TNAG-0292-FCO40-328-Disturbances-in-Hong-Kong-bomb-attacks-and-threats-1971 — Page 56

Mr Laird

SECRET

with

1.

In the attached letter (with its enclosures) the Governor has now sent us his detailed assessment of the

cause of the recent spate of "bomb" incidents in the Colony.

2.

In considering the assessment the following facts are worth bearing in mind:

3.

(1)

(2)

(3)

Of the 267 reports of bombs having been found, only two - the first two reports - related to genuine bombs; and there is some doubt about the second of these since the bomb in question contained only a very small amount of explosive.

(a)

In the case of a number of the "bombs", posters or notices were found nearby.. And:

in 42 cases (including that of the genuine bomb) the posters referred to the recent increase in water charges (it will be remembered that the Kowloon riots of 1966,

which led to the appointment of a Commission of Enquiry) were sparked off by increases in the Star Ferry farest.

(b)

흐흐

(c)

(a)

in 16 cases there were anti-British or

racial connotations.

in 10 cases there were disparaging references to the Financial Secretary (Sir John

Cowperthwaite).

in 5 cases (including that of the genuine bomb) there were references to the Chinese language issue.

In the summary of press reports on the incidents there are 6 references to the need for the Government to consider and respect public opinion.

The Special Branch assessment is that the one genuine bomb was probably planted by a militant or unbalanced individual who might belong to any subversive group

(including the Communists but that in general it is unlikely that any known subversive was responsible, and that the majority of the simulated bombs were probably the work of practi jokers or persons with grievances.

4.

A

The Governor analyses the situation in great detail and covers a lot of ground. The following comments relate to paragraphs of his letter:

- 1 -

SECRET

/Paragraphs 3 to 7