SCMP, 11 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
Submits Petition At Govt House, Then Collapses
A young man collapsed at Government House yesterday after he handed in a petition protesting against Communist activities in the Colony --- and then told the police officer on duty that he had taken a large quantity of sleeping pills.
The man was taken by ambulance to Queen Mary Hospital, where he was admitted.
The incident occurred about 6 pm when the man, wearing a blue Hawaiian shirt with Chinese characters painted on it, arrived at Government House and said he was protesting against the action of local Communists which were “breaking the rice bowl” of Hongkong citizens.
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SCMP, 11 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
‘N.C.N.A. Files What It Likes’
Mr George Gale, the Far East correspondent of the Daily Express, said in Hongkong last night that the New China News Agency filed to Peking only what it would like to have happened in the Colony, or its version.
“I think that it is generally true with any Communist news agency that the reports it sends back are highly coloured propaganda versions, designed to please the people who are reading it in Peking,” he said.
Speaking in a radio interview, Mr Gale said:
“Much the same thing is true of Tass reports, although less so now, but generally speaking what also happens normally is that Communist news agencies usually have two separate files---one of what actually happens and the other is what they would have liked to happen.
“I strongly suspect that the NCNA files only what it would like to have happened, or its version.”
Mr Gale said that he believed the NCNA people were linked with the local agitators.
“Not only are they on the same side, they are leading them, at any rate, in the propaganda sense.”
He added that the role of a Communist news agency was radically different from that of Western news agencies.
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SCMP, 11 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Border Police Reinforced
A police spokesman yesterday denied left-wing reports that police had failed to appear on duty at Lowu and that the Union Jack was not hoisted.
He said that, in fact, the normal police representation was reinforced in view of the prevailing situation.
In addition, two Union Jacks flew at their masts as usual.
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SCMP, 11 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Fund To Be Set Up For Dependents Of Dead Policemen
A fund to assist dependents of the six policemen who were killed during the weekend’s disturbances was announced yesterday by the Hon M. A. R. Herries, the Acting Chairman of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.
Mr Herries appealed for donations from the Chamber’s 1,400 members in circulars sent out yesterday afternoon.
The fund is also open to members of the public who wish to contribute and a collection centre will be set up in the Arcade on the ground floor of Union House today.
Representatives from the Chamber of Commerce will be at the collection centre to receive donations.
- Debt Owed -
Mr Herries announced the establishment of the fund after consultations with the General Committee of the Chamber of Commerce and Government.
“The tragic loss of life during the weekend places a direct burden of responsibility on the community as a whole. We fully realise the debt we owe to those men who have sacrificed their lives in the course of duty,” Mr Herries said,
“We want to get the fund moving as fast as possible, so that we can give some money to the families to tide them over their initial difficulties,” said Mr J. B. Kite, Secretary of the Chamber, yesterday.
Mr Kite said that no target had been set for the fund.
He described the fund as an “insurance” for members of the Police Force who had died and added that it would supplement what was due to their families from Government.
Details of the distribution of the fund will be decided in conjunction with Government and will depend on the response to the appeal.
- Scholarships -
A proposal has also been made to sponsor a number of scholarships at St Joseph’s College for children of police constables as a mark of appreciation for the high standard of efficiency and loyalty displayed by the Hongkong Police Force.
The proposal was made by the St Joseph’s College Old Boys’ Association which has asked for contributions to the scholarship fund from members.
The scholarships will cover the five years of secondary education (forms one to five), commencing September 1967, and will be renewable each year. A single scholarship is estimated to cost $2,000.
Meanwhile, plans have been made by the police to care for the family of Corporal Fung Yin-ping who was murdered at Shataukok last Saturday.
Mr Brian Welch, the Force Welfare Officer, said that relatives and neighbours were taking care of the dead corporal’s eight children.
Mr Welch said the Police Force would see that Cpl Fung’s oldest son continued his studies at Ying Wah College.
“The same will happen in the case of his eldest daughter who is studying at New Method College. She will continue her studies and the Police Force will pay her fees.
- University Grants -
“Furthermore, if they are successful in their studies we will consider them for university grants.” Mr Welch said.
He added that the Police Force would also take care of the four children now at the Tin Kwong Road Police Primary School.
When the time came for them to go on to secondary school that would be looked after, too.
Finally, the Force would take care of the schooling of the two youngest of Cpl Fung’s eight children when they reached school age.
Commenting on these arrangements, Mr George Wright-Nooth, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police, said that the Force always looked after the welfare of families in such circumstances.
***
SCMP, 11 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
More Protection For Transport Men
The Police would step up efforts to prevent transport workers from being stoned by hooligans, Mr A. J. Shephard, Commissioner for Transport, said last night in a radio interview.
He praised the transport workers for remaining on their jobs in spite of the disturbances. He said they had been subjected to stoning and, in some cases, to actual physical violence.
Describing police efforts to give bus workers greater protection, Mr Shephard said bus routes would deliberately be kept on the main road. The less routes there were, the better the police could give protection.
Mr Shephard said the people who stopped a No 5 bus outside the Tsimshatsui Fire Station at 4 pm yesterday and assaulted its driver were believed to be former employees of the Kowloon Motor Bus Company.
***
SCMP, 11 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
NEW PUBLIC SECURITY BODY
Another public security group is to be formed in the New Territories by business leaders and clansmen’s representatives.
It is to be called the Sheungshui Public Security Association.
Mr Cheung Yau-lung was chosen as its President, Mr Liu Yun-sum, its Chairman and Mr Chan Lam-pui its Vice-Chairman.
The inauguration will take place soon.
***
SCMP, 11 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Overseas Press Comments
‘NOTHING H.K. CAN DO BUT SIT OUT THE STORM’
Singapore, July 10.
The Straits Times said today that the one thing Hongkong could not afford in facing its present difficulties was appeasement.
It said in an editorial: “Short of kow-towing to Peking in the Macanese manner, there is nothing Hongkong can do except sit out the storm.”
The Straits Times questioned the authenticity of the Chinese version of the cause of last Saturday’s border incidents at Shataukok and maintained that the blame “does not lie on the Hongkong side of the border.”
Entitled “The Twisted Border,” the editorial went on: “That only militiamen were involved is not cast-iron proof of anything, yet it is reasonable to suppose that, deliberate as the provocation was, it was not authorised at higher level.
“To expect Peking to discipline its frontier guards, or damp down at this moment the attempt to intimidate Hongkong would be to expect altogether too much.
“Short of kow-towing to Peking in the Macanese manner, there is nothing Hongkong can do except sit out the storm. There is no serious labour unrest, although there is need to improve wages and working conditions in some industries and there is no genuine public demand for political power."
The Times of London said the latest outbursts of violence in Hongkong were aggravated by the fact that Britain could clearly not make contact with Peking, the “source of the trouble.”
It said the “calculated campaign” of the Communists was aimed at creating martyrs and intimidating the pro-British Chinese in Hongkong.
“It is bad enough that Hongkong should have to live with this kind of trouble fomented by a small minority.
“It is worse that the British Government can make no kind of contact with the source of trouble…
“Hongkong’s equilibrium has always presupposed that some kind of dialogue between London and Peking could resolve a crisis.
“Now the Chinese Government wants to evade any kind of dialogue.”
The newspaper added that the Colony’s economy was particularly vulnerable “to this sustained and unflagging burrowing that aims to undermine confidence…
“If Hongkong is to weather this storm, it will require steadiness not only on the part of Government but the Chinese entrepreneurs in the Colony as well.”---AFP and Reuter.
***
SCMP, 11 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
PAPER IDENTIFIES ATTACKERS
The Tin Tin Yat Po yesterday claimed that two left-wing newspaper reporters led an attack on its office in North Point on Sunday night and burnt a van. It identified the men and gave their background.
However, a left-wing evening paper denied their presence, saying that they were on an assignment elsewhere at that time.
***
SCMP, 11 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Police Launches Protect Harbour Workers
More than 20 Marine Police launches are carrying out round the clock patrols in the harbour to protect workers, Mr K. P. Clarke, Superintendent in charge of Marine Police, said yesterday.
Mr Clarke said that all harbour work was proceeding normally and there was no delay in the loading and unloading of cargoes from vessels.
He said that the police launches would berth alongside lighters and cargo boats from time to time to see whether everything was going well. Workers had been instructed to signal police launches should there be trouble or intimidation.
“Our launches could go to their assistance within minutes or even seconds,” Mr Clarke added.
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SCMP, 11 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
PUBLIC TOLD NOT TO TAKE LAW INTO OWN HANDS
The public were warned yesterday not to let their anger at local Communist agitators goad them into taking the law into their own hands by hitting back.
The warning came from Mr J. H. Harris, Superintendent of Police, who was called to deal with disturbances at North Point, where some bystanders reported seeing members of the public throwing bottles and stones at the instigators of the violence.
“I did not see this myself, and have no evidence to support reports,” said Mr Harris.
“But this does not mean to say that it did not take place. Our police contingents were kept pretty busy dealing with the rioters, and had no time to gauge the reactions: of the crowds.”
“It may seem natural that members of the public should give vent to their disgust for the trouble-makers by resorting to violence themselves, but I am afraid this cannot be allowed.”
He said nobody could be permitted to take the law into his own hands.
- Dangerous -
Apart from the fact that this opposition by violence was unlawful, it was also extremely dangerous.
He said the rioters were out for blood and they did not care whose blood it was. They had abandoned all codes of human behaviour, and innocent bystanders were in grave danger of being hurt, let alone those who offered active resistance to them.
Mr Harris said: “Just as important is the need for the police to be left a clear field to deal with the lawbreakers without the misguided intervention of members of the public, who can only hinder rather than help.
“Any member of the public becomes a lawbreaker himself, no matter what his politics or motives, the moment he resorts to violence --- whether it be against, or on behalf of, the public interest. And the police must act impartially whenever the law is broken.”
Police yesterday reiterated earlier warnings to the public to keep away from potential trouble spots.
A spokesman said: “Since the great majority of people in Hongkong earnestly wish to see these troubles dealt with as effectively as possible, it is up to all of us to ensure that the police are not handicapped in their actions against the troublemakers.
“We can best do this by keeping well away from the sources of these troubles, thus isolating the few instigators from the innocent crowds which they seek to use as a screen for their violence.
“Don't allow yourself to be drawn, by curiosity, into serving the Communist design for violence, and thereby endangering your own safety.”
He said that the trend of the last few days clearly indicated that the trouble-makers were conducting a hit-and-run campaign in the immediate vicinity of various Communist-owned department stores, schools and other premises, such as unions.
“The answer is to take every reasonable precaution to avoid these areas. The trouble-makers feel they can seek safety in the various premises they are using as a base for these attacks. The bystander, endangered by their actions, has no such immediate refuge to turn to.”
The spokesman, said: “Keep well clear of any disturbances you may see develop in the streets. Leave the police to handle them and don’t run the risk of becoming involved.”
***
SCMP, 11 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
BOY HURLED BOTTLE AT POLICE JEEP
A 14-year-old boy hurled a bottle at a police jeep when it stopped in Queen’s Road West on Sunday evening, it was stated at Central Court yesterday.
The boy pleaded not guilty before Mr E. Light to taking part in an intimidating assembly and assaulting PC Lung Yu-kan while resisting arrest.
Mr Light convicted him on both charges.
PC Lung said the boy was standing about five feet away from a crowd of 30 to 40 people, some of whom were carrying hooks, outside 580 Queen's Road West at 5.45 pm on Sunday.
The crowd was shouting: “Down with Hongkong British authorities.”
PC Lung said when the police jeep pulled up 20 yards from the crowd the boy threw a bottle at it.
He arrested the boy by placing his rifle butt across the boy’s throat.
The boy hit him with his elbow and kicked him.
In an unsworn statement, the boy said he held nothing in his hands except two newspapers.
He denied throwing a bottle at the police.
He told Mr Light that he was standing at the entrance to his school when he was surrounded by police.
He claimed that police had assaulted him in the street and beat him up in the police station.
Mr Light remanded him for seven days for a probation officer's report.
The boy’s mother sobbed and called out hysterically as her son was led from the courtroom.
***
SCMP, 11 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
Jailed For Making Inflammatory Speech
A crab hawker was jailed for 18 months at Central Court yesterday for making an inflammatory speech.
The hawker, Auyeung Yuk-yin (37), pleaded not guilty. He claimed he had a right to “encourage Chinese people to unite and fight together” as Hongkong had a democratic government.
He told Mr Light that his arrest proved that Hongkong did not have a democratic government.
At an earlier hearing Auyeung’s wife told Mr Light hat her husband was mentally ill.
Mr Light remanded Auyeung for a psychiatric report which said he was fit to plead.
Before sentencing him, Mr Light said Auyeung’s speech could incite violence, disobedience to the law and encourage a breach of the peace.
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SCMP, 11 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
Shataukok Farmer Accused
A Shataukok poultry farmer was charged before Judge E. G. Baber at Kowloon District Court yesterday with rioting and unlawful assembly.
Law Kwai (54), living at Man Ok Bei Village, Shataukok, New Territories, was alleged to have disrupted social order and used force to threaten people in Shataukok on June 24.
He denied the charge and was remanded until July 20 for trial.
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SCMP, 11 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
TWENTY-FIVE TO FACE TRIAL
Twenty-five people charged with unlawful assembly and rioting at the Hongkong and Kowloon Rubber and Plastics Union premises in Canton Road on June 23 will appear at North Kowloon Court on August 3 and 14.
They appeared before Mr A. L. Leathlean at Central Court yesterday. All pleaded not guilty.
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SCMP, 11 Jul 1967 (Page 8)
FIELD OFFICE AT SHATAUKOK
A field office has been set up in the Shataukok Government School for the convenience of residents in the district.
It will be opened for normal business every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm until further notice.
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SCMP, 11 Jul 1967 (Page 10)
A FORCE TO BE PROUD OF
AFTER a cycle of fruitless experiments in trouble-making the agitators seem to have returned to their original pattern of wanton destruction of property and bodily violence, to judge by the events of the last two nights. The aim is pure intimidation of the public. But the violence --- and this may well be a sign of desperation --- is less restrained. In particular, its worst excesses are directed against the Police, whose handling of the current situation has won more praise not only in Hongkong but around the world than, perhaps, has been gained anywhere by any other police force in recent times. That is the reason, obviously, why the leftist attempts to lower their morale and to provoke them into rashness have redoubled. These stratagems will fail. Yet at the same time the Police should realise that the public will be solidly behind them if their reaction to blatant, senseless provocation becomes increasingly tough. The preservation of law and order is their first concern. But nobody will expect kid-glove handling of mobs whose recurrent appearance on the streets while the law-abiding are within doors can only be dedicated to wholesale disruption of the community's ordinary way of life.
The Officer Administering the Government and Legislative Council members have already demonstrated by their personal visitations the people's deep concern over the casualties suffered by the Police in their sterling efforts to maintain peace and security. The initiation of a fund to help the dependents of those killed during the present disturbances by the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce is bound to meet at least as wide a response as that earlier set up for the education of Police children. Such public subscriptions can, of course, be no more than tokens of the admiration felt by all for men who have been daily risking their lives and enduring long and arduous tours of duty for so extended a period of time. One of the questions that must clearly be considered very soon is whether the responsibilities of the Hongkong policeman are properly rewarded even in routine circumstances, and there is little doubt as to public opinion on this point. Meanwhile the admiration of the whole community goes out to them, and justly so.
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SCMP, 11 Jul 1967 (Page 10)
Chinese Press On The Shataukok Affair:
GOVERNMENT URGED TO STRENGTHEN BORDER
BORDER defence needs to be strengthened and should not be left entirely to lightly-armed police units, the Sing Tao Jih Pao said yesterday.
Commenting on Saturday's Shataukok affair, the paper also advocated much sterner measures against local agitators.
It said the whole thing was obviously deliberately fostered by people who had escaped to the Chinese side two weeks ago.
Faced with the militiamen, whose actions were similar to the Red Guards, coupled with the fact that Shataukok was almost like an undefended city, the police, whose duty was to prevent riots, suffered a blow.
Having learned a lesson, the authorities must now give the highest priority to strengthening border defence.
- SPENT ARROW -
Discussing the local agitators, the paper said the attitude of the authorities towards them had been one of appeasement so that many an obviously illegal act went unpunished.
Although the local instigators were like a spent arrow, their conduct was now bordering on madness, the Sing Tao noted. It was therefore necessary to step up precautions so that instigators would have no chance to create more trouble.
The paper also saluted the five policemen who were killed in the Shataukok incident. These officers, it said, had been attacked in a cowardly manner while carrying out their duty of maintaining peace.
The Truth Daily believed that the Shataukok incident was created by Hongkong leftists and regional Communist cadres. They had hoped that their action would involve the Chinese Army as well but they were greatly disappointed, the paper added.
Several newspapers drew attention to a discrepancy in the reports of the Shataukok incident that appeared in leftwing newspapers.
- POLICE MORALE -
The left-wing afternoon newspapers on Saturday made mention of Chinese militiamen, but there was no reference to this in the Sunday morning left-wing papers. Instead, the reports said that villagers had “doubly punished the policemen,” and also claimed that the Hongkong police opened fire first.
In another article, the Truth Daily said it was necessary to maintain the morale of the Police Force.
It had been said that the Shataukok incident was meant to deal a blow at police morale. “One cannot totally disregard this argument,” the paper remarked.
It was important that police morale be sustained and further raised, urged the paper. While visits to police units by unofficial Councillors were most welcome, more practical means were equally necessary.
- TALKS OPPOSED -
Several newspapers last week attacked a suggestion by an Urban Councillor for roundtable talks to resolve the current situation.
The Sing Tao Jih Pao, the Kung Sheung Yat Po and the Hongkong Times voiced their opposition to any negotiations with the trouble-makers.
“What we must preserve is the dignity of the law, the prestige of the Government, the legitimate interests of residents and the stability of our society,” the Sing Tao said.
“To achieve this, Government should put the trouble-makers on trial and should not degrade itself and talk with troublemakers.”
The Hongkong Times said the disturbances did not stem from social unrest. They were started by well-organised Communists who had a planned political objective.
The paper also pointed out that Communists had always relied on victory through negotiations. Macao, it said, was a good example.
“The New Life Evening Post said there was no common round for either side to hold talks.
***
South China Morning Post (11 Jul 1967)
SHATAUKOK FARMER ACCUSED
A Shataukok poultry farmer was charged before Judge E. G. Baber at Kowloon District Court yesterday with rioting and unlawful assembly.
Law Kwai (54), living at Man Ok Bei Village, Shataukok, New Territories, was alleged to have disrupted social order and used force to threaten people in Shataukok on June 24.
He denied the charge and was remanded until July 20 for trial.
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SCMP, 12 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
‘China Had Troops At Shataukok’
BRITISH COMMANDER RECALLS INCIDENT
(Photo on left)
A high ranking British Army officer said yesterday that he thought there were at least 700 Chinese regular soldiers in the Shataukok area last Saturday.
“And that,” said Brigadier Peter Martin, “is far more than normal.”
Seated in a comfortable wicker chair shaded by a large tree, Brigadier Martin, who is Commander of the 48 Gurkha Infantry Brigade, was recalling his impressions of Saturday's border ¢lash in which five policemen were killed.
“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the machineguns were manned by professionals,” the Brigadier said.
The gunners, reported by eye-witnesses to have been posted at four strategic positions, hemmed in 86 policemen in the village’s rural committee building for nearly 10 hours.
Brigadier Martin has been in the area with his men ever since the first shots were fired.
- Message -
He himself was machine-gunned near the border on Saturday. And it is from the accurate aim and professional length of the gun bursts that leave Brigadier Martin certain they came from trained soldiers.
Twice Brigadier Martin has sent a message through a loud hailer to the commander of the Chinese forces.
The first was soon after a soldier was hurt by a fish bomb hurled from across the border.
“I gave them three minutes’ warning of my message so that they would have time to get the officer-in-charge.
“A chap with a pleasant looking face came forward, stood near the border and listened with obvious interest. It was soldier to soldier stuff. I was trying to prevent mistakes from happening,” the Brigadier said.
What would be more to the liking of the Brigadier is a face to face meeting with his counterpart.
Yesterday morning the Pipes and Drums of the 1/6 Queen Elizabeth Own Gurkha Rifles played as seven members of the Life Guards helped Hakka women in rice fields.
“The other side tried to drown us out with loudspeakers," said the Brigadier.
At the moment, Army engineers are installing showers and a medical team from the 18 Field Ambulance is setting up a small clinic.
Although there are a large number of Gurkhas in the area at the present time, the Brigadier’s aim Is to get things back to normal as quickly as possible.
“We are trying not to be too warlike about it. We want to get things back to normal in Shataukok,” Brigadier Martin said.
Already the Army was considering “pulling out” some of its troops stationed in the area, the Brigadier said.
Several of the Gurkhas’ machine-gun posts on the rooftops of buildings overlooking the border have been withdrawn.
This, according to the Brigadier, has met with a similar response from the Chinese side.
But even if life returns to normal at Shataukok in the near future, it seems Inevitable to Brigadier Martin that the usual police posts along the frontier will be supported from now on by Army units.
Meanwhile, an AP report from Tokyo said China admitted yesterday that her frontier guards and militia opened fire across the border last Saturday, but claimed that the firing was in self-defence.
***
South China Morning Post (12 Jul 1967)
Machine-Gun In Haystacks
This is the area of last Saturday’s incident in Shataukok in which five policemen were killed by Chinese machine-gun fire. The Machine-gun was hidden in haystacks (see circle) less than 100 yards from the Shataukok Rural Committee building (at right). The police who were under siege had to break the iron grille of a lower window of the building to evacuate to safety.
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SCMP, 12 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
CURFEW ON H.K. ISLAND
Crackdown On N. Point, Wanchai Trouble-Makers
SPORADIC INCIDENTS
A curfew was imposed on the northern portion of Hongkong Island at 10.30 last night following a number of incidents in North Point and Wanchai where large crowds had gathered at various transport depots. The curfew was lifted at 4.30 this morning.
Just before the curfew announcement, a number of incidents occurred in Johnston Road, Wanchai, near the Southorn Playground, which involved the stoning of trams and police.
At the same time, there were a number of incidents in King’s Road outside the Communist-owned Wah Fung China Products Company in North Point where stones were thrown at vehicles and passers-by.
It is believed that the incidents had been instigated and led by dismissed workers.
In Kowloon, there were small isolated incidents of missile throwing at bus drivers Nathan Road.
Three civilians were slightly injured by Greener gun shots and sent to Queen Mary Hospital after they had been arrested for suspected rioting.
(Photo)
Twenty-six people were arrested, two of them for unlawful assembly, seven for breach of curfew, seven for incitement, two for carrying weapons, three for suspected rioting, three for possession of housebreaking implements and reach of curfew and two for rioting.
- NORTH POINT -
In North Point, crowds first began to assemble outside the Wah Fung Emporium in King’s Road, shortly after 5 pm, and they dispersed when carloads of riot police arrived to station in the area. Fire broke out in the emporium itself later.
A number of incidents occurred after police had cordoned off a stretch of King’s Road and kept watch on the Communist emporium where in the past few days leftists who created trouble had sought sanctuary.
Then at 6.45 pm, police fired tear-gas at the crowd in Shu Kuk Street, dispersing it, but one shell ignited the hoarding of a construction site next to the emporium. The fire was put out ten minutes later by the employees.
