CO_968_257_COMMUNIST_ACTIVITIES_IN_HONG_KONG_1952 — Page 105

Page 105 Enclosure in Canton P/L despatch No. 6 (7/1-1/52) of 22.1.1952

or to Peking, copied to Foreign Office No.7 and Hongkong Ho. 3.

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OVER 16,000 DISTRESSED CHINESE IN H.K. SUFFERING RUTHLESS

PERSECUTION

Jan. 18, 1952.

CANTON Jan. 17:-

More than 16,000 Chinese residents in Tungtou Village of Kowloon, who were distressed by a mysterious fire in that village last November, have been suffering ruthless persecution at the hands of the British government of Hongkong.

This was told by Li Wen-hsing, general representative elected by the distressed Chinese, during a meeting held here on January 14th by over 300 representatives from seven local people's organisations.

Li related that after the fire occurred in Tungtou Village the British government of Hongkong not only did nothing to aid the refugees, but, on the contrary, continued its savage persecution. On the third day after the fire, the British police and some officers came to the fire-ravaged area and forced some 130 refugees to live in a deserted and barren locality. Une of the refugees who refused to demolish his rebuilt house was brutally beaten by the British police. They struck him about the head and then took him to the police station. lie was not released until they extroted 30 Hongkong dollars from him.

At mid-night on January 9th, the British government of Hongkong more than 1,000 armed soldiers and police together with 35 militáry trucks and armoured cars to Tungtou Village. They surrounded the village with machine guns and then proceeded to demolish the office of the refugees' representatives and carried away the relief supplies donated by the peoplo.

The following day, li Wen-hsing, who was elected by the refugees to make representations to the British government for a rational solution of matters relating to the relief and rehabilitation of the area, was unreasonably arrested by the British government and deported that very afternoon.

This aroused strong indignation at the nesting.

"The British government of Hongkong must stop these persecu- tions. If not, it will reap what it sOWS" declared Lin Keng-yun. president of the Kwangtung Trade Union Council at the meeting.

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EXTRACT FROM MONITORING DIGEST NO. FEBRUARY 8th 1952

31/1952 DATED FRIDAY,