9 JULY, 1967.
CONFIDENTIAL
(F.E.D.)
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELNO 597 OF 9 JULY REPEATED FOR INFORMATION
TO HONG KONG POLAD SINGAPORE WASHINGTON.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 858.
SHA TAU KOK.
YOU ACTED RIGHTLY IN LODGING A STRONG PROTEST AND REJECTING
CHINESE NOTE.
2. M.I.F.T. CONTAINS TEXT OF ON THE RECORD STATEMENT WE HAVE
ISSUED TO PRESS HERE.
3.
NEWS DEPARTMENT HAVE ALSO GIVEN FOLLOWING OFF THE RECORD BACKGROUND ACCOUNT OF INCIDENT.
BEGINS.
PRELIMINARY REPORTS SHOW THAT THE INCIDENT BEGAN WHEN SEVERAL HUNDRED DEMONSTRATORS CROSSED THE FRONTIER AT SHA TAU KOK AT ABOUT 1100 HOURS ON SATURDAY 8 JULY AND ATTACKED THE POLICE POST WITH STICKS AND STONES. THE DEMONSTRATORS INCLUDED MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE'S MILITIA, A FACT WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE LOCAL COMMUNIST PRESS IN HONG KONG. THE POLICE USED TEAR GAS AND RIOT GUNS FIRING WOODEN PROJECTILES TO DISPERSE THE CROWD. THEY WERE THEN FIRED ON FROM SEVERAL POINTS BY THE CHINESE DEMONSTRATORS. FIRING CONTINUED FOR ABOUT FIVE HOURS, THE POLICE THEMSELVES WERE COMPELLED IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE ATTACK TO OPEN FIRE. TROOPS WERE BROUGHT IN LATER TO RELIEVE THE POST, TO EXTRICATE THE POLICE, AND TO GET OUT THE DEAD AND WOUNDED. THE TROOPS COMPLETED THIS OPERATION SUCCESSFULLY WITHOUT OPENING FIRE. ALL WAS QUIET BY 10 O'CLOCK HONG KONG TIME LAST NIGHT, WITH A CURFEW IN FORCE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS OF ANY INCIDENTS ALONG THE FRONTIER TODAY.
EN DS
SOSFA
SENT 14442 9 JULY.
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
SENT TO HONG KONG AS COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.) FAR EASTERN DEPTELEGRAM NO. (402
NEWS DEPT.
D.T.D. 44444
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 63
10 JULIO/
HWAY/1
(20)
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