Shortly after 8 pm, additional riot police arrived and the cordoned area was extended. Teargas shots were fired on several occasions to disperse crowds in the direction of State Theatre, the tram terminus in Tong Shui Road, and Shu Kuk Street.
Police on routine search of suspicious passersby(sic) managed to find two fruit knives wrapped in newspapers on two youths. They would be charged with possession of offensive weapons, said a police spokesman.
HONGKONG ISLAND CUEFEW
At 8.35 pm, police used teargas to disperse a stone-throwing mob in King’s Road at Its junction with Fortress Hill Road.
At 9.20 pm, a bus turning from King's Road into North Point Road was stoned and set on fire. Firemen put it out minutes later.
Police at 10 pm arrested four motor-cyclists and a pillion rider for inciting a crowd in King's Road, near the State Theatre.
One of the men was injured and was sent to Queen Mary Hospital.
At the same time, tear-gas was fired to disperse a crowd near the Wah Fung Emporium for the second time.
As police cars passed near the emporium, bottles and quicklime were thrown at them.
A third alarm fire broke out on the ground and mezzanine floors of the Wah Fung emporium shortly after 10 pm.
The fire was put out later, and during the actual fire-fighting, police fired one round from a Greener gun outside the building to disperse a mob who threw stones at the firemen.
A private car ran head-on to the pavement and hit a tailor shop near the Stale Theatre in King's Road after police teargas smoke apparently blinded the driver.
A passenger of the car was injured as a result of the collision.
A fire broke out in the Hawker Control Force office in Tong Shui Road, just opposite the Tin Tin Yat Po building, at about 6.30 pm. The fire was put out ten minutes later.
- WANCHAI -
In Wanchai, there were sporadic incidents in the early evening.
At 5.35 pm, the police dispersed a crowd of about 100 who were distributing leaflets in Canal Road West. Two hours later, a number of boys were seen laying stones on tram tracks in Johnston Road, and at 8.25, a crowd threw bottles into the street outside the Oriental Theatre.
Large crowds began to assemble and half an hour before the curfew was imposed, violence broke out near the Violet Peel Health Centre.
Left-wing workers, both men and women from the New China Products Emporium, painted slogans on the streets. They also tried to force open the iron grille of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank branch but they were unsuccessful.
Then, they turned to the Chartered Bank branch in Fleming Street. A debris fire was also started.
Riot police arrived and cordoned off the area. Teargas was used against the mob which was split into groups of 100.
During the ensuing encounter, two fish bombs were thrown at the police cars but missed.
A number of arrests were made. Two of the arrested people were found to have daggers in their possession.
The mob scattered but soon turned on the Wanchai Post Office and started a fire. They also set fire to a traffic pagoda at the junction of Johnston Road and Hennessy Road. Both fires were later put out.
About 11 pm, a brick thrown from a nearby multi-storey building, broke through the roof of a police van which was passing by the Oriental Theatre. No policeman was injured.
Three-quarters of an hour later, a report was received that some people were trying to break into the Chartered Bank branch again. When the police arrived, they found a number of glass panes broken. The mob had dispersed.
Among the number of people arrested and taken to the Eastern Police Station were three youths, including, an Indian, who were caught about 11.15 pm trying to steal a car in which three knives were hidden.
- WEST POINT -
In West Point, a crowd set fire to a building in. Queen's Road West shortly before 10 pm but it was put out before the arrival of firemen.
In Central, police reported about 20 former workers of the China Motor Bus Company were seen intimidating drivers and conductors in Rumsey Street bus terminal shortly after 10 pm.
They left the area later.
About 30 minutes later, a police party was sent to Government House where 12 people were waving red books outside.
The crowd later left without incident.
- KOWLOON -
In Kowloon, isolated incidents were reported in which missiles were thrown at bus drivers in Nathan Road.
At 3.15 pm, the driver of an empty double-decker bus was hit by a transformer wrapped in a Communist poster which was thrown at him at the junction of Taipo Road and Un Chau Street.
He received head injuries and was sent to hospital for treatment.
Mr C. P. Sutcliffe, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police said last night in a radio interview that over the past two months the police had issued repeated warnings to the public not to linger at the scene of a disturbance in order to satisfy their curiosity.
He urged the public to assist them by avoiding any situation which they saw developing, particularly if they saw police units arriving on the scene. This warning was intended for their own good.
(Photo)
***
SCMP, 12 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
$100,000 COLLECTED FOR POLICE FAMILIES
Donations to the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce Fund for the dependents of the six policemen killed during the present disturbances, reached $100,000 by yesterday evening --- the first day the fund was opened.
This was announced by the Hon M. A. R. Herries, the Acting Chairman of the Chamber, who said the initial target of the fund was $1m.
He said the fund would also be made available to the dependents of the forces of law and order.
“We felt that we should not cover just the police although they are foremost in our minds, but also all those people who risked their lives in maintaining law and order, such as members of the fire services, ambulance drivers, civil aid services and generally, the uniformed forces,” he said.
At 4 pm yesterday, more than $50,000 was collected. At 5 pm a Chamber spokesman said about $100,000 had been received.
The response was excellent since the fund had only started in a morning, Mr Herries said.
Donations came from a large number of people, including private citizens and business firms.
“We welcome all kinds of donations, small and large. The fund is open to all members of the public in all walks of life,” he said.
“The first donation to the fund was $5,000 given by a local manufacturer. It was followed by other donations received at the Chamber’s offices and at the special collection centre in Union House.
Asked how the fund would be distributed, Mr Herries said the Chamber was working closely with the services involved since they knew the circumstances and the number of dependents.
- Hardships -
In view of the uniformed services facing such danger and hardships, he said, he personally hoped that everything would be done to better their conditions, such as wages.
The Hongkong Commercial Broadcasting Company yesterday handed $42,000 to the Police Force’s Welfare Officer to be used for the families of the policemen killed in the past few days and for those who had been wounded.
A Mr Wong Fai went to police headquarters yesterday and handed $10,000 to a senior police officer there. He asked that the money be used to help the dependents of the dead policemen. The gift was a token of his admiration for the police in maintaining law and order.
***
SCMP, 12 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
OVERSEAS PRESS COMMENTS
H.K. ‘Must Gamble On Chinese Realism And Reasonableness’
The New York Times yesterday praised the handling of the disturbances in Hongkong by the British authorities, but gave warning that if the Chinese cast away realism and reasonableness “it will be goodbye to Hongkong.”
In an editorial quoted by Reuters, the paper said that the Colony was a source of immense profits to China, an outlet for goods and an inlet for needed imports.
Short of an attack of complete irrationality, Peking had every reason to let Hongkong exist but, the paper added, irrationality by definition was unpredictable.
The paper said: “The British have not made the mistake of the Portuguese authorities in nearby Macao --- excessive toughness at the beginning and then abject submission because there was nothing behind the tough façade.
“The British are playing it with a mixture of firmness and prudence. It is a trying time --- investors and tourists scared away, food difficult and water short because the mainland Chinese refuse to turn on extra water needed in this pre-monsoon period.”
The paper said that the “ace in the hole” was Hongkong’s profitability to Peking. The gamble had to be on Chinese realism and reasonableness.
- Turn For Worse -
The Financial Times said in an editorial that the troubles in Hongkong had taken a distinct turn for the worse over the past few days.
“If there is going to be more violence of the kind which has marked the past three days, Britain may well have to rethink her whole approach to the future of Hongkong. There is no doubt that it was worth riding out the labour trouble, in the interest of maintaining a valuable commercial centre in the Far East and a unique listening post on China’s door-step,” the paper said.
“One wonders whether it would really be worth holding down the lid on daily outbreaks of terrorism.”
The Financial Times said a deliberate Chinese attempt to push Britain out of Hongkong was not the explanation for the strikes in the Colony earlier this year and it doubted whether Peking was aiming at this now.
“It is a popular guess in Hongkong that China would really like to ‘Macaoise’ the Colony. It is equally certain that no one on the British side would accept such a solution. The question is whether there is any other gesture that might satisfy China’s evident desire for a ‘victory’ of some kind in Hongkong.”
The Financial Times said the Hongkong Government could be forgiven for sticking to the belief that it was running the Colony along the lines most of its inhabitants preferred.
“The hope is that it can find a modus vivendi with China, and do so before the troubles erode Hongkong’s most precious asset --- its business confidence,” the paper concluded.
***
SCMP, 12 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Island’s Support For Government
Mr E. B. Wiggham, District Officer, South, visited Ping Chau yesterday and called on the Rural Committee and the Chamber of Commerce to thank them for their loyal support for Government during the recent disturbances.
Mr Wiggham, who had earlier visited Chimawan prison on Lantao Island with Mr K. S. Lo, an Urban Councillor, spent the afternoon touring Ping Chau with members of the Rural Committee and other local leaders and discussed with them plans for the development of tourist facilities on the island.
***
SCMP, 12 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
PROTECTION DISCUSSED
Mr A. J. Shephard, Commissioner of Transport, met managers of public transport companies and senior police officials yesterday to discuss protection for public transport workers.
Mr Shephard said the situation was worrying but declined to reveal what had been discussed.
A Government spokesman said measures had not been finalised.
***
SCMP, 12 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Refreshments For Border Units
An eight-vehicle convoy, toured the quiet but tense Shataukok area yesterday, laden with soft drinks, cigarettes and ice cream for policemen and soldiers on duty there.
Five firms had joined forces to contribute more than $5,000 worth of refreshments for distribution.
The convoy started from the joint Army and police frontier headquarters at Fanling. At the head of the convoy was a police riot lorry packed with 20 reporters.
The lorries rumbled down the narrow road to Shataukok and stopped outside the bullet-ridden Rural Committee building. Refreshments were then distributed to Gurkhas, engineers and armoured car personnel.
Two more stops were made before the mission was completed. One was at a point about 100 yards from the Shataukok police headquarters and the other at a place on the road to Lowu village.
The “comfort mission” was organised by the District Office, Taipo, with the co-operation of the firms.
Mr T. J. Bedford, District Officer, Taipo, Mr J. B. Lees, Assistant Police Commissioner, New Territories; and Brigadier Peter Martin, Commander of 48 Gurkha Infantry Brigade, talked to the men. He also thanked the donors for their generosity.
At the end of the two and a half-hour operation, British American Tobacco Co, Carling Brewery Ltd, Dairy Farm Ice and Cold Storage Co, Ltd, Hongkong Breweries Ltd, and A. S. Watson and Co, Ltd, had given away at least 3,000 ice cream and ice sticks, 20,000 cigarettes and 500 bottles of beer.
***
SCMP, 12 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
VISIT TO BORDER VILLAGES
Mr T. J. Bedford, The District Officer of Taipo, accompanied by some of his senior staff, visited all the villages situated along the border yesterday and had brief discussions with village representatives and elders.
“Despite the tense situation existing at the moment, all was quiet and peaceful in the villages I visited,” Mr Bedford said.
***
SCMP, 12 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
Bottles Of Acid Used In Attack On Police
A police inspector testified at South Kowloon Court yesterday that anti-riot policemen were attacked by leftwing workers with bottles of acid and triangular files when they tried to make arrests.
Insp T. H. Hutchings said he and other policemen attempted many times to enter the premises of the Rubber and Plastic General Union on the third floor of 1093 Canton Road, but were repulsed by workers hurling acid.
He said eventually the police broke a wall of an adjacent building and in this way entered the union. But there was no one there. A search was conducted and when the police entered the second floor of the building they found many men inside rooms. They resisted the police but were overcome.
Insp Hutchings added that an inspector who tried to open the kitchen door of the premises was attacked and suffered injuries to two of his fingers. Tear gas was fired and the men in the kitchen were’ later arrested.
- Eight Charged -
Insp Hutchings was testifying against eight men charged with rioting, unlawful assembly and obstructing the police.
The accused are Fung Kam-shui (42), Chairman of the union, Wong Kam-ling (25), Chung Yuk-fong (34), Tang Hung (37), Pang Fai (34), Lee Shing (25), Yau For-wan (38) and Auyeung Chung-keung (26). They denied the charges.
Yau and Auyeung pleaded not guilty to another charge of resisting arrest.
Mr M. Lucas, Crown Counsel, is prosecuting, assisted by Senior Detective-Insp G. Whiteley.
Hearing, before Mr J. J. Rhind, will continue today.
***
SCMP, 12 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
SUNDAY INCIDENTS
EARTH COOLIE PASTED NEWSPAPER ON TRAM
An earth coolie, who pasted a newspaper on a tram and damaged two police officers’ watches on Sunday night, was jailed for two years at Central Court yesterday.
Insp B. L. Coak, prosecuting, told Mr A. L. Leathlean, the Magistrate, that the coolie Ho Man (30), of no fixed address, pasted a copy of a newspaper on a tram near the Southorn Playground in Johnston Road, Wanchai, about 7.50 pm on Sunday night.
He was seen by Insp H. K. Tam and Insp Y. P. Tang.
Insp Tam went to arrest Ho who broke his metal watch band in a bid to escape. Insp Tang went to Insp Tam’s assistance and Ho broke his watch band as well.
Insp Coak said a crowd of about 100 people watched the struggle.
Ho was later treated for abrasions at Queen Mary Hospital.
Damage to the watches was estimated at $200.
Ho pleaded guilty to pasting up an inflammatory poster and resisting arrest.
***
SCMP, 12 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
MECHANIC JAILED
A motor mechanic who had a sharpened triangular file in his pocket at North Point on Sunday night was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment by Mr A. L. Leathlean at Central Court yesterday.
Insp. B. L Coak said the mechanic, Li Hon-ching (23), was among a crowd outside the Wah Fung Chinese Products shop in King’s Road.
Police dispersed the crowd with tear-gas.
Li was one of 15 men searched by police and a sharped triangular file was found in his trouser pocket.
At the time of his arrest, Li’s clothing smelt of anti-riot gas, Insp Coak said.
Li pleaded guilty to possessing an instrument fit for unlawful purposes.
***
SCMP, 12 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
No Excuse For Bad Conduct
Mr P. M. Corfe told two youths at Central Court yesterday that being young was no excuse for bad behaviour and that teenagers, too, could be imprisoned.
The youths, Or Chun-wa (17), and Ma Chik-sang (18), admitted a charge of rioting outside the Hongkong Hilton on May 22. They had been remanded for a probation report.
Taking into consideration the probation officer’s recommendation that the youths were too young to go to jail, Mr Corfe bound them over to be of good behaviour for two years. The youths’ parents also had to sign bonds of $500 each.
***
SCMP, 12 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
Police Oppose Bail
Police opposed bail for four men on a riot charge at Central Court yesterday.
Insp B. L. Coak, prosecuting, told Mr A. L. Leathlean that they were part of a crowd who had attacked police with iron bars on Sunday.
He said the attack was so violent that police were forced to fire a riot gun to protect themselves.
The men, Li Kwok-chiu (21), a postman, Tam Kap-sau (23), a motor mechanic, Tin Kwai-chung (16), a furniture apprentice, and Tam Kwok-leung (18), a tailor, were remanded for seven days in jail custody.
Two others, Tang Yuk-kee (46) and So Yiu-lim, who faced a similar charge, were remanded for seven days in jail custody.
All pleaded not guilty.
***
SCMP, 12 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
Shaw Studio Worker Charged With Intimidation
An employee of Shaw Brothers Studios had threatened another employee into going on strike, Mr D. A. Davies was told at North Kowloon Court yesterday.
On trial is Wong Yuk-sum (36), who denied a charge of criminal intimidation.
Mr T. J. R. Carolan, Crown Counsel, said ill-feeling began on June 15 when the Shaw management published a notice requesting its employees to support Government. Wong and some others resented this.
On June 22, the employers directed the staff to have their photographs taken for re-registration. Then, Fong Yu-tam, foreman of the carving section where the defendant worked, was approached by a crowd. Defendant told him: (unknown word?) represent the workers, Do not re-register, or you will be responsible for the sequences.”
The next day, Mr Carolan said, Fong reported for work, at 8 am. As he entered the carving workshop he was surrounded by eight workers. Defendant approached him and said: “You must go on strike, otherwise we will cause harm to you.” Fong Was frightened and went home.
Mr Carolan said defendant was arrested on June 24.
Hearing will continue today.
***
SCMP, 12 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
Threw Stones At Police And Trams
Leung Chak (38), a metal worker who was among a crowd hurling stones and bottles in Wanchai on Sunday night, was jailed for 21 months by Mr A. L. Leathlean at Central Court yesterday.
Insp B. L. Coak said Leung was part of a crowd of between 500 and 700 who attacked a line of trams in Johnston Road Wanchai, at 11.30 pm. The crowd threw bottles and stones at the trams and the police.
Leung was arrested when he ran from the crowd after police fired tear-gas.
He pleaded guilty to a charge of rioting.
***
SCMP, 12 JUL 1967 (Page 7)
Waiter Had Inflammatory ‘Menu’
A 32-year-old waiter was found guilty of possession of an “inflammatory menu” and jailed for four months by Mr D. A. Davies at North, Kowloon Court yesterday.
Pun Hing, of 1 Nam Shing Street, ground floor, Taipo Market, denied the charge. He said he had copied the menu from the Ching Po Daily on June 23 because he found it to be different. He said it was his practice to copy new recipes from newspapers. He contended that the menu was not inflammatory.
It began with a “billion tables are to be booked for the official banquet in celebrating the triumph of the Anti-Persecution Act.”
Some of the “dishes” were “Roasted John Beef,” “Baked Paper Cat in Government House,” “Stripped Chiang’s Spies Pig,” and “Boiled Bourgeois Shrimps.”
It finished with “Blood and Tears, Mixed Plate of Police Stations.”
Police Constable Kwong Siu-lan, testified that he stopped Pun in Dundas Street, Mongkok, on June 24 and found the menu on him.
Mr Davies said its only conceivable object was to create unrest and that there were “marked political implications” in the contents. Therefore, the menu was of an inflammatory nature.
Insp J. Evans prosecuted.
***
South China Morning Post (12 Jul 1967)
Tribute To Pakistani Policemen
“Hongkong is proud of you,” the Hon Dhun Ruttonjee, the Senior Unofficial Legislative Councillor, told the Pakistani Contingent of the Police Force during a visit to the New Territories yesterday. He told them that they were doing a splendid job and that their courage had impressed every citizen. Mr Ruttonjee regretted the death of two members of the Contingent who were killed in the Shataukok incident last Saturday and expressed condolences to the bereaved families.
***
SCMP, 13 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
LEFTIST UNION RAIDED
Troops Support Police Operation In Wanchai
CURFEW IN KOWLOON
(Photo on right)
Military units supported the police when a raid was carried out on the premises of the Motor Transport Workers’ Union main branch at 312 Lockhart Road last night. A number of weapons were found and more than 20 men and several women were detained.
The raid was carried out during the curfew on Hongkong Island. Part of Kowloon also came under curfew from 11 pm when a rash of incidents broke out in the early evening. Both curfews ended at 4.30 am today.
Two fatalities were reported in Kowloon last night. Following an attack at 9.30 pm on a bus by a crowd, which also tried to attack a police patrol in Un Chau Street, when one round from a Grenner gun was fired, a body was later found in a nearby lane with a bullet hole in the chest. A triangular file was by the man’s side.
Another man, aged about 30, was found suffering from gunshot wounds outside No 39 Taipo Road about 10.25 pm. He was sent by ambulance to Queen Elizabeth Hospital but was certified dead on arrival.
The raiding party, led by Mr Roy Moss, Divisional Superintendent, Eastern, had to cut their way through two iron barred doors with acetylene torches.
On the premises they found a large number of weapons, including iron pipes sharpened at the ends. At the edge of the roof baskets and boxes of bottles were stored.
- No Interference -
The raid was carried on without any interference from outside. The whole block had been heavily cordoned by both police and troops. Altogether a company of police were used together with about a company of soldiers. The latter included men of the Welch(sic) Regiment and men of the Hongkong Regiment.
Barbed wire barriers were laid across Hennessy Road at either end of the block where the premises were situated and there were similar barriers at other places.
When police eventually broke into the union premises on the third floor of the building, it was at first thought that the place was empty. The police party then emerged on to the roof and a search uncovered numerous trapdoors leading down to other flats all along the block.
Mr Moss said afterwards: "It became obvious that we were dealing not with one flat in one block but with premises stretching over as many as eight buildings.”
From the roof the police made their way down into the inter-connecting flats and brought up a large number of people. These included more than 20 men and several women. At 1.30 am police were questioning those people to determine their connection with the union premises.
- Posters -
Police found that the whole roof stretching over the eight flats had been used as a meeting place decorated with large numbers of inflammatory posters.
More pesters and leaflets were found in other parts of the building.
A canvas roof had been stretched over the area and at one end was a makeshift stage. There was also loudspeaker equipment installed.
- LEFTIST STRONGHOLD RAIDED -
After the staid Mr Moss, who has been in charge of operations against local Communist mobs in the Wanchai area during the past few nights, said: “We know that many of the people involved in these incidents have been dismissed transport workers and there is an obvious connection with the union and its premises.
“The evidence uncovered here tonight --- lethal weapons, stores of bottles on the roof, banners, inflammatory posters and leaflets --- speaks for itself.”
Early this morning the search of the premises was still going on.
- Explosion -
An explosion occurred in the premises of the Taipo Rural Committee in Hei Yun Street, Taipo, the New Territories, about 5.40 pm, extensively damaging the interior, but causing no injuries to people as the premises were locked and empty at the time.
Members of the Rural Committee had earlier planned to hold a meeting at 5 pm but this was postponed before the explosion occurred.
Police were informed of the incident through an anonymous telephone call.
A police spokesman said last night that preliminary investigations showed that the explosion occurred at one end of the main room of the premises. Several pieces of furniture were damaged.
“There are indications that the blast was possibly caused by a time device. Although the door of the premises was locked, the windows were found to be open,” he said.
The spokesman added that the Police Ballistics Officer was making a detailed investigation.
- Stoning -
Hongkong Island came under curfew for the second successive night over the same area as on Tuesday. It was enforced from 8 pm and ended at 4.30 am today.
Throughout yesterday afternoon and evening, crowds in Kowloon stoned and set fire to vehicles, Including buses and an ambulance. The increase in Incidents led to the authorities imposing a curfew for part of Kowloon, west of the railway line and south of Lung Cheung Road but excluding Tsimshatsui. It was enforced at 11 pm and ended at 4.30 am today.
The curfew area covered Yaumati, Mongkok, Kowloon Tong, Shamshuipo, Shekkipmei, Taikoktsui, Cheungshawan and Laichikok.
Access to Kai Tak along Chatham Road was not affected.
The double curfew were the first to be imposed simultaneously on Hongkong Island and Kowloon.
One of the first incidents reported In Kowloon occurred at 10 am yesterday when a handful of left-wing agitators attempted to recruit hawkers into taking part in a demonstration in Yue Man Square, Kun Tong. They were dispersed on the arrival of a police riot squad.
In the early afternoon, a crowd gathered in Nathan Road near Soy Street, Mongkok, and threw bottles at passing buses. Vehicles proceeding along Waterloo Road were also stoned.
Leftist agitators were also seen painting slogans on the road surface in Shantung Street outside the Ritz Theatre.
Some young people, thought to be students, distributed leaflets to pedestrians in the same area about 8.40 pm. When police arrived, they broke up and ran into side streets.
