policemen were assaulted. Shortly after 15 0200 the police raided a
Chinese Communist school in the western district of Hong Kong The
students of the school had almost certainly been involved in the
incident when a policeman was killed with a cargo hook on 9 July. Two
arrests were made a quantity of improvised weapons and seditious
pamphlets recovered. no violence.
Saturday 15 July.
There was
There was a demonstration outside Government House by a deputation,
which included representatives of the N.C.N.A., local reporters and
school teachers, against the arrest of the N.C.N.A.
They refused to disperse reporter (my telegram No. 1002 refers).
At and were arrested, which they must have known would happen. 2230 an
explosive charge was thrown at the door of a block of naval other ranks
quarters causing damage to windows but no casualties.
Fo13/80
CONFIDENTIAL
/In
CONFIDENTIAL
In Kowloon there were two riotous assemblies both quickly dispersed and
one bomb thrown at a police vehicle. All posters, slogans and newspapers
were removed by the police from the outside of major Communist premises
in Nathan Road during the early hours of the morning.
In Tsuen Wan, disorderly crowds formed and were
dispersed by the police. Two detectives were stabbed, one seriously,
while making arrests and another was injured by a bomb. A series of
police raids were carried out in one of which a man was found dead who
is believed to have been wounded in a clash with police. Various
improvised weapons were recovered. 26 people, in all, were arrested.
(Passed as requested)
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Measrs. de la Mare, Wilson, Bolland and Denson, F.E. Dept. F.0. and Mr.
Glover News Dept.)
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Mr. de la Hare
Mr. Bolland
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Mr. Denson
F.O/C.O. (I.P.G.D.)
(I.H.D.)
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+
Mr. Foggon
Mr. Littlejohn-Cook
Mr. J.H. Peck
Mr. D. Hawkins
Mr. C.P. Rawlings
Mr. Hern
Major Koe
M.0.2.
Mr. J.A.B. Darlington
Mr. B.E.P. MacTavish
Mr. P. Sedgwick Mr. Glover
Duty Officer
(News Dept.)
Hr. T. Critchley
Australia House (Senior External
Affairs Representative)
Canada House (Counsellor)
Mr. K. McLellan
CONFIDENTIAL
for 117
16
163 Fanful $1014
CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No.31
1 8 JUL 1967
FROM HONG KONG (0.A.G.)
Cypher
FD
D. 14 July, 1967. R. 14
1020Z
ра
KIEDIATE CONFIDENTIAL No. 1037
Addressed to Commonwealth office (D.T.D.)
Repeated
H
H
H
Peking No.412,
Singapore No.241
Washington No.227,
Canberra No.62
(Please pass PRIORITY
a11) 661
My telegram No. 1028.
SITREP as at 14 1800.
The tempo of violence dropped yesterday but there were isolated attacks
with explosive and incendiary devices, Kowloon being most affected.
There was a minor demonstration opposite Lo Wu which was quickly stopped
and dispersed by C.C.A. personnel. The police successfully raided
another union premises in Kowloon,
2.
A bomb was throm from a cer at a poliçe station in Kalibon labe in 43
July without vänsing oñsualties or significant damage. Two petrol bombs
were thrown, one at a car and the second during the early hours of this
morning into a telephone exchange on Hong Kong Island. The resultant
fire was quickly extinguished. Small crowds continued to gather in
Kowloon to throw stones and paint slogans but quickly dispersed when the
police arrived.
3. At 14 0200, the police raided the Kowloon Dockyard Workers' Union and
an Associated Workers Children's school in the same block in Kowloon.
The army provided the cordon party as on the previous two raide and did
not otherwise participate in the operation. There was determined
resistance and iron grilles across the staircases took time to breach.
Bottles, daggers, acid and fire bombs were all used by the defenders and
it took three hours to complete the break in. Police used tear gas and
firearms. The secretary of the Union was killed and four other members
injured. The police had four minor casualties. A total of 81 were
arrested, including senior office-bearers of the union. A number of
home-made weapons and a quantity of documents were discovered. Police
morale is high as a result and it was a noteworthy feature that other
occupants in the block which was raided obviously approved of the police
action.
CONFIDENTIAL
1.
CONFIDENTIAL
4. There have been resignations from the public transport companies and
a noticeable and understandable reluctance to take out buses and trams
after dark, Although the scale of attack has diminished in the last two
days, particularly in Hong Kong, public transport remains a priority
target. The increased use of explosive devices is a disquieting
development. Plastic explosive is not difficult to obtain here and there
is considerable expertise in its use mainly for illegal fishing.
