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| Two incidents during yesterday (21 May)’s disturbances on Hongkong Island. Top: Crowds scatter after police fired gas shells at them near the P & O Building in Connaught Road, Central. Above: A youth is attacked after he had spoken out against the disturbances. The youth was eventually rescued by a European. |
DAY OF RIOTING AT CENTRAL
Mass March On Government House Foiled
EUROPEANS ASSAULTED
Foiled in their attempts to march on Government House en masse, mobs of angry leftists held the Central District of Hongkong in a grip of violence for seven hours yesterday as they stoned police and chased and assaulted Europeans, including tourists and journalists.
By 7.30 pm, the mobs had dispersed and the situation was calm. Forty-four people were arrested during the disturbances - the first rioting ever to break out in Hongkong Island.
The Central District was completely paralysed as the leftists roamed about, shouting the quotations of Mr Mao Tse-tung and hurling insults at other Chinese as well as Europeans.
But scores of riots police, ignoring both insults and provocations, slowly edged them away from the heart of the Colony’s business world and their numbers gradually dwindled.
In line with the Government announcements that unlawful or disorderly gatherings would not be allowed, police were kept busy dispersing mobs. Most dispersed only to reform again elsewhere.
Police, who fired 11 gar cartridges in all, had five causalities.
Beside the rioters, the police had also to contend with vast numbers of people who were, apparently, simply spectators who lingered about to watch activities. Most vantage points in Central were crammed with onlookers.
- Road Blocked -
In the morning, groups of leftwing union representatives started to move up Garden Road with the intention of proceeding to Government House, but found the road blocked by riot police just outside the Peak Tram station.
Police with a loud hailers told the groups that they would be allowed to proceed if they split up into groups of 20.
The leftist refused to break up - with the results that Government House was left alone for the day.
The group then began to gather round the Hilton.
A Chinese photographer was surrounded by a group of about 40 teenagers and assaulted. He escaped into the Hilton.
An S.C.M. Post reporter was also surrounded by a mob of youths, many of whom were recognised to have been involved in the Sanpokong riots.
The Hilton was flying four Union Jacks, three on the side of Queen’s Road Central and the other on the top of the building. The hotel did not hoist the American flag or its own flag.
Shortly before 4 pm, the police had taken up positions at various road junctions in the area near the hotel and the crowds retreated to the waterfront on Connaught Road Central.
Several Europeans were beaten up by the mobs. One was taken to hospital.
A journalist was knocked to the ground by a group of 40 wielding sticks in a side street off Des Voeux Road. Before he finally managed to escape he had been punched and kicked several times and his camera was smashed.
- Against Wall -
Another was forced against a wall and punched. He was badly beaten and bleeding before police rescued him near the Post Office.
Mr Anthony Benbow, of Macdonnell Road, was seriously injured by a mob outside Central Market. He was taken to Queen Mary Hospital with head injuries. His condition was said to be “satisfactory”.
There were several other incidents reported of Europeans, both journalists and tourists, being attacked or threatened by hostile mobs.
A foreign correspondent who was beaten up had his camera smashed and thrown into the harbour.
Every incident of assault was carried out amid much shouting of Communist slogans and cheering.
(Photo on top)
Day Of Rioting At Central District
Mr Steve Lenke, a 58-year-old Austrian tourist, was badly beaten up in the Post Office area by demonstrators who demanded his camera and films.
Another European tourist was assaulted by a mob of youths as he took pictures of the disturbance from the Cenotaph. The police made a baton charge and the mob dispersed.
A European newspaperman, also taking pictures, was attacked by a mob near Central Market.
A big crowd of demonstrators surged round the Post Office in the late afternoon and attacked a police patrol. Police made baton charges and fired four gas cartridges before the crowd dispersed.
- Torn Down -
A Union Jack was torn down and burned in front of a cheering crowd outside the Fire Station in Harcourt Road. The crowd swelled to more than 1000 before it was broken up by police.
Shops put up their shutters and steel doors as riot police drove the unruly mobs through the streets and down toward the waterfront.
Many shoppers and shop assistants were locked in department stores.
The glass bridge that joins the Mandarin Hotel with Prince’s Building was a safe lookout spot for camera-clicking tourists. Windows of many of the tall business offices were a sea of faces.
The police formed a blockade in Des Voeux Road, in front of the Man Yee Building, and stood six deep across the street with helmets and riot-guns at the ready at one point.
The police showed remarkable restraint as young boys ran up to them and taunted them.
At every verbal attempt to disperse the biggest mob, which mainly consisted of youths, the police were jeered. Plants and earth from the small plot of ground where Des Voeux Road and Chater Road met were thrown at police and pressmen. Yellow litter bins were ripped from their base and flung into the street.
- Fall Into Sea -
At the waterfront, demonstrators hid in the reclamation area and threw stones at the police and pressmen.
As the police were dispersing the crowds, some people fell into the water.
The crowds moved further back and gathered near the Vehicular Ferry. Then later advanced, set up barricades in the middle of the road, shouting and jeering at the police. Gas cartridges were fired to disperse them.
All vehicles approaching Central from Kennedy Town were obstructed by mobs. Those coming from Wanchai were stopped by police blockades.
Many people who were trapped in Central by the disturbances eventually managed to reach home after traveling more than half way round the Island.
Taxi drivers accepted passengers individually or in groups of five from the Central Reclamation. People who were visiting patients at Queen Mary Hospital found that buses to town had been suspended. Lorries were sent to their aid.
Taxi drivers who tried to proceed to this eastern side of the Island ran into crowds near the Vehicular Ferry who threatened to overturn and set fire to their cars. Passengers were immediately dropped on the spot by worried drivers before they drove off to safety.
- Income Cut -
Most drivers complained that their income during the past few days had been cut by 50 per cent. They were very annoyed about the disturbances continuing.
During the traffic standstill, Chater Road, Murray Road, Lower Albert Road, Upper Albert Road, Albany Road, Ice House Street, Queen’s Road East, Queen’s Road Central and Des Voeux Road were closed.
For the first time since the disturbances started, trams carried anti-British slogans. Buses on the island also carried posters.
The situation in Kowloon was quiet yesterday, but anti-British slogans reappeared on buses.
Meanwhile, peace-minded citizens and organisations have continued to issue statements supporting Governments and calling for an end to the disturbances.
Donations have poured in to the education fund for policemen’s children which was set up in recognition of the great restraint shown by police in handling the crisis.
In addition to this fund, the South China Morning Post has also received a $200 cheque from a group of citizens to start a fund for the benefit of police personnel themselves.
It was announced last night that Upper Albert Road and the Slip Road would be closed to traffic from 6 am today. Bona fide visitors to Government House can go there on foot via the Slip Road.
Due to the closure of Upper Albert Road, Buses Nos 3 and 23 will proceed up Garden Road, along Robinson Road and down Park Road into Bonham Road.
Buses Nos 3, 12 and 23 will return via Queen’s Road West and Connaught Road instead of Upper Albert Road.
