SCMP, 11 Sep 1967 (Page 1)
Reds Demonstrate in Kowloon
TRAIN SERVICE HELD UP BY BOMB
Communist agitators continued their attempts to defy the emergency regulations by staging another “lightning” demonstration in Yaumati yesterday and planting two fake bombs before police dispersed them.
They also planted a bomb in the afternoon near the railway tracks not far from the Beacon Hill Tunnel, holding up train service for more than three hours.
The Yaumati demonstration started shortly after 9.30 am when a crowd of about 100 Communist workers and students, wearing Mao badges, marched along Jordan Road near Canton Road, shouting slogans and carrying banners.
The demonstrators then distributed inflammatory pamphlets to passers-by and eventually attracted a large crowd.
When the police riot squad arrived later, the demonstrators dispersed, leaving behind two banners and two fake bombs.
- Banners -
The banners, found hanging on the railings dividing Jordan Road, and the fake bombs were removed.
Meanwhile, the New Evening Post, a left-wing newspaper, in a report on the morning's demonstration, openly admitted that the two fake bombs were planted by the demonstrators.
In a front page story, the newspaper reported that the demonstrators placed the banners on the Jordan Road railings and then left two “objects” before leaving the scene.
Train services between Shatin and Yaumati were disrupted for three hours following the discovery of a bomb near the tracks about a quarter mile from the Beacon Hill Tunnel and many weekend picknickers(sic) had to return to town by other means of transport.
The bomb, which was in one of three tins wrapped in newspapers, was found three feet away from the tracks shortly after 5.15 pm.
Army ammunition experts were rushed to the scene and the area was cordoned off.
It was found after examination that two of the tins were harmless. The third had a genuine bomb and it was detonated three hours later.
Normal train service was resumed at 8.34 pm.
An explosive device attached to an alarm clock was found outside the Kwong On Bank at the junction of Nga Tsin Wai Road with Nga Tsin Long Road shortly before 1 am.
The “time” bomb was later detonated by Army ammunition experts.
Four real bombs were also found--in Dundas Street near Fa Yuen Street; Laichikok Road opposite the Great World Theatre; Nam Cheong Street at its junction with Taipo Road near a traffic pagoda, and on the hillside behind Choi Hung estate.
Shortly after 3 pm, a box found lying on the road in Jordan Road near Gascoigne Road, turned out to be a fake.
About one hour later another object was found in the third class pier of the “Star” Ferry in Kowloon.
The “object” was a fake bomb.
- Two Arrested -
On Hongkong island, two men were arrested by a police party in Des Voeux Road West, near French Street, at about 9 pm.
The men were among a group of about 50 people who were seen marching along Des Voeux Road at the time.
Some inflammatory posters were found on them when they were searched by the police. It is expected they will be charged with joining in an unlawful assembly.
About the same time, a bomb was found outside the British and American Tobacco Company offices on Gloucester Road.
Children appear to be the only people flouting Government’s recent total ban on fireworks.
A number of reports of youngsters letting off firecrackers in Kowloon on Saturday were made to police.
A Government spokesman said yesterday that most fireworks were exploded in the Li Cheng Uk, So Uk, Wong Tai Sin and Valley Road resettlement areas.
He said that adults were getting rid of firecrackers by giving them to children rather than handing then over to the authorities.
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SCMP, 11 Sep 1967 (Page 1)
Canton Bans Anti-British Pamphlets
The Peoples’ Liberation Army and the Red Guards in Canton have banned the distribution of anti-British newspapers and pamphlets, according to train arrivals yesterday.
A woman arrival said anti-British newspapers and pamphlets appeared in Canton, showing photographs of the recent disturbances on the Sino-British border, in the hope of stirring up the people in Canton to create trouble for Hongkong.
“The Army had seized a large quantity of the newspapers and pamphlets two days ago,” she said.
The woman added that the PLA and the Red Guards in Canton believed that the local Communist agitators were anti-Maoists.
Another woman passenger said that the people in Canton, especially the Army and the Red Guards, were not supporting the Hongkong Communists, who had used Chairman Mao's name to create trouble.
“The people of China are in favour of keeping good relations with the British,” she said.
The woman added the situation in Canton had improved tremendously.
***
SCMP, 12 Sep 1967 (Page 1)
Canton Annoyed By October 1 Plans
STRUGGLE COMMITTEE LEADERS CRITICISED
Canton residents are extremely annoyed by the announcements made by leaders of Hongkong’s Anti-Persecution Struggle Committees last week that they planned a 10-day feast in connection with the October 1 celebration, arrivals from Canton said yesterday.
Wall posters in the provincial capital of Kwangtung asked: “Is it revolutionary or counter-revolutionary to waste people’s money from blood and sweat for sumptuous dinner parties as a counter-measure against ‘British Fascism’ in Hongkong?
“Does any compatriot in Hongkong remember great Chairman Mao’s teaching that ‘Revolution is not a dinner party’?”
Similar posters had also appeared in other cities in Kwangtung, the arrivals said.
A Hongkong businessman who returned from Canton after a short stay to check delivery of his goods, said he had also seen posters criticising the payment of high wages to workers in Hongkong who went on strike.
(Hongkong left-wing newspapers have claimed to have raised nearly $40m from ‘compatriots’ and from the Federation of All-China Trade Unions in Peking to organise the Hongkong Communist-led strikes).
The businessman compared the proportion paid to striking Ford workers in the U.S. who are receiving only 20 per cent of the standard wage, whereas left-wing workers in Hongkong were reported to have received full pay for going on strike.
Asked how they were able to hear of latest world news, the arrivals said they listened to Radio Hongkong and Voice of America although it was not generally permissible. Right-wing newspapers were also being smuggled into China.
The arrivals said that they had also seen doctors and firemen parading in the streets during the weekend demanding that the PLA take action to release their colleagues held by Red Guards.
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SCMP, 12 Sep 1967 (Page 1)
Gunfire Heard At Border
British security forces along the Lowu border have reported distant gunfire from the Mainland, according to a press party which visited the Lowu border yesterday.
The area looked peaceful enough as train passengers arrived from Shumchun.
Work continued on the second barbed-wire fence, expected to be completed within a week. (See Picture on Page 14).
Security forces said the gunfire could have come from a practice range.
They said the situation along the border had resumed the calm of May, before the series of border incidents started.
***
SCMP, 12 Sep 1967 (Page 1)
Nineteen Arrested In Raid
Nineteen people were arrested and a quantity of offensive weapons seized when police raided the premises of the Chinese Coxswain and Engineers Union in Pitt Street, Yaumati, shortly after 4.30 pm yesterday.
Three hours later, a crowd of between 100 and 200 troublemakers staged a brief demonstration in Kowloon City. Two teenagers were later arrested by plainclothes policemen at the scene.
A total of nine bombs were found and detonated in the Colony yesterday.
- Weapons -
In the raid on the union, the police found three suspected bombs, a time device, 40 sharpened water pipes, six poles, 12 bottles of acid and a number of knives and daggers. The raid lasted about 30 minutes.
A woman and 18 men were arrested on the second floor of Blocks B and C of 7A Pitt Street which housed the leftist union.
They will be charged with various offences under the Emergency Regulations.
During the 20-minute demonstration in Kowloon City, the troublemakers placed an anti-British banner on a roadside and planted two fake bombs.
Between 8 pm and 9 pm, four suspected bombs were detonated by explosive experts in Western District at Hill Road, Sutherland Street, Des Voeux Road West and Queen’s Road West.
Two other bombs were also found in the New Territories. The first one was outside the Chartered Bank in Tsun Wan and the other on Ping Chau Island.
Meanwhile, one of four men caught painting inflammatory slogans in a Shatin catchment area on Sunday has been charged under the Emergency Regulations.
The other three are still being questioned by police.
***
SCMP, 12 Sep 1967 (Page 6)
Women Received Poster In Mail
A housewife, Wong Yuk, was granted an absolute discharge after she told Mr T. J. van Rees at Central Court yesterday that she had received an inflammatory poster in the mail.
Wong (29), of Plat 3, A Block, fourth floor, Kiu Kwan Building, 395 King’s Road, pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing an inflammatory poster. She was arrested when the police raided the Kiu Kwan Building on September 1.
Wong told Mr van Rees that the inflammatory poster was in her letter box. She thought it was an advertisement and did not pay much attention to it. Her ability to read and write was very limited, she added.
Mr van Rees ordered her to pay $20 costs and discharged her.
***
SCMP, 12 Sep 1967 (Page 6)
Detective Tells Court Of Chase And Tussle With Man Wielding Knife
At Victoria District Court yesterday a detective described how he chased a knife-wielding dockworker, wanted in connection with the June 6 disturbance at the Taikoo Dockyard.
DPC Lam Chi-hung was giving evidence before Judge J. E. Hopkinson against Yu Chuen-lam (21), who was charged with rioting and wounding a police constable with intent to resist arrest.
Lam said he was on special duty in Shaukiwan Road on the morning of June 27 in connection with the Dockyard disturbance when Yu ran past him. People were shouting “Arrest him, arrest him.”
Lam said he chased Yu. He was within arm’s reach of Yu when the latter suddenly turned and struck at him with a knife. Lam said he managed to avoid the blow but was struck on the index finger of his left hand while Yu continued to run.
Once again, Lam said, he closed the gap between them and again Yu tried to strike him but this time he grabbed hold of Yu’s arm and twisted it. He succeeded in subduing Yu alter a struggle. Two other detectives assisted him, Lam added.
- Intimidating -
On trial with Yu on a charge of rioting was Tang Chuen (54). He was further charged with criminally intimidating Mr James Cassel, General Manager of the Taikoo Dockyard on June 6. Both have pleaded not guilty.
Mr Cassel testified that on the morning of June 6 he was surrounded by a group of armed dockyard workers and, under duress, was forced to sign two documents handed to him by the men.
After signing the first document relating to posters put up in the company's launches, Mr Cassel said, he thought the matter was over and he attempted to move away. However, he added, he and Mr Thomas Dunean, shipyard manager, were forced “to retreat at spear point and backed up against a wall where negotiations began on the second document that was presented to him by Tang.
During all this, Mr Cassel told the court, he saw Yu in the fore of the crowd waving his hands while conducting the crowd in the singing of political songs and the chanting of political slogans.
Hearing continues today.
***
SCMP, 12 Sep 1967 (Page 6)
FARMER ENTERS COURT ON CRUTCHES
A farmer who the police said shouted abuse at them, pelted them with stones and then jumped from a two-storey building in an attempt to escape during the riot at Shataukok on June 24, limped into Fanling Court on crutches yesterday to face three charges.
The farmer, Chung Koon-yau (38) pleaded not guilty to riotous behaviour, assaulting and obstructing police.
The magistrate, Mr H. S. Daniell, found him guilty and, noting that it was a “particularly bad case,” sentenced him to a total of three years in jail.
Inspector D. Pitt described how he climbed through a trapdoor of the two-storey Shataukok Rural Committee building to arrest people who were throwing stones from the roof. He saw Chung and called on him not to move. But as he edged forward, Chung climbed over the parapet and jumped to the ground.