(Passed as requested)
(Advance copies to F.E. Dept. Foreign Office,
Mr. Glover (News Dept. Commonwealth Office) and Private Office for
Commonwealth Secretary)
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F.O./C.O. (1.R.G.D.
Treasury
D.1.0., J.I.R.
P.8. to Mr. Rodgers Mr. de la Mare - Mr. Bolland
Kr. Wilson Mr. Denson
Mr. Foggon
Mr. Littlejohn-Cook
- Mr. J.H. Peck
Mr. D. Hawkins
Export Credita Guarantee Dept.
Ministry of Defence (Rm.7365)
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Board of Trade
tr
Rm.7163)
(Rm.5131)
(CRE 4)
Hong Kong Government office
Commonwealth Office
News Dept.
Foreign Office (News Dept.)
Mr. C.P. Rawlings Kr. Henn
Major Koe
M.0.2.
Mr. J.A.B. Darlington Mr. B.E.P. MacTavish Mr. P. Sedgwick
- Mr. Glover
Australia House (Senior External
Affairs Representative) Canada House (Counsellar)
-
Duty Officer
Mr. T. Critchley Mr. K. McLellan
CONFIDENTIAL
SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (0.A.G.)
Cypher
D. 14 July, 1967.
R.
14
E1.
サ
09502
1622
R.117 163
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31
17 JUL 1967
FD10/4
INKEDIATE SNCRET
No. 1035.
مه
Addressed to Commonwealth office.
Repeated
11
"Peking No. 411.
H
" POLAD Singapore No. 240. "Washington No. 226.
121717
(Please pass
PRIORITY to all).
Following is weekly assessment of the situation aa at midnight 13/14
July.
The principal features of the Communist confrontation
with Government over the past week have been;-
(a)
(b)
(c)
(a)
the incident at Sha Tau Kok on the 8 July (see detailed reports). Since
then there have been no new incursions from China, but, regular
demonstrations have taken place on the Chinese side of the border. AB a
reault of one of these opposite Lo Wu, on 12 July, a number of villagers
have evacuated their homes;
a C.P.G. protest to the Chargé d'Affaires in Peking which alleged that
the Sha Tau Kok incident had been instigated by the British and included
several demands for compensation, apologies, etc. This protest, which
was rejected, received widespread publicity in the local Left Wing press
which made no reference to the British protest on this event;
Police
an increase in violence in the urban areas of the Colony on 9 July
(telegram 999, paragraph 3) which has since been renewed each day.
Public transport and police have been the main targets for attack. have
been compelled to use gas and firearms on a number of occasions to
disperse the crowds and in self-defence. A variety of weapons have been
used by the rioters including bottles filled with a corrosive liquid and
home-made bombs which have been thrown from buildings at police vehicles
and, on two occasions, at police stations. Curfews were imposed on parts
of Hong Kong Island on the nights of the 11 and 12 July, and on parts or
Kowloon on the night of 12 July. One police constable and four rioters
were killed during the incidenta and many injuries, mostly of a minor
nature, were suffered by both sides.
the holding of further memorial services by individual Communist
organisations for the workers who have died in the confrontation. There
has been more talk at Communist meetings, of a mass funeral procession
to be held towards the end of this month. The bodies of seven
/workers
SECRET
SECRET
(0)
(f)
workers were buried by Government, on the night of 12/13 July as their
relatives had failed to collect them despite repeated requests to do so.
So far there has been little reaction from the Communists but no doubt
there will be accusations of "secret burials to conceal atrocities"
Talk of renewed disruption of food supplies from China. The tentative
date for this stoppage has been set at 17 July, and it is expected to
last for two weeks. There are signs that this stoppage will be better
organised than the previous one and the Communists will, undoubtedly,
use terrorist tactics to intimidate lorry drivers, hawkers,
stall-holders and others who deal in local produce to "persuade" them to
join the strike;
an attempt to extend the stoppage in the harbour by obtaining control
over lighters has been made, but so far, there has been no serious
effect on the working of cargoes. The Hong Kong Seamen's Union has
announced that, to support the "anti-British struggle" it will shortly
be calling a strike of seamen on vessels which call at Hong Kong,
particularly those bringing food.
(g) An attempt to persuade overseas buyers of C.P.G. goods
to bypass Hong Kong
fport. Stocks of materials destined for overseas, are being held in
Communist godowns in Hong Kong on the pretext that, because of the
disruption caused by the strike, it is impossible to ship them out.