***
SCMP, 22 May 1967 (Page 10)
“ANARCHISM” MUST BE STOPPED
THE Government’s declaration on Saturday night that there must be no more rowdy, boisterous demonstration of the kind that occurred earlier in the day prompted the hope that disruptive tactics would not be allowed to upset the order of the city, though they did so again yesterday. What complicated the work of the Police was the large number of people, obviously spectators, who moved in to the best vantage points and tied down part of the force in clearing operations. Moreover these were the people who were exploited by agitators and who made the job of the Police doubly difficult. But it is the demonstrators who continue to pose the most serious problem. The destruction of public transport in the centre of town may seem a minor inconvenience and perhaps tolerable for one Sunday but it cannot continue. The authorities in China have had no hesitation in condemning what they describe as “anarchism” - or disruptive tactics by a minority - and they must be as strongly condemned here. It can only get worse otherwise, and since so many representative groups have come out in favour of the measures adopted by Government it is only right that these should now help to ensure that the people they represent give Government the maximum support. If they can do nothing else they should ensure that people keep away from trouble areas for their own good.
Quite apart from exposure to danger and the opportunity they provide for exploitation, large audience are only likely to encourage the demonstrators even though the general reaction of city workers to these marching, chanting bands is one of derision, amusement and or complete apathy. The restraint shown by the Police coupled with the absence of serious causalities (the majority suffered by the Police) give the lie to charges that the authorities here have acted like fascists and the British Foreign Secretary, Mr George Brown, added his own eloquent and forceful repudiation of this charge to the Chinese Charge d’Affaires in London. It is to be hoped that the policy of restraint and firmness can be continued though the latter may have to be emphasised if there are further attempts to disorder the life of the city. The demonstrators have been given a fair opportunity to air their grievances and there are more orderly ways open for those who still wish to do so. Surely the majority of people have made it known through various organisations that they desire business as usual. The demonstrators would do well to heed the voice of the people.
***
SCMP, 22 May 1967 (Page 1)
HERE FOR TALKS
London Officials To See Governor
Sir Arthur Galsworthy, Deputy Under-Secretary of State in the Commonwealth Office, arrived from London yesterday for talks with the Governor, Sir David Trench, on the current happenings in the Colony.
In a statement to the Press, Sir Arthur said there were obviously many aspects of the present situation which required consultation between the Governor and Her Majesty 's Government.
He said that since the Governor did not wish to leave Hongkong at the present time, he was here to discuss the situation with him.
Sir Arthur said he did not have any specific message for the people of Hongkong, but recalled that the British Government had recently issued a statement stating very clearly their support of the Hongkong Government’s handling of the disturbances.
He said he expected to be here for a few days. He did not intend to go to Peking.
Sir Arthur was accompanied by Mr W. S. Carter, Head of the Hongkong Department of the Commonwealth Office, and Mr E. Bolland, Head of the Far Eastern Department in the Foreign Office.
In an interview over Radio Hongkong later, Sir Arthur said he and his colleagues would be discussing with the Governor he said.
Hongkong was very much in the news in Britain at present, he said. There had been very full coverage in the National Press and in a great deal of the Provincial Press, and on television of the current events here.
Sir Arthur added: “I think that among the public at home there is a great deal of warmth and sympathy for Hongkong in her present troubles, and I think a very deep and real and genuine admiration for the way the majority of the people in Hongkong are coping with these difficulties and a very great admiration, I may say, for the way the police are handling problems and the remarkable restraint we all feel they have shown and are showing.”
***
SCMP, 23 May 1967, Page 1
BAN ON ILLEGAL PROGRESSIONS:
NEW POLICE ORDER FOLLOWS IMPOSITION OF CURFEW
INCIDENTS PROVOKED
Government last night clamped down an early curfew on the northern part of Hong Kong Island, including Central, and announced that no further public possessions or meetings would be allowed unless they had police approval.
The curfew went into effect at 6.30 pm after rowdy leftists and hooligans continued to disrupt law and order on the island especially in central. It was to be lifted at five o'clock this morning.
But it became obvious to the authorities that demonstrators were doing their utmost to provoke incidents and exploit them for propaganda purposes.
In one clash outside the Hilton Hotel, uninjured women smeared blood on their faces, produced bandages from their pockets – and shouted that they were the victims of atrocity.
Violence also broke out again in Kowloon, the worst incident being when busmen abandoned the vehicles at the “Star” Ferry concourse and attacked please.
During the day 167 people were arrested – a record for any one day since rioting started in Kowloon a fortnight ago.
Most of the arrests were made in central and included 14 women.
Fifteen injured people were sent to Queen Mary Hospital and seven, including a policeman, were detained for treatment.
The policeman, 35-year-old PC Chan Mang, may lose the sight of his right eye which was struck by a bottle containing liquid.
A man who was shot by a detective as demonstrators tried to pour petrol over police in Statue Square was reported to be in “satisfactory” condition.
In announcing that public processions or meetings would not be permitted unless they have the approval of the Commissioner of police, government said that although permission have been given for small groups to march to Government House, disorders have continued to break out.
"Any persons who participate in a procession or meeting in a public place without prior permission in writing from the Commissioner of police will be liable to arrest and prosecution," it said.
Individuals who wished to petition the governor could continue to do so by mail, the statement added.
- Rush to get home -
The curfew, the first to be imposed on the Island in connection with civil disorder since World War II, was announced at 3:20pm and soon the masses of people working in central were heading for home.
Taxis were both scarce and expensive and bus numbers have been depleted by the more than 20 vehicles which had been abandoned, as was several taxis, by left his drivers earlier in the afternoon.
Many people had to make their way home on foot.
Shops and businesses set about closing and putting up window barricades.
And Tsim Sha Tsui, too, many premises closed early and barricaded the windows.
All ferry services from the Island came to a halt including hydrofoil services.
The curfew area covered Mt Davis, Pokfulam, Saiyingpun, Western, Central, Wanchai, Causeway Bay, Happy Valley, North Point, Quarry Bay, Shaukiwan and part of Chaiwan.
- Disturbances Continue -
Isolated in the eastern areas after curfew was imposed.
About 50 people gathered in Shaukiwan Road, near Hoi Fo Street, at 6.45 pm and — police fired one tear gas shell and two baton shells to disperse them. Seven people were arrested, Another person was arrested about 9.30 pm, when stones and bottles were thrown at police. from buildings in Shaukiwan Road.
There was also a stone-throwing incident in King's Road.
Throughout the day, crowds of pro-Communist demonstrators, frequently swelled by young hooligans, gathered in Central, blocking traffic and shouting and chanting Maoist slogans outside various buildings.
First sign of another day of trouble came just after 10 am when a group of 50 people marched into Garden Road with the intention of going to Government House.
Police stopped them outside the Bank of America, in the Hilton Hotel building, and told them several times that they would have to break up into smaller groups.