Chung was soon found and was sent to hospital where he had been detained until 10 days ago, Insp Pitt added.
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SCMP, 12 Sep 1967 (Page 6)
Operation Fireworks A Great Success
The Commissioner of Mines, Mr R. M. Hetherington, yesterday thanked the people of Hongkong for their excellent co-operation with Government in so willingly notifying and surrendering large stocks of fireworks in their possession.
More than 100 tons of fireworks in Hongkong have been collected or notified since the Emergency Fireworks Regulation was announced last Friday.
Mr Hetherington said that the overwhelming response indicated that the public supported the measure taken by Government to deny the use of explosives to terrorists who manufactured bombs in an attempt to disrupt and endanger the lives and the livelihood of the community.
He was particularly impressed by the willingness of people to come forward and hand in fireworks which, in Hongkong had a special significance in the traditional customs of the people.
Teams were kept busy throughout the weekend receiving and collecting fireworks, and were still operating yesterday.
It is anticipated that most of the fireworks in the hands of the public would be collected by today.
Following the collection of outstanding stocks, the Commissioner of Mines said, arrangements would be made to examine them to determine the exact quantity.
This operation would take longer than originally anticipated because of the large amounts involved, but every endeavour would be made to complete this as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, the Kaifong Associations have accepted a request to assist the authorities in collecting fireworks from Hongkong residents.
A Government spokesman, in announcing the services offered by the Kaifong bodies, said that any one in possession of a small quantity of fireworks could hand them to the nearest Kaifong Association, instead of a police station.
***
SCMP, 12 Sep 1967 (Page 6)
Protest By Youth When Jailed
A 19-year-old youth shouted protests at Victoria District Court yesterday when Judge N. R. Wylie jailed him for a total of two and a half years.
Lau Cheung-chuen, of 96A, Chun Yeung Street, third floor, raised his arm and shouted from the dock: “I protest against my conviction and this illegal trial.”
Judge Wylie convicted Lau and a 15-year-old youth on charges of rioting, forming part of an intimidating assembly and assault causing actual bodily harm. The youth was remanded in custody till September 20 for a training centre report.
In his judgment, Judge Wylie rejected the evidence given by the two accused and said he accepted the evidence of a tram regulator who said he was beaten up by a mob of which the accused were members.
The tram regulator, Mr Cheung Shui-por, had testified that on July 11 he was dragged out of his shelter at the North Point terminus and beaten up by about 20 people. He said this occurred after three youths, one of whom he identified as Lau, had demanded to know who had given him permission to run the tram.
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SCMP, 12 Sep 1967 (Page 6)
Three Accused After Mongkok Incidents
Three men appeared before Mr F. de F. Stratton at North Kowloon Court yesterday on charges of uttering an inflammatory speech, forming part of an intimidating assembly and resisting arrest.
They were arrested in Nathan Road, Mongkok, following the disturbances there last Saturday.
The defendants are Chung Koon-hung (19), a casual worker, Tam Wing-shu (25) a gold smith’s apprentice, and Yeung Ngai (54), a labourer.
Their case will be heard tomorrow.
***
SCMP, 12 Sep 1967 (Page 6)
Seaman Jailed For Court Disturbance
A seaman who caused a disturbance inside Central Court on September 1, was yesterday jailed for one year by Mr E. Light.
Lam Chik-yuen (21) of 6, Nanking Road, fifth floor, pleaded not guilty to disorderly conduct, assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.
Testifying, Inspector G. A. A. Murphy attached to Central Court, said he was on duty in Court 3 at Central on the morning of September 1. When the magistrate, Mr T. J. van Rees, entered the court the people in the public gallery refused to stand.
An inspector addressed the public in Cantonese but there was no reaction from the crowd who continued to sit as a group.
The police officer in charge, Senior Inspector A. A. Gosden, asked for a short adjournment to enable the police to clear the court.
- Commotion -
Insp Murphy said he went to hold the doors open while police ushered out the crowd. While at the door he heard a commotion behind him. Turning round he saw Lam strike Insp Gosden a blow on the cheek before rushing out of the court.
"I chased after him and grasped him,” Lam struggled and Insp Gosden shouted, “arrest him.” Two police constables came up and subdued Lam who was struggling violently, Insp Murphy said.
In an unsworn statement Lam said he was caught simply because he was the last one to leave the courtroom. The charge of assault was “only an excuse put up by the police to persecute an innocent seaman,” he said.
The trouble started when the police began assaulting people as they left the courtroom, he added.
Conviction was recorded on the disorderly conduct charge, and he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on each of the other two charges.
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SCMP, 12 Sep 1967 (Page 6)
SEVEN YOUTHS PLEAD NOT GUILTY
Seven youths, who were arrested on August 11 following a police search of the Student Bookshop at 520 Nathan Road, appear at South Kowloon Court yesterday on a charge of being found on premises containing a corrosive substance.
They pleaded not guilty before Mr J. J. Rhind. The defendants, are Lok Wai-ming (19), Ng Yau-fat (20), Cheung Yi-ming (17), Ho Yiu-long (17), Li Chi-cheung (17), and two juveniles.
Inspector B. W. Shannon told the court how he and his patrol party had searched the shop, which sells the “Thoughts of Mao Tse-tung.” The search was made at 6.40 pm when he heard Communist music blaring from the shop. Earlier, his patrol had painted over an inflammatory poster in the shop's window, Insp Shannon said.
He added that the seven defendants, all shop assistants, were in the shop at the time. A carboy of acid was found by a constable in an adjoining room.
The hearing will continue today. Insp N. B. Dunn is prosecuting.
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SCMP, 13 Sep 1967 (Page 1)
POLICE PARTY ATTACKED
Crowd Gathers To Hear Communist Broadcast
BOMB INJURES THREE
A crowd of about 30 people, armed with offensive weapons, attacked a police party on the waterfront last night, injuring a police corporal.
The crowd had earlier gathered at the waterfront in Water Street near Connaught Road West to listen to a broadcast from a boat moored nearby at about 8.30 pm.
Two police constables and a bystander were injured when a bomb exploded in the middle of the road at the junction of Queen’s Road Central and Jervois Street about an hour and a half later.
The police party was attacked as soon as it reached Water Street, and the corporal was hit on the head with an iron bar.
After the attack, the assailant jumped into the harbour. Police fired four shots at the fleeing man but it was not known whether the man was hit.
A police spokesman said early this morning that no trace had been found of the man after an extensive search.
Police arrested 28 people and seized a quantity of weapons which included iron bars, cargo hooks and bamboo poles.
Shortly after the clash, another report was received by the police that a crowd of about 60 had formed in Sutherland Street near Connaught Road West.
- Bomb In Road -
Police went to the scene and the crowd dispersed on their arrival.
Shortly before 10 pm, two police constables were patrolling along Queen’s Road Central near Jervois Street when they found a bomb in the middle of the road and a red banner hanging on a nearby construction site.
The two policemen immediately informed their station and then warned passersby(sic) to keep away from the bomb. As they were walking away the bomb exploded.
The two policemen and a bystander were injured.
After the explosion, a large party of police, together with army units, arrived and cordoned off the area, and traffic was diverted.
An army explosive expert, accompanied by detectives, conducted a search in the vicinity and found another bomb. It was later detonated.
A spokesman of Queen Mary Hospital said later that the police corporal who was attacked in the water front incident suffered only slight injuries to the head and was discharged after treatment.
One of the two constables injured in the bomb explosion was detained for treatment.
The other policeman and the passerby(sic) were treated and discharged.
Earlier in the day, five other bombs, of which only two were genuine, were found on both sides of the harbour.
The two genuine bombs were found in the Shaukiwan District between 7.30 am and 8.22 am.
- Steel Shield -
A suspected bomb was found outside the office of the Ching Po Daily, a left-wing newspaper, in Wellington Street, Central, shortly after 9 am.
An army ammunition expert was seen for the first time to use a special steel shield and a long pole to put the bomb into place where it could be exploded safely. The bomb was found to be a hoax.
Two fake bombs were found within 50 yards of each other in Central District.
One was on at the entrance to the Hilton Hotel branch of the Bank of America and the other was on a window-ledge of the Supreme Court facing the Bank of China.
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SCMP, 13 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
‘Poison Gas’ Allegation By Accused
A left-wing unionist alleged at Central Court yesterday that he was held by the hair and round the body by policemen while “poison gas” was sprayed over him.
Li Hoi (44), a cargo labourer, made the allegation when he cross-examined a police witness who denied seeing this happen.
Li and 55 other members of the Cargo Supervisors Union are on trial before Mr T. J. Van Rees on charges under the Emergency Regulations. They are accused of uttering an inflammatory speech and forming an intimidating assembly.
Li was further charged with resisting lawful arrest and four others, Chung Pak (62), Leung Kwok-chi (53), Shum Chim (56), and Siu Wai-kei (32), all storekeepers, are charged with being persons in charge of a building displaying inflammatory posters. They have denied the charges.
Detective-Insp Li Kwok-yee testified that when the unionists were told they were under arrest they protested and shouted inflammatory slogans.
The Inspector said he had led a police raid on the union premises at 13-17 Man Ying Building, Man Yuen Street, on September 3.
Inflammatory posters were found on the walls and when these were being removed the group began to shout inflammatory slogans, Insp Li said. Li Hoi, who led the chanting of the slogans, resisted arrest and kicked a European inspector in the groin.
Li, in cross-examination, asked Insp Li if he saw the European inspector, whom he was alleged to have kicked, hold him by the hair and another policeman put his arms round him while “poison gas” was sprayed over him.
Insp Li denied seeing this happen.
Hearing will continue today.
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SCMP, 13 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Long Prison Terms For Young Bomb Carriers
A 15-year-old boy with a high IQ was jailed for four years yesterday for carrying bombs. A 20-year-old man who was also charged was sent to jail for seven years.
Judge Derek Cons, at Victoria District Court, said the boy’s higher-than-average intelligence made him as responsible for his actions as an older defendant might be.
Judge Cons convicted the boy and the man of accompanying each other in carrying bombs, to the prejudice of the public interest.
The bombs, which the police found on the boy and the man, Ma Shu-keung, of Chaiwan Resettlement Estate, late on July 23 were a danger to the public, Judge Cons said.
- Dangerous -
Two of them would have exploded at any jolt and two others had such unstable explosives that even an expert was unwilling to carry them into court as exhibits, he pointed out.
Even if the bombs had been buried in a cemetery, as the boy had said they would have been, they would have constituted a danger to visitors, diggers or playing children, the Judge added.
However, he found the accused not guilty of carrying bomb for an unlawful purpose, because the evidence did not show such unlawful purpose on their part.
- Responsible -
Judge Cons said the older accused’s age made him fully responsible for his acts.
As for the boy, he had shown “a ready wit, which he was willing to turn to falsehood when it suited his purpose,” the Judge observed.
Judge Cons commended Police Constable Wong Fai and his police party. They had dealt in a “clear, calm and efficient way” with bombs which could have gone off at “the slightest jolt.”
Mr Ross Penlington and Mr E. Soh, Crown Counsel, appeared for the prosecution.