- Blocked Traffic -
Traffic in Nathan Road near Waterloo Road became blocked about 9 pm where a crowd gathered, holding traffic signs and other objects. All vehicles were forced to make diversions into side streets. Police fired tear-gas to disperse the demonstrators.
Half-an-hour later, three nine-seater vans were set on fire in Shanghai Street near Shantung Street. Another vehicle was also act ablaze in Fuk Wing Street, Shamshuipo.
Police made a baton charge at 9.25 pm and arrested five people in Nullah Road, Mongkok.
Shortly before 10 pm, an ambulance was attacked in Nathan Road. It suffered a shattered windscreen but was saved by a police party and escorted to its depot in Laichikok. None of the occupants was injured.
About half-an-hour before the Kowloon curfew, six vehicles were set on fire. There occurred in Mongkok Road, near Tong Mei Road, Taipo Road near Shekkipmei Street, junction of Nam Cheong Street and Yu Chau Street, Peiho Street, near Un Chau Street and Mongkok Road near its junction with Tong Mei Road and Anchor Street in Taikoktsui.
- Smashed -
A S.C.M. Post reporter, who went out on a tour in Kowloon shortly before 11 pm, said that about 50 vehicles parked in Canton Road near Jordan Road were also damaged.
He reported that some of the vehicles were burned while others had their windscreens smashed.
These vehicles included private cars, New Territories taxis, hire cars and motor-cycles.
About 10.30 pm, he saw two men engaged in a fight at the junction of Jordan Road and Nathan Road. A crowd gathered and joined in the fight.
Many of them had what appeared to be weapons sticking out from their hips and a group retreated into a back street where cries for help were heard.
Shortly before 11 pm, a taxi travelling along Nathan Road was attacked by a large crowd near the junction with Waterloo Road.
At 11.50 pm a crowd was reported at Choi Hung Road at its junction with Tseuk Luk Street.
- Water Pipes -
Police fired one round from a Greener gun. A demonstrator and a policeman were injured. Both were taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Shortly before curfew time, demonstrators removed a section of water pipes at the junction of Cheungshawan Road and Nam Cheung Street, and played hide and seek with the police.
Earlier, about 10.20 pm, a crowd attacked a water main in Choi Hung Road.
And almost about this time, two other crowds --- one of about 400 and the other of more than 200 --- gathered at the junction of Nathan Road and Cheong Lok Street, and in Ying Tong Street near Shekkipmei, shouting.
About 20 minutes later, a crowd gathered at Sung Wong Toi Road in Kowloon City and explosives were thrown. The crowd dispersed when police fired two gas shells.
In the New Territories, the driver of a Route 24 bus travelling from Lau Fau Shan to Un Long was hit in the face with a plastic bag containing some yellow liquid. He was taken to Un Long Clinic where he was treated for a minor injury.
- HONGKONG ISLAND -
On Hongkong Island, two men emerged from the Wah Fung China Emporium at North Point about 8 am and pasted a new inflammatory poster at the entrance.
A police party was later sent to remove the poster. Stones and bottles rained down on them from the upper floors, and the police had to fire tear-gas shells and Greener guns.
A police officer said no arrest was made and the police made no physical contact with the trouble-makers. There were no casualties.
Apart from this incident, the Island was free of any disturbance throughout the day.
With the announcement of the curfew shortly after 4 pm, people began to return home and all the public transports and the cross-harbour ferries were full.
Conditions were quiet until about 8.20 pm when a crowd set fire to a pile of rubbish near the State Theatre in King’s Road. It was put out minutes later.
About 9.15 pm, police on patrol in Shaukiwan Road were pelted with bottles from the upper floors of buildings. Fish bombs were also thrown from there, but did not cause any injury.
Another rubbish fire broke out in North Point Road, near Chung Yeung Street, at the same time. It was put out five minutes later.
About 9.20 pm, a crowd of about 50 wearing arm bands roamed Shing On Street. Half an hour later another crowd, comprising women carrying large handbags and men carrying wires, appeared in the street.
Halt an hour later, a fish bomb was thrown near the Shaukiwan Post Office. No one was injured and there was no damage.
At 10.45 pm, police opened fire and wounded two people in King’s Road, North Point. Another man was arrested.
- Curfew Breakers -
In the Eastern district, police on patrol were showered with glass from the roof of the New China Products Emporium in Hennessy Road. Apart from this incident, all was quiet in the area throughout the night.
No incidents were reported from the Central and Western Districts.
At 12.10 am four curfew breakers were arrested.
The Auxiliary Police were recalled to duty at lunchtime yesterday and members of the force, except for recruits under training, reported for duty after work in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, 130 officers and men of the 1st and 2nd Reconnaissance Company of the Hongkong Regiment stood by last night at their headquarters after a limited call-out.
A spokesman for the Hongkong Regiment said that the men were on usual training yesterday, and were told to be on standby.
The “Star” Ferry last night ran special services after 8 pm for people going to and from Kai Tak Airport.
Travellers unavoidably delayed or who had difficulties were asked to contact the police for information and guidance.
***
SCMP, 13 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
RESIDENTS CLAP
As police started to make arrests in the Mongkok district last night, many residents in the area started to clap their hands and shouted “arrest them all.”
***
SCMP, 13 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
BORDER INCIDENT
U.K. Wants To Avoid Deterioration
London, July 12.
The Government indicated yesterday that it wanted to prevent the recent trouble in Hongkong from causing any further deterioration in its relations with Peking.
Whitehall sources said that while it was an established fact that Chinese soldiers or militia had participated in last Saturday’s incidents in Hongkong, their participation was limited to an area close to the frontier where the Colony’s Communists could count on willing support.
The latest Chinese protest Note, denouncing the “fascist” line taken by the British authorities in Hongkong, would probably draw no answer from London.
Likewise, London did not expect Peking to respond to a British protest about the Hongkong incidents.
- Air Space -
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office has replied politely to a Chinese Note dated June 29 in which the Chinese authorities accused Britain of violating Chinese air space twice in June.
The British reply was dated July 7, but was published only yesterday.
It denied one of the accusations in the Chinese Note --- that a British military aircraft had flown over Kwangtung Province. This charge, the British Note said, was baseless.
But it admitted the second Chinese accusation --- that a helicopter had flown over the province on June 5 “due to a navigational error.” It expressed regrets and said measures would be taken to avoid any repetition of such incidents.---AFP.
***
SCMP, 13 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
OVERSEAS PRESS COMMENT
‘China Aims To Make A Macao Of H.K.’
London, July 12.
The Daily Telegraph said today that unless China ceased organising trouble in Hongkong, Britain must break off diplomatic relations with Peking.
The paper said that ten to one, China’s policy was to leave Hongkong under British sovereignty while harassing and humiliating the British authorities --- in other words, making a Macao of it.
The answer on the spot, said the Telegraph, was the continuation of firmness and restraint.
“In addition, diplomatic relations with a country that behaves in such a dangerous manner are a farce. Unless this nonsense stops, they must be broken off.
The Guardian said Peking’s harassment of Hongkong appeared to have been counter-productive.
It said the disturbances had stirred the Hongkong Government into investigating the labour laws while the refusal to supply additional water and the disruption of ferry services had not won China many new friends.
The Guardian said a Chinese takeover of Hongkong would mean China losing valuable revenue in hard currency from her trade with the Colony.
“More likely, Peking wants only to harass the Hongkong Government while winning more of the Colony's people to its side.
"It may be aiming for a breakdown of order and civil government such as it achieved in Macao. But so far the Hongkong police and army have prevailed in keeping control.” --- Reuter.
***
SCMP, 13 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Criminal Intimidators Face Heavy Penalties
A senior member of the Legal Department reiterated yesterday that penalties for criminal intimidators were heavy. Mr Dermot Rea, Director of Public Prosecutions, told potential bullies to think seriously about the warning.
He said that the new legal measures introduced recently by Government to combat intimidation took account of the diverse ways in which the insidious menace might manifest itself.
Although these measures were new, they had already landed many people in jail, Mr Rea said, and more were waiting to appear before the courts.
Some of the defendants were people who merely urged others to put up an inflammatory poster.
Sentences for the more serious cases of intimidation ran to five years’ imprisonment, Mr Rea pointed out.
The new regulations also took into account assemblies of an intimidating nature.
An important aspect of this offence was that a crowd would constitute an intimidating assembly although only some of the participants were behaving in an intimidating manner, Mr Rea explained.
In addition, any one who formed part of the assembly would be guilty of an offence whether or not he was taking part in the conduct which made the assembly intimidating.
This was intended to deter passive association with assemblies of this kind, Mr Rea said.
***
SCMP, 13 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Government Bent On Stamping Out Violence
Government was convinced and determined that the time had come to grasp and retain the initiative in the current contest with the minority of left-wing trouble-makers, the Hon D. R. Holmes, Acting Colonial Secretary, said at the Legislative Council meeting yesterday.
He added: “We have no doubt that in doing so we shall have the whole-hearted support of the vast majority of the community and we have no doubt of the final outcome.”
Mr Holmes said Government would undertake to put the children of policemen killed in the recent violence through school to as high a level as they were capable of going.
Mr Holmes, who was replying to a speech by the Hon F. S. Li, said: “It may well be, judging from the events during and since the weekend, that we are now entering a new phase of violence and terrorism.”
He said the confrontation with the small left-wing minority was going to continue for some time and that the longer it went on the more was public confidence, and business confidence, liable to be shaken and disturbed.
“To the extent that this happens it means, in the simplest terms, or it could mean, fewer school places, less housing and generally speaking, a pause in the social and economic progress which we have maintained without a break for so many years.” Mr Holmes said.
“All I can say today is this: that if human endeavour can achieve it there will be no significant pause of this kind.
“We are convinced and determined now that the time has come to grasp and retain the initiative in this contest. We have no doubt that in doing so we shall have the whole-hearted support of the vast majority of the community, and we have no doubt of the final outcome.
“Meanwhile, it is a time to be alert and resolute and steadfast. This community has shown before that it is not lacking in these qualities, and I know it will show it again.”
Mr Holmes said the small leftwing minority had tried one method after another to undermine the structure of the Colony.
- New Phase -
“None has so far been particularly successful, and it may well be, judging from the events during and since the weekend, that we are row entering a new phase of violence and terrorism, for there is nothing so degraded that these men will not stoop to.
“Take, for example, the exploitation of misguided school children. There can be nothing more abhorrent than this to any civilised community, but it has been done elsewhere before and it has recently been done here.”
Mr Holmes said he would like to warn parents of children likely to be so exploited, now that schools were on holiday, that if they allowed their children to be used in this cowardly way, then the children would be liable to get hurt.
He associated himself with Mr Li in his expressions of profound grief for the tragic deaths of the police officers, and profound sympathy to their families.
“For the bereaved, there is nothing we can do to compensate for their loss, but we are doing whatever we can to help them in their present circumstances. Members will also be aware of the very gratifying response to the appeal which has gone out to the public.
- Children -
“For the children affected I can be more specific, and say that the Government will ensure, for the children of those officers who have died on duty, that they will from now on be educated at the public expense, whatever level of educational achievement they are capable of attaining.
“I realise that technically this is an assurance which I cannot properly give without the prior approval of this honourable Council; but I nevertheless give it without hesitation, and without reservation, for I am certain that there is no member of this Council who will not whole-heartedly endorse it.”
Before Mr Holmes spoke, Mr Li expressed “horror and’ detestation” over the killing of the policemen.
He urged the public to keep calm and law-abiding and called on the minority causing the unrest to halt their demonstrations which were not only against law but also against their own interests.
He added: “I wish also to warn the trouble-makers that if they feel so much resentment against the conditions they find in Hongkong, they are always free to leave and start a new career elsewhere.”
***
 |
| Mrs Khurshid Ahmed (in white) walking to a waiting plane taking her and the body of her husband, killed in Shataukok last Saturday, to Pakistan. The body of the other Pakistani policeman, Mr Mohamed Mawaz Malik, also killed in the incident, was flown to Pakistan on the same plane. A 160-member police contingent, headed by Mr E. Tyrer, the Commissioner of Police (second from left), was at the airport. |
SCMP, 13 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
H.K. PAYS LAST RESPECTS TO POLICEMEN
Large Gathering At Funeral Services
(Photo on right)
The Colony yesterday paid its last respects to the six policemen who gave their lives while maintaining law and order in Hongkong. Five were killed in the Shataukok incident last Saturday and one was killed in West Point on Sunday.
All flags in Government buildings were flown at half-mast.
Four of the policemen were buried in separate ceremonies while the bodies of the two Pakistani policemen were flown to Rawalpindi.
Large gatherings, which included senior members of the Police Force and representatives of Government organisations, attended the funerals.
Constable Kong Shing-kai and Constable Lam Po-wah were buried at the Roman Catholic Cemetery in Happy Valley. Corporal Fang Yin-ping and Constable Wong Loi-hing were buried at Cape Collinson following a service at the Marine Police Compound.
- Police Buglers -
At the Roman Catholic Cemetery, the Rev Fr Stephen Edmunds, of the Star of the Sea Chapel in Chaiwan, conducted the service.
After this the flag-draped coffins were carried to the graveside where a large gathering, including Mr E. Tyrer, the Commissioner of Police, and Mr R. C. Smallshaw, representing the Officer Administering the Government, paid their last respects.
As six Police buglers sounded the Last Post, officers and men of the Police Force saluted.
At the Marine Police compound, 300 policemen and friends attended the service for Corporal Fung and Const Wong before burial took place at Cape Collinson.
Mr Tyrer and Mr Smallshaw paid their respects as the Police Band, with drums draped in black, played the General Salute.
Mr Tyrer spoke to the relatives of the two policemen and comforted the wife of Cpl Fung who was close to collapsing.
- Police Contingent -
The bodies of the two Pakistani constables, Khurshid Ahmed and Mohamed Mawaz Malik, were flown back to Pakistan.
On board the aircraft were the widow of Mr Ahmed and their 18-month-old daughter who were returning to Rawalpindi. Seeing her off at the airport was a 160-member police contingent headed by Mr Tyrer.
Those who attended the funeral service at Happy Valley included:
Mr Peter Williams, Defence Secretary; Major H. R. Mason, representing the Commander British Forces, Col the Hon J. D. Clague, Commandant of the Hongkong Auxiliary Police Force; Mr E. L. Hanlon, Acting Director of Fire Services; Mr W. A. Taylor, representing the District Commissioner, New Territories Mr E. P. Ho, representing the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries;
Mr E. C. Eates, Deputy Commissioner of Police; Major H. Burge, representing the 48 Gurkha Brigade; Captain C. Peel-Yates, Director of Protocol;
Mr C. J. R. Dawson, Chief Superintendent of Police representing Mr C. P. Sutcliffe, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police; Mr P. Clough, Assistant Commissioner; Mr R. J. Bretherton, Senior Superintendent of Police, representing Mr J. B. Lees, Assistant Commissioner; and representatives of the various police formations, the Auxiliary Air Force, Auxiliary Medical Service, Auxiliary Fire Service and Civil Aid Services.
- Other Groups -
The gathering at the Marine Police Compound included:
Col Clague; Major M. J. Flynn, representing the Commander British Forces; Mr J. Cater, Deputy Colonial Secretary, representing the Colonial Secretary; Captain C. Peel-Yates, Director of Protocol;
Mr Pang Fu-wah, Chairman of Heung Yee Kuk; Mr K. Y. Yeung, representing the District Commissioner, New Territories; Major J. Constable, representing the 48th Gurkha Infantry Brigade; Mr G. A. R. Wright-Nooth, Mr T. E. Clunie, Mr Sutcliffe and Mr Rolph, Senior Assistant Commissioners of Police; Mr J. B. Lees, Mr E. K. I. O'Reilly and Mr A. Morrison, Assistant Commissioners of Police; Mr D. M. Classen, representing the Commissioner for Resettlement;
Captain Tommy Tam and Sergeant Ip Tai-tung, representing the Hongkong Regiment; Mr J. Tso Ming, representing the Director and Staff of the Fire Services Department; Mr Danny Cheung representing the Auxiliary Air Force; and representatives from the Auxiliary Fire Services, Civil Aid Services and Auxiliary Medical Service.
***
SCMP, 13 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
U.S. Tourists Told To Be Wary Of H.K.
Washington, July 12.
A State Department spokesman said yesterday it would be prudent if US. citizens planning to travel to Hongkong took into account the Communist - led violence there.
But he noted that so far the US. Government had stopped short of banning travel to Hongkong or advising Americans at present there to leave,
The spokesman, Mr Robert McCloskey, said that as far as he was aware there had been no interruption in the arrangements under which American troops fighting in Vietnam were flown to Hongkong for rest and recreation.
Asked if there was a U.S. policy in case Hongkong was attacked from the Chinese mainland, Mr McCloskey said there was such a policy but added that the situation had not arisen and he declined to discuss the subject further.
It is believed there was an exchange of views between President Johnson and Mr Harold Wilson on Hongkong during their meeting here last month. ---Reuter.
***
SCMP, 13 Jul 1967 (Page 8)
Fabrication Of Charges Alleged
A lorry driver accused the police of fabricating charges when he appeared at North Kowloon Court yesterday, charged with possessing two inflammatory posters and resisting arrest.
The defendant, Chan Shu-yan, (37) of 3, Shing Tak Mansion, first floor, Homantin, Kowloon, said in evidence he knew nothing about the posters produced in Court.
Detective Police Constable Chan Fan-ping testified that when he was arrested at Sanpokong on June 25, defendant was found to have two inflammatory posters.
As another detective tried to arrest him the defendant picked up a brick to hit the detective. After a struggle, the defendant was subdued.
In evidence, the defendant denied the charges and alleged that the police had fabricated the posters, produced in Court.
He is represented by Mr M. W. Fung of S. E. Sun and Co.
Hearing, which is before Mr T. L. von Pokorny, will continue today. Insp G. H. Harper is prosecuting.
***
SCMP, 13 Jul 1967 (Page 8)
Reporter Protests Against Arrest
A news agency reporter appeared before Mr A. L. Leathlean at Central Court yesterday charged with unlawful assembly and forming an intimidating assembly.
No plea was taken from Sit Ping (32), of 5 Sharp Street, West, Wanchai, and he was remanded to the Victoria District Court until this morning.
Sit is alleged to have taken part in an unlawful assembly in Wanchai on July 11.
He is also alleged to have been part of an intimidating assembly which gave Police Superintendent E. R. Moss grounds for apprehending that a breach of peace might occur.
Following the magistrate's order for the defendant to be remanded to the District Court, a man in the press box shouted: "Protest. We have lodged our protest through the Chinese Foreign Ministry Department.” He was taken out of the court which then adjourned.
When court resumed, Sit protested against his arrest as he was a New China News Agency reporter, and against his trial, both of which he termed illegal. He also protested against Government’s authority which, he alleged, restricted the freedom of Press representatives.
***
SCMP, 13 Jul 1967 (Page 8)
SHAW WORKER JAILED FOR INTIMIDATION
Wong Yuk-sum (30), an employee of the Shaw Brothers Studios in Clearwater Bay, was sentenced to 15 months in jail by Mr D. A. Davies at North Kowloon Court yesterday after he was convicted of criminal intimidation.
Mr Davies said the prosecution had proved its case beyond all reasonable doubt. There was no reason why the complainant, Fong Yu-tam, would bear false witness against Wong since they were good friends.
In an unsworn statement, Wong said that on June 23 he reported to work as usual. He said he saw some people carrying “strike signs.” He denied he had threatened Fong.
Luk Cheong-chuen, a carving worker, testified that he saw Fong's face turn pale after a conversation with Wong, but he could not hear what was said.
When sentence was passed, Wong's wife cried.
Mr Davies referred her to the Social Welfare Office for assistance.
Mr T. J. R. Carolan, Crown Counsel, prosecuted.
***
SCMP, 13 Jul 1967 (Page 8)
Youths Admit Unlawful Assembly
Six teenagers, including two girls, pleaded guilty before Mr N. B. Hooper at Western Court yesterday to a charge of unlawful assembly.
They were charged with assembling together without lawful excuse outside the Central Government Offices’ car park at 10.45 pm on July 7.
The defendants were Chan Foon-sum (17), of Room 907, Block 5, Shekpaiwan resettlement estate, Aberdeen, Lun Cheung (18), of 232, Queen’s Road, Central, second floor, Mak Pau-wan (19), of 429, Hoi Au Mansion, Yu Kwong Village, Aberdeen, a 15-year-old boy and two girls aged 16 and 15.
Inspector C. H. Craggs said that three constables came upon a crowd of people milling round and shouting near the car park of the Central Government Offices, Lower Albert Road, that night.
- Holding Objects -
The defendants were seen in the crowd some of whom were holding objects in their hands. When the group saw the police they dispersed, dropping the objects as they ran.
The police gave chase and arrested three of them at the Garden Road car park. The other three were caught near Central Hospital.
Insp Craggs added that the Police searched the area where the crowd had originally assembled and found a curved chopper, two Japanese knives, a strip of iron wrapped in paper, a sharpened steel rod and a knife.
All except the 15-year-old boy had clear records. He was charged in 1961, at the age of nine, with wounding, Insp Craggs said.
Mr Hooper adjourned the case for a week for a probation officer’s report.
***
SCMP, 14 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
Another Raid On Union Premises
Early this morning, police raided premises at No 44 Bulkeley Street, Hunghom, occupied by the Kowloon Dock Workers’ Amalgamated Union and the Hunghom Workers’ School.
Two police companies were employed. They were the Kowloon City Company led by Superintendent Robert Wilson and the Headquarters, West Company, led by Superintendent John Green.
The police were supported in cordon duty by ‘B’ Company of the 2nd Queen's Regiment commanded by Major Woolstencrost.
The raid took place at 2am. The raid was carried out under a search warrant issued under the Police Ordinance.
Police met with resistance. Bottles and other missiles were hurled down from the roof after an alarm had been given inside the premises through the beating of gongs.
By 3.35 am the first floor had been wiped through. All the floors occupied by the school were cleared by the police who broke through the walls from one flat to the other. There were still some persons who had not been forced out from the union premises.
Police encountered acid, daggers and fire bombs.
***
SCMP, 14 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
Gift To Dependents Of Killed Policemen
The families of the four Chinese policemen killed during last week-end will receive a donation of $10,000 each this afternoon.
Cheques for these amounts will be handed to the families by the Hon M. A. R. Herries, Acting Chairman of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce. The money will be taken from the Chamber's fund for the dependents of all forces of law and order killed during the present disturbances.
Similar donations will be made next week for the dependents of the two Pakistani constables who were also killed on duty.
Meanwhile, the fund passed the $500,000-mark by 5 pm yesterday.
- Target -
Mr Herries said that the initial target of $1m would now have to be revised in view of the tremendous public response.
Yesterday, a total of more than $10,000 was received at the Chamber’s offices.
Money from the fund, apart from initial gratuities, will go towards providing flats or insurance benefits for the dependents of all uniformed Government personnel killed while maintaining peace during the present emergency.
The staff of the District Office, Taipo, yesterday contributed $438.
The first contribution from a Gurkha unit was received yesterday. At a ceremony held in the Police Welfare Office, Capt Bahadur Rai of the 2nd Bn, Duke of Edinburgh’s Gurkha Rifles, handed a cheque for $900 to Mr Brian Welch, the Police Welfare Officer.
