TNAG-0292-FCO40-328-Disturbances-in-Hong-Kong-bomb-attacks-and-threats-1971 — Page 63

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one specific group.

Their only known common motivation

Without in any way

was a desire to cause mischief.

being able to say to what extent each group was guilty, I think they probably fell more or less into the following categories:-

(a)

(b)

those with generalized grievances against Government, working off their feelings and using current issues (e.g. water charges) as an excuse;

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those naturally hostile to the Police, such as youth gangs;

(c)

disappointed Communist militants;

(d)

pro-Nationalists, upset at "improving Sino-British relations" and recent Police action against Nationalist intelligence units; and

(e) pranksters.

In the very early stages, it is reasonable to speculate, categories (a) (d) were the most likely culprits, while in the latter stages it is very possible pranksters predominated, just for the fun of scaring people and making the Police scurry about. There is some evidence to this latter effect, but otherwise all this, it is emphasized, is based largely on negative evidence and must remain almost entirely speculation.

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incidents.

Turning now to the effects of these First, they are not all wholly bad. As I said earlier, ill-feeling does tend to build up here over The peaceful periods and erupt in some way periodically.

bombing" has perhaps acted as a mild catharsis and may well have a slight temporary settling effect, although this effect has been probably too slight to have much lasting value. More of the same kind of thing, however, would not surprise me whenever some other excuse arises.

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