TNAG-0065-FCO40-101-Local-intelligence-reports-1968 — Page 141

0003160 G.F. 316

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large number of onlookers, attracted by the demonstrators, and

also many hooligans. Despite repeated requests by the Police, the

crowd refused to disperse and gradually became more unruly.

As a

result Police were forced to fire a number of baton shells and make

several baton charges. As soon as the crowd was dispersed from

theimmediate area and the Police action ceased, it re-grouped.

As a result the Police were forced to engage in a number of running

clashes with the crowd which by now had broken out into open riot.

As the disturbances spread in the area of San Po Kong, it became

clear that the pro-Communist factory workers who had instigated the

initial outbreak were taking little or no part in the rioting and

the field was left open for the less responsible section of the

crowd egged on by a mob of young hooligans who had no connection

with the factory or the dispute. To assist in bringing the

situation under control, a curfew was imposed on the area from

9.30 that evening until 5.30 the following morning. By 10.30 p.m.

the remaining minor skirmishing was over and Kowloon remained quiet

under an uneasy blanket of the curfew until the following day.

In taking stock of the days events, it was significant to

note that the entire action was handled by Police using the minimum

of force, without the use of firearms and without calling upon the

military for assistance (despite subsequent allegations by the left-

wing press to the contrary).

6.

The next day, 12th May, there was still some skirmishing in

the streets of Kowloon, but the indications were that the communists

were concerned at the possibility of their union members getting

out of control. We now know that the Communist Federation of Trade

Unions (F.T.U.) Executive Committee decided that in order to

re-assert control the struggle must be brought on to a more

organised footing. There was no doubt in the minds of the

communist hierarchy that the incidents at San Po Kong were

spontaneous but, as these had brought their members into direct

conflict with the Hong Kong Government, they had to support them.

SECRET

/Accordingly,