In accepting the cheque, Mr Welch said the donation demonstrated the solidarity of the Army units in the Colony behind the Police Force in their endeavour to maintain peace and order in Hongkong.
***
SCMP, 14 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
LEFTISTS ADOPT NEW TACTICS
Hit-and-run Attacks On Police Stations
ISOLATED INCIDENTS
In a new desperate bid to harass the Colony’s Police Force, leftists yesterday carried out two “bombing” attacks on police stations, using, in one case, a home-made fragmentation explosive and in the other a fish bomb.
The first to come under attack was the Wongtaisin Police Station in the morning, followed by one on the Yaumati Police Station fist night. In both cases some damage was done but there were no casualties.
Sand bags have been placed outside most of the police stations in the Colony as a precautionary measure.
Besides the two bombings there were also a number of isolated stoning incidents focused mainly on buses and taxis in Kowloon. One bus, a taxi and a private car were set on fire.
Forty-five people, including nine juveniles, who were arrested in the disturbances during the past few days, appeared in the courts yesterday.
Most of them were charged with breach of the curfew order. Ten were jailed for three months and several others were fined.
Other defendants facing charges of rioting and unlawful assembly were remanded.
In the attack on Wongtaisin Police Station a home-made bomb contained in a travelling bag was thrown over the wall into the rear compound of the station shortly before noon.
- Slight Damage -
The explosion slightly damaged four private cars and a motor cycle parked in the compound.
Police found pieces of metal and a quantity of nails and bits of canvas among the debris.
Ballistics experts said that it was believed that the home-made bomb was a milk tin containing gunpowder with a concrete seal. No one was hurt.
In Kowloon shortly after 3 pm, about 100 people, comprising men and women, left the Communist-owned Yue Wah Emporium in Yaumati and pasted posters and painted slogans on pavements opposite the Emporium in Nathan Road.
They chanted slogans accompanied by banging of gongs and drums. They retreated into the Emporium after riot police arrived.
A section of Nathan and Jordan Roads was cordoned off and traffic was diverted. Police arrested a man aged about 35 and found some inflammatory posters in his possession.
A small fire broke out at the European YMCA in Salisbury Road shortly after 4 pm. It was put out 20 minutes later. There were no casualties.
In Ma Tau Chung Road, shortly before 3.15 pm, an estimated 1,000 left-wing workers attended a meeting in the premises of a union near Farm Road. The workers dispersed at 4 pm without incidents.
At 5.40 pm, a crowd of 200 assembled near the Chung Kiu China Products Co in Nathan Road, Mongkok. They later dispersed without incident.
- Shot Fired -
About 100 people, mainly “teddy boy” type youths, attacked a police patrol in Nathan Road near Soy Street, at 9.45 pm.
The police fired a shot from a Greener gun and the crowd dispersed into side streets towards Canton Road. The situation in the vicinity then-returned to normal.
A fire engine was attacked by a crowd throwing stones shortly after 10 pm when it responded to a fire alarm in a multi-storey building in Chung Wui Street, Taikoktsui. No damage and injuries were reported.
The fire, a predetermined third alarm one, broke out on the 13th floor of the Chung Wui Mansion. It was put out eight minutes after its outbreak.
POLICE STATIONS ATTACKED
A minor explosion occurred outside the Yaumati Police Station after 11 pm. A window pane was broken as a result.
It was understood that a fish bomb was thrown at the station by a person in a car. No one was injured. A man was later arrested.
Although Kowloon was not under curfew last night, the streets were quiet with little traffic and pedestrians.
Many shops and restaurants along the main roads had closed early and Nathan Road took on a gloomy look when many of the neon signs were switched off.
Mongkok was also quiet. Side streets were almost deserted.
At 9.45 pm, a crowd gathered at the junction of Nathan Road and Shantung Street. Police on patrol asked them to disperse but they started to jeer them. Police then fired two rounds of tear gas and the crowd dispersed into side streets but reappeared after the police patrol moved on.
At 10.15 pm, a crowd of about 100 gathered at the junction of Sai Yee Street and Soy Street. They threw empty bottles and other objects at the police. According to an eye-witness the police arrested six men after a baton charge.
At 11 pm, riot police patrolled side streets in vehicles. Groups of people standing about were driven from the area.
At one time, police patrols stopped passers-by and searched them for weapons.
A private car was partially damaged when it was set on fire at the Kowloon City roundabout shortly after 7 pm.
The driver received minor burns and was sent to hospital.
Shortly afterwards, a taxi was also reported to be on fire in Boundary Street at its junction with Prince Edward Road.
In spite of Wednesday night's raid on the Motor Transport Workers’ Union in Wanchai, a large number of people assembled on the roof again yesterday morning shouting protests and chanting slogans.
While the meeting was in session, several men stood watch on surrounding buildings.
Residents in the area had complained about their shouting and the loud-speaker they were using, Members of the union have been seen holding meetings on the roof every day. Meals were also served.
But no meals were served yesterday, probably due to Wednesday’s rooftop raid.
Of the 40 arrested in the raid, only eight have been detained for further enquiries. The others have been released.
- Arrested -
On Hongkong Island, apart from minor incidents, eight people, believed to be leftist workers of the Wah Fung China Products Store, were arrested by riot police shortly after 7.30 pm.
The eight were travelling in two private cars along King’s Road near the State Theatre and were followed by riot police cars.
Discovering they were being followed, the cars accelerated but on reaching the International Funeral Parlour the police cars overtook and cornered them outside the News Building in King’s Road.
However, one of the cars reversed and managed to get away turning into Java Road where they managed to get on a vehicular ferry.
The car was intercepted by Marine Police on its way to Kowloon and the four occupants were arrested.
Earlier at 5.20 pm in Des Voeux Road, West, leftist agitators who posed as bus passengers threw liquid, believed to be petrol, in the rear of a double-decker bus which caught fire.
Passengers leapt to safety and the fire was later put out by firemen. No one was hurt.
***
SCMP, 14 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Arrests Follow Taipo Bomb Explosion
In a series of pre-dawn raids on two villages in Taipo yesterday, the police arrested four people, including a 16-year-old boy, suspected of being connected with the time-bomb explosion in the office of the Taipo Rural Committee on Wednesday afternoon.
The boy has been charged with causing an explosion liable to endanger life under the Explosive Ordinance and possession of dangerous goods under the Dangerous Goods Ordinance.
One of the others, a middle-aged man, was arrested at gunpoint as he charged out of his home, brandishing a knife, in an attempt to resist arrest. Another is believed to be the office boy of the Rural Committee.
A group of 40 relatives and fellow villagers of those arrested later went to Taipo Police Station demanding that they be allowed to enter to seek the release of the four.
They were repeatedly asked to leave but ignored these requests. They were then dispersed by the police.
***
SCMP, 14 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
PRAISE FOR GHRKHAS
London, July 13.
The Daily Mail today praised the security forces in Hongkong, particularly the Gurkhas.
"Considering the cold-blooded provocations of Peking, our latest crackdown in Hongkong is a model of restraint,” the newspaper said in an editorial.
It said that the Gurkha had no equal when there was a tough job to be done with minimum force. ---UPI.
***
SCMP, 14 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Warnings Heeded
Members of the public were beginning to heed warnings to stay clear of incidents developing in the street, thus enabling police to get at the root of the trouble without having to worry about protecting curious bystanders, a police spokesman said yesterday.
He said that during the past two days the police had noticed a greater tendency for people to hurry away as soon as they saw trouble starting. This was: encouraging and reassuring, he said.
“These rioters are counting on that fatal curiosity to drag innocent bystanders into their affrays,” he said.
“They do this with three objectives in mind --- to give an illusion of numbers, to injure as many people as possible, and to protect their own cowardly skins by hiding behind others.”
***
SCMP, 14 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
Driver Sent To Prison
Chan Shu-yan (37), a driver, was jailed for a year by Mr T. L. von Pokorny at North Kowloon Court yesterday when he was convicted of possession of two inflammatory posters and resisting arrest.
Chan was arrested in Po Kong Chuen Road, Tszwanshan, on June 25. Two inflammatory posters were found on him.
He picked up a brick when a police detective tried to arrest him. He was subdued after a struggle.
***
SCMP, 14 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
Forty-five In Court On Curfew-Breaking And Riot Charges
Forty-five people, including nine boys, appeared in the courts yesterday on charges arising from the disturbances during the past few days.
Twenty-eight people, including seven boys, were charged before Mr A. L. Leathleen(sic) at Central Court.
Five men, three youths and six boys pleaded guilty to breach of a curfew order.
The youths and four of the boys were remanded for seven days for probation reports. The other two boys were given a conditional discharge on entering into a bond of $80 each to be of good behaviour for one year.
One man was cautioned and discharged. The other four men were each fined $80.
All the defendants were arrested on the Island on Tuesday and Wednesday after the curfew was imposed, Insp B. L. Coak said.
Two men, Lam Yuk-sai (22), a salesman, and Tam Shing (25), a tailor, were jailed for 18 months after they pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful assembly.
Insp Coak said the defendants were among a crowd of about 100 who had gathered in Hennessy Road, near Johnston Road, on Monday night, shouting and holding bottles.
Four men charged with riotous assembly were remanded for four days for further enquiries.
A man and a boy, charged with unlawfully possessing a melon knife, and another man, charged with assaulting a police constable, were remanded for four days.
The case against five men, including a Pakistani youth, Mohamed Mumtaz, accused of breach of a curfew order, will be heard today.
- Guilty Pleas -
At North Kowloon Court, 17 people, including two boys arrested on Wednesday, were charged with offences connected with the disturbances.
Ten of them, who pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking the curfew, were jailed for three months by Mr F. de F. Stratton. Two men who also pleaded guilty were remanded to today for sentence, while another two who denied the charge were remanded too.
No plea was taken from Wong Kar-kuen (21), who faced an additional charge of possession of two inflammatory posters. He was remanded for two days.
In the Juvenile Court, a 15-year-old boy admitted breach of a curfew order. He was remanded by Mr D. A. McCann for a week for a probation officer's report.
A 13-year-old schoolboy, dressed in a white shirt, blue trousers and tennis shoes, shouted “I plead not guilty” to a charge of making an inflammatory speech on a Kowloon bus last Friday. The charge had been amended from one of criminal intimidation.
The boy was remanded for a week.
***
SCMP, 14 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
Gas Worker Jailed For Inflammatory Speech
MOTHER’S PLEA
The mother of a gas company worker knelt before Mr T. L. von Pokorny at North Kowloon Court yesterday crying and pleading “please do not send my son to jail.”
The worker, Yip Chi-hung (41), of 1005 Geranium House, ninth floor, Matauwei Estate, was found guilty of making an inflammatory speech. He was jailed for two years.
The sentence is to be served consecutively with another term of seven months which was passed on him a week ago for putting up inflammatory posters.
Insp Lam Kin said that on June 8 he saw Yip walking up and down the verandah of the first floor of the administration building at the Hongkong and China Gas Co’s depot in Tokwawan. He was holding a camera and appeared to be taking pictures of the police.
He was also heard to shout: “Explode the gas tanks. What are you waiting for? Go ahead!”
Passing sentence, Mr Pokorny said that Yip’s action was most serious and it was fortunate that no-one had reacted to his shouts.
Yip was represented by Mr N. I. Billingham, of David Burgin and Co. Mr David Wilcox, Crown Counsel, prosecuted.
***
SCMP, 14 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
Partially Blind Man Had Posters
A partially blind man was sentenced to nine months’ jail by Mr D. A McCann at North Kowloon Court yesterday for possession of 26 inflammatory posters.
Tam Yuet-wan (20), living at the Hongkong Society for the Blind, 19 Muk Chong Street, was arrested by the police, acting on information, on July 11. Thirty-three posters, of which 26 were inflammatory, were found in his locker at the Society.
Tam claimed that the posters were not of an inflammatory nature.
The court was told that Tam had a visibility range of ten yards.
Insp K. T. Kan prosecuted.
***
SCMP, 14 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
CANTON ROAD RAID
Police Found Union Premises Flooded
A police officer testified at South Kowloon Court yesterday that when police entered a left-wing union in Canton Road on June 23, they found the floor covered with two inches of water and the tap turned on.
Insp M. F. Quinn, who appeared in court with one of his fingers bandaged, was giving evidence at the trial of the chairman of the union and seven workers on charges of rioting, unlawful assembly and obstructing the police.
Insp Quinn said he and other policemen entered the premises of the Rubber and Plastic General Union on the third floor of 1093 Canton Road from an adjacent building.
The place was flooded and appeared to be deserted, and the police conducted a search of the flat.
Insp Quinn said he found five people in the kitchen and when he tried to arrest them they threw bottles of acid at him while one of his fingers was injured.
The accused are Fung Kam-shui (42), Chairman of the union, Wong Kam-ling (25), Chung Yuk-fong (34), Tang Hung (37), Pang Fai (34), Lee Shing (25), Yau For-wan (38) and Auyeung Chung-keung (26). They have pleaded not guilty.
Yau and Auyeung have also denied a charge of resisting arrest.
Hearing, before Mr J. J. Rhind, will continue today.
Mr M. Lucas, Crown Counsel, is prosecuting, assisted by Senior Detective Insp G. Whiteley.
***
SCMP, 14 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
Reporter Refuses To Plead
The left-wing news agency reporter arrested on Tuesday had to have a plea of “not guilty” entered for him at Victoria District Court yesterday when he persisted in answering to charges with one word only, “protest.”
The reporter, Sit Ping 薛平 (32), who lives at the premises of the New China News Agency, 5 Sharp Street West, Wanchai, was charged with unlawful assembly and intimidating assembly.
Judge J. E. Hopkinson set his trial for next Wednesday.
Mr D. R. Boy, Crown Counsel, appeared for the prosecution, assisted by Detective Insp. V. F. D. Chapman, Officer-in-Charge of the case.
***
SCMP, 14 Jul 1967 (Page 9)
On-the-spot Donation
A European man approached a police party in Nathan Road, near Waterloo Road, in the early hours of yesterday and presented it with $100.
The man, who wished to remain anonymous, insisted that the donation be accepted and used to buy drinks for the policemen on duty at the time.
A police spokesman said the money had been forwarded to the Police Welfare Fund.
***
SCMP, 15 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
Communist Charges On Water Issue Refuted
The Hon A. M. J. Wright, Director of Public Works, yesterday released for publication letters concerning Hongkong’s water arrangements with the Kwangtung authorities.
The move follows persistent left-wing reports alleging that the Hongkong Government had not asked for supplies for the months of July, August and September --- the wet months.
Other Communist papers said that the Hongkong authorities had not asked for the water in the proper way, that Is, by formally giving one month's notice of their wish to have more water.
Mr Wright said he was confident most of the people of Hongkong already knew this to be untrue.
- No Reply -
Two letters were sent to the People’s Council of Kwangtung Province, one on May 23 and the other on June 29. The first letter requested a further 2,000m gallons of water for the month of July. The second letter confirmed the first request and asked for another 2,000m gallons for the month of August.
Although a formal month's notice was given in the case of both requests, no reply was received.
Meanwhile, a total of 4.62 inches of rain was recorded by the Royal Observatory during the 24-hour period ended midnight last night.
The rain, brought by a thunderstorm which hit Hongkong yesterday, added 1,0Q0m gallons of water to the reservoirs. Despite this welcome addition to the Colony’s supply, the water restrictions are to continue.
Just over four and a half inches of rain were recorded between midnight Thursday and 5 pm yesterday.
***
SCMP, 15 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
LEFTISTS’ BID TO CREATE ‘STRIKE’ ILLUSION IN H.K.
Local Communist trading organisations are deliberately refusing to release goods from China intended for re-export in order to create an illusion that the port of Hongkong is “paralysed” by a strike which, in fact, has failed to materialise, Mr M. J. Alexander of the Marine Department said yesterday.
Shipping agents who inquire from these organisations the reason for the delays in clearing these goods are being told that the goods would not be released until the “strike is over.
Any losses sustained by the consignees as a result of being deprived of delivery will, the Communists claim, be the “responsibility of the Hongkong Government.”
This move, Mr Alexander said, would cause a stockpiling of cargoes which might eventually take up the entire capacity of the godowns being used for the storage of these goods. A probable result would be the use of lighters to cater for the overflow.
Mr Alexander said that his department was already checking the movements of lighters in the port to ensure that none were being used as “floating warehouses."
- Small Proportion -
The average monthly tonnage of trans-shipment cargo from South China ports is about 14,000 tons, compared with the average monthly total of half a million tons for all cargo worked in the port, excluding oil products.
“It will be seen from this that the proportion of the port activities affected by this move is relatively small,” said Mr Alexander.
“The Impression they are trying to create is, of course, completely false. The harbour is working quite normally, and movements and tonnages are well up to their usual levels.”
The Director of Marine, Mr K. Milburn, had this to added: “What these local Communist organisations are attempting to do can only be to the detriment of China’s overseas trade. It is not the port of Hongkong that will suffer, but the established markets for Chinese products in other countries.”
Mr J. B. Kite, Secretary of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, said: “We know that certain cargoes, ex-China ports on trans-shipment bills of lading, have not been presented to the on-carriers from Hongkong.
“The Chamber is investigating the situation with its members to ascertain the extent of the problem.”
***
SCMP, 15 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
Police Chief Leaves For U.K. Talks
Mr E. Tyrer, the Commissioner of Police, left for London yesterday for consultations with the Commonwealth Office in the current security situation in Hongkong.
He is expected to discuss matters relating to the organisation of the Police Force in the present circumstances.
Mr Tyrer returned from leave a month ago.
Mr E. C. Eates, Deputy Commissioner, will be in charge of the Force during his absence.
***
SCMP, 15 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
UNRULY MOBS BROKEN UP
Isolated Incidents On Both Sides Of Harbour
POLICE CAR ATTACKED
(Photos at right)
Isolated incidents on both sides of the harbour continued last night and police were forced to use tear-gas and riot guns to disperse unruly mobs.
In Kowloon, two fish bombs were thrown from a private car at a police vehicle near the Tung Tau resettlement estate.
In Reclamation Street, police fired one round from a Greener riot gun to disperse a crowd who attempted to set fire to a vehicle. A man was later found in the vicinity with head wounds. He died on the way to hospital.
Two buses were stopped by rope barriers put up by a crowd in Prince Edward Road near Olympic Avenue. The windows of one bus were smashed and the cab of the other was set on fire.
On Hongkong Island, police patrols in Wanchai came under fire from stones and bottles thrown by small crowds. Fifteen people were arrested.
A procession of about 1,000 children was reported in Hennessey Road near Tin Lok Lane, Wanchai, about 4.30 pm. They shouted slogans but later dispersed on seeing the police.
- Demonstrations -
A small group of about 150 people was seen demonstrating along Yee Wo Street, Causeway Bay, near the China Products Company, about ten minutes later.
Some posters and propaganda had been written in red paint on the show-windows of the Wing On Department Stores, in Causeway Bay.
The group ran away when the police arrived.
After dark, a signboard of the branch office of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation at the junction of Johnston Road and Swatow Street was burned during a small fire which broke out about 8.40 pm.
About 9.55 pm, three young boys were seen setting fire to a traffic pagoda at the junction of Johnston Road and Fleming Road. A crowd of about 400 stood by watching.
The police later cordoned off part of Johnston Road from the Southorn Playground to the Ying King Restaurant.
They also used tear-gas to disperse the crowds.
At 11.10 pm a rubbish fire was started by a crowd outside the same Hongkong Bank branch where a signboard was earlier burned.
Others from the crowd tried to up-root some parking meters in the vicinity, but failed. The police then dispersed the mob.
- Police Stoned -
About the same time, a small crowd threw stones and bottles at the police at the junction of O'Brien Road and Johnston Road.
In Kowloon, there were crowds in Nam Cheong Street and Laichikok Road, Shamshuipo, about 830 pm. Tear-gas was fired to disperse them.
About the same time, a bus was set on fire outside 6 Un Chau Street, Shamshuipo.
Mr Chiu Kin-wah, a fireman who went to put out the bus fire, suffered burns on his face. He was later admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital where his condition was described as “good”.
A crowd gathered in Nathan Road, Shantung Street, Soy Street and Dundas Street in Mongkok, about 9.10 pm. They later left when requested by the police.
Five minutes later, another bus was reported to be on fire in Prince Edward Road near the Kowloon City roundabout.
Three other buses were left on the road, but were later removed. Policemen were than(sic) placed there to keep the area quiet.
Between 8 and 9 pm, two taxis and a private car were stoned and set on fire by crowds in the Shamshuipo area. The fires were put out by firemen.
Police had to use tear-gas to disperse the crowds and later used a loud hailer to warn people to go home.
Policemen were also seen guarding the Mongkok branch of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation at the junction of Nathan Road and Argyle Street.
At 10.52 pm, two fish bombs were thrown at a police vehicle from a private car in Tung Tau Village Road near Carpenter Road, Kowloon City.
Tyres of several cats in the Kai Tak and Kowloon City areas were found to have been punctured. Small pieces of spiked wire were scattered round in the roads in the areas.
Yesterday's early morning fire at the Western Telephone Exchange was caused by inflammable substances thrown through a window of a storeroom, a spokesman of the Telephone Company said.
The fire in the storeroom, situated on the ground floor of a ten-storey building, was put out by firemen shortly after their arrival.
A police spokesman said that no arrest had been made but enquiries were proceeding.
***
SCMP, 15 Jul 1976 (Page 6)
Boy Claims He Was Kidnapped By A Trouble-Maker
A 15-year-old boy, accused of breaking a curfew order and unlawful assembly, claimed at Central Court yesterday that a man had kept him prisoner on a Wanchai staircase for nearly three hours and had asked him to go out and throw stones at the police.
The boy told Mr P.M. Corfe, the Magistrate, that he and a friend were kidnapped by a Shanghainese at the corner of Queen's Road East and Tai Yuen Street while on their way home from a cinema show.
The boy said the man approached them and told them not to go home but to “follow him and riot.”
When they refused, the man punched them and took them not to go home but to “follow him and riot.”
When they refused, the man punched them and took them to 8 Tai Yuen Street.
- Punched -
There, they were told to sit on the staircase and were guarded by two men. The man, who had punched them, returned before 9.30 pm and told one of the boys to go out and throw stones at the police.
“He said it would be my turn after my friend returned,” the defendant said. A short while later, he said, his friend ran back with another boy. They ran up to the third floor landing.
“My friend told me he had thrown two stones at the police and was being chased,” he said.
They were both arrested on the third floor landing.
The boy told Mr Corfe that he had been on the stairway from 7.20 pm to 10.05 pm when the police arrived.
Earlier, Insp R. Kay testified he saw the boy with a crowd of 20 to 30 youths at the corner of Johnston Road and Tai Yuen Street, at 9.30 pm on Tuesday.
The youths were armed with bottles and stones and were “hostile,” he said. An older Chinese was in the middle of the crowd urging them to attack the police. He ran away as the police approached.
Insp Kay said he and a police constable arrested two boys on a staircase. They were watching a police constable in the street below from a window on the landing.
Hearing will continue today. Insp R. E. Bryant is prosecuting.
***
SCMP, 15 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
(Photo)
Cheques For Families Of Dead Policemen
Cheques of $10,000 each were yesterday presented by the Hon M. A. R. Herries, the Acting Chairman of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, to the families of the four Chinese policemen killed last weekend.