Mr D. C. Willis appeared for the boy, instructed by Hastings and Company.
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SCMP, 13 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Acid Found On Premises Of Bookshop
A police constable said yesterday at South Kowloon Court that he had found a carboy of acid on the premises of the Student Bookshop at 520 Nathan Road during a search on August 11.
PC Lau Man-hong was testifying at the trial of seven youths charged with being found on premises containing a corrosive substance.
The defendants, who pleaded not guilty to the charges before Mr J. J. Rhind, are Lok Wai-ming, (19), Ng Yau-fat, (20) Cheung Yi-ming, (17), Ho Yiu-long, (17), Li Chi-cheung, (17), and two juveniles.
The constable stated that the carboy was found in a room at the back of the shop, which sells copies of the “Thoughts of Mao Tse-tung.”
The hearing will continue today.
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SCMP, 13 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Jail For Man Injured By Bomb He Carried
A man who was seriously injured on July 19 when a bomb he had exploded in his hand was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment yesterday by Judge R. O’Connor at Kowloon District Court.
The accused, Tong Ching-ping (29, was found guilty of charges of possession of ammunition and possession of an offensive weapon, the bomb, on July 19.
Tong, of an unnumbered stone house in Aldrich Village, Shaukiwan, had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The judge sentenced Tong to eight years on the bomb possession charge and five years on the other, the sentences to run concurrently.
A taxi-driver, who was hailed by Tong in the Koonchung district of Kowloon on the night of July 19, testified that he saw blood-stains on the clothing of the accused.
He said that when he asked Tong how he was injured Tong replied that he had been beaten up by teddy boys. However, the driver said he was suspicious, and stopped a police patrol car at the junction of Austin and Canton Roads.
The corporal in charge of the patrol testified that when the taxi stopped Tong leapt out, shouting: “I want to fight to the death.”
Asked how he was injured, Tong replied: “I want to kill you with a bomb; I have been to every police station.”
A doctor who was on duty in the casualty ward of Queen Elizabeth Hospital testified that in his opinion Tong’s injuries “could have been caused by a bomb.”
Tong shouted threats at the witnesses throughout the trial, and Judge O’Connor ordered that their names be withheld.
After threatening the taxi driver and calling him “a traitor,” Tong was ordered to be silent. He replied: “I don’t care if you sentence me to death.”
Later Tong said to the judge: “You will collapse.”
Judge O'Connor replied: “You are the first to collapse; you have already collapsed.”
Giving an unsworn statement in his own defence, Tong said: “I am Chinese and it is my patriotic duty to hold up the national dignity of China.”
Judge O'Connor commented: “Acts which have already killed children will not hold up the national dignity of China.”
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SCMP, 13 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Police Search In Saikung
The police yesterday searched the Cheng Lan Shu area of Saikung following a report that a group of ten people had been intimidating villagers.
The search, which was led by Mr T. M. S. Chalmers, Divisional Superintendent, Wongtaisin Police Station, began at 7.30 am and lasted for an hour and a half.
No arrests were made.
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SCMP, 14 Sep 1967 (page 1)
THREE BRANCHES OF LEFT-WING UNION RAIDED
Police last night raided three branches of the Hongkong and Kowloon Fish Trade Workers Union in Hongkong and Kowloon and seized a quantity of inflammatory posters and weapons. No arrests were made.
Meanwhile, there were 13 bomb reports in the Colony, including one believed to have been thrown from a building in Haiphong Road, Tsimshatsui, and another which exploded outside the U.S. Information Services library in Ice House Street. There were no casualties in both incidents.
The raids on the Fish Trade Workers Union branches were carried out simultaneously at 7 pm. One of the branches was at 538 Canton Road, second floor, Kowloon, and the other two were in Hongkong at 272-274 Lockhart Road, 11th floor, Wanchai, and 10A Wu Pak Street, 5th floor, Aberdeen.
The first bomb report on Hongkong Island was in Electric Road, about 100 yards east of the Hongkong Electric Company, at 8.45 am.
The second one was discovered in Ventris Terrace, Happy Valley, at 9.20 am, and the third was found outside 255 King's Road, North, about five minutes later.
At 3.30 pm, another bomb was discovered at the junction of Sports Road and Wongneichong Road, Happy Valley.
In Kowloon, two bombs were found at the entrance of Empress Hotel, junction of Chatham Road and Mody Road, shortly after 10.45 am.
A suspected bomb was found outside the ladies room on the ground floor of the South Kowloon Magistracy shortly after 11.30 am.
The “bomb,” which was wrapped in a left-wing newspaper, was found to be a hoax.
A travelling bag, suspected to be a “bomb,” was found under a S.C.M. Post van parked in Wellington Street, shortly after 3 pm. It was later found to contain receipts, bills and waste paper.
The condition of Police Constable Lau Mok-sum, who was injured by a bomb explosion at the junction of Queen’s Road Central and Jervois Street on Tuesday, was described as “fair” last night.
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SCMP, 14 Sep 1967 (Page 6)
Rescued By Communist Boat
A man who jumped into the harbour after attacking a police corporal on the waterfront in Western District on Tuesday night was reported to have been rescued by a Communist river boat.
Police had fired four shots at the fleeing man but did not know whether he was hit.
According to left-wing newspapers yesterday, the man was picked up by a vessel anchored near a pier. One paper reported that the man was wounded in the arm.
A Government spokesman said the man had not been found.
“He is believed to have been picked up by the crew of a cargo junk,” he added.
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SCMP, 14 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Union Members Charged With Intimidation
Members of the Cargo Supervisors Union, arrested during a raid on the Union premises on September 3, said at Central Court yesterday that learning Mao’s thoughts and singing revolutionary songs did not constitute making inflammatory speeches.
Fifty-six of the Union’s members are facing charges, before Mr T. J. van Rees, of uttering an inflammatory speech and forming an intimidating assembly.
Four of them, Chung Pak (62), Leung Kwok-chi (51), Shum Chim (56) and Siu Wai-kei (32), are further charged with being in charge of a building displaying inflammatory posters. A fifth, Li Hoi (44), is additionally charged with resisting arrest.
All the defendants have pleaded not guilty.
In unsworn statements made yesterday, 33 of them said they went to the union premises to pass the time. The union was a legal one and it was their right and privilege to gather there, they maintained.
Some said that they sang songs and read from the Quotations of Chairman Mao and there was nothing illegal about that.
Hearing will continue today.
Mr N. R. Macdougall, Crown Counsel, is prosecuting.
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SCMP, 14 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
MAGISTRATE ASKED ABOUT THE BIBLE
A surveyor of the Public Works Department, who was charged at Central Court yesterday with possession of inflammatory posters, asked the magistrate, Mr E. Light, whether the Bible was a poster.
Yeung Yiu-pong (20) of Flat D, 11th Floor, Man Ching Mansion, North Point, asked the question after Mr Light had explained to him the nature of the offence with which he was charged.
Mr Light explained that any broad sheets, leaflets, pamphlets or similar things, which on the whole or part could cause incitement to violence or might lead to a breach of the peace, would be considered as inflammatory posters.
Yeung, pleading not guilty, then asked about the Bible.
Mr Light said the question was completely irrelevant.
Hearing will continue today.
Inspector G. A. Murphy is prosecuting.
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SCMP, 14 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Police Raid On Union: 19 Charged
A woman and 18 men arrested during a raid on the Chinese Coxswains’ and Engineers’ Union in Pitt Street, Mongkok, on Monday appeared at South Kowloon Court yesterday on charges of being found on premises containing offensive weapons.
No plea was taken and Mr G. C. Bryne, the magistrate, remanded the defendants for seven days pending transfer of the case to Kowloon District Court.
***
SCMP, 14 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Two Deck Workers Jailed
Two Taikoo Dockyard workers were yesterday jailed by Judge J. E. Hopkinson at Victoria District Court when they were found guilty of rioting at the dock on June 6.
Yu Chuen-lam (21) and Tang Chuen (54), both of whom had pleaded not guilty to the charge, were jailed for four and a half years and four years respectively. Yu was also convicted on an additional charge of wounding a police officer.
At an earlier hearing, Mr J. Cassels, General Manager of the Dockyard, had testified that on June 6 he was surrounded by a mob of workers at the dockyard and pushed against a wall at the point of a spear. He said that he was also forced to sign a document.
The prosecution submitted that Yu, on the second charge, had attacked a detective on June 27 with a knife in an attempt to evade arrest.
Mr D. Walsh, Crown Counsel told the Court that Yu had worked as an apprentice for four years and Tang as a labourer for 20 years with the company and that their services were considered satisfactory.
***
SCMP, 14 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Obstruction Of Police Alleged
An employee 0of the Ta Kung Pao has been charged with assaulting a police officer, obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty and resisting arrest following an incident at South Kowloon Court yesterday morning.
The employee, Siu Kong-lau (22), will appear at South Kowloon Court this morning.
***
SCMP, 14 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Judgement Reserved
Mr J. J. Rhind, magistrate at South Kowloon Court, yesterday reserved judgment to this morning in the trial of seven youths who were arrested during a raid on a bookstore in Nathan Road on August 11.
The accused are Cheung Yi-ming (17), Lok Wai-ming (19), Ng Yau-fat (20), Ho Yiu-long (17), Li Chi-cheung (17) and two 16-year-old boys. They are charged with being found on premises containing corrosive substances. The offence is alleged to have been committed at the Student Bookshop, at 520 Nathan Road, ground floor.
In a statement in his defence, Cheung described his workplace as “a patriotic bookstore propagating patriotism.” He also claimed that during the raid on the bookstore, the police had beaten people, including customers.
***
SCMP, 14 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Accused Of Having Fake Bomb
Wong Hon-yee (18), a delivery boy, was remanded for two days by Mr A. L. Leathlean at Central Court yesterday on a charge of possession of a fake bomb.
Wong, of 150 Wing Lok Street, ground floor, pleaded not guilty to having the bomb outside the public lavatory in Wing Lok Street on Monday.
***
SCMP, 14 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
JUDGE REPIRMANDS FIVE LEFT-WING REPORTERS
Five left-wing reporters were told yesterday by a judge at Kowloon District Court that they did not have “the stuff of martyrs and heroes” and that they were “a disgrace to their profession.”
Judge R. O'Connor was addressing four men and a woman who were convicted of taking part in an intimidating assembly and uttering inflammatory speeches.
He told the accused that instead of reporting news they were “manufacturing it for their employers.” and added that this was a “disturbing thought.”
The five, who had pleaded not guilty, were sentenced to three years in jail on each offence, the terms to run concurrently.
One of them, Ng Choi-shing (23), of the Ching Po Daily News, was also sentenced to four months’ imprisonment after being found guilty of possession of an inflammatory poster, the term to be served concurrently with the three-year sentence.
The other defendants were Lam Yuk-wo (31), of the New China News Agency; Wong Yat-lau (37), of the Wen Wei Pao; Chan Chi-fung (32), of the Commercial Daily News; and Wong Ling (34), a woman reporter of the Ta Kung Pao.
Immediately after the judge had passed the sentences, the five reporters and about 50 people in the public gallery shouted and raised their fists.