The incident then developed into what a Government spokesman later described as a “carefully stage-managed performance.”
“The demonstrators ignored all requests that they should break up into small groups or else disperse.”
Instead, they shouted insults at the police party and began to harass them, striking them on the chest, kicking them and stabbing fingers at their eyes.
Despite the provocations, the police stood firm and continued to try to reason with the crowd.
Finally, a police constable was struck a savage blow in the groin and doubled up in pain. After a final warning, the police officer in charge ordered his men to arrest the demonstrators.
The demonstrators resisted and the police were forced to use their batons. A number of men were struck on the head and bled.
Immediately, the whole party fell down in a heap. Women who had not been injured began to smear blood over. their faces and produced bandages.
“All this was seen by passers-by and by independently minded reporters who expressed indignation over this blatant attempt to provoke an incident with the police and to exploit it for their own ends,”the Government spokesman said.
The police were equipped with special cameras to photograph people taking part in disturbances.
Garden Road was closed to traffic and barbed-wire barricades blocked off all other roads leading to Government House.
Other crowds then began to parade noisily through the streets and shops hurriedly closed their doors.
Bus and taxi drivers further added to the unprecedented scenes of disruption when they abandoned their vehicles in Connaught Road in support of the leftists.
Non-Communist banks remained open but some closed their doors whenever a column of demonstrators got too close.
A foreign bank officer summed up the feeling of many people when he suggested that the Communist banks were abusing their privileges of operating in the Colony by allowing their premises to be used as propaganda bases for the leftists.
- Exchange -
The Hongkong Stock Exchange was open, but for the fifth successive day brokers decided not to do any business.
Later in the day, three powerful loudspeakers were set up in Beaconsfield House, where the Government Information Services occupies two floors to counter Communist propaganda from the Bank of China Building.
The loudspeakers blared out Chinese opera music and effectively drowned out the anti-British propaganda from the Communist bank.
The large crowd that had earlier been attracted to Statue Square by. the Communist. broadcast soon thinned out.
The police arrested two men after a group of the demonstrators got into the Fire Brigade Building, climbed to the roof and pelted police standing by the Hang Seng Bank, Connaught Road with bottles.
A spokesman for the Department of Commerce & Industry said the Department had to close its doors until police cleared the area.
“While this was being done, some demonstrators must have got in by a side door,” he said.
“DC & I male staff were standing by ready to help the police it needed.”
About 12.15 pm, a crowd of about 1,000 comprising mostly pupils from leftist schools assembled in front of the Causeway Bay Magistracy.
Many of them plastered the building with posters. Shortly afterwards, three squads of anti-riot police-arrived and dispersed the crowd by firing. teargas shells.
An unruly crowd was reported to have attacked children outside the Po Leung Kuk in Causeway Bay, but it dispersed on the arrival of a police. party.
Trouble in Kowloon began at 9.30 am when small groups of demonstrators arrived outside the South Kowloon Court.
The court gate was closed and demonstrators prevented from entering the building, pasted posters on its walls.
As a number of demonstrators — and spectators grew traffic in Gascoigne Road and Nathan Road was almost brought to a standstill.
Riot police arrived and moved the spectators away first. The demonstrators were then told to shift away from the court, and a banner to this effect was even held up by the police.
After their repeated warnings were ignored by the demonstrators who chanted Communist slogans and songs all the while, the police fired a number of tear gas shells.
Some of the demonstrators, many of them youngsters, began to leave but others shouted at them to stay. The police moved in with batons drawn and the crowd was eventually dispersed leaving behind a large number of shoes and glasses on the court stairway.
Some of the tear gas even penetrated into the courtrooms, briefly interrupting proceedings. About 450 people chanted slogans outside the North Kowloon Court where a man was charged with rioting on May 13.
Police clashed with busmen and other leftists in Tsimshatsui early in the afternoon, resulting in “Star” Ferry services from Hongkong Island being diverted temporarily to Hunghom.
Busmen abandoned their vehicles at the ferry terminus, blocking it completely and causing traffic disruptions in Salisbury Road and Nathan Road.
- Protest -
The busmen, who said they had stopped work in protest against the arrest of a number of tram drivers on Sunday, attacked a police patrol and two drivers even drove their buses at the police, narrowly missing them.
The police fired tear gas shells, but the wind swirled the gas back to them and people who had arrived on the last ferry services before they were diverted.
Flower pots and stones thrown from buildings in the vicinity of the concourse also endangered the police and bystanders.
The situation had returned to normal at 1.30 pm but another disruption occurred when the busmen stopped work again briefly.
During the afternoon, about 200 people gathered outside the Green Island Cement Company in Hunghom but no incidents were reported.
All was quiet at the Hongkong Artificial Flower Works in Sanpokong and the two resettlement estates of Wongtaisin and Tung Tau Village in Kowloon City.
Loudspeakers could be heard broadcasting from several Communist banks throughout the streets in various parts of Kowloon, but only a small number of passers-by were attracted by the propaganda.
Government's actions in combating the pro-Communist violence, meanwhile, drew support from another 19 organisations.
Donations flowed in for the Police Children's Education Fund which now stands at almost $400,000. The Department of Commerce and Industry, which is handling donations, said it had been decided to set a target of $1m.
The Education Department announced that School Certificate examinations will be held today as scheduled.
Schools will be open for normal classes. However, parents whose children are not sitting for the examinations are advised by the Department not to send them to school if they have long distances to travel and rely on public transport.
Army schools will also be open but parents are advised to listen to Radio Hongkong in the morning for further advice.
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SCMP, 23 May 1967, Page 8
DEMONSTRATORS 'WENT OUT OF WAY TO INCITE POLICE FIRST'
Mr P. F. Godber, Senior Superintendent of Police, said last night, the leftist demonstrators had deliberately incited the police into a course of violent action long before the fracas outside the Bank of America in Garden Road had taken place.
In an interview over Radio Hongkong, Mr Godber said the demonstrators, numbering about 75 people, 25 of them women, came to Garden Road yesterday morning with. the intention of trying to provoke police into an indiscretion.
“I am quite certain they did everything they possibly could to provoke us into an unwise or stupid or indeed unlawful move,” he pointed out.
He said they were unsuccessful but they succeeded in getting ar rested by committing a breach of the law.
Mr Godber was in charge of a platoon of policemen, wearing soft caps and armed with batons detailed there to prevent pro cessions of over 20 people in number from marching up Garden Road.
Seventy-five demonstrators were singing and chanting. They heaped abuses on Chinese policemen and called on them to turn upon their European officers.
Mr Godber said: “I was very pleased that there was not a flicker on the faces of the PCs.”
He told the crowd that they could proceed to Government House only in groups of 20 at a time.
But they refused and stood in the street. Shortly afterwards, the extreme left-hand marker of the column of demonstrators became fanatical and worked himself into a “state of frenzy”.
Mr Godber said the man waved a fist at his face. A young girl in the group called on “fellow demonstrators” to chant slogans.