He told the families: “Our debt to those who have given their lives is far greater than we can express and we can only assure you that we will do everything we can to help you.”
The cheques were handed to Mrs Fung Yin-ping, Mrs Wong Loi-hing (widows of the policemen), Mr Kong Chun (father of Constable Long Shing-kai) and Mrs Lam Fung-ching (mother of Constable Lam Po-wah).
Presentations to the families of the two Pakistani policemen who were also killed will be held at Fanling next week.
Letters of condolence from the Commissioner of Police were handed to the families by Mr Brian Welch, the Force Welfare Officer.
Meanwhile, the fund for the dependents of members of all forces of law and order killed in the disturbances has now reached $577,707.
“The fund, which was opened by the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce, has an initial target of $1m.
***
SCMP, 15 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Deep Regret Expressed
His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, Mr Michael Gass, has recorded with deep regret the death of the six police officers who gave their lives in maintaining peace and order for the well-being of the community, it was announced in the Government Gazette yesterday.
The police officers were Corporal Fung Yin-ping, Constable Kong Shing-kai, Constable Mohamed Hawaz Malik, Constable Khurshid Ahmed, Constable Wong Loi-hing and Constable Lam Po-wah.
With the exception of Constable Lam who was killed in the Western district last Sunday, the other officers were murdered at Shataukok last Saturday.
***
SCMP, 15 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Disturbances Condemned
The University of Hongkong Students’ Union yesterday condemned the recent disturbances which culminated in the death of six policemen.
It also appealed to all youths to help the police in restoring law and order.
***
SCMP, 15 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
EIGHTY-ONE ARRESTED IN RAID
A man was killed and nine others were injured when the police raided the Kowloon Dock Workers Amalgamated Union and the Hunghom Workers’ School early yesterday morning.
Eighty-one people inside the two premises were arrested. During the raid, the police met strong resistance, Bottles of acid and explosives were hurled at them as they battled their way into the buildings.
After three hours, the police gained entry and seized a quantity of dangerous weapons, including knives and bottles of acid.
The police found two men inside the union premises---one of them dead with gunshot wounds in the chest.
Another man had a gunshot wound in the abdomen. Eight other people were also injured.
They were taken to the Kowloon City Police Station and treated by doctors there.
A number of police officers in the raiding party were also injured.
The early morning raid was under the charge of Mr C. J. R. Dawson, Chief Superintendent of Police, Kowloon, assisted by Mr Derek Harris, Senior Superintendent of Police.
A company of soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, the Queen’s Regiment, helped by cordoning off the area while the raid was carried out.
***
SCMP, 15 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
(Photo)
KOWLOON BUSES FITTED WITH MESH SCREENS
The Kowloon Motor Bus Company fitted mesh screens to the driving cabs of ten of their buses yesterday afternoon to protect drivers from missiles which may be hurled at them.
A company spokesman said other buses would be similarly equipped. He added that the company aimed to install screens on as many buses as possible to keep them in service.
The Hongkong Tramways Company has also fitted wire screens to about 35 trams.
It would continue to do so until every one of the 160 trams in the fleet was afforded this protection, a spokesman said.
“Because speed is the essential factor, we are fortifying the more vulnerable areas first, on a priority basis,” a spokesman for the company said.
Mr C. R. M. Lawrence, Chief Transport Officer, said measures to protect drivers of public transport vehicles had his fullest approval.
“I am sure that the drivers appreciate this safeguard,” he said. “They have shown a tremendous sense of duty and they deserve every protection we can give them.”
***
SCMP, 15 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Disturbances
MORE PEOPLE CHARGED WITH OFFENCES
More people, who were arrested during the disturbances in the past few days appeared in the courts yesterday on charges of breach of a curfew order, unlawful assembly, riotous assembly and throwing stones at the police.
At Central Court, six men and a woman were accused of breaking the curfew on Wednesday night.
Insp B, L. Coak said three of them told the police they broke the curfew to go to a public lavatory and a fourth said he went out to “get cool.”
Mr Leathlean passed sentences ranging from a $60 fine to four months’ imprisonment.
Au Kai-yiu (19), who was jailed for four months was told that he could have been additionally charged with assaulting police and resisting arrest.
Insp Coak said Au had violently resisted arrest after he was seen near a crowd of 20 people. Force had to be used to restrain him and he was later treated in hospital for slight head injuries.
A 14-year-old boy pleaded guilty to charges of breaking a curfew and taking part in an unlawful assembly. He was ordered by Mr A. L. Leathlean to receive six strokes of the cane to be administered at the end of a ten-day appeal period.
At North Kowloon Court, three men and two youths, aged 15 and 16, denied a charge of unlawful assembly on Thursday. They were remanded to Monday by Mr F. de F. Stratton.
- Remanded -
Another two youths, Tang Lo-chan (17), and a 16-year-old boy, facing a similar charge, were remanded in hospital custody. The case was transferred to South Kowloon Court.
Also transferred to South Kowloon Court was a case against two cooks, Yeung Hing-fai (42) and Wai Woo (51), who were remanded in hospital custody on a charge of riotous assembly.
Another man Yuen Wah-cho (36), unemployed, denied a charge of throwing stones at a policeman in Wongtaisin. He was remanded to this morning by Mr T. L. von Pokorny.
***
SCMP, 15 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Residents Approve Tougher Measures Against Leftists
People in a variety of occupations yesterday endorsed the hard line taken by Government to deal with trouble-makers.
Mr Benjamin K. L. Lui, a stockbroker, said: “Government is doing the right thing at last. We have been patient for the past two months.”
The market had improved since the tougher measures were taken, he added,
Mr Oswald Cheung, QC, who had previously advocated using the minimum amount of force, agreed that the new measures were essential.
Mr B. W. Bradbury, a company director, said the stricter measures would be a great help in dealing with the disturbances.
The owner of a chain of department stores in the Colony, who did not want to be named, said: “The tougher the Government’s action, the better it is for the community.”
Mr Wong, the owner of a beauty saloon, said disturbances meant bad business for all, and business in the past two months had been bad.
He hoped Government's new measures against the leftists would restore peace and order.
Mr Benny Ng, speaking for his fellow workers in a tailor shop, the Central District, said: “We support Government’s action wholeheartedly. Disturbances mean no tourists - No tourists, no business.”
Mr T.S. Lo, a solicitor, had this to say: “To maintain the law is the business of governments and I think the Hongkong Government knows what it is doing.”
Mr Stanley Wong, Station Manager of Civil Air Transport, said he not only approved the present policy but would even suggest that tougher measures be taken. Only then could law and order be restored, he said.
- Tempo -
Mr Jack Foote, Managing Director of the Empress Hotel, said he was in favour of tougher police measures but was against increasing the pressure too quickly.
Mr S. P. Lui, Manager of the Mocambo Nightclub and Restaurant, said he was fully in favour of tougher measures against the trouble-makers.
He hoped conditions would return to normal soon as business in night clubs and restaurants had slackened.
Mr Sonny Tan, Managing Director of Gray Line Tour of Hongkong, said Government should stand firm or Hongkong would become another Macao.
Mr P. S. Lam, headmaster of St Barnabas School, said it was only reasonable for Government to adopt tougher measures against the trouble-makers.
- Fed Up -
Dr Robert Symons said Government’s new line of action should be approved by all residents who wanted to see a peaceful and prosperous Hongkong. He believed most people were fed up with the leftists’ activities.
A driver of the Kowloon Motor Bus Co, said Government was right in taking the toughest measures possible. He said the recent disturbances had affected the livelihood of many residents.
A taxi driver said he was sure many residents would give their fullest support to Government.
A woman hawker pointed out that the trouble-makers had caused great hardship to housewives. She said hawkers did not want to raise their prices but were forced to do so.
She added that she and many other hawkers would support any measures taken by Government for the restoration of order.
***
SCMP, 15 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Shataukok Villagers Jailed
Two young villagers from Shataukok, who stoned the police when rioting broke out in the border town on June 24, were jailed for 18 months for riotous assembly when they appeared before Mr H. S. Daniell at Fanling Court yesterday.
The two men, Wong Ting-choi (21) and Chan Li-ping (22), were arrested by a detective the following day when they were recognised.
The situation in the border area on June 24 was chaotic, Insp J. S. Main said.
He recalled that Chinese troops on the other side had set up machine guns prior to a crowd of several hundred Chinese crossing over to the British side with the intention of joining an equally large crowd that had gathered outside the Shataukok Rural Committee’s building.
- Organised -
The assembly on the Chinese side appeared to have been well organised, Insp Main said.
The Communists carried flags, banners, portraits of Chairman Mao Tse-tung, bicycle chains, long-handled choppers and spiked bamboo poles.
Their mood was hostile and they soon started throwing stones and bottles, making the position at the police post untenable.
Insp Main said a swarm of people set fire to his jeep as he was inside it speaking to his commander by radio.
Tear gas was fired at the crowd and it was finally driven back.
In another case, arising from the same incidents, the hearing of charges of riotous assembly against four more men and two 15-year-old boys was adjourned to today.
The four men are Wong Mou-hung (50), Ho Chuen-tim (62), Wong Hoi-fu (50), and Liu Tung-sang (18).
***
SCMP, 15 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Taipo Explosion: Boy Charged
An office boy employed by the Taipo Rural Committee was remanded to Monday by Mr H. S. Daniell at Fanling Court yesterday on charges in connection with an explosion on the Rural Committee premises on Wednesday.
The boy, aged 16, is alleged to have caused an explosion likely to endanger life at 2 Hay Yuen Street, on Wednesday. He is also alleged to have possessed gunpowder.
***
SCMP, 15 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Workers Found With Files
Two Telephone Company workers were each jailed for three months by Mr G. C. Byrne at South Kowloon Court yesterday for possession of two triangular files.
Li Man-kwong (21), living in the Telephone Co dormitory in Bute Street, and Chan Man-kwong (20), living in Tung Tau Village resettlement estate, were seen by police detectives observing the office of the Wing Kee Stevedores in Li Tak Street, Yaumati on Thursday.
The office which had asked its employees to leave when they refused to work, bad been plastered with inflammatory posters.
The defendants were stopped and put up a struggle. They were subdued and the files were found on them.
***
SCMP, 16 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
1,098 charged since May
The courts of Hongkong have been kept busy dealing with cases connected with the current disturbances in the Colony.
Since the trouble started in May, a total of 1,098 charges have been preferred against persons arrested up to July 13. These charges resulted in 805 convictions.
A total of 490 of the registered convictions, that is more than half, were in respect of riot or unlawful assembly.
At present, there are 107 charges outstanding. In these cases the defendants are on remand awaiting trial.
***
SCMP, 16 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
Group assaults two Britons in city street
Two British television newsreel correspondents were attacked by a group of people outside the Bank of China in Bank Street about noon yesterday.
Mr John Edwards, of Independent Television News, London, and Mr Ernest Christie of BBC, London, reported to the police that the assailants came out of the side entrance of the bank.
At the time, Mr Christie had been filming in the street. He was tripped and lost his camera which was taken into the bank.
In an interview with the police, the two British correspondents said they were unable to identify their assailants beyond the fact that they had come from the doorway of the bank.
- London -
A Government spokesman said the incident had been “communicated to London and Peking.”
Both correspondents declined medical treatment and examination, according to the spokesman.
It was reported that the group, comprising about 15 people, snatched the camera and later smashed it.
The correspondents offered resistance but were knocked down. However they were not injured, it was learned, and the camera was eventually recovered.
Police intend to interview a man who picked up the smashed camera and another possible eye-witness.
***
SCMP, 16 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
MEMBERS OF UNION JAILED
The chairman of the Rubber and Plastic General Union, a left-wing organisation, and seven members of the union were given jail terms ranging from 14 months to two and a half years by Mr J. J. Rhind in South Kowloon Court yesterday when they were found guilty of charges of rioting, unlawful assembly or obstructing police.
The accused were Fung Kam-shui. (42), chairman of the union, Wong Kam-ling (25), Chung Yuk-fong (34), Tang Hung (37), Pane Fai (34), Lee Shing (25), Yau For-wan (38) and Auyeung Chung-keung.
Auyeung was jailed for two and a half years, Wong was sentenced to 27 months and Yau 16 months, while Pang, Tang, Chung and Lee were each jailed for 15 months. The chairman of the union was jailed for 14 months.
Earlier evidence disclosed that in attempting to enter the union premises in Canton Road, the police were showered with bottles, iron bars and bottles of acid.
***
SCMP, 16 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
Trouble-makers hurl fish-bombs at buildings and set fire to bus terminal office
POLICE ATTACKED IN TSUN WAN
Two police detectives were stabbed and another injured by a fish-bomb in three separate incidents in Tsun Wan, New Territories, last night. The incidents were the first reports of trouble in the district since the present disturbances began.
Shortly after 9 pm, a detective was stabbed in the neck while making an arrest of putting up inflammatory posters at the junction of Castle Peak Road and Chung On Road.
Five suspects were arrested. The injured detective was sent to hospital where he has been detained for treatment.
In another incident a detective was stabbed on the hand while carrying out an arrest. The detective vas treated but discharged.
About 11.30 pm, a detective was injured by a fish-bomb thrown at him by a crowd of trouble-makers near the Tsun Wan Market. The detective was admitted to hospital.
A party of CID officers raided a barber shop in Tsun Wan earlier in the evening and arrested two women and a man and also seized a bag containing a bottle believed to be acid and also some electrical equipment.
About 11 pm, a senior police inspector shot a man believed to have a bomb. The incident took place at Sha Tsui Road in Tsun Wan. The man, believed to be wounded, was suspected to be hiding in a nearby clinic.
Earlier, police had to open fire with Greener gun and carbine to disperse a crowd of about 500 people at thy junction of Castle Peak Road and Chung On Road.
People on the rooftop of a building in Sha Tsui Road near Chung On Street also threw stones at the police.
About 11.30 pm a police party went to the rooftop of a building and arrested a man armed with a dagger.
Elsewhere in the Colony, trouble-makers yesterday continued to harass life by throwing missiles and fish-bombs at the police and buildings and setting fire to a bus terminal.
Police and Fire services moved rapidly to quell sporadic incidents on both sides of the harbour.
Mobs resorted to hit-and-run tactics and the police had to open fire to disperse them on several occasions.
At least 35 people were arrested, including 28 people who demonstrated outside Government House.
A police corporal fired two shots with his revolver when he was attacked by a mob of about 50 people in Mongkok. Subsequently two men armed with bottles were arrested.
Mobs of about 400 people threw bottles at the police in Belcher’s Street, Western District, and at the Western Market in the afternoon. They dispersed after the police fired two rounds from a carbine.
- Bomb at R.N. quarters -
A fish-bomb was thrown at the Married Quarters of the Naval Rank and File at Elliot House, Happy Valley, about 10.30 pm, shattering some windows.
On the peninsula, a crowd of 300 people gathered in Tai Shing treet, Tung Tau area, about 8 pm. They hurled fish-bombs at the police when they arrived.
Later the crowd, carrying red flags, surged along Choi Hung Road and subsequently dispersed.
Earlier, a group of eight people hurled bottles at the police at the Wongtaisin bus terminus where the stationmaster’s hut was set on fire.
About 10 pm, a crowd of about 50 people attacked a police corporal at the junction of Nathan Road and Dundas Street. The corporal fired two shots with his revolver.
Police reinforcements were met by a shower of stones and bottles when they arrived at the scene.
Two men armed with bottles were arrested.
Shortly after 11 pm, firemen put out a small fire involving a wooden box outside the Ham Tin resettlement estate general office.
***
SCMP, 16 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
Protest party arrested
Police arrested 28 slogan-shouting demonstrators, including five leftist reporters, who gathered outside the gates of Government House yesterday and refused to disperse.
Two of the journalists were from the New China News Agency, two from the Ta Kung Pao and one from the Wen Wei Pao.
A group of about 40 people, travelling in two leftist school buses, appeared at Government House shortly before 5 pm.
- Schools -
It was reported that they were connected with leftist schools, including the Fukien Middle School, which was raided by the police early yesterday morning, and the Saikung Public School whose headmaster was also arrested early yesterday.
Claiming to represent the “education” section of the Colony, the group attempted to lodge protest notes against the arrests of pupils and staff of the schools and demanded their immediate release, according to reports.
They were advised that petitions should be sent by post and were asked to leave.
Despite repeated warnings, the group remained, shouting slogans and citing Mr Mao Tse-tung’s quotations.
Two police platoons were sent to the scene and arrested 19 men and nine women,.
***
SCMP, 16 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
Shataukok returns to normal
A senior police officer yesterday flatly denied a leftist report that loudspeakers on the Chinese side of the border at Shataukok had blared out warnings to villagers to evacuate the area.
He added that life in the border town was now as normal as it had been before the incident on July 8.
Divisional Superintendent D. J. Pearce said this after making a(sic) on-the-spot observation. “The situation in the town is very quiet and there is nothing to justify this alarmist report,” he said.
Supt Pearce said residents were returning in large numbers and many shops, stores and banks had re-opened for business.
The re-opening of the Government Clinic, fire station, post office and Fish Marketing Organisation in the town had contributed to the early restoration of normal conditions there, he said.
***
SCMP, 16 Jul 1967 (Page 2)
‘Fish’ bombs
A number of “fish” bombs have been reported to have been thrown in incidents in the past week. Last Thursday, one was thrown at the Yaumati Police Station.
What is a “fish” bomb? According to those in the know, it is a candle-shaped stick of gelignite, five inches long and three quarters of an inch in diameter.
It is used mostly by fishermen and is set off with a “cap” and a short fuse. When the fuse is lit, it is thrown into the sea and the resulting explosion knocks the fish unconscious, bringing them to the surface.
It is believed that rioters have been putting the gelignite in water pipes, bamboo poles or empty tins with a relatively long fuse.
***
SCMP, 16 Jul 1967 (Page 2)
Closer liaison with villagers
Officers from the Taipo District Office have been making regular visits to all sub-districts under their jurisdiction to promote closer liaison between the District Office and the villagers.
The Assistant District Officer, Mr P. J. Williamson, and staff members of the District Office, had so far visited villages in the Sheung Shui and Ta Kwu Ling districts. Some of the villages in the Ta Kwu Ling area are immediately adjacent to the border.
Commenting on the tour, a spokesman for the District Office said yesterday: “The situation in all the villages was normal and the villagers, who were happily and peacefully carrying on with their daily tasks, do not appear to have been affected by the spate of disturbances elsewhere in the Colony.”
***
SCMP, 16 Jul 1967 (Page 2)
GASS DONATES TO POLICE FUND
A personal gift of $500 from the Acting Governor, Mr Michael Gass, has been received by the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce Fund for the dependents of those who lost their lives during the disturbances.
A cheque for $2,500 has also been passed to the Fund by the Commander British Forces, Lieut-Gen Sir John Worsley, on behalf of the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force in Hongkong.
Three anonymous donations totalling §30,000 have also been received.
The Fund is now approaching $600,000 which includes a gift of $250,000 from the Royal Hongkong Jockey Club and $50,000 from the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. A donation of $30,000 has been made by the Swire group of companies and also gifts of $20,000 each from Jardine, Matheson and Co and Butterfield and Swire.
Among the donors of $10,000 each are the Hongkong Land Investment Co, Union Insurance Society of Canton and Hongkong Aircraft Engineering.
A giant barometer indicating the progress of the Fund will be erected outside the first floor of Union House. The target set on the barometer is $1,500,000.
***
SCMP, 16 Jul 1967 (Page 2)
Leftists divided over food strike
Approaches made to hawkers, retailers
Leftists are planning to call another food strike in a new bid to try and influence local political opinion, it was learned yesterday.
A Government spokesman said surreptitious approaches to hawkers and retailers had been made regarding the food strike.
There were also reports of meetings of local Communists at which the plan for another food shortage was discussed.
The spokesman said these reports indicated that there was considerable dissension among the local Communist about this plan which would strike hardest at poorer families.
He said at present, supplies from China were continuing to come in.
There had been some fluctuation in the quantities entering the Colony but this was to be expected after the recent stoppage and could arise from normal transport difficulties.
- Stocks normal -
He said stocks of food in markets and shops were normal and there was always a large reserve of rice available.
The measures taken recently by local Communists could be a deliberate attempt to alarm the housewife, the spokesman said.
There was always the possibility that Chinese food supplies could be stopped but it was difficult to believe that the Chinese authorities would wish to deprive the population of their normal food, he added.
***
SCMP, 16 Jul 1967 (Page 2)
MORE SUPPORT
Another 22 representative organisations have pledges support for Government’s firm determination to maintain law and order in Hongkong.
They bring to 650 the total number of organisations which have so far publicly stated their support for the authorities.
(Photo)
***
SCMP, 16 Jul 1967 (Page 2)
Teacher accused of unlawful assembly
A 47-year-old woman teacher was among 23 people who appeared before Mr F. de F. Stratton in North Kowloon Court yesterday on charges of unlawful assembly and obstructing police officers at the Kowloon Dock Workers’ Amalgamated Union and the Workers’ Child School in Bulkeley Street, Hunghom, on Friday morning.
The teacher, Wong Hung, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded in jail custody. Hearing of her case was fixed for July 28.
Twenty-two others, including a 16-year-old youth, also pleaded not guilty to the charges and were also remanded in jail custody until July 28.
Li Ki (17), a schoolboy, was additionally charged with possessing a knife. He pleaded not guilty.
The courtroom was heavily guarded by police. Two women burst into tears when their cases were dealt with.
Mr D. R. Harris, Acting Superintendent of Police, prosecuted.
In Central Court, 13 people, aged between 16 and 28, appeared before Mr A. L. Leathlean on charges of unlawful assembly.
No pleas were taken and they were remanded for three days in jail custody for further enquiries.
They are alleged to have committed the offences on Friday.
***
SCMP, 16 Jul 1967 (Page 2)
(Photo)
Weapons seized from ‘school for violence’
Two men were arrested and a large quantity of weapons seized when police raided the premises of the left-wing Fukien Middle School in Western District early yesterday morning.
A policeman remarked afterward: “The classrooms resembled a school for violence rather than a school for learning.”
Senior Superintendent A. E. Shave said the raid was connected with last Sunday's murder of a police constable in the area.
“We believe that people responsible for the murder might have some association with the school,” he said.
Police arrived on the scene just before 2 am and gained access to the four-storey building from the roof of an adjacent building.
Superintendent E. Blackburn, who directed the operation, was one of the first who entered the building.
He said the entrances were heavily barred but police met no resistance.
Mr Shave, who directed the operation from the ground, found desks heaped together to obstruct the doors.
In the classrooms, blackboards were covered with slogans and cartoons inciting the pupils for whom they had been intended to acts of violence.
- Pamphlets -
Bundles of pamphlets of the type which were being distributed in the area when the police constable was murdered last Sunday found stuffed in desks and cupboards.
Several carved wooden rifles were also seized from the premises together with sharpened wooden staves with nails driven through their ends and a two-pronged metal lance.
A bag of powdered lime, possibly intended for throwing into the eyes of a raiding party, was another item in the arsenal of weapons recovered.
Police also recovered two large flagons and several bottles filled with acid, together with a number of toy water pistols loaded with the same liquid.
The operation was supported by soldiers of “C” Company of the 1st Battalion, the Welch Regiment, commanded by Major F. Batten and elements of 4 Reece Squadron of the Hongkong Regiment (The Volunteers.)