Calm was quickly restored by the policemen and police women guarding the court.
After the accused had been removed, Judge O’Connor ordered the arrest of three women who had started the demonstration, and sentenced them to 14 days in jail for contempt of court.
The three women, who were dragged screaming from the court, were Cheung Suk-wan, (35), Lee Yuek-man (21) and Leung Suk-hung (22).
Earlier, Judge O’Connor recalled the incident from which the charges against the reporters arose, and described how four detectives on patrol in Wangtauhom at 7.50 pm on July 29 saw the accused leading a group of 100 school children in singing and chanting slogans.
“The five were on the periphery of the crowd,” he said, “and they joined in the shouting and raising of arms. Some of them appeared to be taking photographs,” he added.
The judge said that after about 15 minutes the accused went away, and were arrested by the detectives following a brief car chase.
When Judge O'Connor asked Mr A. J. Corrigan, the Crown Counsel who prosecuted, if he had any information about the defendants, Mr Corrigan replied that all that the five would give were their ages.
Asked if they had anything to say in mitigation, Lam replied “ridiculous, ridiculous,” while Chan said he would take “no notice of imperialist fascist threats.”
Strict security was maintained in the court throughout the proceedings, and riot police were stationed outside the court building.
***
SCMP, 15 Sep 1967 (Page 1)
INFORMATION ON BOMBINGS
Many Letters Follow Reward Offers
POLICE INVESTIGATE
Police have received hundreds of letters following the offer of rewards for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the deaths of five persons, including two children, and the stabbing of a police inspector.
Commenting on letters received through Box 999 — the postal address for police information — a police spokesman said last night that the majority of letters could not lead to any actual evidence but investigations nevertheless had to be carried out.
The spokesman emphasised that police action was taken as soon as there was sufficient evidence to do so.
The number of letters received in a day ranged from ten to 50. “During the past week the average was ten letters a day,” the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the police had interviewed a large number of people, including some employees and former employees of Commercial Radio where Mr Lam Bun and his cousin were employed at the time they were murdered.
The spokesman said that police were anxious to interview one former employee of the station, surnamed Chau, to see if he could assist them in their investigations.
A total of $330,000 in rewards has been offered by the police in connection with the deaths of Mr Lam Bun and his cousin who were attacked and burned to death on August 24, two children killed in a blast in North Point on August 20, Fire Officer Aslam Khan killed in a bomb explosion on September 3 and the stabbing of a police inspector on the same day.
- No Evidence -
Commenting on recent bomb incidents, the spokesman said that there was no evidence to show that the bombs placed in various parts of the Colony had been made from stolen gelignite.
He added that there was also no evidence of any centre being used in the mass production of bombs.
Police yesterday raided the Paint Scrapers Union premises in Shaukiwan and seized a fake bomb and a bomb-making kit.
Other items seized included a quantity of inflammatory documents, banners and gasmasks.
A man was detained by the Police for questioning.
Communist agitators continued to plant genuine and fake bombs on both sides of the harbour yesterday, but on a smaller scale.
Three bombs were found near a petrol station in Yau Yat Chuen, Kowloon, early in the morning. They were detonated by army ammunition experts. There was no damage.
A bottle of fire-cracker powder put in a paper box was found outside 308 Shaukiwan Road, Hongkong, shortly after 7 am. It was later detonated. No casualties or damage was reported.
A man was detained by the police for questioning after he was seen loitering in Wanchai Gap Road where a fake bomb was found shortly after 9.20 pm.
Many of the sumptuous dinner parties planned by local Communists to celebrate October 1 might turn out to be mere “picnic meals” with participants consuming unsold tinned food from China, several striking left-wing workers said yesterday.
The change was made following mounting criticism from the mainland that the local Communists were wasting people’s money for the planned ten-day feast, they said.
Earlier, local Communist organisations had tried to book dinners at several leading restaurants, but were turned down for fear of possible riots and damage to their property. As a result, many of the organisations are understood to be holding the parties in their own premises.
***
SCMP, 15 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Jailed For Contempt Of Court
A youth was yesterday acquitted on a charge and then jailed for three months for contempt of court when he made insulting remarks to a magistrate.
At the start of yesterday's hearing Mr J. J. Rhind, Magistrate at South Kowloon Court, asked 19-year-old Ho Yau-long, to explain what he meant by saying on Wednesday: “When the judge returns to England he will be eating potato peels.”
Ho replied: “The Chinese in Hongkong will go on struggling until the Hongkong-British authorities collapse.”
Mr Rhind told Ho that he was not satisfied with the explanation and took the remark as an insult. He said he would therefore jail Ho for one month for contempt of court.
Ho replied: “I am not only in contempt of the court but also of the magistrate…. You dog judge….”
Mr Rhind sentenced Ho to another two months in prison for this remark.
Ho and six other people were alleged to have been at the Students Bookshop at 520 Nathan Road when bottles of acid were found on the premises by the police on August 11.
Mr Rhind, in acquitting the defendants of the charge, said that he would give them the benefit of the doubt because the acid found on the premises could have been used for cleaning purposes.
***
SCMP, 15 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Verdict Of Death By Misadventure
A verdict of death by misadventure was returned by a jury of three men at an inquiry yesterday into the death of a worker of the Hongkong and China Gas Co, Ltd, whose body was found buried in a coke hopper on the third floor of the gas plant in Tokwawan on June 11.
Evidence had been produced to show that the worker, Lai Chung (52), died between June 8 and 9.
Dr Lee Fook-kei, a police forensic pathologist, testified that the cause of death was asphyxia.
Mr C. H. Koh was the Coroner. The inquest was held at North Kowloon Court.
***
SCMP, 15 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Acquitted First, Then Sentenced
A 16-year-old girl acquitted on a charge of aiding and abetting a youth in attempting to make mischief by means of a hoax bomb, was sentenced to jail for two months for contempt of court during the trial at South Kowloon Court yesterday.
The girl was jointly charged with Yan Kin-shing (18), and Wong Wai-ling, a 17-year-old girl, for aiding and abetting Lee Shiu-fai, an 18-year-old youth, in attempting to cause a nuisance to the public.
Lee was charged with attempting to make mischief.
- Insufficient -
The four had pleaded not guilty to having used a false bomb to cause mischief on August 21 in Nathan Road, Kowloon.
Police found the false bomb inside a bag carried by Lee. The other three defendants were with him at that time.
However, Mr G. C. Byrne, the magistrate, after hearing the prosecution's evidence, found that there was insufficient evidence to prove that they had attempted to make mischief by a hoax bomb, and had the charges against them quashed.
Earlier, while an army ballistics officer was testifying that the bomb was a false one, the 16-year-old girl said to the witness that “we did not see any white skin pig but only yellow skin dogs.”
Asked by the magistrate whether she meant the witness to be a “white skin pig,” the girl replied in the affirmative.
She was then jailed for two months for contempt of court.
***
SCMP, 15 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Reporter Denies Charges
A reporter of the newspaper Ta Kung Pao denied before Judge J. E. Hopkinson at Victoria District Court yesterday charges of taking part in an unlawful assembly, making an inflammatory speech and wounding two police constables.
The accused, Wong Chak (40) also denied charges of being in possession of a dagger and resisting arrest. The offences were alleged to have been committed in Jubilee Street, near Central Market, on August 26 this year.
Judge Hopkinson ordered the trial to start on October 4.
Mr O. F. Corcoran, Crown Counsel, appeared for the Attorney-General.
***
SCMP, 15 Sep 1697 (Page 8)
RECOMMENDED FOR DEPORTATION
Thirty-eight people were each jailed for 16 months by Mr D. A. Davies at North Kowloon Court yesterday after they were convicted of being found on premises housing offensive weapons.
Thirty-two of them were recommended for deportation.
Another man, also found guilty of the same offence, was sent to prison for 19 months, while a 16-year-old youth was remanded for seven days in jail pending a probation officer's report.
The defendants were arrested during a police raid at the Motor Transport Workers’ Union, Kowloon branch at 343-349 Portland Street, Yaumati, on July 25.
A large quantity of offensive weapons was seized during the raid.
***
SCMP, 15 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Pleads Not Guilty
An employee of the Ta Kung Pao pleaded not guilty at South Kowloon Court yesterday to charges of assaulting and obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duties.
Siu Kong-lau (22) is alleged to have committed the offences at South Kowloon Court on Wednesday.
Mr G. C. Byrne fixed the hearing for September 19.
***
SCMP, 15 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Posters Encouraged Violence
LEFT-WING UNION MEN SENT TO PRISON
Jail sentences ranging from 18 months to three years were passed on 56 members of the left-wing Cargo Supervisors Union by Mr T. J. van Rees at Central Court yesterday.
Mr van Rees told the unionists that he had listened to the evidence very carefully and found all the charges against each defendant proved.
He then began to sentence them individually amid tight police security measures against disturbances in the courtroom. As each man was sentenced he was led away to the cells.
Forty-eight of the defendants were jailed for a total of 18 months each for forming an intimidating assembly and making inflammatory speeches.
Three others received 21-month jail sentences on each count because of their criminal records. The sentences are to run concurrently.
Four of the defendants, who were additionally charged with being persons in charge of a building displaying inflammatory posters, were each jailed for two and a half years.
In sentencing them, Mr van Rees said that the posters found on the union premises at 13-17 Man Ying Building, Man Yuen Street, on September 3 were “grossly inflammatory” and encouraged people to all sorts of violence.
He told the four, Chung Pak (62), Siu Wai-kei (32), Shum Chim (56) and Leung Kwok-chi (51) that “this sort of thing will not be tolerated.”
The heaviest sentence was passed on Li Hoi (44), described by Mr van Rees as the “cheer leader.” Li was jailed for two years on the first two counts and an additional year for assaulting a police officer when resisting arrest.
The magistrate stipulated that Li’s additional sentence was to run consecutively with the two-year term because it was ‘“‘calculated to show others tempted to assault the police that this sort of thing will not be tolerated.”
Mr van Rees said he had no doubt in his mind that Li was the “cheer leader at the assembly and had encouraged the others to shout slogans denouncing “British imperialism” and the police.
Earlier, in an unsworn statement from the dock, Li had claimed that he was a “victim of persecution” and had alleged that he had been mistreated by the police following his arrest.
He said that he and the others had assembled at the union that day to study the quotations of Chairman Mao Tse-tung and to “sing revolutionary songs.” This, he said, was carried out in an orderly manner until the police arrived.
None of the defendants with families wanted help from the Social Welfare Department. One of them told the magistrate: “Whether my wife is looked after or not has nothing to do with this case.”
Mr N. Macdougall, Crown Counsel, prosecuted.
***
SCMP, 15 Sep 1967 (Page 6)
BORDER EXERCISES BY RED TROOPS
An Army spokesman said yesterday that Chinese troops had held military exercises near the border every night since last Sunday. The exercises were generally held near Shumchun for about two hours just before darkness fell.
The troops appeared to be mostly using rifles and light machine-guns but mortar fire was heard occasionally, the spokesman said.
He did not believe that the exercises were designed to show Chinese Army support of Communist activities in Hongkong — as leftist papers here have claimed.