Someone then urged the demonstrators to break the police cordon, They pushed right up to the constables They pushed right up to the constables and started to assault them. They landed blows on the constables stomachs, poked fingers into their eyes and nostrils. One of the men kneed a constable, as hard as he could.
- A Real Fight -
The police took action and promptly arrested two people in a scuffle. The demonstrators ran down the road and reformed. Mr Godber ordered the lower end of the pavement to be sealed off and told the crowd that they were all under arrest.
As some of them were being taken to a vehicle, a real fight began near the doorway of the Hongkong Hilton.
“The rioters pushed their women to the forefront and furiously resisted the police. Blows were exchanged and the police had to use batons to subdue the men. The rioters then threw themselves on to the ground, apparently in a pre-arranged manner. They were arrested only after the women had been separated. Altogether
47 people were arrested.”
The crowd had been repeatedly warned that although the police had no desire to use force, there was a danger of their being arrested if they continued their action. However, they deliberately. provoked the police, Mr Godber pointed out.
He said as far as the Police were concerned, it was a straightforward police arrest of people for a breach of the peace.
Mr. Godber said the crowd came with the intention of provoking the police into an indiscretion. In this, they did not succeed.
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SCMP, 23 May 1967, Page 8
Jail Terms For Five Involved In Rioting
Five men, including a 16-year-old boy, were jailed by Mr J.J. Rhind in South Kowloon Court yesterday in connection with the recent Kowloon disturbances.
Li Yuen-ping (42), a worker, Chan Ma-fat (25), storekeeper, and Wong Chun-ho (28), a salesman, were each given a nine-month term when they pleaded guilty to unlawful assembly outside the South Kowloon Court building yesterday morning.
The court was told that about 300 people had gathered at the stairway leading to the court building in the morning. The crowd pasted posters on the wall.
- Warnings -
In spite of repeated warnings and two gas shells being fired, the people did not disperse.
The. police later fired more tear gas at the crowd, who then started to scatter. But the defendants, were seen to link their arms and ask people to resist the police. The police approached the people and arrested the three defendants.
The 16-year-old boy was jailed for six months when he pleaded guilty to unlawful assembly on May 17 outside South Kowloon Court.
He was seen among a crowd who had gathered outside the court and threw stones and bottles at the police that morning.
In the same afternoon, he was seen again among another crowd throwing missiles at the police in Nathan Road.
The police arrested him later that day.
Lo Chuen, a 36-year-old labourer, who pleaded guilty to breach of 4 curfew order, was jailed for six months.
- Curfew -
He was found in Canton Road, Yaumati on May 17 when there was a curfew.
A group of leftists gathered at North Kowloon Magistracy yesterday to hear a case against Ng Kar-man, 17, of 229 Hei Cheuk House, Ngautaukok, charged with rioting on May 13.
Before the court started, a man from the public gallery suddenly stood up and demanded that the boy be released. An inspector warned him and he quietened down.
Later, when the magistrate, T.C. Chan put Ng on a bond of $200 for one year, the group began to chant and sing before moving out of the court building.
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SCMP, 23 May 1967, Page 8
More Organisations Pledge Support For Government
At an extraordinary general meeting on Sunday, the Yuen Long Federation of Societies passed a resolution expressing support for Government's stand for the maintenance of law and order.
The Federation has a membership of 37 separate district organisations representing all walks of life throughout the district of Yuen Long.
The Yuen Long Small Traders Association representing more than 600 business concerns in the Yuen Long market, has also expressed similar support for the Government's stand.
Support also came from the Colony's Girl Guides. A statement issued by Mrs F. W. Stephens, the Colony Commissioner, said:
“On behalf of the Girl Guides’ Association (Hongkong Branch), I would like to express our solid support of the action being taken by Government during the disturbances. We are citizens of Hongkong and its security should be our main consideration. Security can only be maintained by peace and stability and anything our association can do to help, we shall be pleased to do.”
“I should also like to say that we are filled with admiration for the Police Force, whose actions at all times throughout this period, cannot have been bettered anywhere in the world.”
- Law And Order -
“The Hongkong Association, Hongkong Branch Committee, called on residents to support Government in maintaining law and order.
It urged Government to take the firmest steps to ensure an early, return to peaceful conditions and expressed appreciation to the police for the high sense of duty they had demonstrated, and their restraint in the face of great provocation.
A total of 270 organisations have so far pledged support for Government. Some of the organisations which came forward yesterday were:
Women section of the Hongkong and Kowloon Kaifong Associations; the Shatin Rural Committee; the Fisheries General Association: Chow Clansmen Association; Tse Clansmen Association the Po On District Association; the Long Kong World Federation.
Chiu Clansmen's Association; the Lo Clansmen Association; the Chew Lun Clansmen's Association Ltd; the Pok Law District Association; Hongkong, Chew Lun Clansmen's' Association Ltd; Wen Hua University Alumni Association; Hongkong Fung Clan Association and Hong kong Lutheran Church Protestant Association.
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SCMP, 23 May 1967, Page 1
Peking Closes Office Of U.K. Diplomat:
Peking, May 22
China today announced the closure of the office of the British diplomat in Shanghai and ordered the diplomat, Mr Peter Hewitt, to leave the city within 48 hours.
The decision was announced to the British Charge d’affaires here in today “in view of events in Hongkong”.
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SCMP, 23 May 1967, Page 7
POLICE CONFRONT DEMONSTRATORS;
RESIDENTS OFFER TO HELP POLICE
(Photos)
Twelve more residents have decided to volunteer their services to the Auxiliary Police to help preserve law and order in Hong Kong.
This brings 22 to the total number of people who have offered their services so far.
Earlier, ten local residents, comprising two English men, and American, two Chinese, three Portuguese and two Indians, sent a letter to the Hon M.D. Irving Gass, the colonial secretary, offering their services to the auxiliary police to help preserve law and order in Hong Kong.
The letter reads: “Conscious of our duty as residents of Hong Kong, and appreciative of the work done by the police both regular and auxiliary, we the undersigned wish to volunteer our services if needed for the auxiliary police, or whatever other capacity the government requires for the preservation of law and order in Hong Kong.”
The letter was signed by Messrs James Laidlaw, Kenneth Chun, F.A. Silva, S.L. Fung, Mohan Gidumal, John Greenwood, Bahar Ramchandani, G.C. Tait, Carlos Noronha, and A.V. Lopes.
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SCMP, 23 May 1967, Page 6
POLICE EDUCATION FUND SOARS TO $400,000: DONATIONS FLOWING IN 'THICK AND FAST'
People from all walks of life continued to show their support and appreciation of Government and police action during the current disturbance as thousands of dollars poured in for the Police Education Fund.
Since the fund was launched on Friday afternoon, nearly $400,000 had been donated and the latest donation of $50,000 came from the management and workers of a “Hongkong factory.”