***
SCMP, 16 Jul 1967 (Page 2)
Youth, 18, jailed for riotous assembly
Five people arrested during a demonstration in Shataukok on June 24, were found guilty of either riotous or illegal assembly and were given various terms by Mr H. S. Daniell in Fanling Court yesterday.
An 18-year-old boy, Liu Tung-sang, was jailed for 18 months while Wong Pang-chun, aged 25, was jailed for two months.
A 62-year-old man, Ho Chuen-tim, who jumped from the roof of the Shataukok Rural Committee and sustained injuries, was bound over in $500 for two years.
Two 15-year-old boys were referred to the probation officers for a report. They were remanded for one week.
Two men, Wong Hoi-fu (50), and Wong Mou-hung (50), were found not guilty and were released.
***
SCMP, 17 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
Man Shot Dead In Wanchai Incident
A man was killed and two others wounded when a party of police opened fire with Greener guns at crowds gathered in the Wanchai area at about 9 pm yesterday.
Crowds had gathered in the vicinity of the Ying King Restaurant smashing glass windows and allegedly setting fire to part of the building.
The man who was shot dead had ignored repeated police warnings to disperse. His identity is not known, but he was wearing a singlet and a pair of shorts with no-shoes or socks.
He was shot outside the American Restaurant in Wanchai Road. Another man was wounded in the same area while a third man received shot wounds outside Lung Mun Restaurant in Johnston Road.
The two wounded men were identified as Wong Chi-man, 41, and Chan Cheuk-wing, 24. They were admitted to Queen Mary Hospital.
- Windows Smashed -
Reporters at the scene of the shooting said that a party of police arrived in the area after receiving a report that a crowd of about 500 to 600 people had gathered outside the Ying King Restaurant.
Police found that glass doors and windows of the restaurant had been smashed and a fire had broken out on the ground floor.
A small party of police dispersed the crowds and stood outside to protect firemen fighting the blaze.
Crowds soon started to gather again and police warned them to disperse. They ignored repeated warnings and police fired Greener guns in the direction of Wanchai Road.
The crowds scattered, leaving two people lying in the street. One of them was later found to be dead.
The blaze at the Ying King Restaurant was put out shortly after the arrival of the firemen. It was learned that damage was slight.
Immediately after the shooting detectives mingled with the crowds and arrested eight men for unlawful assembly.
Earlier, shortly before 7 pm, a crowd numbering 400 stopped east-bound trams in Johnston Road, near the Southorn Playground, by blocking tram tracks with stones and baskets.
As police riot squads arrived, they dispersed the crowd comprising mostly teenagers and workers and then cordoned off the area where 20 trams were forced to halt in a long queue.
About 40 minutes later, the police escorted the trams back to the depot and by 8.15 pm all trams had stopped running.
In Kowloon yesterday afternoon, three cars were set on fire by trouble-makers in various districts.
One of the cars was set on fire outside the Tsz Wan Shan resettlement estate and the other two outside No 1B Lincoln Road and at the junction of Prince Edward Road and Kadoorie Avenue respectively.
Police early yesterday morning carried out a “sweeping operation” in Nathan Road removing or obliterating all inflammatory posters, cartoons and newspapers on 14 leftist banks, cinemas and stores.
A crowd of about 100 men gathered outside the Chung Luen China Products store in Chuen Luen Street at its junction with Sha Tsui Road in Tsun Wan shortly after 9 pm yesterday.
A police party sent to the area was bombarded with bricks and bottles of acid. Police were forced to fire a few rounds of tear-gas to disperse the crowd.
Two men were arrested. They have been charged with rioting and one of them was additionally charged with possession of an offensive weapon.
- Clinic Raided -
Meanwhile, the man shot by police in Sha Tsui Road on Saturday night was found dead in a left-wing workers’ union clinic at 3 Sze Po Fong shortly after 3 am yesterday in a police raid.
The dead man was believed to have thrown a fish bomb at police.
Police also found home-made steel hats, a home-made bomb, firecrackers, knives and other metal objects in the premises.
Two hours later, another raid was carried out at 105 Chuen Long Street, first floor, Tsun Wan.
After forcing entry into the premises, police found knives, triangular files, home-made gas masks and left-wing books.
Two men were arrested and will be charged with possession of offensive weapons.
Police said that one of the two then was wanted in connection with an intimidation case several weeks ago.
It has now been established that a total of 26 people were arrested in Tsun Wan between Saturday night and early yesterday morning. Of these five have been sent to hospital with gunshot wounds.
The body of another man with a shot wound on the head was found on the roof of No 73 Chung On Street in Tsun Wan shortly after noon yesterday.
The man is believed to be one of three who had thrown explosive substances in the Tsun Wan area in the early hours of yesterday. During the incident, police fired two rounds of carbine. The dead man has not been identified.
A spokesman for the Fire Services Department said yesterday that, contrary to press reports, the Shataukok Fire Station had been manned continuously throughout the incident at Shataukok and ever since.
***
SCMP, 17 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
Union Premises Declared A Closed Area
(Photos at right and bottom)
The Hon M. D. I. Gass, Officer Administering the Government, last night signed an order closing the area in Matauchung Road where a police raid was carried out earlier.
The closure, made under the Public Order Ordinance, specified that the area, including buildings therein, be declared a closed area ay from 11.30 last night and remain closed until further notice.
The closed area involves Kiu Wing Mansions, 34-40 Matauchung Road, the Federation of Trades Union Building, 42-50 Matauchung Road, together with the whole of the rear land and part of Mataukok Road and Matauchung Road.
***
SCMP, 17 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Delegation Visits Shumchun
Tokyo, July 16.
A group of pro-Communist Chinese from Hongkong paid a visit to the border town of Shumchun to thank the mainland Chinese there for their “effective support” given to anti-British struggles in the Colony, the New China News Agency said today.
Meanwhile, the Peking People’s Daily said the “patriotic Chinese people” in Hongkong had only just begun to show their strength.
It added: “It is necessary to mobilise the masses to a fuller extent, organise them in a better way and carry on the struggle resolutely with redoubled efforts."---AP and Reuter.
***
SCMP, 17 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Leftists Taken By Surprise In Shaukiwan Raids
POLICE EXPECTED BOMB ATTACK
(Photos at left and right)
Police took up their positions in Shaukiwan yesterday expecting to be bombed, Mr Paul Grace, Chief Superintendent of Police, said after three left-wing unions there were raided.
Mr Grace directed ground operations in the lightning midday raids on the three union premises in Shaukiwan Road.
The premises raided were the Taikoo Dockyard Chinese Staff and Workers Union at 169 Shaukiwan Road, the Taikoo Sugar Refinery Workers Union Welfare Centre, 188 Shaukiwan Road and the adjoining Metal Industry Workers Union at 192 Shaukiwan Road.
Mr Grace said a bomb had been thrown at police from one of the premises last week.
“We expected another one and plenty of resistance today,” he said.
“But luck was on our side. We took them by surprise.”
Workers on the roof of the Metal Industry Workers Union, were still making weapons when police burst in.
“They were just about to down tools and have lunch,” Supt Jim Harris said. “There were bowls of rice on the table.”
Supt Harris led the raid inside the three premises after the Army cordoned off four blocks in Shaukiwan Road.
“We moved the troops through first and we brought up the rear. We made it look as though we were heading for Central or Western District," he said.
“Entry at the Taikoo Sugar Workers Union premises was easy.
“But it was a different proposition at the Metal Industry Workers Union where there were two locked steel doors and a grill barring the entrance,” he said.
The police were able to cut through one door but had to use explosives on the other, which was made of quarter inch steel plate.
“It would have taken us six hours to cut through that door if we hadn’t blown it,” Supt Harris said.
“Inside, the place was flooded with ankle-deep water as a measure against tear gas and there were bowls of water everywhere.”
“We found bottles of acid, home-made gas masks, and Molotov cocktails set with fuse wires.”
Supt Harris said the whole of the roof was surrounded by barbed wire.
“We had to cut our way through with acetylene cutters.”
Forty-six men were arrested at the Taikoo Dockyard Workers Union premises.
One of them suffered a fractured skull and a broken arm when he jumped from the roof of the building in an attempt to escape.
A total of 85 people were arrested during the afternoon.
In the raid on the three premises police met resistance from only one man who moved towards a policeman with a spear in his hands.
But when the policeman pointed a carbine in his face the man gave himself up.
More than 400 police and military personnel were used in the raids.
A large collection of weapons was found in the three buildings.
The most dangerous weapons were stored on the second floor and roof of the Taikoo Dockyard Workers Union.
- Bottle-bombs -
They included a box-full of “Molotov cocktails”---pint bottles filled with petrol with a cotton waste wick or fuse in the neck.
Beside them was another box of crude bottle-bombs made of aerated water bottles with firecrackers for fuses. Beside paper, there were sacks of firecracker paper, apparently left after the explosive had been removed from strings of firecrackers.
On the roof of the building police also found chains fitted with handles to serve as weapons and a particularly vicious “nailed glove.’
This was a small piece of wood designed to fit the palm of the hand and with straps to hold it on. Two-inch nails projected from it.
There was also acid and a large selection of the type of spears which have been found at other union premises. Some of the spears were simply sharpened iron pipes; others were sharpened steel points embedded in wooden shafts.
Scores of daggers were found in all three premises. One particular type had been made out of stainless steel “fishing knives” which have a sharp blade on one side and a notched or serrated edge on the other.
***
SCMP, 17 Jul 1967 (Page 9)
EXPLOSIVES ON PUBLIC VEHICLES BANNED
Explosives will now no longer be permitted on trams, buses, taxis, public vehicles or ferries, according to an amended regulation under the Dangerous Goods Ordinance published in the Government Gazette.
The new amendment stipulated that no explosives other than manufactured fireworks in any quantity not exceeding 10 lbs in weight, safely cartridges and cartridges for small arms, shall be carried in these public transports.
The regulation, which has been approved by the Governor-in-Council, is designed to impose more stringent safety requirements in blasting operations.
Other regulations in the amending legislation, known as the Dangerous Goods (General) (Amendment) Regulations, 1967, require more adequate precautions to be taken to reduce the risk of damage or injury caused by explosives.
These include methods to be used in blasting and the warning signals to be given before a blasting takes place.
***
SCMP, 18 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
Circular Letter To H.K. Doctors
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR LEFTISTS SOUGHT
A number of medical practitioners have received printed letters as well as being approached by a group of three or four men, asking them to support local leftist elements.
The letter is signed by a “Norman Bethune Combat Group of Hongkong.” Dr Bethune, a Canadian surgeon, died while serving with the Chinese Communist Army during the Sino-Japanese War, and a short article on his life by Mr Mao Tse-tung to spread the doctrine of “internationalism” has become a “must” for all Maoists or people working in left-wing organisations.
No address was given in the letter, but the men who approached the doctors indicated they expected a “generous donation.”
However, no violence has been reported, but some of the visitors threatened to prevent patients from consulting the doctors.
The letter said: “You are fortunate to practise here and are most probably in good financial condition.
- Warned -
“You are warned that the present issue will be a long-lasting racial struggle. Sooner or later the fight will involve you, regardless of whether you like it or not.
“Prepare yourself and be ready to contribute in the interest of our race and the fatherland.”
Though the letter made no direct mention of any financial contribution, the men who approached the doctors always asked for cash payment.
Ironically, the use of the name of the late Dr Bethune --- Mr Mao’s favourite theme for his “international brotherhood” basis --- to promote racialism was very likely to annoy the Communist regime in China, said a local political observer.
To commemorate Dr Bethune’s internationalism, Mr Mao had offered a scholarship for studies in medicine at a university in Montreal, but it has not been taken up.
***
SCMP, 18 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
EXPLOSION IN TRAM DEPOT
Police Raid Dairy Farm Workers’ Union
MORE WEAPONS SEIZED
(Photo at right)
A tramcar was damaged and a passer-by injured when an explosion occurred inside the tram depot in Russell Street, Wanchai, about 10.30 pm yesterday.
Police carried out another raid earlier in the day on the Dairy Farm workers’ quarters and union in Pokfulum, where they seized a large quantity of weapons and loudspeakers which were blaring out inflammatory speeches. Six arrests were made.
In contrast to the rash of incidents which occurred during the past few days, the Colony passed a comparatively quiet day yesterday.
About 10.15 pm, a bottle containing explosives was hurled at a police car near the junction of Johnston Road and Wanchai Road---scene of trouble during the past few nights.
- Policeman Hurt -
The explosion slightly injured a police corporal.
Mr J. H. W. Salmon, Manager of the Hongkong Tramways Ltd, said the blast bad caused only minor damage. The destination panel, headlights and two windows of a tram were shattered.
Mr Law Kong-kwong, 67, who was passing by at the time, suffered injuries to his back and a leg from flying glass. He was sent to hospital and discharged after treatment.
It was learned the explosion was caused by a bomb thrown from outside the depot which was recently declared a restricted area.
Earlier in the evening, a crowd of trouble-makers set fire to a signboard after placing it across the tram tracks in Johnston Road.
The fire was quickly put out but the incident attracted a crowd of about 1,000 people and they also set fire to rubbish near the Southorn Playground.
- Tear-Gas -
The police fired a number of tear-gas shells to disperse the crowd.
At 9.30 pm a home-made milk-tin type bomb exploded at the Army camp in Chatham Road opposite house No. 107. There were no casualties.
A large quantity of weapons, including two home-made bombs and medical supplies, was seized by the police when they carried out a lightning raid at the Dairy Farm workers’ quarters and union yesterday afternoon.
Five man and a woman were arrested on the two premises find they will appear in Western Court today on various charges, Superintendent Eric Blackburn, who led the raid, said later.
In the raids, police also seized several loudspeakers and a tape recorder. The loudspeakers were positioned outside a room of the workers’ quarters and were blaring out inflammatory speeches.
On arrival, Supt Blackburn and two platoons of police went straight to the room which was the target of the raid. Inside, they arrested a man who was armed with a dagger.
Several iron bars and spears were also seized.
Following the questioning of the man, Supt Blackburn led the police party to the union premises about 100 yards away and arrested a young woman and a man who were believed to have been responsible for the broadcast of inflammatory speeches.
On entering the premises, the woman, who was quite violent, shouted: “Police dogs go home, otherwise you will be punished by us. Take off your badge before it’s too late.”
- Weapons -
The police conducted a search and found a quantity of iron spears, knives choppers, sharpened wooden poles, fighting chains, various chemicals, bottles of acid, catapults, iron bars and forks, a large number of empty bottles and a large quantity of inflammable liquid.
The police also seized a basket full of pamphlets and red books booklets, inflammatory posters and several banners from leftist schools, , including the Fukien School, West Point, which was raided by police early on Sunday morning.
Mr Blackburn said that some fuses and electric bulbs, with their tops removed, were also seized.
Three other men were later arrested outside the union premises crouching behind bushes.
Mr Balckburn said that the union premises were being used as a centre for manufacturing of home-made weapons.
He added that the raid was carried out by policemen from the Western Police Station and was not supported by the Army.
Police yesterday continued to remove or obliterate inflammatory posters at leftist department stores, banks and book stores.
"In the Yaumati and Mongkok areas between midnight on Sunday and 2 am yesterday, police tore down inflammatory posters from 22 leftist establishment. There were no incidents.
In the Central District, shortly after 3 pm, three platoons of police were deployed in another operation to remove posters from three leftists(sic) establishments.
Two inflammatory posters pasted on the pillars of the balcony at the Peace Book Shop, 83 Queen’s Road, Central, were daubed with black paint.
- Traffic Diverted -
Some other posters and newspapers at the Chinese Merchandise Emporium Ltd and China Travel Services were removed.
Pedestrians and motor traffic along Queen’s Road Central were diverted into side streets during the operation which lasted about 15 minutes. There were no incidents.
Anti-British slogans were painted on the walls of the Supreme Court building early yesterday.
A platoon of riot police arrived later and stood on guard as two men daubed the painted characters with black on either side of the three main court entrances.
In Tsun Wan, shortly after 7 pm, detectives acting on a tip, found a paper parcel in Siu Woo Street.
On examination of the parcel, a police ballistics officer discovered an explosive charge in a bottle with a large firecracker fuse.
More gas masks, helmets and spears were uncovered by the police in a further search of the Federation of Trade Union Building in Matauchung Road yesterday.
The building was raided on Sunday by police and more than 200 people were arrested and an arsenal of weapons seized.
Following the raid, the area was declared a closed area. It was revoked at 6.50 pm yesterday.
Asked whether the building was where most of the troubles were planned, a Government spokesman said it was not possible to assume what it had contributed but the building was known to be the headquarters of the so-called “All Circle Struggle Committee.”
No further arrest was made during the search yesterday.
Meanwhile, all the detainees at the Chatham Road detention camp, with the exception of eight, have been released. They were taken into custody following the raid on the Federation of Trade Union and Workers Club.
The eight persons are being detained in police custody for further enquiries.
No one is now detained at the camp which is being manned by a skeleton staff.
A call by the left-wing Hongkong Seamen's Union to halt the flow of goods into and out of the Colony by immobilising ships in the harbour failed to gain any response yesterday.
A survey showed that movement of shipping and cargo was normal while applications registered at the Seamen's Recruiting Office for employment on board ships was described as “absolutely normal.”
***
SCMP, 18 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Committee To Handle Funds
A special sub-committee has been set up to administer the Dependants’ Fund started by the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, it was announced at a general committee meeting of the Chamber, yesterday.
The three-member committee, which will work under the chairmanship of the Hon M. A. R. Herries, Acting Chairman of the Chamber, will consider as one of its earliest matters, what additional donations should be made to the families of the six policemen who lost their lives maintaining peace in the Colony.
The sub-committee will also look in to the financial needs of all families whose dependants are killed on duty enforcing law and order.
The Fund, which is now entering its second week, stands at $622,000.
***
SCMP, 18 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Leftists May Have Started Fire
A fire which destroyed 100 empty mail bags in a wooden hut used as a temporary post office at the Tszwanshan resettlement estate early yesterday is believed to have been the work of leftist arsonists.
A Post Office spokesman said that had the fire destroyed any part of the mail stored in the premises at that time, addressees in China would have suffered most.
“It is fortunate that the fire damaged only empty mail bags,” he commented. “Hard working residents of Tszwanshan spend a great deal of money on their regular parcels to relatives on the Mainland. It seems inconceivable that whoever was responsible for the fire could have been ignorant of this fact.”
***
SCMP, 18 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
LIU’S BOOK ON SALE IN H.K.
Quotations from President Liu Shao-chi went on sale yesterday in a Kowloon book store --- in competition with the red hooks of Chairman Mao Tse-tung’s thoughts.
The Liu book is identical in size to the Mao publication and its plastic cover is the same shade of red.
The Liu book, however, sells for $1.50 while the Mao book is available at $1.20.
The Liu book attacks individualism and dogmatism and suggests peaceful co-existence, even with the United States.
Observers here believe the publication and sale of the book indicates that the local Communist faction is more pro-Liu than pro-Mao.
The Liu book is’ being sold in one bookshop in the Mirador Mansions in Tsimshatsui so far, but sales are reported to be good.
***
SCMP, 18 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
MOST DETAINEES WILL BE FREED, SAYS POLICE
The majority of the detainees at the Chatham Road detention camp would be released once the police had completed their inquiries, Mr C. J. March, the Camp’s Commandant, said yesterday.
He said many of the detainees, who had simply been caught in the police cordon and were not connected with the disturbances, had already been released.
Others were still being questioned about the weapons found in the various premises at the time of the raids.
Checks were being made to establish whether they had criminal records or whether warrants had been issued for their arrest.
- No Resistance -
“Once we have completed our inquiries, as I hope we will some time later today, we expect that the majority of the detainees will be released,” Mr March said.
He said the detainees, who originally numbered 495, were quiet and had offered no resistance. The Social Welfare Department had supplied the detainees with two meals a day and with sufficient water.
“We have had no complaints,” he said, “We have had a medical officer in attendance. They have been well treated and their conditions have been the best under the circumstances.”
For their part, he added, the detainees had behaved well. There had been neither shouting, singing nor aggressiveness.
***
SCMP, 18 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
SECURITY GROUP
A Public Security Advancement Association was formed in Taipo yesterday with a total membership of more than 70,000.
It will assist Government in the preservation of law and to promote the economy and welfare of the district.
***
SCMP, 18 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
ARMED WITH MELON KNIFE
An unemployed man who was found by the police in possession of a melon knife wrapped in a newspaper was sentenced to 18 months in jail by Mr A. L. Leathlean at Central Court yesterday.
Insp B. L. Coak said that the defendant, Cheuk Chun-sing, was seen by a police constable when he ran away from tear-gas used to disperse a crowd of 50 people in King’s Road at 8.40 pm on June 11.
Cheuk tried to evade the constable but was stopped and searched. He was found to be armed with a melon knife.
***
SCMP, 18 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
FOURTEEN PLEAD NOT GUILTY
Fourteen men who pleaded not guilty before Mr F. de F. Stratton at North Kowloon Court yesterday on charges of unlawful assembly were remanded in jail custody until August 9 for hearing of the case.
They denied having unlawfully assembled in the Kowloon City roundabout on July 14.
Defendants are Ho Yuen-wa (31), odd job worker; Lam Yuen-kwong (20), metal worker; Li Kwan-ming (24), garment factory worker; Tsui Sin-wing (25), blacksmith; Li Chik-yam (36), mason; Li Lin (31), mason; Leung Yip-kei (40), carpenter; Chow Ah-yuet (40), coolie; Li Chi-kin (41), odd job worker; Tong Han (31), plastic worker; Hui Lam (32), factory worker; Cheung Chi-ming (32), garment worker, Chan Ching-pong (26), coolie; and Li Wing (45), coolie.
***
SCMP, 18 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
Reporters Protest Against Their Arrest
SCENE AT CENTRAL COURT
Seven left-wing reporters protested against their arrest yesterday when they and 21 other people appeared before Mr A. L. Leathlean at Central Court charged with unlawful assembly.
The defendants, who were arrested on June 15 outside Government House, are:
Chan Fung-ying (26) and Chan Tak-muk (23), women reporters of the New China News Agency; Kwong Po-man (34), and Leung Lai-yee (28), women reporters of the New Evening Post; Tam Sze-chun (40) and Lo Heung-wing (44), reporters of the Ta Kung Pao; and Lau Chu-ping (29), reporter of the Wen Wei Pao.
Sze Wing-wah (19), Cheung Sip-fung (62), Wong Mau-fong (46), Tse Po-yuet (42), Li Chim (42), Wong Mei-ying (35), Ng Sau-chun (20), Leung Kwok-chiu (30), Ma Chak (40), Mak Hing-wah (30), Lo Wai-keung (38), Lo Cheung-ning (30), Lo Kwai-sing (44), Li Kwok-chuen (24), Leung Kwok-wing (18), and Li Ting-fan (52), all teachers from 13 different schools.
Lam Kam-tei (24) and Ho King-yee (27), clerks, employed by two of the schools, Ho Lui-ning (44), a headmaster, Yuen King-nui (17), a baby-sitter, and Chau Chit-kwan (46), unemployed.
- Shouted -
As each reporter was brought before Mr Leathlean, he or she shouted: “I protest against this illegal arrest. I protest against the British authority. I protest against this suppression of the freedom of the Press. I am without guilt. I demand to be released immediately.”