“I think these exercises are quite routine military training and have nothing to do with the local Communist agitators in Hongkong,” he said.
The situation at the border was “quiet and normal” yesterday. At Shataukok, about a dozen peasants crossed the border to till their fields on the Hongkong side.
***
 | ||
| Suspects being escorted on to a police van after a raid on the Carpenters’ General Union premises in Queen’s Road East last night. |
SCMP, 16 Sep 1967 (Page 1)
Rewards Paid To Residents
INFORMATION ABOUT EXPLOSIVES
A substantial sum of reward money has been paid to public-spirited residents who have furnished police with information which has led to the smashing of a large number of bomb factories and arrests of people possessing bombs.
Mr Norman Rolph, Director of Criminal Investigation, said yesterday that the amount could not be disclosed because he did not want to let the “other side” know too much.
He said the public’s response in giving leads to bomb cases had been most encouraging and each day information was received by telephone, personal calls at police stations and through Box 999.
“Much information has been received from the public and these have led to the destruction or exposing of bomb factories in most cases,” Mr Rolph said.
- Murder Cases -
So, far no reward money has been paid out regarding the Lam Bun murder and other murder cases connected with bombs.
As to what police action would be taken against the so-called All-Circles Compatriots’ Anti-Hongkong British Persecution Struggle Committee, Mr Rolph noted that the police had no real evidence that it actually existed.
“We cannot ban any society or organisation until we can prove the activities they undertake are illegal,” he added.
Meanwhile, the police arrested a total of 28 people, including five girls, during three raids on leftist union premises and two demonstrations staged by leftwing agitators yesterday.
Apart from the demonstrations outside the Causeway Bay Magistracy building and in Yaumati area, troublemakers also planted three real bombs, one outside the General Post Office in Central, and 17 fake ones in Kowloon and Hongkong.
The police carried out a dawn raid at five stone huts in the Ting Kok Village, Taipo, New Territories, about 5.30 am.
Four men were arrested and a number of inflammatory posters, books and leaflets were seized.
Three of the men, including a village representative, Yue Kam-fau, have been charged under the Emergency Regulations and will appear in Fanling Court today.
- Union Raided -
A fourth man is still detained for questioning at the Yuen Long Police Station.
At 7 pm, the police raided two premises of the Carpenters’ General Union in Hollywood Road, Central, and in Queen's Road, East.
A large quantity of inflammatory posters was seized from the two premises.
Two men, including the Vice-Chairman of the Union, were arrested in Hollywood Road. They will be charged with possession of the posters.
Three other men were arrested in the Queen’s Road East branch of the union.
At 10.30 am, about 100 people gathered outside the Causeway Bay Court building demanding the release of all prisoners in Hongkong. The police cordoned off the area and arrested 15 of them; three were girls.
At 2.30 pm, the police had to use tear gas to disperse a crowd of about 200 at Nathan Road near Dundas Street, Yaumati.
- Arrests Made -
Two men and two girls were later arrested. The girls were carrying a banner. One of the men appeared to be the leader of the crowd. The other arrested man received slight injuries when he struggled with the police.
The crowd had earlier surrounded a police patrol car at the scene.
The bomb found outside the General Post Office was detonated on the waterfront reclamation in Connaught Road Central shortly after 9.30 am.
The second bomb was found in Tai Foo Street near Shaukiwan Road about 11.20 am.
A third one was found in a public lavatory opposite the Chaiwan Bus Terminus about 6 pm. All three bombs were detonated and caused no damage or casualties.
Between 6 am and 8 am, Army ammunition experts detonated nine fake bombs found in various places around Power Street and King’s Road, North Point.
Later in the afternoon, eight fake bombs, discovered at various locations in a section of Nathan Road between Waterloo Road and Nelson Street, disrupted the traffic for more than an hour when ammunition expert were sent to deal with them.
***
SCMP, 16 Sep 1967 (Page 6)
Fireworks: Another Appeal To Public
Members of the public are again urged to hand over their fireworks to the authorities.
In an appeal yesterday, a Government spokesman said the public response to the Government's action in calling in fireworks had been excellent. However, it was believed there may still be some people with fireworks who did not know how to hand them over.
“The procedure is very simple: they can take them to any police station or to the Kaifong association in their area,” the spokesman said.
He assured the public that they would not be arrested as terrorists if they were caught in the street on their way to the police station.
“However, the proper way would be to report to a police station without the fireworks and let the police officers come to collect them,” he added.
***
SCMP, 16 Sep 1967 (Page 6)
Disturbance Victims
MANY CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION
Thirty-four claims for ex-gratia payment have been submitted to the Government Compensation Board by dependants of victims of the recent disturbances, a Government spokesman said yesterday.
One of the claims received about ten days ago was from the families of the late Mr Lam Bun and the late Mr Lam Kwong-hoi of Commercial Radio. They died last month after having been attacked by terrorists.
A spokesman for the Board said that in all 34 claims application forms had been sent to the dependants for details before a decision could be made on payments. However, not one single form had yet been returned, he added.
- Final Date -
He appealed to the dependants of those killed or incapacitated between May 11 and August 31 to submit their claims not later than September 30.
“Notice of intention to make a claim in respect of injury or death which occurred after August 31 must be received not later than one month from the date of such injury or death,” he added.
The Compensation Board was set up by Government to consider payments to dependants of people killed or incapacitated by injuries while performing their duties during the disturbances.
***
SCMP, 16 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Shop Owner Jailed
Three inflammatory posters were found when police searched a Chinese medicine shop, it was stated at North Kowloon Court yesterday.
The owner of the shop, Lui Chung-hoi (42), of Room 25, Block 30, Wongtaisin resettlement estate, ninth floor, was jailed for three months after he was convicted of possessing the posters.
Cpl Fung Po-sum testified, before Mr T. C. Chan, that the posters were found inside a desk in the shop on August 26.
***
SCMP, 16 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Man With Powerful Bomb Jailed For Eight Years
A man, who had been paid $40 to place a “powerful” bomb in the middle of a road in Wanchai, was sent to jail for eight years yesterday by a Criminal Sessions judge.
When the bomb was detonated it blew its covering sandbag ten feet away, blasted holes in a concrete step and pavement, ripped off sheeting from roadside stalls, shattered a neon light 14 feet away and knocked off characters on a plastic signboard inside a closed steel folding door. The accused was Chan Wing-
The accused was Chan Wing-cheung, alias Chan Cheung-wing (31).
Mr Wong Pak-leung, Counsel for Chan, said that Chan was a “victim of circumstances.” He had been out of a job and had no money.
Mr Dermot Rea, Director of Public Prosecutions, said the bomb was in a condensed milk tin and had fire-type fuses. Chan was carrying a lighter when he was arrested.
- Impossible -
Mr Justice A. M. McMullin noted Mr Wong’s plea for Chan, but said that in Hongkong’s present circumstances it was “virtually impossible” to pass a light sentence for such an offence.
Even in dangerous drug cases courts passed long sentences where called for, despite the “pitiable” circumstances of some defendants, he stated.
He observed that Chan’s bomb was powerful enough to kill or seriously injure if it had exploded in a crowded place.
“The court must view with seriousness even the slightest activity of this nature,” the judge added.
Mr Wong was instructed by C. Y. Kwan and Co.
Mr Rea was assisted by Senior Insp. Chu Chun-man.
***
SCMP, 16 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
DETONATED ‘BOMB’ WAS TIN OF WATER CHESTNUTS
An Army ballistics expert told a magistrate at Central Court yesterday that he had detonated a tin of water chestnuts after having assumed that it was a bomb.
Sgt K. M. Pratt, attached to the Bomb Disposal Squad, was testifying before Mr P. M. Corfe against a delivery boy, accused of possessing and having custody and control of a simulated bomb.
The defendant was Wong Hon-yee (18) of 150 Wing Lok Street, ground floor, who was convicted on the possession charge.
Sgt Pratt said that he was taken to Wing Lok Street early on Tuesday morning to examine a suspected bomb.
He tied a string round the object which looked like a tin wrapped in Chinese newspaper. He retreated to a safe distance and then pulled on the string but nothing happened.
He examined the object again and saw that there were two wires attached to it. He decided to explode it on the spot. He attached a detonator to the object and blew it up, making a hole in the tin. It was found to contain water chestnuts.
- Chased -
Police Constable Wu Kean-fui testified that he was on duty in Wing Lok Street late on Monday night when he saw Wong place an object under a rickshaw. Wong saw him and ran away. PC Wu said he chased and caught Wong with the help of another constable.
Wong claimed that he was merely walking along Wing Lok Street when he was apprehended by the two policemen.
“They caught hold of me. Then one of them went across the street and shone his torch round. He came back a minute later and said he had found the object I had put there,” Wong said.
Mr Corfe said he found Wong's story “most extraordinary” and convicted him on the first charge.
Wong was remanded for seven days for a probation officer's report.
***
SCMP, 16 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Struggled With Police
A labourer who changed a plea of not guilty to one of guilty on charges of taking part in an unlawful assembly and resisting arrest, was sentenced to ten weeks’ imprisonment by Mr T. C. Chan at North Kowloon Court yesterday.
Yeung Ngai (54), admitted he was with 200 people who had shouted and chanted slogans in Nathan Road, Mongkok, last Saturday.
He also admitted that while he was in police custody he had struggled with the police and had attempted to run away.
***
SCMP, 17 Sep 1967 (Page 1)
Border residents hear gunfire
The loudest gunfire heard on the Chinese side of the Sino-British border since 1949 was reported by several residents in the closed area near Lowu, Sheung Shui and Fanling yesterday.
However, both European and Chinese residents who heard the sound were unable to say if the firing was a gun duel or not.
A Briton stationed in the closed area said he believed the firing was a “night” artillery practice.
The only passenger train service from Canton was again delayed by one hour yesterday evening.
Among the arrivals were Ceylonese politicians who stated that the recent dispute between the Ceylonese and Peking Governments on Chinese propaganda material had been settled amicably by “our ambassador” in Peking.
A Swiss diplomat from Peking said he had never heard of a Hongkong Chinese businessman dealing in Swiss machinery who had allegedly been detained in Peking, as reported in a local newspaper last week.
The diplomat said he had also not heard that Swiss foreign service personnel had tried to seek the release of the Chinese businessman.
***
SCMP, 17 Sep 1967 (Page 1)
Two Bombs Found
Two bombs and four fake bombs were discovered in the Colony yesterday.
One false bomb was found in Hongkong and one real bomb in Kowloon.
One real bomb and three fake bombs were discovered In the Yuen Long Market, New Territories, about 3 am yesterday. They were later detonated by an army ammunitions expert.
Shortly before noon, another bomb was found outside 14A Nam Cheong Street, Shamshuipo. It was detonated by an army ammunitions expert.
About 12.55 pm, a fake bomb was found next to a bus stop outside the Tin Tin Yat Po, Java Road, North Point. The “bomb” was in the form of a package, wrapped with Newspaper and tied together with a string. When it was “detonated” It was found to contain beans sprouts.