Apart from the $50,000, the workers and management of the same factory had contributed $1,000 to the youth who on Sunday was severely beaten in front of the Hilton Hotel when he shouted anti-Communist slogans at the demonstrators.
Contributions to the fund were pouring in so rapidly that the Commerce and Industry Depart-: ment was working overtime yesterday to record the latest figures.
- ‘Fantastic Rate’ -
Mr J. D. McGregor, Assistant Director of the Commerce and Industry Department who is responsible for collecting money for the fund, said: “Quite honestly I have no idea how much we have collected so far. The donations have been coming in thick and fast and my only concern has been to give receipts as fast as I can go.”
He pointed out that at five o’clock yesterday afternoon, cash and cheques were coming in. at the rate of many thousands of dollars an hour. “I am quite sure that even this fantastic rate will be exceeded.”said Mr. McGregor.
Earlier in the morning a queue of people had to wait their turn to enter Mr. McGregor's office to make their donations. Throughout the day a steady stream of people, mostly Chinese and many obviously factory workers, called to see him with donations both large and small. Two workers brought in $50 as a contribution and were immediately followed by two representatives of a real estate company with a cheque for $5,000 from the Chinese management and staff.
Mr. McGregor also received a telephone call from a factory with 300 workers and a promise of a donation of $50,000. When Mr McGregor later, received the cheque, it had been increased by $1,000—$50,000 for the Police Fund and $1,000 for the youth who was beaten up by the crowd outside Hilton Hotel.
Mr T. D. Sorby, the Director of Commerce and Industry, said a number of industrialists, bankers and merchants had spoken to him about the fund.
He said they expected their boards of directors to authorise substantial contributions. They were glad to make these contributions to signify their solidarity with the forces of law and order.
In almost all cases donations had been accompanied by letters giving overwhelming support and encouragement to the Police and Government.
One letter from a group of industrial workers who: donated several thousand dollars said: “Please ask Government and police to restore law and order quickly to assist the workers.”
Another letter signed "a grateful citizen" said: "the police must keep up the wonderful work to protect us all."
A North Point housewife wrote: “My sincere appreciation and admiration of the praiseworthy way in which the Police Force and the Auxiliary Police had been dealing with the senseless rioters. The ordeal of the police under such provocation is indeed tremendous.”
- Show Solidarity -
A spokesman for the sponsors of the fund yesterday appealed to the public to show their solidarity with the police in support of law and order.
The spokesman. had the following message for the people of Hongkong: “Now is your opportunity to show that you support the Administration and the police in their handling of the present disturbances.
“All contributions will be weleome—whether made anonymously or by name.”
He also said a target of $1m for the fund had been set.
Donations to the fund may be made either in cash or by cheque. Cheques should be crossed and made out to the Director of the DC & I or the Police Children’s Education Fund.
All donations sent or taken to the DC & I should be addressed to Mr J. D. McGregor, Assistant Director.
***
SCMP, 24 May 1967
POLICE FUND REACHES $530,000: MANY MESSAGES OF GOODWILL RECEIVED
Many Messages Of Goodwill Received
The Police Education Fund, which was started on Friday, stood at $530,000 by 5pm yesterday, the Hon T.D. Sorby, the Director of Commerce and Industry, announced.
This figure did not include a number of pledges and the contribution by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Sorby added.
In addition to the contributions, the DC & I had also received a great many more messages of goodwill towards Government and the police.
Residents of the three districts in Kowloon which saw some serious rioting last week were coming forward in increasing numbers to express their appreciation of the police efforts to keep the peace and protect life and property in face of great difficulties.
- Tokens -
As tokens of their gratefulness as well as an expression of their admiration in which all members of the force, both regulars and the auxiliaries, have conducted themselves, people have been calling at police stations in Shamshuipo, Mongkok and Yaumati, to hand in donations “to comfort” policemen injured in recent disturbances and to swell the Police Education Fund.
Altogether $1,030 was handed in at the three stations for the injured policemen, and another $280 was received for the special fund which has been established for the education of children of members of the regular police force and the auxiliary police.
The donors were from all sectors of the community. There were the shop keeper and his fokis, the street hawker, the factory manager and his workers and the ordinary housewife. Donations range from a few dollars to $100.
Most of the donations were accompanied by letters expressing support for the authorities’ efforts to keep peace and maintain law and order.
A contribution of $1,800 from the: 92-member auxiliary Marine Police was handed in by Superintendent F J M Goldberg. The figure represented one day's pay of the 92% members.
Meanwhile, at a luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club of Hongkong, each Rotarian donated $100 or more to the Police Fund.
Mr Charles Harvey, Publicity Officer, said he expected a minimum target of $10,000 to be reached.
“These clubs are united with Government and have a voluntary wish to support the fund,” he said.
Cyanamid (Far East) Ltd announced that it had donated $1,000 and its staff members $1,200 to the Police Education Fund.
(list omitted)
***
SCMP, 24 May 1967
ARTIFICIAL FLOWER WORKERS END DISPUTE
About 460 workers of the Hongkong Artificial Flower Works, locked out from both the West Point and Sanpokong plants, had already returned or would soon return to work, following successful conciliatory moves by the Labour Department, it was learned from management sources last night.
This figure included some 200 injection moulding machine workers, whose disagreement with the management over new working regulations introduced on April 13 resulted in a series of disturbances. It was estimated that the operators willing to return to work represented 80 per cent of the plants work force, the management sources added.
- Re-employment -
The spokesman for the management emphasised last night that they would also agree to re-employ the 29 workers originally dismissed, if they came forward to register. In fact, a few of them had already registered, he said.
The agreement and offer by the management virtually eliminated all principal causes of the industrial dispute, if no further objection by the Union was raised, it was learned. Only a few workers of the plastic industry are members of the left-wing Hongkong and Kowloon Rubber and Plastic Workers General Union. The known Union number is slightly over 2,000 for the entire Colony, although the total work force in the plants or individuals working at home could amount to many times the present union membership, it was learned.
- Agreement -
Two representatives of the management of the Hongkong Artificial Flower Works and five representatives of a group of 240 workers, including 100 workers who signed a petition recently deposited with the Labour Department seeking re-employment at the Sanpokong plant, met yesterday in the Labour Department.
At the meeting, which was presided over by Mr Tsui Tim-fook. Labour Officer, the two parties agreed in principle to the re-opening of the injection moulding department of the Sanpokong factory as soon as possible.
It was also agreed that workers re-employed would receive compensation for the period from May 1 until the date of re-employment.
They further agreed that "re-employment is, by mutual consent, to be on the terms and conditions which were in operation at the Sanpokong factory at the time when the injection moulding department was closed down.
“Upon an accepted system of registration for re-employment, which would be announced in the near future, workers will be allowed a period of seven days in which to register."
The spokesman said that more than 200 workers, including injection moulding machine operators, at the West Point plant had already resumed work last Saturday.
The Hongkong Artificial Flower Works have five plants in the Colony with the new one soon to be opened in Kwai Chung, New Territories. It employed more than 2,000 workers before the disturbances.