Later, when Ma Chak, a teacher, whose head was bandaged, was brought before the magistrate, about 30 young men and women in the court room stood up and shouted repeatedly: “We protest.”
Mr Leathlean, adjourned court immediately. The spectators wore ordered to leave and they filed out escorted by the police, protesting as they left.
Court then resumed.
All 28 defendants were remanded in jail custody until Thursday.
***
SCMP, 18 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
Schoolteacher Charged With Obstruction
A 41-year-old schoolteacher, accused of obstructing and assaulting police officers, claimed at Central Court yesterday that he was unlawfully arrested by the police.
The defendant, Wong Ho-kwing, of 6 Broadwood Road, ground floor, Hongkong, told Mr E. Light, the Magistrate, that he and three friends in a car were unlawfully arrested by anti-riot police in King’s Road on July 13. Wong said they were arrested at gun-point.
Insp Chan Po-kwong said he was instructed by his superior officer to detain all people in cars for questioning before his platoon moved out from Bayview Police Station on July 13.
When his patrol jeep was near King’s Road, Insp Chan said, he saw a private car which he suspected of having been driven in North Point during curfew hours on the previous night. His jeep chased the car in which Wong and three other people were travelling.
Eventually, the police jeep stopped the car and all its passengers were told to alight. Wong refused, and struggled when the police tried to arrest him. The four occupants of the car were later taken to the police station.
Hearing continues today.
***
SCMP, 18 Jul 1967 (Page 7)
YOUTH HURLS BOTTLE AT POLICE JEEP
A 14-year-old boy who hurled a bottle at a police jeep when it stopped in Queen’s Road West on July 9 was sent to the Youth Training Centre by Mr E. Light at Central Court yesterday.
At an earlier hearing, Mr Light found the youth guilty of taking part in an intimidating assembly and of assaulting Police Constable Lung Yu-kan while resisting arrest.
The prosecution said the boy was standing about five feet from a crowd of 30 to 40 people, some of whom were carrying hooks, outside 580 Queen's Road West at 5.45 pm on July 9.
He threw a bottle at a police jeep when it stopped 20 yards from the crowd and struck and Kicked PC Lung who tried to arrest him.
***
SCMP, 19 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
Garrison In H.K. To be Maintained
WHITE PAPER OUTLINES CHANGES IN DEFENCE
London, July 18.
Mr Denis Healey, the Defence Minister, served notice today that Britain intends maintaining---and possibly increasing --- her garrison in Hongkong, even while phasing out her Southeast Asian land bases.
He also said that Britain would slash her armed forces by a fifth and save £300m a year by concentrating her defence commitments in Europe after the mid-1970s.
The cutback would be achieved mainly by quitting bases in Malaysia and Singapore between 1973 and 1977 --- a decision taken as part of new policy moves to prepare Britain for Common Market membership.
The White Paper on defence policy said Britain’s annual defence budget would be trimmed to £1,800m (based on 1964 prices) in the mid-1970s --- a saying of £300m on last year's estimates.
- Strength Cut -
Over this period, Britain's present 417,360-strong forces would be cut by 75,000 men and the number of civilians working with them would be reduced by 80,000.
Mr Healey acknowledged at a press conference that these major withdrawals from the Far East would not be popular in the United States while the Vietnam war was continuing.
But he said: “Nobody in the United States envisages the Vietnam war continuing into the middle of the 1970s and we shall be contributing to the stability of Southeast Asia throughout that period.
“Equally, they recognise that it is in no-one's interests --- least of all the United States --- to have Britain depending on other nations for charity."
The White Paper itself said only that Britain would pull out of Singapore and Malaysia in the mid-1970s.
- Timing -
Me Healey also said: “On the timing of the ultimate withdrawal, we agreed with the Prime Ministers of Singapore and Malaysia that it would be a mistake to fix a firm, specific date beyond the mid-1970s.
“That is why we set this timing by which we mean the period between 1973 and 1977.
“But the precise date will depend on how the economic problems involved in the withdrawal are being faced, the stability of the area at the time, and the progress in solving other Far East problems.”
“Today’s policy statement is expected to satisfy Mr Harold Wilson’s left-wing critics who have long demanded a massive scaling-down of Britain's military commitments east of Suez.
HK GARRISON TO STAY
But though virtually all land forces are to be pulled back from the Far East, Britain is to keep air and naval forces there --- including amphibious units --- and maintain the present garrison in Hongkong.
British forces in the Middle East would also be cut by an undisclosed figure, though Mr Healey said this could be by as much as a third.
Britain is also cutting down her forces in Cyprus and Malta and is due to pull out of Aden soon, but is to keep a garrison in the oil-rich Persian Gulf.
Britain's remaining overseas garrisons will be backed up by a streamlined Strategic Reserve based at home, including a special unit earmarked for use in the Far East if trouble breaks out there in the future.
At the same time, Britain is keeping open her options to use bases in Australia if these are needed by then, and is also looking at the possibility of a new staging post in the Indian Ocean.
Mr Healey warned, however, that the decision would mean change in Britain's commitments to SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation).
In future, he said, Britain would be able to allocate fewer forces to SEATO and would require longer notice for deploying them.
Mr Healey said Britain might in future want to take advantage of revised NATO strategy, allowing countries with balance of payments problems to station some of their NATO forces at home.
The White Paper noted that Britain already plans to bring an Army brigade and an Air Force squadron back from West Germany early next year.
Mr Healey said other withdrawals might be made if all the foreign exchange costs of British forces in Germany could not be met.
Apart from Germany, Britain with be paying only £60m a year---compared with £173m this year---on foreign exchange costs under the new policy.
Mr Healey confirmed that talks were under way with West Germany, Italy and Holland about a swing-wing strike plane now that France had pulled out of the Anglo-French project. He also said the Navy was to get new cruisers and destroyers. ---AP and Reuter.
***
SCMP, 19 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
POLICE SWOOP IN WANCHAI
Chinese Reform Association Premises Raided
SEVERAL BOMBS THROWN
(Photo at right)
A few bottles were thrown on to the streets as police made a lightning raid on the Chinese Reform Association in Wanchai and detained seven people shortly after 8.30 pm yesterday.
The head of the organisational unit of the Association, Mr Tsoi Wai-hang, was arrested by the police at his home in Matauwai Road, Kowloon, almost at the same time as the raid on the association.
Two other raids were carried out by the police in Kowloon. One in the late afternoon was on the premises of the Hongkong and Kowloon Western Style Tailors’ Union and a plumbing firm in Parkes Street, Yaumati, and the other at midnight on the Mongkok Workers’ Children’s School in Princess Margaret Road.
There were also a number of fish-bomb throwing incidents against police stations and other Government buildings but no damage was caused and no-one was injured. Police also tore off inflammatory posters outside Various Communists buildings.
The police party on the raid at the Chinese Reform Association was led by Superintendent R. Quine. They seized a quantity of weapons, which included sharpened metal pipes, iron chains, 97 home-made gas masks, and 14 dummy rites.
- Entry Blocked -
The Raid was carried out by one company of police. No Army personnel was involved.
Police arrived in the vicinity of the association at 8.30 pm and posted officers at the junctions of Hennessy Road, Johnston Road and Heard Street. However traffic was allowed to move freely down Hennessy and Johnston Roads.
The raiding party then proceeded up to the association, situated on the ninth floor of Tak Wah Building at 290-296 Hennessey Road, but had to use acetylene torches to cut through the metal doors of the premises which are located on the corner of Hennessy Road and Heard Street.
After cutting through metal sheet, on the roadside of two doors representing the main and subsidiary entrances, they still had to cut through two further sheets of metal.
On gaining entry to the premises half-an-hour later, police found on the walls typical Communist slogans and cartoons calculated to incite violence.
There were also a number of placards stacked in a corner, possibly intended for use in processions. They bore various protest slogans couched in violent language.
Police also found a small theatrical stage for “mini performances" together with a gramophone and a stack of records of martial music.
Supt Quine told reporters on the scene that when police first entered the premises, the main assembly room was deserted. Police searched the premises and found five men “hiding” in a small room at the rear of the premises and they “surrendered without a murmur.”
- Bottles Thrown -
A further two men were arrested when they were leaving the premises, as the police party arrived on the scene.
The situation in the vicinity became tense when several bottles were thrown into the streets from adjoining buildings.
Police, many of whom were armed with Greener guns and carbines, told people to close their windows. The residents did as they were told and there were no further incidents.
Early this morning, five of the seven suspects arrested were still being detained for questioning.
Earlier, a man and a woman were arrested in a police raid on two buildings fi Parkes Street, Yaumati.
The police, who met no resistance, uncovered a number of inflammatory posters pictures of police constables with their numbers, dummy pistols, dummy hand-grenades and coconut shells filled with cotton wool.
The woman was arrested in a plumber’s firm, the Cheong Hing Co, at 23 Parkes Street, and the man in the Hongkong sod Kowloon Western Style Women's Tailors' Union, on the third door of 13 Parkes Street.
The raid took place at 5.30 pm under the direction of Mr C. J. R. Dawson, Assistant Commissioner of Police.
The raiding party consisted of men from the Yaumati Police Station, led by Superintendent C. C. Chan, and supported by the Headquarters West Company.
An Army cordon was provided by a company of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles.
At midnight, police raided the Mongkok Workers’ Children’s School in Princess Margaret Road. The police party was under the command of Mr M. Illingworth, Chief Superintendent of Police, and the raiding party were the Kowloon City Company, led by Superintendent Robert Wilson, and the Headquarters East Company, led by Superintendent Miller. The plainclothesmen in the operation were led by Superintendent Alastair McNutt, head of the Kowloon CID.
The military cordon was provided by a company of the Queen’s Regiment.
Police broke open the door of the school and entered at 12.15 am. They met with no resistance. Inside, they found crates of bottles neatly stacked outside every classroom and political slogans on classroom walls and on every blackboard.
- ‘Lesson For The Day’ -
In one young children’s class the lesson for the day, according to the blackboard, was “Today all the workers in Hongkong and Kowloon will have a untied strike.”
One man was detained.
The raid on the school building was finished by 1 am.
Two men were slightly hurt when leftist agitators, in hit-and-run tactics, attacked a Government clinic, two police stations and a police married quarters with fish bombs.
First to come under bomb attack was the compound of the married quarters of the Western Police Station shortly after 6 pm. No one was hurt.
The bomb, which exploded in mid-air, caused no damage. Bits of cloth were found afterwards.
A man was seen running away from the scene just after the incident.
Two hours later, a passenger in a taxi threw a fish bomb which exploded outside the Morrison Hill Road Post Office, Happy Valley, resulting in two men being hurt.
The post office was not damaged.
Shortly before 10 pm two teenage boys were seen throwing a fish bomb which exploded outside the Anne Black Health Centre in North Point. No casualties were reported.
At 10.20 pm, an attempt to throw a fish bomb into the comfound of the Waterfront Police Station, Connaught Road, proved to be unsuccessful as the bomb was stuck in a wire fence. It did not explode.
The police at 9.30 pm tore off many posters outside the China State Bank, the Ta Kung Po office, the New China Products Emporium and some other Communist stores in Wanchai.
The police met with no resistance during the operation.
Two motor cars were set on fire in two separate incidents in Hongkong and Kowloon.
One was at the junction of Hing Yip Street and Hoi Yuen Road in Kun Tong. The other fire was in King’s Road near News Building. It was put out about 15 minutes later.
***
SCMP, 19 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Doctors Told To Ignore Leftist Threats
Dr Harry Fang, President of the Chinese Medical Association, said yesterday there was no need to take any definite action to deal with leftist threats against local doctors.
He said he had advised members of the Association to ignore extortion letters because they were not signed. However, if they were actually threatened, they should report the matter to the police.
He said most of the Association’s 900 members had received anonymous letters, some written and some printed, asking them to support local leftist elements. Dr Fang said he threw his into a waste paper basket.
It was very difficult for him, he said, to tell members what to do. Whether they contributed to the support of the leftists or not was up to them, he added.
Dr Nancy Butt, President of the British Medical Association, Hongkong Branch, said she had not heard from any of the Association’s 350 members about being approached to give support to the leftists.
***
SCMP, 19 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
HONGKONG ENTERS NEW ERA OF DEVELOPMENT
There was a need in Hongkong for a leader who could appeal to the people and command their respect, said Mr Derek Davies, Editor of the Far Eastern Economic Review, yesterday.
He told a luncheon meeting of the Hongkong Society of Architects that the Colony had entered a new era of development, an era in which politics would play a very large part.
It was therefore necessary “that our administration should be headed by a politician, a man who can appeal to the people and who understands how to manipulate the sources of political power and influence,” said Mr Davies.
This plan would also remedy one of the British failures in the Colony and that was not teaching the average citizen “what Hongkong was all about.
“Too many of our citizens, including educated men and senior civil servants, are blinded by the label ‘imperialist” into thinking Britain benefits from Hongkong,” he said.
If anyone dominated the Colony economically, it was neither Britain nor America but overseas Chinese who had been pouring money into businesses and industry.
The first step in getting down to Hongkong’s true image was to drop the term “Colony,” said Mr Davies.
The word was universally a dirty one and it meant that people failed to realise the uniqueness of Hongkong and were liable to think of it as just another Cyprus, Kenya or Aden.
- Must Be Watched -
The threat of local Communists to use school-children and students during the holidays as a sort of Red Guard movement was one that had to be watched.
What local Communists failed to see, Mr Davies said, was that there were only two alternatives for Hongkong. Either China took over completely or Britain continued to run things.
The large chunk of foreign exchange that China made from Hongkong was evidence enough that China would not take over Hongkong “either now or in the foreseeable future,” he said.
Mr Davies said that efforts by local Communists to torpedo Hongkong’s economy was a direct attack on China’s economy.
He felt sure that once Peking got back on its feet and recovered from the damaging cultural revolution, local extremists would come under a purge from their Mainland superiors.
Mr Davies said that Peking had given Hongkong Communists a minimum amount of support.
***
SCMP, 19 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Hongkong People ‘Have Chosen Against Communism’
Although agitators had continued to create false impressions it was clear that Hongkong people had chosen against Communism, states an editorial in the Undergrad, official publication of the Students’ Union of the University of Hongkong.
The editorial said that while the people clung to their culture and called themselves Chinese, hardly any called himself a Communist.
It said that the past month saw left-wing agitators bombarding the Chinese population with vile propaganda to stir their nationalistic emotions.
“What was not made clear enough is that behind the veil of this nationalistic issue lurks the more important question: the demand for submission to a Communist overlord in the form of China,” the editorial said.
It expressed the belief that left-wing trouble might go on for some time still.
“They might hit at schools and post-secondary colleges, and let us be clear individually as to where we stand. But, no matter how the Communists may like to hide it, their funds are running out, and even if their howling may continue for some time, it is very doubtful if they can persist as actively very much longer.”
An article in the Undergrad said that anonymous letters sent to left-wing newspapers and to individual union members were part of an attempt to give the impression that students of the University were supporting the leftists in the recent disturbances.
- Absurd -
The article pointed out that some of the stories were utterly absurd and quoted one letter which said that before World War II orphans in Hongkong were sent to England as guinea pigs for medical experiments.
The article denied that an “anti-struggle committee” had been formed in the University and that it had contributed $4,000 to left-wing organisations.
It said: “Nobody contacted by the Undergrad has heard anything of this donation nor was such a donation announced by any official body.”
Another article said that people had fled to Hongkong from Communism and other forms of government and many were still fleeing across the border.
It stated: “We have fought, kicked and beaten our way to the top of the rat race that is called Hongkong education; we have studied so hard to reach the top that we have sacrificed things that might have been so dear to us.
“We have shut ourselves from the outside world to guarantee our own future but we must never forget that involvement with the outside world is as inevitable as death, and there is no way out.”
“We cannot conclude that Hongkong means little or nothing to us. We can never explain away that when we were homeless, Hongkong housed us, when we were hungry Hongkong fed us, when we were hopeless, Hongkong gave us hope and refuge, and a chance to start afresh. You can't escape it, Hongkong is our home.”
The article then urged the two universities in Hongkong to take a lead in guiding the Colony’s youths by campaigning for their allegiance.
“We must attempt to form a common bond among ourselves, so that in unity and numbers we may be strong,” it said.
“Only by making their problems our own can we hope to achieve that degree of nity which is desirable.”
***
SCMP, 19 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Leftists Fail To Cripple Shipping
There was no response yesterday to efforts by the leftist Hongkong Seamen’s Union to cripple shipping in port. Twenty ships sailed for various destinations with Hongkong cargoes.
At least ten of the ships carried Chinese crews and they included the British ship Tailungshan which a left-wing newspaper claimed had been affected by the strike. The ship left for Whampoa yesterday evening on schedule.
Members of the Seamen's Union were reported to have boarded several ships to urge seamen to strike yesterday but failed to persuade them.
“We have had no reports so far of any ship being delayed,” said Mr W. D. Leighton, Superintendent of the Seamen’s Recruiting Office. He added that the work of loading and unloading of cargoes was normal.
At the SRO yesterday, 134 applications were received for 92 jobs available. This showed that the demand still exceeded the supply --- a situation Mr Leighton described as “a normal state of affairs.”
***
SCMP, 19 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Re-employment Chance For Intimidated Transport Men
A Kowloon Motor Bus Company spokesman said yesterday that the company would re-engage dismissed workers who were willing to resume work if they could prove that they had been intimidated.
He said that about 2,000 of the total force of 7,400 workers had been dismissed when they failed to report for work during the leftist-inspired general strike in June. He added that most of the dismissed men were not genuine leftists but fence sitters who had adopted a wait-and-see attitude.
The spokesman disclosed that thousands of people had applied to the company for vacant jobs. Former workers who had applied for re-employment were being given priority over new applicants. They were now being screened.
A spokesman for the China Provident Company said that workers who wanted to be re-engaged would be offered their jobs back if there were genuine cases of intimidation.
- New Applicants -
He said that since the strike on June 24, 120 workers, mostly lighter crews, had been dismissed. The company received six applications for re-employment from the dismissed workers a week after the strike. Thirty new applicants were being processed at present.
In the meantime, 20 lighters were in operation but 18 were still idle. However, five of them would be manned by new workers soon. Four of the company's tug boats were also back in operation.
A spokesman for the Hongkong Tramways Ltd said that under the company’s policy, workers who left or resigned would not be re-engaged.
Mr H. M. G. Forsgate, General Manager of the “Star” Ferry Co, Ltd, and the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Co, Ltd, said that 100 of the 180 vacancies created by dismissals had been filled.
“We are still recruiting workers and training new employees,” he said.
Mr Forsgate disclosed that the leftists’ strike had resulted in the dismissal of 600 workers. Many of them had not even bothered to collect their severance pay, he added.
***
SCMP, 19 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Tension In Shataukok Eases
Tension seems to have eased considerably in Shataukok---on both sides of the border.
People are returning to their homes and shops and farms are resuming their normal daily occupations.
One rice shop which reopened on the Hongkong side of the border village did more than $1,000 business in the first day.
Gurkhas are guarding the area together with police. There is one company of the 1st Battalion, 7th Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Gurkha Rifles supported by one troop of B Squadron Life Guards.
On the Chinese side, it appeared that the militia have been replaced by soldiers of the People’s Liberation’ Army. They seemed to be doing everything to maintain peace and order on their side of Shataukok.
A soldier was seen to reprimand a youth who threw a stone at a Hongkong official.
***
SCMP, 19 Jul 1967 (Page 8)
Bus Conductor Accused
A 25-year-old bus conductor who pleaded not guilty to a charge of possessing an inflammatory poster, was remanded to Friday by Mr F. de F. Stratton at North Kowloon Court yesterday.
Ho Kwok-ki, of 14 Cheungshawan Road, fourth floor, said that the poster had been given to him by a man who he believed was a member of a workers’ union.
***
SCMP, 19 Jul 1967 (Page 8)
Five Acquitted
Two men and three boys were acquitted by Mr D. A. Davies at North Kowloon Court yesterday on a charge of unlawful assembly when it was ruled that there was insufficient evidence to convict them.
The defendants were Chan Chi-fei (19), a factory hand, Ng Chok-yiu (36), a sewing worker, Wong Yik-hong (38), a factory hand, and two boys aged 15 and 16.
They were alleged to have committed the offence at the junction of Portland Street and Soy Street, Mongkok, last Thursday.
***
SCMP, 19 Jul 1967 (Page 8)
Intimidated Textile Workers
A man who prevented several textile workers from returning to their factory to work was jailed for 18 months by Mr T. L. von Pokorny at North Kowloon Court yesterday.
Leung Kai-wang (31), unemployed, was found guilty on two charges of criminal intimidation.
A textile worker of the East Sun Textile Co testified that about 2 pm on June 25 he and other workers boarded the company’s bus in Matauchung Road. On their way to the factory, Leung and a number of other people told them not to work because a strike was on.
- Yellow Paper -
The witness added that Leung also said the workers would not be Chinese if they refused to join the strike. He then distributed pieces of yellow paper in exchange for “consolation money.” The intimidators also prevented other workers going to the factory, the witness said.
The court was cleared while the textile worker gave his testimony. The magistrate requested the Press not to disclose the worker’s name.
***
SCMP, 19 Jul 1967 (Page 8)
Man Shot In Attack On Police
A man was shot in the arm when he attacked a police detective with a pointed umbrella, Mr P. M. Corfe was told at Central Court yesterday.
Ngan Man-kwong (20), living at the Nanyang Commercial Bank, Des Voeux Road Central, pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting a police officer, forming part of an intimidating assembly and behaving in a manner likely to make others apprehensive of their safety.
- Hostile Crowd -
Mr N. Macdougall, Crown Counsel, said that on June 26, a police detective went to the assistance of several uniformed policemen who had just arrested two youths at the vehicular ferry concourse. Ngan lunged at him with the pointed end of an umbrella.
The police detective testified that as Ngan was attacking him, a hostile crowd urged him on, shouting: “Hit him, hit him!”
He said he warned Ngan to stop but Ngan ignored his warning.
When the crowd yelled: “Don’t be afraid of him, snatch the gun," the detective said he became alarmed, and after another warning he shot Ngan in the arm. The crowd dispersed.
In a statement from the dock, Ngan denied the prosecution’s evidence, adding that no witness was necessary to prove me innocent.”
Mr Corfe reserved judgment until tomorrow.
***
SCMP, 19 Jul 1967 (Page 8)
OFFICE BOYS DENY CHARGES
A. police constable told Mr P. M. Corfe at Central Court yesterday that a crowd of 20 to 30 people armed with iron bars surrounded the police at the vehicular ferry pier in Central District on June 26 after a newspaper seller blew a whistle.
On trial were Li Kai-duk (21) and Chan Kwan (17), both office boys living at the Nanyang Commercial Bank, Des Voeux Road Central. They denied charges of obstructing the police and making inflammatory statements.
The constable, Lai King-shing, said he and a corporal approached two newspaper distributors and asked them move away because they were causing an obstruction. The vendors refused and called the Policemen “running dogs.” One of them blew a whistle and the two officers were surrounded by a crowd carrying weapons wrapped in newspapers.
Mr Corfe reserved judgment until tomorrow.
