TNAG-0118-FCO40-154-Disturbances-1967-1968-1969 — Page 108

dominated schools in the Colony; by their willingness, even eager- ness, to take part in these activities and by their arrogant behaviour and contempt for authority, they have shown that they have been thoroughly indoctrinated. Children, both boys and girls, have been arrested and convicted for possession of real or simulated bombs, for possession of inflammatory posters and pamphlets, for taking part in subversive demonstrations, in short, for all offences that arose from con- frontation. At least one boy was seriously injured by the explosion of a bomb that he was carrying. The total number of children in primary and secondary classes of communist schools in the Colony amounts to no more than about 18,000, that is less than 2% of the total school population, and there was a significant drop in their enrolment after May. However their pupils, imbued with the spirit of militant com- munism, have given an impression of strength far beyond their actual numbers by their street demonstrations and their noisy outbursts in the

courts.

143. In many cases school premises were used as centres for con- frontation and Police raids on them uncovered stocks of inflammatory literature as well as home-made weapons and explosives. The com- munist Chung Wah Middle School was closed by the Government on 28th November after a youth was seriously injured by an explosion in the school after normal working hours apparently while manufacturing explosive for bombs. This closure evoked a protest from the Peking Government on the grounds that it was an attempt to prohibit the teaching of Chairman Mao's thoughts.

144. Throughout this period there were demonstrations, in which small groups of communists, often carrying banners inscribed with 'protests' or inflammatory messages, gathered together to sing and chant slogans. Usually these groups dispersed before the Police arrived on the scene, almost always leaving behind them a cluster of bombs, both real and simulated. On other occasions the demonstration was used as an ambush and bombs were thrown at the Police party that was sent to deal with it. There was little mob disorder as such but there were a few incidents in which crowds refused to disperse and the Police had to use tear gas or to open fire.

145. On 1st October a crowd gathered at the water front at Con- naught Road to watch an illegal display of fireworks from a communist river boat in the harbour. They refused to disperse and jeered and threw bottles at the Police. Tear gas was used, but it had little effect, and the

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