***
SCMP, 24 May 1967
CALMER H.K. ATMOSPHERE
THE atmosphere was comparatively calm in Hongkong yesterday. But thousands of ordinary bus users on the Island must have been further antagonised by the GMB stoppage organised by the leftists; and thousands more upset by the new flood of baseless rumours about the utilities. How pervasive these rumours can be, incidentally, is illustrated by the fact that the Chinese Foreign Ministry itself is still protesting about the use of troops to quell the disturbances. In fact none has been used at all. At the same time one of the other bases for protest has softly and silently vanished away; employees of the Hongkong Artificial Flower Works are to return to work. And the offer of alternative employment to apprentices and workmen being intimidated by their present employers into taking part in demonstrations should cut away another prop from beneath the troublemakers.
Meanwhile expressions of public indignation over the disruption of life in the Colony by agitators and hired hooligans continue to mount. (Though the banning of processions seems to have had a useful effect as should the loudspeaker warning). One word of caution is necessary, however. Such is the private citizen's growing impatience that various unconventional remedies for disaffection outside the UK code are being suggested. These range from spraying the demonstrators with a type of indelible paint used in Japan for this purpose to the formation of a private group of “vigilantes”. While such expressions of support for Government policies are obviously well-meant, they are not always very practical. In particular, the “vigilante” idea could easily rebound upon its originators. So long as the Police, regular and auxiliary, are handling the situation little or no confusion need arise as to who is against and,who is for law and order (though bystanders have only themselves to blame if they create and pay for some such confusion). But, nothing could exacerbate the disturbances more effectively than to have two “civilian” sides in open combat with the police as a third party. No, the rightminded citizen can do most to restore calm by keeping off the streets when he is told to and seeing that his children do the same.
***
SCMP, 24 May 1967
Citizen's Vigilance Body Needed In H.K.
A businessman yesterday appealed to voters in the coming Urban Council election in which he is standing as an independent to take an objective look at the future.
Mr Y. B. Low said they should decide whether the time had not come to build something worthwhile, something more substantial than car parks or public fountains or railways and resettlement estates.
“In these times, Hongkong needs badly as it is a citizen’s army and a citizen's vigilance or watchdog committee. With the proper approach, a small group of public-spirited citizens can achieve this object, without undue fuss without legislation, without cries of independence, without changes in the structure of the present Government, ” he stressed.
He pointed on if that all that might be outside the scope of the Urban Council, but it was not outside the purview of any public-spirited citizen.
- Moral Discipline -
He also urged that something concrete be done to close the gap between Government and the people.
“The re-organisation of the Hongkong Regiment into a proper force will go a long way towards providing a much-needed moral and mental discipline to the younger generation, he suggested.”
“If we are willing to work for a new and strong Hongkong, we need not pray or beg for an ombudsman to come from some far-off country. We can go on immediately to the establishment of a volunteer citizens investigation committee,” he added.
Such a citizen's committee, he said, could help to root out the serious anomalies which were hindering Hongkong's progress.
***
SCMP, 24 May 1967
TAILOR INCITED CROWDS
A 22-year-old tailor who pleaded guilty to two charges of incitement to commit a breach of the peace was jailed by Mr A. L. Leathlean yesterday for 12 months.
The court was told that on Friday morning Fung Ching-sun was seen by a police inspector and a sergeant sitting opposite Government House gates when a crowd was making their demonstration.
When a press photographer tried to get pictures of the area, Fung shouted to the crowd, inciting them to assault the photographer. He was told not to continue, but he did not stop.
In the afternoon, he was seen by the same police officers in the same area. When a bus in Upper Albert Road was stopped by a crowd of 30 to 40, and the inspector tried to direct traffic, Fung shouted to the crowd in a hysterical manner.
On Tuesday, the same police officers on patrol duty in Central District saw Fung and then made the arrest.
***
SCMP, 24 May 1967
Mass Rally At Border
Left-wing newspapers yesterday reported that a rally of 10,000 people was held at Shumchun on Monday morning in sympathy with leftists in Hongkong.
The papers also published a large photograph of those taking part in the rally, which it said, included the People's Liberation: Army, Red Guards, workers, farmers, revolutionary teachers, students and Communist officials.
The rally marched to the border and stopped at Lowu Bridge, chanting slogans and singing song, the reports said.
***
SCMP, 24 May 1967
Battle Of Loudspeakers In Second Day
The battle of loudspeakers between Government and the Bank of China in Central District entered its second day yesterday afternoon attracting more than 200 people in small groups at Statue Square.
But the Government ones were on the winning side.
Shortly before noon, the bank's loudspeakers began to function and asked people in Hongkong to support anti-Government moves.
Chinese Communist songs were broadcast. Later in the afternoon, the loudspeakers announced that China Motor Bus workers had stopped their service.
Soon after the loudspeakers at the hank started, the loudspeakers in Beaconsfield House blared out Chinese opera music arid effectively drowned the anti-British propaganda.
The bank then changed to more powerful amplifiers in an attempt to drown the Government ones.
After the lunch hour, two strong Government loudspeakers were placed at the top of the high block of the City Hall and continued to counter those at the bank with Chinese music.
Ice-cream and sweets vendors were doing a roaring business among the listeners in Statue Square.
Communist songs and propaganda were also broadcast through loudspeakers at several other left-wing banks and offices on the Island and in Kowloon.
Police patrol units kept the people gathered in the square under observation. No disturbances were reported.
***
SCMP, 24 May 1967
Constable Saw Disturbances From Rioters' Side
A young police officer described to a magistrate yesterday what it was like to be in among stone-throwing, police-taunting rioters.
Det Const Ko Moon-hang, in plain clothes, had mingled with crowds for about three hours at the Sanpokong and Nathan Road disturbances.
He was giving evidence against Lee Chun-wah (21), unemployed, of an unnumbered hut, Kam Tin Leng, New Territories, to Mr J. J. Rhind at South Kowloon Court.
Lee pleaded not guilty to riotous assembly at Sanpokong on May 12 and Nathan Road on May 17.
Lee was arrested near Nathan Road on May 18 after Const Ko and another plainclothes detective recognised him from the two recent riots.
Const Ko told the court that while he was with a crowd of 400 outside the Hongkong Artificial Plastic Flower Factory in Sanpokong on May 12 his attention was drawn to a group of chanting youths.
After several lorry loads of riot police had arrived, he noticed Lee move to the front of the crowd and stone police.
By the afternoon, the crowd had swollen to 1,000 and Lee would go behind the mob, pick up stones and come to the front again to throw them, continued Const Ko. “I saw him stone the ' police at least three times. Besides this. he was encouraging the crowd to stone the police.”
Const Ko was also in the mob that attacked police put side the South Kowloon Court on May 17. He moved back with them when riot police arrived and drove a crowd of about 1.000 into Nathan Road.