***
SCMP, 19 July 1967 (Page 8)
Policemen Listed In Notebook
An unemployed man was jailed for 14 months by Mr C. C. Byrne at South Kowloon Court yesterday for possession of two inflammatory handbills and a notebook containing the numbers of more than 40 policemen.
Wong Kei-nang (35), was among a crowd of 500 in Nathan Road on Thursday, the court was told. Police dispersed the crowd and arrested Wong. The handbills and the notebook were found on him.
***
SCMP, 19 Jul 1967 (Page 8)
Riot in Shataukok: Schoolboy Jailed
A Schoolboy, who took part in the Shataukok riot on June 24 when police were stoned and vehicles were burnt, was sent to prison for 18 months by Mr H. S. Daniell at Fanling Court yesterday for riotous assembly.
Wong Chi-fai (18), a Shataukok villager, was recognised and arrested a fortnight later when he crossed the checkpoint at the Shataukok Police Station.
***
SCMP, 19 Jul 1967 (Page 8)
Teacher’s Arguments Rejected: Jailed For Obstruction
The arguments of a teacher against being convicted on charges of obstructing and assaulting police officers were rejected at Central Court yesterday.
Mr E. Light, the Magistrate, convicted Wong Ho-kwing (41), of 6 Broadwood Road, ground floor, on both charges and jailed him for three months.
At previous hearings, prosecution witnesses had testified that Wong and two other men were arrested last Thursday after the police had stopped a car in King’s Road. They were arrested on suspicion that they had been active during curfew hours on the previous night.
Wong had to be dragged out of the car and had continued to obstruct and assault the police until they reached the Bayview Police Station, the witnesses said.
- Impossible -
Yesterday, after repeated demands for an adjournment had been refused, Wong made a statement from the dock.
He maintained that his arrest was not only “some sort of kidnapping” but was also made “at gunpoint” and it was therefore impossible for him to have obstructed the police.
He claimed that the policeman who had arrested him was “unreliable and irresponsible” since he was not wearing his “number tag.” Because of this, Wong said, his evidence should be discredited.
Wong said he was the one who had been assaulted and alleged that he had been attacked three times while in police custody.
He added that any action he had taken had been “in self-defence, to ward off blows” and that he was innocent.
Mr Light said he could not accept Wong's statements, and added that the police were entitled to take the action they did.
Although Wong was convicted on both charges, the magistrate said it was not expedient to send him to jail on the assault charge. He was sentenced on the obstruction charge.
***
SCMP, 19 Jul 1967 (Page 8)
VICIOUS WEAPONS SHOWN IN COURT
Discovered in Unions
Curved swords, steel bars with sharpened points, lengths of piping, sharpened triangular files and daggers were produced at Central Court yesterday when 84 people were charged before Mr A. L. Leathlean.
The weapons were seized during a police raid on three union premises in Shaukiwan Road on Sunday. A catapult and a bundle of six-inch long needles were also seized.
No plea was taken from the 45 people, including six girls, arrested at the Taiko Dockyard Chinese Staff and Workers Union. Forty of them were charged with forming part of an intimidating assembly and five were charged with failing to report the possession of firearms.
Twenty-nine people, including six women, pleaded not gully to charges of unlawful assembly and obstructing the police.
One of the women told Mr Leathlean that she was a cook working on the premises. They were arrested at the Metal Industry Workers’ Union.
- Guilty Pleas -
Two of ten people arrested at the Taikoo Sugar Refinery Workers Union Welfare Centre pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful assembly. One of them also pleaded guilty to a charge of obstructing the police. A third defendant pleaded guilty to obstructing the police.
The ten were charged with unlawful assembly and six of them were additionally charged with obstructing police officers.
Yesterday morning, Mr Leathlean remanded a total of 112 people including the 84 from Shaukiwan, to appear in court next week.
They were all charged with offences arising out of recent disturbances.
***
SCMP, 19 Jul 1967 (Page 9)
H.K. Police Have Come Out On Top, Says Gen Carver
Gen Sir Michael Carver, Commander-in-Chief, Far East, yesterday expressed the opinion that there was no need for military reinforcements for Hongkong.
He said, however, that “there are standing arrangements which have always been in existance(sic) and which can be implemented on very short notice to send more troops if they are needed.”
“My assessment of the situation is that the police have come out on top,” he said.
Gen Carver praised the public, police, Government and troops for their part in maintaining peace.
At a press conference before his departure for Singapore, Gen Carver said that his two-day visit was primarily to talk with Mr M. D. I. Gass, Officer Administering the Government, and Lieut-Gen Sir John Worsley, Commander of British Forces.
One purpose was “to be brought up-to-date on exactly what the situation is in Hongkong, whether or not there was any requirement for further reinforcements of any kind, and to discuss with the Commander of British Forces and Government here in what circumstances this might arise.”
- Impressed -
His second purpose was to discuss what was the effect, if any, of the decision of Her Majesty's Government in the UK concerning the future of the Far East in general ---- a decision in the form of the Defence White Paper tabled in Parliament yesterday.
Gen Carver said: “I am most impressed, favourably impressed” by the police, Government, and troops in the New Territories and Shataukok.
He said: “Obviously the first line of defence of Hongkong is the people of Hongkong themselves and we always recognise that it is what they think and how they feel that determines really the basic security of Hongkong. They are confident and their attitude depends upon seeing that the police are capable of keeping the situation under control, and that behind the police, ready to help them if necessary, are the troops of the garrison here.”
“I have not formulated any new plans, but I would say that the main conclusion I have reached in the present situation, and provided things continue and do not get a great deal worse than they are now, there are adequate troops of all kinds in Hongkong and I see no immediate need for any reinforcement.”
Asked for his impression of the Shataukok incident, Gen Carver said that he would not like to make any prediction about this part of the world.
“I have heard about 17 different versions of the incident. I am not a China-watcher. I am not a Hongkong expert,” he added.
Questioned about air power in Hongkong, Gen Carver said, “I think they are perfectly adequate,” referring to two all-weather Javelin fighter-bombers at the RAF airport.
He said: “The decision not to base fighters here which was taken some time ago, I am sure is the right one, and one that is not likely to be reversed. If there is need for any aircraft here for any specific purpose I have no great difficulty in sending them here.”
***
SCMP, 19 Jul 1967 (Page 9)
Tenants Leaving ‘Leftist Buildings’
Tenants living in the Metropole Building and the Kiu Koon Mansion which houses Wah Fung Emporium, the China products store, have begun to move out for fear of being involved with the leftists.
The tenants were reported to have been intimidated but were still going ahead with plans to move, it was learned.
A survey showed that about 15 to 20 percent of the tenants had moved out already, many of them leaving behind furniture and other possessions.
A tenant who moved out of the Metropole Building opposite the emporium, said the Communists caused panic among tenants when they converted the first and second floors into what looked like hospital casualty wards.
- Thugs On Guard -
He said a sign outside the wards read: “Chinese General Chamber of Commerce preparatory office for a medical clinic.” All the windows on the two floors were blackened and thugs stood guard everywhere.
The tenant also said that the Communists went from floor to floor urging tenants to join then in a “heroic struggle against suppression.”
A Government spokesman said the leftists, dreading retribution from the police, were trying to use their neighbours as shields against the ever-present possibility of a surprise raid.
This probably accounted for the evacuation of tenants, he added.
***
SCMP, 19 Jul 1967 (Page 10)
‘IMPERIALISM’ AND ANARCHY
PERHAPS the unkindest cut for many rational thinking people in Hongkong is the gong-like repetition of the old-fashioned word “imperialism” in the propaganda of the agitators. For if by ordinary terms any country were less imperialist these days than Britain, it would be hard to find. And yesterday’s Defence White Paper, with it proposed pull-out from Singapore and Malaysia by the mid-1970s and halving of forces in SE Asia by 1970-1, is only the latest indication of that fact; with Aden as the perfect illustration of a surviving Colony where the only thing preventing a quick and orderly withdrawal is the inability of those who will be left behind to set their own house in order. But what about Hongkong? The garrison there will be maintained, says the White Paper. What then is the difference between Aden and Hongkong? The difference is that Aden is literally a barren rock, Hongkong has become a major manufacturing centre benefiting --- if it is allowed to --- its neighbours as well as itself. As for its still being a Colony, the fact is too often forgotten that under the 1946 Young Plan Hongkong might have been well on the way to self-government within a few years had unrest in China not led the leaders of the Chinese community here themselves --- the “compatriots” --- to call a halt to the process.
The leftists have in fact never disclosed any other wish than to return Hongkong to the condition of a rock equally as barren as Aden, equally as susceptible to violence and destruction. If it is “imperialism” to strive to prevent this happening, then there are many “imperialists” in the Colony besides the British. Indeed, the expression is more imprecise than that which we have applied to the agitators ---- “leftists.” Yet what else is one to call them? Maoists? But some say they are Liuists. Communists? But is this not to equate them with the Russians and the Rumanians? Communism is no longer a homogeneous term at all. It is hard to believe that most of the more “progressive” Communists in the world today, who will shortly be celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of their movement, would willingly associate themselves with these savage secret hoarders of catapults, sharpened lead pipe spears and triangular file daggers, by comparison with whom an Anarchist of 80 years ago might have seemed positively civilised.
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SCMP, 20 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
COLONY SPENDS PEACEFUL DAY
Only Two Minor Incidents In Kowloon
MORE POLICE RAIDS
Only two minor incidents in Taikoktsui and Choi Hung Road, Kowloon, marred an otherwise peaceful day in Hongkong yesterday.
Police, however continued their efforts to curb leftist trouble-makers and in two separate raids in Kowloon, arrested 18 people and seized a large quantity of weapons.
The incident in Taikoktsui involved a home-made bottle bomb thrown by a boy on a bicycle in Sycamore Street, near the Tong Mei Road Fire Station, shortly after 9.30 pm. No one was hurt.
Earlier, at 8.40 pm, a fire-cracker was thrown into the Royal Army Ordnance Depot in Choi Hung Road.
A tour of the Wanchai, North Point and Mongkok areas last night showed that people were going about their normal business and restaurants were staying open late.
- Relaxing -
Residents were seen “cooling themselves” and relaxing in Southorn Playground, a troublesome area in the past few days.
Most of the bars in the Wanchai area were opened. All cinemas had good crowds at their 9.30 pm shows.
Restaurants, shops and cinemas in North Point were also back to normal.
The Wah Fung China Products Store was also re-opened for business.
In Mongkok, more people were shopping than in the past week and most shopping centres remained open well after 10 pm.
On the Island, the trams stopped running by 9.30 pm but buses on the two main routes continued until well after 11 pm.
In Kowloon, most of the buses stopped running by 8.30 pm but taxis and “pak pais” helped to ease the situation.
- Man Injured -
A man with injuries on one hand, believed to have been caused by an explosion, was intercepted by the police in a public car in Canton Road near the Police Married Quarters about 9.30 pm.
He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
In two simultaneous raids on left-wing premises in Sanpokong at noon yesterday, police, aided by Gurkha units, detained 15 people and seized a large quantity of Communist literature, sharpened, pipings, stevedore hooks, arm bands and rubber goggles.
The raided premises were the dormitory of the Shun Cheong Factory on the first floor of 65 King Fuk Street and the Shun Cheong Factory itself on the third floor of the On Tat Industrial Building in Pat Tat Street.
The raid on the dormitory was conducted by two police companies supported by a platoon of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Gurkha Rifles. Superintendent T. Chalmers was in charge of the operation.
Police had to knock down a wooden door before entering the premises. A woman was detained and a quantity of home-made weapons, including metal stevedore hooks, were found.
The police raiding party took five minutes to secure the premises.
In the other raid on the Shun Cheong Factory on the third floor, the police party found it to be in fact a book depository.
When the premises were secured by the raiding party, ten men and two women were found. They put up no resistance.
A search revealed a quantity of Communist literature, sharpened pipings, first aid arm bands and rubber goggles.
Two companies of police and a platoon of the same Gurkha regiment took part in this raid. Mr M. A. Ringer, Divisional Superintendent, Kun Tong, directed the operation.
Chief Superintendent M. Illingworth was in overall command of the raid.
The police later went to the Yeung Kwong China Products Company in Wongtaisin resettlement estate to supervise the eviction of the store.
The Resettlement Department ordered the company to vacate its premises after inflammatory posters had been displayed in the store.
- Posters -
Two police companies, supported by elements of the 2nd Battalion, Seventh Gurkha Rifles, took part in the operation. (See Page 6).
A platoon of police was also sent to pull down inflammatory posters outside the Nanyang Commercial Bank in Jordan Road about 11.45 am.
No incident was reported.
A reporter of the New China News Agency was sentenced to two years’ jail yesterday when he was found guilty on charges of unlawful assembly and being part of an intimidating assembly. (See Page 8).
The American magazine Time reported in its latest issue that local Communists had been using the neon sign on top of a China products store in Wanchai to warn mobs creating disturbances that police were coming.
In its July 21 issue, the magazine said the neon sign on top of the 16-storey department store building was behaving erratically last week.
“Sometimes it shone brightly in advertisement of its wares --- and at just such times mobs of Communists surged through the streets in a destructive frenzy. At other times, the sign went dark, and the crowds knew that the police were coming,” the magazine said.
It said the sign was just one device used by the Communists to watch for the police during the worst week of rioting since the Colony’s troubles began in mid-May.
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SCMP, 20 Jul 1967 (Page 1)
Leftists Squabble Over Losses
Several leading members of the “All Circle Anti-Persecution Struggle Committee” were reported yesterday to have quarrelled seriously over recent losses, amounting to about $260m as a result of the campaign against the local authorities.
An independent Chinese newspaper, quoting sources close to the Committee, said that the losses included $200m in world trade, $40m in Hongkong trade, and another $40m in monetary “advances” to various “struggle committees” for the purpose of creating civil disturbances and giving bribes.
(Photo)
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SCMP, 20 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
Big Gift To Dependents’ Fund
Among donations to the Police Dependents’ Fund yesterday were an anonymous gift of $5,000 and a $1 coin handed in by a small boy.
The Fund, which has an initial target of $1m, now stands at more than $714,000.
Payments of $10,000 have already been made to the families of four Chinese policemen killed during the disturbances and similar payments will be made soon to the two bereaved Pakistani police families.
A especial sub-committee under the chairmanship of the Hon M. A. R. Herries, Acting Chairman of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, which organised the Fund, has been set up to consider what additional immediate financial assistance is needed by the families.
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SCMP, 20 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
(Photo at top)
Gurkhas Build Road For Villagers
A road built by Gurkha engineers to serve the remote village of Liu Pok, near the Chinese border, was opened yesterday by Brig P. L. de C. Martin, Commander of the 48 Gurkha Infantry Brigade.
Brig Martin told the villagers that his men were glad to help and that the road was not only a link with the outside world for the village but also a symbol of co-operation between the Army, Government and the people of the New Territories.
“I live in the New Territories and I know you people here want to live in peace and under good government,” he said. “We all know there is a small subversive element trying to disrupt the peace for all of us.
- On Guard -
“While some of the Gurkha soldiers are here with us, others are standing guard in Shataukok and elsewhere in the New Territories. But I would much rather that all my soldiers were being employed in a project of this nature, to build roads to help you,” he said.
Mr T. J. Bedford, District Officer, Taipo, noted that Army units had helped in many projects which benefited people in the New Territories.
Mr Fung Wai-kai, a village representative, thanked the Army for its help and also Government for its projects in New Territories villages.
After the ceremony, Mr Fung Lam-tsai, a village elder, presented Lt (QGO) Byimbahadur Gurung, of the Gurkha Independent Engineers, with a banner to commemorate the building of the road.
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SCMP, 20 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
(Photo)
Reform Club’s Tribute To Workers
The Hongkong Reform Club yesterday paid tribute to all those people who had remained at their posts during the current troubles in spite of threats and bribery.
Their loyalty, especially that of transport workers, had enabled the general life of the community to continue, the Club said in a statement.
- Strength -
“It has shown that the strength of Hongkong lies in the ordinary people of Hongkong, not in those who have basely fled to other lands,” the Club commented.
The Club noted that a lot had been done, rightly, in recognising loyal service by way of providing money for the police and other services, but added:
“It is to be hoped that the same will be done in the future both to help the families of any individual citizen who has been injured or killed in the disturbances, and also for social reforms and for the general education of the younger generation as a whole, in whose hands the fate of Hongkong ultimately lies.”
The Club also said that the vast majority of the community appreciated and acclaimed Government’s decision to take the initiative in dealing with the disturbances.
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SCMP, 20 Jul 1967 (Page 6)
(Photo)
Seamen’s Union Strike Called A Failure
The left-wing Hongkong Seamen’s Union call for a seamen’s strike appears to be no more effective than the leftists’ recent efforts to disrupt food supplies and public transport.
Mr W. D. Leighton, Superintendent of the Seamen's Recruiting Office, yesterday described the strike as a miserable failure.
The call for a seamen’s strike was made on Monday but, within the first 24 hours, 15 vessels, including a, Communist Chinese one, sailed from the Colony. The Chinese vessel was the ss Nan Hai 133, a regular caller from Whampoa, which discharged all her cargo at 1.30 pm on Tuesday and sailed halt an hour later. She was one of six vessels to sail with Chinese crews during the first 24-hour period.
- Chinese Ports -
At least 12 vessels sailed yesterday, including two which will call at ports in China. More than 15 vessels arrived.
Mr Leighton said the fact that there were 44,000 Hongkong seamen, and that ships were continuing to sail without difficulties over crew, made the failure of the strike appear even more of a flop than it might seem at first sight.
“The only consideration that has caused any misgivings for some seamen has been their exaggerated idea of the power of this union,” he added.
Mr Leighton said he had heard rumours that some seamen had had their documents, or charge books, withheld by the union.
A Marine Department spokesman said that there was still no sign that the strike was anything more than a “figment of the left-wing papers’ imagination.
The New China News Agency reported that the Seamen's Trade Union of China had declared its support of the Hongkong seamen’s strike call and said its members in Chinese ports would “boycott any ship trying to break the Hongkong Chinese seamen's boycott.”
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SCMP, 20 Jul 1967 (Page 8)
Allegedly Set Fire To Bus
A 16 year-old boy was yesterday alleged to have set fire to a bus in Lung Cheung Road, Wongtaisin, on July 9, the damage amounting to $4,000.
The boy pleaded not guilty before Mr T. C. Chan at North Kowloon Court to a charge of malicious damage to the bus and was remanded until August 14 for trial.
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SCMP, 20 Jul 1967 (Page 8)
DAIRY WORKER CHARGED
A worker of the Diary Farm Ice and Cold Storage Co, Ltd, was charged at Central Court yesterday with failing to report to the police that certain people had in their possession arms and explosives at the Dairy Farm Workers’ Recreation Centre in Pokfulam on Monday.
Pong Ping (31), of Room 24, Dairy Farm Workers’ Quarters, Pokfulam Village, was remanded for seven days. No plea was taken.
Insp B. L. Coak told Mr A. L. Leathlean, the Magistrate, that the explosives seized by the police were being examined by ballistics officers and further charges might be preferred.
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SCMP, 20 Jul 1967 (Page 8)
Factory Incident: Re-arrested Men Face Trial
The supervisor of a factory testified at North Kowloon Court yesterday that 20 to 30 people surrounded him when he and other workers tried to load boxes of plastic flowers on to a lorry early in May.
Mr Hung Biu, supervisor of the Hongkong Artificial Plastic Flower Works Factory in Sanpokong, was giving evidence at the trial of nine men on a charge of unlawful assembly.
Mir Michael Wong, Crown Counsel, said that the nine defendants were among 20 people who had failed to appear at South Kowloon Court in May to answer the charge. As a result, warrants for their arrest were issued.
Eleven of them were arrested. Of these, one had pleaded guilty and had been dealt with, and another man had died, Mr Wong said.
The defendants before the court are Pang Fai (33), Tang Hung (27), Wong Kan-ning (25), Law Chun-wang (30), Chung Yuk-fong (35), Yau For-wan (38), Li Shing (23), Auyeung Chun-keung (22) and Fung Kam-shui (40).
- Denials -
Pang and Wong are also accused of assaulting Mr Hung, and Wong is additionally charged with criminal intimidation.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty.
Mr Hung testified that at 4.40 pm on May 6, he was escorting some workers to load boxes of plastic flowers on to a lorry. However, as they reached the rear entrance of the factory, about 100 workers, who had been dismissed by the factory, prevented them from doing so.
Later, Mr Hung said, he was surrounded by 20 to 30 people who threatened to assault him. He shouted to his men to call the police.
When the police arrived, the crowd continued to surround him. As five police constables went to protect him, four men grabbed him and took him to a garage. After a violent struggle, Mr Hung said, he managed to free himself.
Hearing will continue today.
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SCMP, 20 Jul 1967 (Page 8)
REPORTER OF NEWS AGENCY JAILED
Seen Directing Crowd In Wanchai
A reporter of the New China News Agency was sent to jail for two years by Judge Derek Cons at Victoria District Court yesterday when he was found guilty of unlawful assembly and intimidating assembly.
The reporter, Sit Ping (32), was jailed for two years on each of the two charges, the sentences to be served concurrently.
Sit, who lives at the NCNA premises in Sharp Street, Wanchai, claimed that he was covering an assignment when the police took away his press-card and camera and assaulted him.
Sit demanded that he be released unconditionally and called for an apology from the Hongkong Government.
Superintendent E. R. Moss, who arrested Sit, testified that Sit was in the middle of a crowd at the junction of Wanchai and Johnston Roads on July 11. He was holding a bag and waving directions to the crowd.
- Ran Away -
When approached, Sit ran away and was chased through several lanes before he was arrested, Supt Moss said.
Asked if he wanted to cross-examine Supt Moss, Sit said the evidence “was all made up.”
Mr D. R. Boy, Crown Counsel, said the Crown did not dispute the fact that Sit was a reporter. But, he submitted, Sit’s activities in directing the crowd were surely outside his duties as a reporter.
Before passing sentence, Judge Cons said that despite Sit’s allegations of police brutality he could not show any mark on his person. He was satisfied that Sit had been working as a reporter earlier. But a newspaperman did not gesticulate to crowds, nor did he have any need to run away from the police.
When Judge Cons asked Sit if he had anything to say, Sit said: “I protest, I protest that you kidnapped a pressman from the New China News Agency. I protest that you are holding a trial illegally and insist on being an enemy of the Chinese people to no good consequences.”
Judge Cons said the evidence showed that Sit bad assumed some authority over the crowd but did not show that he was inciting the crowd.
He said Sit had been unimpressive in the witness box when he repeatedly refused to answer questions under cross-examination.
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SCMP, 20 Jul 1967 (Page 8)
Youths Put On Probation
Six youths, who pleaded guilty last week to unlawful assembly at night, were bound over and placed on probation by Mr N. B. Hooper at Western Court yesterday.
The six were arrested by three policemen outside the Central Government Offices, Lower Albert Road, at 10.45 pm on July 7.
The father of a 15-year-old defendant agreed to sign a bond of $100 to ensure the boy's behaviour for one year.
Mak Pau-wan (19), of 429, Hoi Au Mansion, Yu Kwong Village, was bound over in $100 for one year.
The other four, Chan Foon-sum (17), of Room 907, Block 5, Shekpaiwan resettlement estate, Aberdeen, Lun Cheung (18), of 232, Queen's Road, Central, second floor, and the two girls aged 15 and 16, were placed on probation for 18 months.
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