***
SCMP, 17 Sep 1967 (Page 3)
Five accused of having posters
Five carpenters appeared before Mr A. L. Leathlean in Central Court yesterday on charges of possession of inflammatory posters.
Three of them, Cheung Yuen, (36) Yu Ki-fan (20) and Yung Kuen (40), were alleged to have had control of three posters at the Hongkong and Kowloon Carpenters General Union, 229 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, fifth floor, on Friday. They were remanded for four days.
The other two, Mak Ping (38) and Mo Yung-foon (55) were alleged to have had one poster at 75B Hollywood Road, second floor, on Friday. They were remanded for a week pending a certified translation of the poster.
***
SCMP, 18 Sep 1967 (Page 1)
Only One Bomb Was Genuine
Communist agitators planted a total of 17 bombs yesterday, but only one was found to be genuine.
Ten of the fake bombs were found on the Island and the remaining seven in Kowloon.
The genuine bomb was placed on a hillside opposite the Kun Tong Police Station shortly before 9 am. It was detonated by an army ammunition expert.
A packet suspected to be a bomb was found in Ice House Street near the Central Government Offices shortly before noon.
No bomb was found last night.
***
SCMP, 18 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Extracts From The Chinese Press:
Call For Final Blow Against Leftist Lawbreakers
Independent Chinese newspapers last week cautioned Government against allowing lawless leftist elements to continue their “struggle” indefinitely and called for a final blow to be struck.
The newspapers also said that positive action should be taken against the “Struggle Committee.”
Kung Sheung Yat Po said the protracted confrontation between the Communist troublemakers and Government and the existence of “doves” and “hawks” among Government officials were to be deplored. It added that although the activities of these trouble-makers affected public finance and private business, it was fully confident of the doom of the terrorists.
The newspaper said that even if the price was “painful,” a determined blow must be struck to eliminate the terrorists. There must be no appeasement, it added, and Hongkong must not allow itself to become involved in a long-drawn-out struggle.
The Hongkong Times said reports that the leftist lawbreakers were going to slacken their activities should not allow complacency to develop. Instead, added the newspaper, the vigilance of the people and Government should be heightened.
The Sing Tao Jih Pao declared that since it was officially admitted that the “Hongkong-Kowloon All-Circles Anti-Hongkong-British Persecution Struggle Committee” was an unlawful body, it should not be permitted to continue to exist.
The Hongkong Daily News commented on the ambiguity of the official stand towards the “Struggle Committee.” It said that refraining from taking appropriate action against the illegal organisation amounted to a contradiction — and recognising the “Committee” as not being unlawful.
- Strict Control -
The Tin Tin Yat Po commented that as there were signs that the leftist rebellion was dissipating, Government should take the opportunity to bring all left-leaning organisations under strict control, including those which engaged in cultural and economic activities. At the same time, added the newspaper, greater efforts should be made to encourage residents to supply information of leftist activity, and more attention should be given to social problems, to strengthening border defences and to measures against illegal entry.
The Hongkong Times called on the education authorities to consider the position of children from poor families who are being lured into Communist-run schools by offers of free education. The newspaper said that arrangements should be made by the authorities to help these children with free places in other schools.
The Wah Kiu Yat Po and the Kung Sheung Yat Po deplored the decision of Japanese manufacturers who have declined to take part in the silver jubilee exhibition of Hongkong products.
The Wah Kiu referred to the friendly Hongkong-Japan ties that had been built up since the end of the war, and said that the Japanese decision did not help to improve these relations.
The Kung Sheung at the same time criticised the attitude of some Hongkong manufacturers who, it added, must also share the blame, for they had not made a determined public stand against the terrorists to help put down the disturbances and thus eliminate the excuse given by the Japanese industrialists.
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SCMP, 19 Sep 1967 (Page 1)
Fake Bomb Poses A Problem
A suspected bomb found yesterday posed an unusual problem for army ammunition experts sent to deal with it.
The bomb was hanging 130 feet in the air on a pile driver on a building site at the Wongtaisin resettlement estate.
- Detonated -
It was finally detonated after Army experts with the aid of a long pole attached a charge to the bomb which turned out to be a fake.
Three other bombs were found in Shamshuipo, Clear Water Bay Road, and Power Street in North Point. They were all detonated by Army ammunition experts.
***
SCMP, 19 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
THE UNEXPLODED BOMB
By L.F. GOODSTADT 顧汝德
Mr Goodstadt examines the impact on Hongkong’s trade, industry and finances of the recent disturbances and of China’s Cultural Revolution and concludes that it is vital for Peking to restore normal trade. This article was first published in the Far Eastern Economic Review, and is reprinted by permission.
For four months, the Communists have bragged about the bomb they had set under Hongkong’s economy. They have used strikes, embargos, demonstrations and intimidation in their various attempts to bring trade and industry to the point of ruin in order to blackmail the community. The bomb did not go off, and the only people who were seriously hurt were the Communists and their adherents who burnt their fingers trying to light the fuse. The local extremists had little hope of winning as long as Peking realised how much the Colony is worth to the Chinese economy.
With the Cultural Revolution still raging, the picture has changed: the important issue now is how vital is China to the Hongkong economy. The political disruption in China shows some signs of abating, but economic chaos cannot be put right by a mere administrative fiat from Peking. Already, it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between the effects of the local Communist campaign against the Colony’s economy and the consequences of China’s own inability to keep the wheels of trade turning normally.
China plays a key role in the local economy, and troubles on the other side of the border cannot be shrugged off as of no importance. It is demonstrably true that the people who suffer most from the economic difficulties of China are the business concerns in the Communist sector, and thus the group which has given most in money and prestige to the local Party’s campaign of terrorism and subversion. The Communist sector is principally concerned with importing Chinese products, and these imports are a debit item in the national income accounts. But the facilities that have grown up around the China trade—the banks, the department stores, the transport and distribution companies — add directly to the Colony’s national income. The Communists have thus the most to lose by a downturn in trade with China, but the economy as a whole must regret this development because it retards the overall progress of Hongkong.
- Banking Sector -
This point is most obviously illustrated by the banking sector. In July, deposits with the banks fell by four per cent. Part of this decline actually took place in June but did not show up in the official accounts till July. But the worst affected were the Communist banks. In July, these banks were hit not by their unpopularity with the community for espousing political extremism but by the rapid decline in Chinese exports to Hongkong. These banks tell me that business dropped off by around 10 per cent in July, and the August figures are expected to be even gloomier.
In most countries, the decline in deposits would have brought about a credit squeeze of some severity. The Hongkong banking system has been able to maintain the level of advances as its liquidity ratio in July was still 43 per cent well above the 25 per cent legal minimum. During July, the Colony lost HK$159m as money moved to new homes elsewhere—a tolerable loss as previously banks had received an excessive inflow of foreign funds.
The Communist banks are showing a different pattern, and they appear to be remitting less to Peking than usual. Reliable reports from exchange brokers indicate that China’s purchases of foreign currency dropped by more than a third in July. The banks in the Communist sector are feeling the pinch, but they are in a relatively strong position to weather the problems unleashed by the extremists’ campaign and the Cultural Revolution. Their lending policies are ultra-conservative, and their liquidity ratio is well above the overall average of 43 per cent, according to Communist bank managers.
Behind the difficulties of the Communist banks lies the sharp fall in trade with China during July. Chinese products account for a quarter of the Colony’s total imports and some 50 per cent of total food imports. During July, imports from China dropped by 24 per cent. In August, on the basis of the shipping returns, the decline was larger still. What worries many observers is the effect of this trend on Hongkong’s ability to export. The pessimists have looked at the July trade returns and noted the $35m drop in exports. This compares badly with the figure for last year when exports dropped by only $6m in the same month. In fact, the drop in exports during July can be explained by the Colony’s performance in the United States market. Normally, sales to the U.S. drop in June and rise again in July. This year, American buyers asked firms to speed up deliveries and exports during June rose—against the normal trend—and the seasonal fall was postponed until July.
The decline in food imports is particularly worrying. On the political front, the Communist press should be thanked for claiming the credit for interfering with the Colony’s food supplies. If the extremists had kept quiet, some of the blame for mounting food prices might have been laid at Government’s door. As it is, the public can point the finger at the Communists for the food shortage. In reality, of course, the local Communists have little to do with the present shortage of imported Chinese food.
The Chinese authorities have made valiant efforts to maintain supplies, but they cannot overcome the general disruption caused by the Cultural Revolution. A large part of China's frozen food industry, for example, is located at Wuhan, scene of some of the country’s worst disturbances. This has affected supplies of frozen pork to the Colony. (Last year, 98 per cent of the Colony’s frozen pork came from China.) Hongkong last year imported 17,000 head of cattle a month, 63 per cent of which came from China. Some of the animals come from as far north as Shansi, another disturbed area. In the first five months of 1967, the Colony imported a monthly average of 175,000 live pigs, 99 per cent of which came from China. Once again, supplies have dropped off sharply, and some days last week, the supply was down to 30 per cent of normal, simply because the Chinese trading organisations cannot get the animals to Hongkong. Poultry and eggs (Hongkong uses almost half of a million foreign eggs a month, nearly all from China) tell the same story.
The prospects of finding alternative sources of food — pork, in particular — are remote. Taiwan and South Korea might be able to expand production. For livestock, this would take two years, and both countries are reported to be reluctant to step up production without some sort of officially guaranteed market in Hongkong. The Hongkong authorities could not risk the political implications of such a move. Even if other countries wanted to ease the most critical shortage (pork) they lack the capacity to provide the 5,000 pigs a day that Hongkong needs. China is the biggest pig producer in the world. Even the Americans, when they wanted pork for South Vietnam, found that the most favourable tender came from Vienna, but subsequent enquiries revealed that the pigs were to have come from China.
The effects of any prolonged reduction in food supplies from China would hit the Colony hard. Up till now, we have enjoyed a subsidy from the Chinese communes which have sold their products here at low and stable prices. Cheap food and low-price consumer goods and raw materials have enabled Hongkong to escape from the worldwide inflation that other economies find so crippling. Prices on world markets go up, which means that the Colony’s exports automatically earn a bigger return year by year. But this is turned into a real increase in incomes because Hongkong is able to buy a substantial proportion of its imports from China whose prices are below world levels and stable. What Hongkong has managed to do is to pass the inflation in world markets back to China, and Peking is willing to cooperate in this arrangement as it enables her to earn a desperately-needed £250m sterling in foreign currency each year.
- Biggest Problem -
If China is unable to maintain supplies because of the Cultural Revolution, Hongkong must adjust to the loss of the subsidy that China has provided in recent years. This will be inconvenient rather than painful, as Chinese imports are only a quarter of total imports. But the biggest problem will be an increase in the cost of living, which is very much influenced by Chinese imports. Normally, this might be expected to find an expression in unrest and political discontent, but now, it is only too obvious to the public at large that there is no solution for the problem and they will have to display the same patience as they did following China’s last economic upheaval after the Great Leap failed.
The Commerce and Industry Department is keeping a very careful eye on China’s rice production. Government has carefully prevented the Colony from becoming excessively dependent on a single rice-exporting nation, and Hongkong buys only 30 per cent of its rice from China. But Peking is a major exporter of rice (1m tons last year). If she sells less overseas this year, Asia will face a new rice shortage this Christmas, and prices could jump as they did at the end of 1966.