- Throwing Stones -
“I saw people in Nathan Road stone the police. When the police started to disperse them. I followed part of the crowd and I noticed Lee opposite me. He was picking up stones and throwing them at the riot squad.”
Lee claimed that after his arrest he had been beaten up and forced into making a statement in which he admitted he threw stones at police in Nathan Road.
Mr Rhind was satisfied that Lee had made the statement freely and had not been threatened.
Lee said that he agreed with police evidence about the Sanpokong disturbances. He hotly denied though, that he was in Nathan Road on May 17. “I spent most of my time that day at home, I was not in town at all,” he said.
Mr Rhind adjourned the case until May 27 to give Lee a chance to produce witnesses to substantiate his evidence.
***
SCMP, 24 May 1967
More Support For Govt Actions
Two hundred and eighty-four organisations have come out publicly in support of Government's firm stand to maintain law and order in Hongkong.
These organisations are representatives of people from all walks of life and in nearly all professions and trades in the Colony.
They include the Hongkong Regiment (The Volunteers).
The Hongkong Christian Council, which represent 150,000 Christians in Hongkong, expressed deep concern at the recent disturbances and said it realised that only by maintaining peace and order that the people could enjoy normal living.
At a special meeting on Monday, the Yuen Long Chamber of Commerce voiced its wholehearted support of Government's determination in maintaining law and order.
The Chairman of the New Territories Girl Guides Local Association advised young people to stay off the streets and not to hamper the work of the police when disturbances were occurring.
The Committee of the Association of Heads of Secondary Schools also advised schoolchildren to stay clear of all crowds and demonstrations.
***
SCMP, 24 May 1967
Over 20 Apply to Join Auxiliary Police
In support of the police action in the recent disturbances, 23 civic-minded residents, including an 18-year-old youth, yesterday volunteered their service to the auxiliary police.
Senior Staff Insp T. A. FitzPatrick in charge of the Auxiliary Police recruitment said the volunteers went to the Auxiliary headquarters in the Old Tamar building, Queen's Road East shortly after 4 pm.
“My office has been swamped with calls from these public-spirited people since the disturbances, ” he said.
Yesterday's applicants included 11 Chinese, two Australians, six British, two Portuguese and one Indian.
One applicant, was a solicitor, another an architect. Many were office workers.
The 18-year-old youth's application was, however, turned, down because he was seven inches shorter than the required minimum, height of five foot four inches.
“It was a pity to turn the lad away but on the other hand it was heartening to know that so many people are on our side, ” Insp Fitzpatrick remarked. He disclosed, that since the disturbances the Auxiliary had 150 applications and they were being processed.
***
SCMP, 24 May 1967
WARNING BY GOVERNMENT
A Government spokesman yesterday warned property owners, occupiers or others, who permitted incitement to violence and similar illegal announcements to be made from public address equipment installed in buildings under their control, that, they might be making themselves liable for legal proceedings to be taken against them.
They were advised in their own interests to ensure that their buildings were not used for these purposes.
***
SCMP, 24 May 1967
Magistrates Busy At Central: 130 CHARGED OVER DISTURBANCES
Magistrates and prosecutors were kept busy in Central Court yesterday where some 130 people appeared on various charges arising out of the disturbances on Hongkong Island on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Four magistrates — Mr A. L. Leathlean, Mr N. P. Power, Mr E. Light and Mr A. Garcia — devoted the entire day to charges of breach of curfew, unlawful assembly, throwing stones and bottles at the police, and using threatening language to incite a breach of the peace.
Mr Power imposed sentences of two months, three months, and eight months. The defendants who appeared before him ranged in age from 17 to 26.
A boy of 15 was remanded in the Begonia Boys' Home until today to allow his father time to engage a solicitor for the hearing in the Juvenile Court.
In the case against Lui Chi-keung (18), charged with using threatening words to create a breach of peace, Mr Power commended Det Consts Cheung Chak-man and Yip Yie-lam for their prompt action in going to the assistance of a man being attacked outside the Hilton on Saturday afternoon.
Mr E. Light imposed sentences of 18 months for unlawful assembly. In one case he imposed a sentence of nine months because the defendant, Chiu Tai-nam (19), was not yet an adult.
In another case he acquitted Ip Yiu-hung, a 29-year-old tea-house foki, when there was insufficient evidence to prove a charge of throwing a bottle on a police constable from a rooftop.
In Mr Leathlean's court, 17 adults who pleaded guilty to a charge of breach of a curfew were put on a bond of $100 for 12 months, or fined $50 or $100, or jailed for one to two months. Three pleaded not guilty, one was adjourned until this morning, and two others were tried in the Juvenile court.
- Unlawful Assembly -
Eleven people pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful assembly. One was sent to Begonia Boys’ Home for six months and the others were jailed for between six and nine months. Sixty-eight others, including 19 girls, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of unlawful assembly, were remanded for hearing today, tomorrow or from May 29 to June 14.
Mr Leathlean reserved judgment until today on six people who pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful assembly.
Insp I. Davies and Insp P. Lennert prosecuted.
***
SCMP, 24 May 1967
COLONY PASSES QUIET DAY: BUSMEN'S REFUSAL TO WORK DISRUPTS TRANSPORT
RUMOURS REFUTED
(PHOTO)
Government's ban on processions and gatherings proved effective in keeping the peace yesterday. There were no serious incidents after the curfew was lifted at 5 am.
However, there were conflicting reports last night about whether the stoppage of China Motor Bus Company employees will continue today.
Although the full fleet of 480 tram cars were on the roads yesterday, only 60 remained in service during the evening.
A Hongkong Tramways Ltd official said a large number of tramcars were returned to the depot because there was an “abnormal number” of absentees in the second shift of duty beginning at 4 pm.
It was learned that many of the workers did not report for work because they. were intimidated and it was likely that they and many others would continue to absent themselves today."
Mr Ngan Shing-kwan, Managing Director of CMB, said there was 'no indication his workers, would return to work today.
He said they had insisted that the drivers who were arrested outside the Hilton Hotel on Monday by police should be released before they return to work.
However, the Commissioner for Transport understood from a reliable source that there is a possibility that CMB buses will resume service today.
The stoppage was decided upon following a meeting on Monday night of all leftist bus workers in the Colony.
It surprised hundreds of office workers who were preparing to get to their offices. Although inconvenienced, they nevertheless managed to get to Central by the available means of transport — trams, lorries and “pak pais.”
Those badly affected were people living in the Upper Levels, Chaiwan and Aberdeen areas not served by trams.
Bus services in Kowloon were running normally.
Government yesterday morning declared that it had not the slightest intention of abandoning in any way its responsibilities for the peace, safety and continued well-being of the people of Hongkong.
- Assurance -
A statement issued from Government House said Government had the full backing of the British Government which “stands four-square behind the authorities in this determination."
It said: “Those who are attempting by every desperate means to destroy the peace of the community are now in their extreme desperation, attempting to spread the rumour that the authorities will not maintain this firm stand.
