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who are being detained in hospital over-night. The Police have made a number of arrests.
7. Although normalcy was restored at about 5.45 this evening, a Government spokesman advised people, in their own interests, to stay at home as far as possible tonight and, if they have no real business in Kowloon, to keep off the streets. .Ends.
Copy to:-
D. II
C.R.O
Foreign Office
Colonial Office ·
Mr. A.R. Adair
Mr. Oakeshott Mr. J.D. Anderson
H.M. Ambassador for U.K, in Dublin U.K. High Commissioner in Salisbury
•
U.K. Embassy Washington
U.K. Delegation to United
Nations New York
Mr. R. H. Belcher
Mr. R.W.D. Fowler
FAR EASTERN DEPARTMENT F.2180/50
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Outward Telegram from Commonwealth Relations Office
TO: U.K. HIGH COMMISSIONER IN CANADA,
U.K HIGH COMMISSIONER IN AUSTRALIA U.K. HIGH COMMISSIONER IN NEW ZEALAND U.K. HIGH COMMISSIONER IN SOUTH AFRICA U.K. HIGH COMMISSIONER IN INDIA
•
U.K. HIGH COMMISSIONER IN PAKISTAN UK HIGH COMMISSIONER IN CEYLON
Y. No. 63 SAVING
(Dated 4th March 1952),
SECRET
COPA DISTURBANCES IN HONG KONG
Following for your information, is text of Hong Kong telegram addressed to Colonial Office No. 181 of 2nd March. Begins.
You will be aware from B.B.C. news broadcast that disorders occurred here this afternoon. Text of B.B.C. announcement was misleading. Following are details, of what actually happened and of events leading up to this afternoon's disorders.
2. On 27th February, Percy Chen enquired' of Commissioner of Police whether representatives of donors of Relief Funds from Canton, as distinct from Comfort Mission, would be permitted to enter the Colony on 9th March. He was informed that, subject to certain conditions including written application for permission to Secretary for Chinese Affairs, this request would be sympathetically received.
3. Before such application had been received, Canton radio announced on 29th February that Comfort Mission would proceed to Hong Kong on 1st March. On night of 29th February, Mission proceeded to Shum Chun, on the Chinese side of border, where they remained overnight.
4. This morning, a welcoming party from Hong Kong went up to Restricted Area on the border by train, but were stopped at a station before the border. One member, however, was allowed to proceed as a representative of the others to discuss the situation with the Mission.
5. During the course of the morning, a telephone message was received from Canton by the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce that the Mission's visit had been postponed. The party then returned by train to Kowloon, where a large crowd had assembled to meet them. This crowd were informed that the Mission would not be arriving. They then moved up Nathan Road, the main thoroughfare in Kowloon, at which stage the crowd numbered 10,000 or more people. The first incident then occurred, but at this stage it is not possible to say exactly what caused it. The police were forced to use tear gas. About about two hours the crowds were eventually dispersed. Among other incidents, the Police Station at Mong Kok, Kowloon, was stoned and, in the course of disorders there, two home-made grenades were thrown, which failed to explode, which caused a Chinese constable to fire his riot gun in self defence, peppering two Chinese males.
6. At the time of this telegram, the situation is quiet but the Police and Military are still standing by.
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7.
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