- Ethical Habits -
Oddly enough, the Communist business organisations appear to have made no attempt to cash in on the food shortage, and their prices have increased far less than they might have done had China wished to exploit the reduction in supplies. It is not clear why the Communist trading organisations have not tried to reap a handsome profit from the current situation especially as they ate short of cash after three months of very poor business. It appears, however, that Peking would not tolerate a blatant imitation of exploitive capitalist practices. This ties in well with the general Chinese preference tor ethical business habits.
Chinese price policies lead to another issue that is under discussion at present: assistance to the local steel industry. The industry claims that Chinese steel is being dumped here to drive local factories out of business. The industry claims that if the local producer were destroyed, the Colony would have exchanged a few months of cheap steel for the loss of a domestic steel industry since China would certainly raise its prices once it no longer had the Hongkong factory to compete with. The industry has asked Government to restrict steel purchases in public works projects to local products. However, as Government buys only some 40,000 tons of steel a year and the steel industry's capacity is 400,000 tons a year—of which 30 per cent is utilised at present — Government contracts would make only a marginal difference.
- Fact Of Life -
The real point, though, is that investors in Hongkong have no business setting up industries which cannot find overseas markets. Hongkong is a free port, and unrestricted low-price Chinese imports are a fact of life. The steelmen have one legitimate complaint against the administration. They have been making representations on this issue since March 1966. The Secretariat, until recently, failed to be frank with the industry and to explain precisely what information would be required before Government could reach a decision on the request for assistance. Instead, people lower down the scale in the Secretariat who first dealt with the problem failed to help an industry in difficulties to present its own best case. Nevertheless, this does not alter the fact that cheap Chinese imports play a vital part in maintaining our economic thrust.
***
SCMP, 19 Sep 1967 (Page 10)
CHINA’S OVERSEAS IMAGE
Sir—It is deplorable that while the law-upholding Chinese Community in Hongkong are undergoing a tormenting ordeal at the hands of the left-wing agitators conducting an anti-Hongkong campaign, Chinese people living abroad are made to suffer for the actions of the Communists.
A Singapore Chinese resident in London, a Mr Wong, in a letter to the Daily Telegraph complained of the hostile attitude assumed by English people towards him. Passers-by made rude remarks to him and on one occasion a child tried to kick him as he passed.
Mr Wong imputed this to the generalisation of the word “Chinese” used in reporting recent events of the Communist Chinese-British tension. In his plea he maintained that not all Chinese are “tarred with the same brush.” He viewed with dismay the prospect of his marriage with an English girl as there were great fears for their children.
According to a recent report in a Chinese newspaper many Chinese residents in England are being “poisoned” with distorted reports and propaganda contained in Communist newspapers which are the only Chinese newspapers available there.
They are told by the Red papers how their compatriots in Hongkong are struggling against persecution by the British Hongkong Government and they are also urged to contribute money to support the “noble cause.”
As a result of the incitement many self-styled progressive Chinese youths have adopted such an attitude as cannot be tolerated by the English people, most of whom have retrained from patronising the Chinese restaurants.
It is much to be lamented that these simpletons should be seduced and led astray by the fair speech of the Red papers, culminating in the involvement of their fellow countrymen in the disgrace and animosity, who in fact have no connection whatsoever with Communism.
In Indonesia many Chinese residents were honest and law-abiding people but Communist agents from Peking launched a campaign there which was responsible for the abortive coup in 1965. After the former President Sukarno's downfall Indonesians took revenge on all Chinese residents, inflicting great damage and injury for what the Communists had done to their country.
Why should we innocent Chinese suffer for the misdeeds of the Communists? Perhaps this is the reason why a pessimistic remark has become rife among us, “How unfortunate are we to be born Chinese!”
A Hongkongite(sic).
***
SCMP, 20 Sep 1967 (Page 1)
Canton Road Guards Celebrate
MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL ARMISTICE
Thousands of Red Guards in Canton stopped their “armed struggle” in an undeclared armistice on Monday to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, arrivals from that city said yesterday.
No gunfire was heard on the British side of the border in the Lowu area.
However, several arrivals from the Chinese side reported intermittent machine-gun and rifle fire on Monday night, apparently aimed at escapees.
There is strong indication that Peking has decided to go ahead with the China Export Commodity Fair in Canton as Japanese businessmen arriving here from Peking said that they had been informed by the China National Import and Export Corporation that invitations would be sent to their head offices in Japan this week.
The arrivals said workers were seen on Monday renovating the large exhibition building in Canton. The People’s Liberation Army took over the premises from Red Guards over a week ago.
- Confirmed -
The Japanese businessmen yesterday confirmed the reported death by suicide of Mr Nan Han-chen, Chairman of the Committee for the Promotion of International Trade, which had sponsored all previous fairs in Canton.
The businessmen believed he was a victim of the cultural revolution.
Although some Japanese newspapermen had been expelled from Peking for alleged slanderous reports against the cultural revolution, there was no sign that Sino-Japanese trade would be affected.
In fact negotiations were going on to extend the trade pact for another five years from 1968.
The Japanese businessmen said that they were confident of an extension of the pact in the not too distant future.
To celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival on Monday, thousands of members of the Red Flag Red Guards held long processions carrying banners with the words “Surrender our arms to the Canton Command of People’s Liberation Army.”
Meanwhile, columns of PLA troops from the North were seen moving into Canton and other strategic towns in Kwangtung Province to replace those suspected to be loyal to Mr Tao Chu, denounced First Secretary of the Central South China Bureau. He is said to-be under house arrest in Peking.
***
SCMP, 20 Sep 1967 (Page 1)
INCIDENT AT SHATAUKOK
Four Gurkha soldiers and a police constable on patrol in San Lau Street at the Shataukok border were slightly injured in a bomb explosion at 10.20 last night.
Their injuries were superficial and they carried on normal duties.
Earlier, there had been a very minor stone-throwing incident by about 20 people near the fish market at Shataukok.
***
SCMP, 20 Sep 1967 (Page 1)
Ten Years’ Jail For Possessing Bombs
A young textile worker was given the maximum penalty of ten years’ hard labour by a Kowloon District Court Judge yesterday for possessing 12 anti-personnel bombs and two packets of explosives.
This was the first time that the maximum sentence was imposed in a District Court under the new Emergency Regulations.
The accused, Wan Kam-hung (22), living at 66 Ma Sim Pai Village, Tsun Wan, New Territories, had earlier denied that he had the bombs and the explosives and had failed to report them to the police on July 20.
In passing sentence, Judge Simon Li told the accused that he was satisfied that the bombs were to be used for no other purpose than to endanger and kill people. It was a cowardly act to use them to attack innocent people, he added.
Earlier, Detective Insp R. J. Stephenson testified that he and a party of detectives raided an unnumbered hut in San Tsuen Pai Village, Tsun Wan, on July 20 and seized 12 bombs and two packets of explosives.
The hut was deserted but a bed inside appeared to have been slept in, being still warm.
As a result of extensive police enquiries, Wan was arrested in Shatin on August 17.
During his trial, Wan repeatedly shouted political slogans.
***
SCMP, 20 Sep 1967 (Page 1)
KOWLOON BOMB OUTRAGE
Explosion Injures 29 In Mongkok
THROWN FROM BUILDING
Twenty-nine people, including five policemen, were injured in Kowloon last night when a powerful shrapnel bomb was thrown at a police Land Rover in Nathan Road at the junction of Dundas Street in the Mongkok area.
Police at the scene described the bombing as “the most shocking incident perpetrated by local Communist elements to date.”
Two of the injured policemen and 22 of the 24 injured bystanders were detained in hospital.
A police spokesman said the incident occurred shortly before 8 pm when the streets in that particular area of Mongkok were “a mass of humanity”.
The bomb, which was believed to have been thrown from a building, shattered the windshield of the Land Rover and punctured one of its tyres. It also made a number of holes in a police lorry which was following the Land Rover.
Several display windows of shops in the area were also shattered.
Following the bomb attack police searched the Kowloon Motor Workers Children’s School at 37 Dundas Street, third floor.
The search was carried out when police followed bloodstains leading to the school and then up to the rooftop where three men and a boy were taken into custody for questioning. The boy and one of the men were injured.
Earlier at 7.30 pm, a group of 80 people, mostly leftist school children and workers, assembled in Pitt Street, Yaumati, and marched into Nathan Road carrying anti-British banners.
As the procession filed along Nathan Road towards Mongkok, the demonstrators distributed pamphlets and let off firecrackers.
They also planted 13 fake bombs and one real bomb along the way — four in front of the Chartered Bank, two in front of the Salvation Army Headquarters, one at the junction of Dundas Street, three at the junction of Pitt Street and Portland Street and three outside the Everybody Department Stores.
The demonstrators dispersed about ten minutes later.
When Army ammunition experts and police arrived on the scene, shortly after 7.40 pm, the entire length of Nathan Road where the fake bombs were found, was closed to traffic.
The police found an inflammatory banner put up on the railing in the middle of Nathan Road outside the Liu Chong Hing Building.
It was when the police reached the junction of Dundas Street that the bomb was thrown at them.
- Thirteen Held -
Altogether 13 people were arrested in connection with last night’s incidents in Mongkok.
In one incident police had to use tear-gas to disperse some of the small groups of demonstrators. In addition, the police fired one shot from a riot gun at a hostile crowd in Nelson Street.
Traffic in that section of Mongkok was held up for over an hour.
Police reported late last night that 32 reports of bombs were received between 8 am and midnight yesterday. Three were genuine and all were found in Kowloon.
Of the 29 fake bombs planted, 16 were found on the Island and the rest in Kowloon.
***
SCMP, 20 Sep 1967 (Page 6)
GELIGNITE IN COMMUNIST HANDS?
Mr R F. Smith, Deputy Director of Criminal Investigation, said yesterday that more than 600 sticks of gelignite stolen recently had still not been recovered.
The gelignite, stolen in two surprise raids, were believed to be in Communist hands, he said.
Mr Smith added that it could not be established whether several sticks of gelignite recovered by the police recently were among those stolen.
The Hon Fung Hon-chu will ask at today's Legislative Council meeting if Government could reassure the public by indicating the quantities of stolen gelignite recovered so far.
He will also ask if Government’s investigation had revealed any collusion or any dereliction of duty by anyone and if the public could be assured that suitable steps had been taken to prevent a recurrence of such thefts.
***
SCMP, 20 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
SENT TO JAIL FOR HITTING A POLICEMAN
An employee of the Ta Kung Pao was jailed for six months by Mr J. J. Rhind at South Kowloon Court yesterday when he was found guilty of assaulting a police constable.
Siu Kan-lan (22), living at the Ta Kung Pao’s premises at 324 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, was also sentenced to six months when he was found guilty of obstructing the constable in the execution of his duty. The sentences are to run concurrently.
Police Constable Wong King-chi said that on September 13 at 9.20 am he was on duty at the main gate of South Kowloon Court when he saw Siu wandering about and looking round outside the building.