Buyers are being asked by the China Resources Company (C.R.C.) to
recommend alternative ports of transhipment for any goods they purchase;
(h) despite further talk in Communist organisations, of a refusal to pay
taxes and other fees to Government, no action has been taken;
(1)
(1)
2.
a continuation of the anti-British propaganda in the local Communist
press which has applauded the violence committed and made exaggerated
claims about its effect. The police force is still a major target for
attack, it being falsely alleged that morale is low and widespread
resignations are taking place. Leaflets, postera and slogans continue to
appear but are taken down or obliterated as soon as they are discovered;
both N.C.NA, in Peking and their local branch have protested about the
arrest of a N.C.N.A. reporter who was detained for taking part in an
unlawful and intimi- dating assembly.
On the nights of 12/13 and the 13/14 July, police raided a total of
three Communist Union premises and one Communist school, which have been
directly involved in the confrontation, in the course of which weapons,
consisting of sharpened bars, home-made spears, acid, etc., inflammatory
posters and documents were confiscated and arrests including a union
chairman and a number of other office-bearers, were made. Strong
resistance was encountered by police trying to obtain entry to one of
these premises, th Kowloon Dock Workers' Amalgamated Union, in the
course of which the defenders used a variety of weapons including aciu.
Police were forced to use gea and firearms and when access was
eventually obtained one dead body, the Union paid secretary, and three
people
/with
SECRET
SECRET
with injuries, two serious, were discovered amongst those present. There
is little doubt that these raids, in which military participation has
been confined to cordon duties, have made the Communist leadership and
rank and file extremely nervous and the morale of the Communists, which
had been revived following the Sha Tau Kok incident, and, what they
considered to be the successful hit-and-run tactics on the streets, has
now fallen sharply. The police action has also demonstrated to the
general public that Government is not afraid to enter Communist premises
and intends to do everything necessary to maintain law and order.
3. As regards the general situation ir' assessment remains as set out in
telegrams Nos. 1012" and 1013. The offensive operations referred to in
paragraph 2 have served to confuse the opposition and to boost public
confidence.
(Encyphered text passed to L.T.C. for repetition
to Peking and POLAD Singapore. Passed to D.3.A.0. for repetition to
Washington and as advance copies for Commonwealth Secretary, Far Eastern
Dept., Foreign Office, and News Dept., 0.0.)
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Treasury
I.R.D.)
Export Credita Guarantee Dept.
Ministry of Defence
D.I.O.. J.I.R.
P.S. to Mr. Rodgers Mr. de la Mare
Hr.
Bolland
Mr. Wileon
Kr. Denson.
Mr. Foggon
Mr. Littlejohn Cook
Mr. J.H. Peck
Mr. D. Hawkins
Mr. C.P. Rawlings
Mr. Henn
Major Koe
M.0.2.
Mr. J.A.B. Darlington
Rm. 7365)
11
Rm. 7163)
H
Η
tt
Rm. 5131
Board of Trade
H
11
卝 (CRE 4)
Foreign office
News Dept.)
-
Duty Officer
Commonwealth Office (Nowa Dept
B.E.P. MacTavish
Mr. M. Glover
SECRET
I
I
R.117 (161)
Cypher
SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (0.A.G.)
D. 13 July, 1967.
R:
R. 13
1150Z
نعم
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.3 |
17 JUL 1967
FDI/I dla
IMMEDIATE SECRET
No. 1028
Addressed to Commonwealth Office (D.T.D.).
Repeated
H
"Peking, No. 410.
"POLAD Singapore, No. 236.
"Washington, No. 225. "Canberra, No. 61.
(Please pass PRIORITY to all.)
My telegram No. 1014.
SITREP as at 13 1200.
Violence broke out again in the Colony yesterday. Kowloon was the main
centre. A curfew from 2000 hrs. effectively limited disorder on the
island. A curfew was also imposed on Kowloon at 2300. Public transport
was again the main target and a number of buses were damaged in Kowloon,
four being burat out. The police successfully raided the main and one
subsidiary branch of the Motor Transport Workers' Union (M.T.W.U.) on
the island. The bodies of the seven men were buried during the night.
There was a build-up of militia opposite the Lowu Bridge, resulting in
the deplovent of one company of 1/7 G.R.
uro TalpO R
300
Office just after a meeting had been due to start. Casualties throughout
the night were few but two rioters were killed and
sinse di* let wound.. Both the Auxiliary Police and the Hong Kong
Regiment were called out, the latter on a limited basis only. Initially
today, there were fewer buses on the road in Kowloon and the New
Territories. A home-made explosive charge was thrown into a police
station in Kerloon during thận
2.
