Cypher/OTP
No on
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DEF 57/37/03.
FROM PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
FOREIGN OFFICE AND WHITEHALL DISTRIBUTION
Mr. Gillett No. 165
3rd March, 1952.
RESTRICTED
D. 2.24 p. m. 3rd March, 1952.
R. 3. 5 p.m. 3rd March, 1952.
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 165 of 3rd March Repeated for information to Hong Kong and Singapore.
(ए)
Hong Kong telegram No. 181 to Colonial Office.
All Peking Press carried reports of the Hong Kong riots on front page on 3rd March under headline "British Imperialists in Hong Kong create a bloody Scene, and send a large batch of Military Police to kill and wound our People".
2. Report accuses authorities of having staged the riots. The first incident is alleged to have been the running down of the crowds by police cars when 10 year old girl was injured. Thereafter tear gas bombs were alleged to have been thrown on four occasions and fire opened once. One man was said to have been seriously injured and three shot. More than 100 people are reported to have been arrested. The renort_ends by saying this proves British will continue their hideous plan grp. undeo. ?s to arrest large numbers of people as they have been doing for the last month.
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Page 47 of fight file
CENTRAL OFFICE OF INFORMATION
OVERSEAS
LONDON PRESS SERVICE
3RD MARCH, 1952
ITEM ONE.
TRUTH ABOUT HONGKONG DISORDERS by J.M. SPEY ·
SEVEN
Saturday's disorders in Hongkong illustrate dangers to which colony is exposed
as result of fantastic increase in population which has taken place since end of
Second World War. It has given refuge to about 2,000,000 Chinese many of whom earn
precarious livelihood and live in small ramshackle villages on mainland' territories.
Story goes back to 25th November last year. At 7 o'clock that evening fire
broke out in Tung Tau village, one of collection of shacks which has sprung up east
of Kowloon City. Fire Brigade did utmost but before blaze was ended it had destroyed
all buildings over area about 15 acres estimated to have housed some 10,000 people.
Relief work food, temporary shelter and so on was prompt.
Since that time Hongkong Government been pushing ahead work of rehousing homeless
in better built and sited homes with improved sanitation and protection against fire
risks, but plight of those who lost homes in Tung Tau fire has been made pretext for
propaganda campaign aimed at the administration. In particular great deal of play been
made with immense sympathy felt for their victims in Chinese motherland. It was said
people of Canton had subscribed funds to be used for relief of Tung Tau fire and it was
clearly intended that occasion of handing over of money collected should become large-
scale Communist demonstration.
Hongkong Government were very willing allow anyone who wished to do sɔ to contri-
bute to relief funds. They were not prepared facilitate plans to exploit suffering
for political purposes. Saturday's events which resulted in about a dozen people
being injured, show there were elements in crowds that had gone with intention of
rausing trouble,
#
out.
A detailed account of events provided by Government indicates why disorders broke
"In all, three vague unofficial approaches were made within past fortnight to
ascertain whether a Comfort Mission from Canton could enter Hongkong. In each cane
those concerned were plainly told permission could not be given for comfort mission, as
such, to enter colony. During this period, speculative stories of various kinds appeared
in local Chinese Press, and Labour Unions and other organisations proceeded with
extensive preparations to take part in organised welcome programme.
p.t.o.
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