He said Siu suddenly dashed into the building but was stopped. When he tried to make a search Siu punched him on the chest and then dashed out of the building. He and a police corporal chased and arrested Siu on the staircase outside the main gate, PC Wong added.
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SCMP, 20 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
TROUBLE-MAKERS DISPERSED BY RIOT SQUAD
An anti-riot squad had to be called to Fanling Court yesterday when 100 women from Ting Kok Village, near Plover Cove, shouted “protest” and abuses at a few policemen after their village representative had been sent to prison for 18 months for possession of inflammatory posters.
The anti-riot police dispersed the trouble-makers. Eight women were later arrested for disorderly conduct and were jailed for six weeks.
The village representative who was sent to prison by Mr H. S. Daniell was Yu Kang-san (36). He was arrested in a pre-dawn raid on Friday.
***
SCMP, 20 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Magistrate Rejects Allegations Of Police Assault
Allegations by a labourer that he was beaten up by some police officers were rejected by Mr F. de F. Stratton at North Kowloon Court yesterday after he had heard a report following an investigation.
The complaint was made by Cheung Koon-hung (19), when he appeared before Mr Stratton last week, charged with making an inflammatory speech, forming part of an intimidating assembly and resisting arrest.
Yesterday, Chief Insp J. H. Goodwin read a report on the findings of an investigation into the alleged assault. Mr Stratton accepted the report which said there was “no justification to the complaint.”
Cheung had complained that he was beaten and kicked by five plainclothes police officers on September 9 and that he was taken to the CID office at Mongkok Police Station following his arrest and there assaulted again.
The report of the investigators stated that Cheung had resisted arrest by a police officer. He was finally arrested with the help of four other officers.
“No more force than was necessary was used to subdue the defendant,” the report added.
The report rejected the claim by Cheung that he had been taken into the CID room. It also stated that no complaint was lodged by Cheung about his alleged mistreatment when he was taken to see a police inspector.
Although he had refused to be medically examined, Cheung was nevertheless examined at the Victoria Remand Centre and no visible injury to his body was found, the report stated.
The charges against Cheung will be heard today.
***
SCMP, 20 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
Youths Protest Against Sentence
Two boys gaped in astonishment and then burst into shouts of “I protest” when they were sentenced to 18 months in jail by Mr P. M. Corfe at Central Court yesterday.
They were Tse Kiang-yin (17), of hut 10, Old Village, Tai Hang Road, and a 16-year-old youth.
The youth was found guilty last week of possession of 28 inflammatory posters, while Tse was convicted of possession of 17 inflammatory posters, being in control of 65 inflammatory posters, offensive weapons and control of ammunition.
Tse’s mother asked Mr Corfe to “please send my son to jail” because he was “so bad.”
***
SCMP, 20 Sep 1967 (Page 8)
BOMB IN REPULSE BAY: JUDGEMENT ON TWO YOUTHS RESERVED
Judgment on two youths on charges arising out of an incident outside the Repulse Bay Hotel in the early hours of the morning of July 30 was reserved yesterday by Judge J. E. Hopkinson at Victoria District Court until today.
Tang Chi-kong (17) and Chu Kam-tung (26), have pleaded not guilty to charges of possessing inflammatory posters, consorting with another person who had in his possession an explosive substance, and failing to report the possession of a bomb.
A witness, Mr Charles Hulse, testified that at 2.30 am on July 30, near Repulse Bay Hotel, he saw five youths putting up posters on the door of a bus regulator's hut and on a pillar near the bus stand. He added that they also painted characters on the road and on a wall near the hotel.
One of the youths then took out a package from a litter bin and placed it on the road while the others took up a sign-post, marked “danger” on it and placed it in front of the package, Mr Hulse said. The youths then got into a car and drove away.
Mr David Walsh, Crown Counsel, said that the package was examined by a police ballistics expert and found to be a bomb. It was detonated on the spot.
In statements from the dock, Tang claimed that he did not know the package was a bomb. Chu admitted that he was the driver of the car but claimed he did not know what the other youths had done.
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SCMP, 20 Sep 1967 (Page 9)
Many H.K. Leftists Living In Macao
Macao, Sept. 19.
Reliable Chinese sources reported that more than half of the members of the Hongkong leftists Anti-Persecution Committee have taken up residence in Macau.
It is believed that they are accommodated in four of the leading Chinese hotels here.
Prices of food increased steadily during the past few days and this, according to the same sources, was the work of the Communists who hoped to collect more money to continue their “struggle” against Hongkong.—Our Own Correspondent.
***
SCMP, 20 Sep 1967 (Page 10)
THE UNEXPLODED BOMB — PART TWO
HONGKONG WEATHERS THE STORM
By L. F. GOODSTADT 顧汝德
The local Communists claim their biggest success in the field of international trade and it is in this sphere that they claim to have the most active support of China. There is supposed to be a ban on transshipment(sic) of Chinese goods through Hongkong, and there have been threats to boycott ships which call at Hongkong in defiance of the port strike. However, the whole affair is very curious. It seems that long before the Communists decided to confront Hongkong, Peking decided that it would be profitable to ship more of her own exports direct. This was sound business sense. Hongkong handles only 10 per cent of China’s total exports, and if Chinese ports consigned this direct, it would not strain her port and shipping facilities too badly. In addition, ships bringing in wheat cargoes were returning with their holds almost empty. Hongkong would not be badly damaged by a shift to direct consignments, since Chinese transhipments(sic) account for less than five per cent of the cargo handled by the Colony’s port.
Late last year, Japan Lines asked Peking for permission to take part in the business of shipping direct to Europe. The company owns 73 ships and has another 39 on charter. A representative of Japan Lines went to Peking in February, and two months later China announced her agreement to a direct service from China to Europe and the Middle East. The service began before trouble broke out in Hongkong and cannot be interpreted as an attempt by China to punish the Colony’s “imperialists.”
- Little-known Fact -
The subsequent experience of Japan Lines is interesting, Last month, the South China Morning Post carried a report that Japan Lines’ new service was booming. I asked the local agents for the company, Trans-Ocean Shipping, to comment on this. The manager said that business had not come up to expectations. Japan Lines has a Hongkong subsidiary to which it charters four ships to handle the China-Europe run, and I suspected that the existence of a newly-formed Hongkong subsidiary might have upset Peking. The manager of Trans-Ocean, who also act as agents for Toho Lines, the subsidiary, said this was not the case. The only difficulty that Toho and Japan Lines have experienced is due to the disruption in China's ports this summer, he explained.
Another little-known fact is Peking's attitude to trading with British partners. British firms who buy Chinese goods for resale outside Asia generally deal directly with trading organisations in Peking; they ship cargoes direct instead of re-exporting through Hongkong. These firms have not been attacked by China nor have they suffered from special discrimination on the grounds of being British. It is the local, Chinese firm, handling transhipments(sic) to Southeast Asia, who has been hit by the ban. The explanation for this odd state of affairs is that the ban was imposed as a purely local matter by Hongkong-based Communist business concerns. They have plucked up courage to act in this way—against the interests of China—because they feel the bit between their teeth with the current confusion in Peking.
The strange journey of the Panamanian ss Salamanca is more evidence that Peking itself was not involved in the attempt to harm Hongkong's port. This ship picked up a cargo of 500 tons of general cargo at Singapore in July which had been consigned ex-Hsinkang for Hongkong aboard the Fortune Wind. On July 10, the Fortune Wind had been cabled at sea by Hongkong not to enter the port but to offload in Singapore—this was a full week before the Communists called a strike in the port. On July 15, Salamanca was close to Hongkong with the cargo she had taken over from Fortune Wind, when she too got a cable from Hongkong ordering her to avoid the Colony (two days before the strike) and offload on to lighters at Macao. The vessel then spent five weeks riding at anchor waiting for an unspecified cargo that never arrived. The cargo that had been consigned from Hsinkang to Hongkong but had gone via Singapore and Macao eventually reached the Colony on board the Chinese vessel Yuet Hoi 506 in the first week in August. This episode took place before the strike was called, and could have no appreciable commercial explanation. Significantly it was orders from Hongkong not China that kept the cargo to-ing and fro-ing across the China Sea.
It is suggested that local Communist organisations here realised that China's ports were getting into a very serious condition in July and decided to use a time when cargoes from China would be badly disrupted anyway to make political capital by calling for a ban on transhipments through Hongkong. Peking, they probably supposed, had no special objection to this as she was interested in handling more of her trade through her own ports. (She hoped to see her first large charter consignment to Canada dock in Vancouver in July. The ship Elias Xilas was delayed in loading and only reached Canada at the end of August). Cargo statistics indicate that transshipment has gone on since the ban, though in much reduced quantities, and significantly, the volume of Chinese products re-exported started to fall before the local Communists decided that the port was “paralysed” by a strike.
It is interesting that since the Communist “strike” began, only 12 ships have reported running into trouble with their crews, and all were able to sail after recruiting new men. Indeed, local shipping firms in the China trace seem to have been far more concerned by the Communist threats than their crews. Some ships have stopped sailing to China, but this is not a result of the Communist campaign, but because of the harassment of seamen in China and the long delays in port. One Polish vessel reported that it had to wait for 10 days in Shanghai before its cargo was handled and it was another six days before it could clear the port. Quays were choked with goods as there was no transport in the dock area. Stevedores were short, and ships’ cargoes were being handled by skeleton teams. British India Steam Navigation have been forced to reduce the number of ships calling at Shanghai because of port difficulties. After it had informed Shanghai of its decision, its Hongkong agents received the Chinese reaction: they were imperialist who ought to confess their guilt. But the Chinese did not denounce the company until’ the service to Shanghai had been cut.
- Restoring Trade -
The overall impression in the Hongkong commercial community now is that China would like to restore its trade channels to Hongkong and the outside world as soon as possible. Efforts have been made to get the northern Chinese ports back to normal. Canton and Whampoa present a different problem, and here serious disruption continues. Reports from Canton that the army has been ordered to shoot if necessary to keep the trains running is another indication of how worried Peking has become by the breakdown of transport services that feed Hongkong.
If Chou En-lai succeeds in restoring sufficient order to get exports flowing to Hongkong at their former rate, then the Hongkong economy has nothing to worry about. If he fails, and the Colony has to fall back on other suppliers, the economy will be faced with a degree of readjustment. This is bound to bring grumbles, but the process may indirectly benefit Hongkong. With any form of subsidy, inefficient producers get projection against the harsher winds of competition.
- Basic Ability -
The small firm that keeps going because its workers can buy cheap Chinese food and clothing could well disappear without too much sympathy from the rest of the business world. So many of the Colony’s industrial problems — from enforcing factory legislation to the shortage of workers — are compounded by the existence of so many small firms. Some pressure on the weaker manufacturers would help to put the whole economy on a stronger footing. The banks and most traders and manufacturers have weathered the storm caused by political violence since May and the fall in Chinese imports since June, and this is evidence of our basic ability to absorb even serious crises quite comfortably. The economy also has the slack to cope with radical readjustment without undue strain.
(Concluded. Reprinted By Permission From The Far Eastern Economic Review).
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