The curfew was imposed on the same area of Hong Kong Island as from 2009
to M130'18/43 July both as a precautionary
There measure and as a preliminary to planned police action. was some
atone and bottle throwing during the day and three home-made bonds were
throw as the nášias after the curfew came
rự into force, Otherwise the area was quiet, probably because the
Communists were convinced that a major attack was imminent on the Wah
Fung Emporium, and were grouped accordingly. The raide on the two union
premises were carried out without major
/difficulty
SECRET
+
SECRET
diffiquity, assistance being provided by the military and the Hong Kong
Regiment. There were 42 arrests, a mumber of home-made weapons were
discovered as well as posters, inflammatory material and records which
may be of use. Casualties were one policeman slightly injured and two
prisoners detained with gunshot wounds.
3. In Kowloon a number of incidents developed after 2000. Вивее,
Buses, taxis and cars were stoned, a small group of rioters adopted hit
and run tactics over a wide area. A curfew was imposed over the greater
part of the peninsula at 2300 hrs. but sporadic disorders continued
until about 0300. Several buses, taxis and private cars were burned or
damaged. One auxiliary policeman reporting for duty was badly beaten up.
The police had to open fire on several occasions; two rioters were
killed and three injured of whom one has since died. There were seven
other civilian casualties and five policemen were injured. In Taipo at
1740 there was an explosion in the Rural Committee buildings in a room
in which a meeting, fortunately postponed, had been due to start at
1700. There was apparently a timing device on the bomb though, technical
evidence is not yet available. Three people have been arrested.
ونا
-
At Lowu shortly before midnight there were reports of a build-up of
militia in the area of the Bridge. This caused alarm to the local
villagers, many of whom evacuated their homes. One company 1/7 G.R. took
over from the police but there were no further incidents. However a
senior Chinese officer has been seen today in Sha Tau Kok apparently on
an inspection and extensive digging is now taking place on the forward
slopes on the Chinese side.
P
5. There are further rumours of another food stoppage being planned in
the immediate future, which is expected to last for a considerably
longer period, It is of intereat that the Treasurer of the Chinese
General Chamber of Commerce, the Chairman of the Hong Kong Seamen's
Union and the Manager of the China Travel Service all crossed into China
early this morning. All three would inevitably be involved in any such
food stoppage. They may well, therefore, be going to Canton to
co-ordinate planning.
6. There are indications of further defensive measures being taken in
Communist premises both on the island and in Kowloon. Except for a
home-made bomb being thrown into a police station, which damaged a car,
there have been no reports of violence, Small crowds have gathered
outside Communist shops and union premises but have dispersed without
incident.
7. The statement by the Colonial Secretary yesterday and the successful
raids on union premises last night have encouraged those supporting the
Government. We mist, however, contime to put on the pressure if we are
to have success in demonstrating to the Communists that they will not
profit by their present campaign of violence. We can, therefore, expect
a continuation of attacks against public transport and the police and
stiff resistance to raids on Communist strong points.
(Passed as requested)
SECRET
/{Passed
SECRET
(Passed to D.S.A.0. for Private Office for
Commonwealth Secretary, Messrs. Wilson, Denson, Bolland, de la Mare (PE.
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==
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==
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H
H
體
F.O./C.O. (1.P.G.D.)
Treasury
(I.R.D.)
Export Credits Guarantee Dept. Ministry of Defence (Rm. 7365)
H
14
H
Board of Trade
Rm. 7163)
Ħ (Rm. 5131)
(CRB 4)
Hong Kong Government Office
D.I.O., J.I.R.
P.S. to Mr. Rodgers Mr. de la Mare
Mr. Bolland
Mr. Wilson
Mr. Denson
Mr. Foggon
Mr. Littlejohn Cook Mr. J.H. Peck
Mr. D. Hawkins Mr. C.P. Rawlings Mr. Hern Major Koe
M.0.2
Mr. J.A.B. Darlington Mr. B.E.P. MacTavish Mr. P. Sedgwick
Commonwealth Office (News Dept.)- Mr. M. Glover
Foreign Office
#
-
Duty Officer
SECRET
12 17.
C
ند
Ferry
SECRET
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES Nø,31
13 JUL 1967
FD1/1
(
160
China and Hong Kong
As requested I attach short notes on developments
in China and Hong Kong during the past fortnight for
Mr. Rodgers.
Af Wyl
P.A.
SECRET
سماج
(E. Bolland) 6 July, 1967
Flag A
FD1/6 BS
SECRET
HONG KONG
FO!!!
For the last two weeks the situation in Hong Kong
has been uneasy but there have been no major clashes between
the Government and the Communists. The Communists have
concentrated their attentionum
public
utility and transport services.
Although action of this sort
is potentially very serious the effect of the strikes has so
far been very limited. There has been disruption to transport
services particularly in Kowloon and some interruption with
shipping in the port but in general these strikes have had
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.