TNAG-0292-FCO40-328-Disturbances-in-Hong-Kong-bomb-attacks-and-threats-1971 — Page 50

CONFIDENTIAL

4. A SMALL ELEMENT OBVIOUSLY WANTED TO PROVOKE THE POLICE AND CAUSE AN INCIDENT. WHEN THE CROWD WAS ORDERED (BUT REFUSED) TO LEAVE THE PARK AND TO REMOVE BANNERS BEING CARRIED, THEY THEREFORE BEGAN THROWING STONES. THERE WAS SOME CONSEQUENT

DISORDER.

5. 21 ARRESTS WERE MADE. THOSE ARRESTED WERE ALL CHINESE MALES, MOSTLY BETWEEN 23 AND 32 YEARS OLD. ONLY 6 WERE STUDENTS. 4. HAD APPEARED IN COURT BEFORE, FOLLOWING DEMONSTRATIONS EARLIER THIS YEAR. ALL 21 WERE GRANTED POLICE BAIL LAST NIGHT.

6.

ONE POLICE OFFIC.R AND 9 CIVILIANS SUFFERED SLIGHT INJURIES, BUT NONE WAS DETAINED IN HOSPITAL. 3 MOTOR CYCLES (INCLUDING A POLICE MOTOR CYCLE) WERE SET ALIGHT, AS WAS ONE CAR.

7.

THE SITUATION WAS QUIET BY 2300 HOURS LAST NIGHT AND REMAINS SO. THERE SEEMS LITTLE IMMEDIATE RISK OF FURTHER DISORDER, THOUGH FURTHER DEMONSTRATIONS MUST BE EXPECTED IN DUE COURSE AND COULD CAUSE TROUBLE.

t

8. MANY OF TO-DAY'S PAPERS HAVE BLAMED THE URBAN COUNCIL FOR AN UNFORTUNATE DECISION, AND THERE HAS BEEN THE

PREDICTABLE CRITICISM OF EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE BY THE POLICE. I AGREE THAT THE DEMONSTRATION MIGHT WELL HAVE TAKEN PLACE PEACEFULLY HAD THEY PERMITTED THE PARK TO BE USED, AND I PROPOSE TO TRY TO FIND A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE VENUE FOR FUTURE MEETINGS TO MINIMIZE THE CHANCE OF ANY RECURRENCE.

(

(F C O PLS PASS TO ALL)

TRENCH

FILES H.K.D.

F.E.D.

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED TO PEKING AND WASHINGTON

NORTH AMERICAN DEPT

COPIES TO

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE

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