0003230
G.F. 323
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and the army was not called upon for assistance.
Meanwhile a campaign of intimidation had also begun on Hong Kong
Island. An "All-Circles Anti-Porsecution Struggle Committee" was formed,
the membership of which was to be drawn from all communist organisations in
the Colony, and was given considerable publicity in the communist press.
Delegations of employees of communist newspapers and department stores and
representatives of communist trade unions and other organisations began to
converge on Government House with petitions protesting against Government
buutality and insisting that the communist demands be met.
On the 15th May the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Peking issued a
the action taken by the Briten authorities agamit statement protesting against "the bloody atrocities perpetrated by the British Chinese vesidents in Ihong thang.
authorities in Hong Kong", aimed at "the sanguinary suppression of Chinese
residents"
statement
(This hyperbole possibly reflected the highly coloured reports
put out by the communist press in Hong Kong. On the 23rd of May, for example,
the New China News Agency alleged that 200 persons had been killed or injured.
As a matter of record, one person had been killed not by police action but
probably by a brick thrown or dropped from above him by one of the rioters.)
The statement continued by pledging support for 'compatriots' in Hong Kong and
demanding the immediate and unconditional acceptance of the demands that had
been published in Hong Kong. With this encouragement the demonstrations at
Government House increased; the demonstrators became more unruly and aggressive
and the posters, both at Government House and elsewhere, more violent and
seditious. Powerful loud speakers were mounted on the Bank of China building,
in the centre of the banking and business area of Hong Kong, which encouraged
the demonstrators forming up in the vicinity with a stream of violently prov-
ocative propaganda including vicious personal attacks on the Governor.
Propaganda broadcasts were emitted from other communist buildings in
Hong Kong and Kowloon; the press campaign increased in violence; and there
was an outbreak of rioting in Kowloon in the vicinity of the Magistrates
Court where cases against those arrested at San Po Kong were being heard.
On the 20th May it was announced by Government that while it was not
proposed to revoke the right of any person to present a petition to the Governor,
this must be done in an orderly manner. No further processions would be
allowed and delegations wishing to present petitions must not exceed twenty
persons.
This decision was challenged on the following morning when organised
CONFIDENTIAL
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