TNAG-0039-FCO40-75-Border-incidents-with-China-1967 — Page 181

En Clair

HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.)

Unnumbered

30 October, 1967

127

UNCLASSIFIED

Press.

302125.

Sitrep one.

Attention Glover.

IN

13 No. 63 31 0011907

HUA 4/1

HW

Security forces this Monday afternoon used gas grenades to drive off people who intruded into British territory at Man Kam To and tried to interfere with barbed wire on bridge there.

Shortly after two o'clock a party of women were seen making their way towards Man Kam To from the West. On the Chinese side of the border at Man Kam To and about fifty yards back from the bridge they took part in a long meeting.

This

Someone could be heard addressing them for a long time and occasionally there was the sound of slogan-shouting and singing. meeting eventually broke up about four o'clock without incident and women could be seen leaving area. Then party of about twenty or thirty hooligans gathered at end of bridge and began to throw stones at barrier.

The whole business appeared to be propaganda stunt as several men equipped with both still and cine cameras and one carrying tape recorder took up positions before stone-throwing began.

Stone-throwing went on for some time without of course having any effect on barrier at British end of bridge. However when one of these men ran down length of bridge and tried to drag away part of barbed wire, smoke grenade was fired and he ran away.

When attempt was repeated smoke granades were fired each time and each time intruders ran off back to their own side of bridge. On two occasions objects believed been stick grenades were thrown at barrier but had no effect upon it.

After some more stone-throwing and broadcast people on other side gave up.

They held meeting at which speech was made and slogans shouted apparently for benefit of the man who made recording and for photographers who took many pictures of scene. Then party dispersed at about half past five.

There were several Chinese army guards present but they took no part in the affair although on one or two occasions they restrained some of civilians. End Item.

More Informs.

Sir D. Trench

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