Sir Arthur Galsworthy who has been in Hongkong since Sunday, brought with him the fullest confirmation of the British Government's support for the actions of the Hongkong authorities.
“Anyone who hears rumours to the contrary should reject them as unfounded. They are being used in an attempt to persuade workers to leave their factories.”
“Workers and everyone else in the community should continue their normal daily life in the confidence that the Government has not the slightest intention of abandoning in any way its responsibilities for the peace, safety; and continued well-being of the people of Hongkong.”
Government acted swiftly yesterday to refute a rumour that, water supply might be cut off.
Announcements were made over the air that there was absolutely no truth in the rumour, and that there was plenty of water available to meet all needs.
Residents should not listen to these malicious rumours, They should not turn on their taps to draw water, thus reducing the water pressure, a spokesman said.
- Pressure -
In another announcement, Government said it had received many reports of workers and apprentices being forced to join in “so-called demonstrations.”
It said some might have done so for fear of losing their jobs. It, however, gave an assurance that they need not fear anything and added that very many, responsible industrialists would offer alternative jobs to those who were intimidated in this way.
A spokesman said: “This intimidation of young workers and apprentices is particularly heartless." He said details would be announced shortly of how. threatened. workers could register for new jobs.
Government also moved another step forward in its fight against leftist elements yesterday.
Following repeated broadcasts of slogans in Statue Square, it warned property owners or occupiers or any other person who permitted incitements to violence to be broadcast by public address systems under their control that they were liable to be prosecuted.
A spokesman said broadcasting from the Bank of China and other points in the city which stopped at 3 pm start again shortly before 5 pm. He estimated that the broadcasts were made from 17 or more places.
Office-workers in the Central District yesterday went about their business with apprehension following the previous day's disturbances.
Although there were no disturbances, there were minor incidents, as police patrol the area.
In Theatre Lane, some stones were dropped from a building on a police van when they arrived on the scene where two kerosene shop fokis had been fighting.
Stones were also hurled at the police from an upper floor of the Bank of China Building.
The crowd of about 200 gathered outside of China Travel Agency in Queen's Road Central, to listen to a broadcast from the loudspeaker in the building. However, they dispersed when police arrived.
Crowds gathered in statue Square Gardens throughout the day. Some of them had been identified by police as “hooligans,” but they made no trouble.
The crowds were persuaded to leave by the police from time to time when the number grew larger. Although they usually re-assembled again there was no incident.
All was quiet at the Hongkong Hilton, the scene of the previous day's big demonstration but most of the shops in the hotel building were still boarded.
In the morning, more than 100 riot police well served with a free breakfast outside the hotel.
Garden Road and other roads leading to government house were barred to marchers and well-guarded by police.
Heavy patrols of police also moved through the Central District all day.
There was no incident when the 130 people who were arrested during the previous day's disturbances, appeared at the Central magistracy.
About 3000 workers of the Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Co of Hongkong Ltd yesterday staged one-hour token strike against “Hongkong British brutality."
The workers began the sit-down strike in their respective departments on their return from lunch break at 1 pm.
A spokesman of the dockyard said there was no incident during the sit-down. Normal work resumed at 2 pm, he added.
No incident was reported at the other major dockyard, the Hong Kong and one poo dog company Ltd.
In Chaiwan, a police constable was reported to have been surrounded by about 20 people. Later police said he was in fact taking down the number of "pak pai" car and a group of people had gathered round him. There were no incidents.
Meanwhile, the constable who injured his eye during the Kowloon disturbances on May 13, had regained his sight.
The situation in Kowloon continued normal and shops and restaurants yesterday did a brisk business.
Posters supporting the Government and condemning left-wing rioters appeared on the walls outside the Hongkong Artificial Flower Factory in Sanpokong, in Kowloon City, Shamshuipo, Mongkok, Yaumati and at the “Star” Ferry concourse at Tsimshatsui.
One of the posters said: “Leftists, if you are not satisfied in Hongkong, then return to the Mainland.” Another stated: “We fully support the Government to maintain law and order in the Colony.”
In the morning, the leftists held a joint meeting of the “anti-persecution struggle committee” at the Workers Club of the Hongkong Federation of Trade Unions in Matauchung Road, Tokwawan.
- Police At Court -
In the afternoon, the standing committee of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce held another meeting behind closed doors.
A riot squad from the Auxiliary Police was stationed in South Kowloon Court yesterday. They checked the identity of people entering the premises. There were no crowds outside the court building as well as in North Kowloon Court.
Left-wing workers of Green Island Cement Co Ltd, continued to picket outside the plant and occasionally sang slogans, but they were orderly. They left the plant at 5 pm.
In Sanpokong where the labour dispute first started, workers went about their business and crowded the restaurants: arid, eating houses during the lunch hour yesterday, caring little for what had happened a few days ago.
In Tung Tau Village and Wongtaisin resettlement districts, residents thronged the streets that now bore little signs of the riots which had ravaged the area.
Meanwhile, the present unrest in the Colony had affected several ocean-going ships.
The Japanese ship Chitosegawa Maru was held up from leaving Junk Bay for Nagasaki on Monday night as some members of the crew, according to the ship's agents, were stranded on shore because of the curfew.
An engineer of the American ship C. R. Musser was unable to return to the ship also for the sailing on Monday night. The vessel eventually left after the curfew was lifted yesterday morning.
- Sailing Delayed -
Two ships, including the Japanese vessel Mikawa Maru, left port on Monday night without pilots who were unable to reach these vessels due to the curfew.
Embarkation period for passengers of the P & O liner Cathay was advanced two hours to between 4 pm and 5 pm yesterday as a precautionary measure.
Her departure is delayed six hours until 6 am today. A spokesman for the ship said the delay was. due to cargo working, and not because of the disturbances.
The price of commercial gold on the Chinese Gold and Silver Exchange remained at $282 a tael yesterday.
The Hongkong Stock Exchange was still closed yesterday.
More contributions have been made to the Police Children's Education Fund. In addition, the Royal Hongkong Jockey Club said they would match public donations to the fund dollar for dollar up to $1m.
The Governor, Sir David Trench, donated $500.
***
24 May 1967 [FBIS]
CPR STATEMENT TO U.K. ON HONG KONG INDECISIVE
Moscow Radio Peace and Progress in Mandarin 1100 GMT
18 May 1967-- (Text) Bourgeoisie propaganda organs are pointing out with satisfaction the ambiguity and indecisiveness of the CPR Foreign Ministry statement to Britain referring to the recent incident in Hong Kong.
The Chicago DAILY NEWS and a number of other rightwing papers in the United States are serializing the articles by Malley, a U.S. citizen, on his interviews with Chou En-lai, Chen Po-ta, and other Chinese leaders. The papers pointed out the sensational qualities of certain (?words) of the Chinese leaders.
[HKCT note: CPR = Chinese People’s Republic]
***
24 May 1967 [FBIS]
PEKING ANTI-SOVIET DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUE
Sofia BTA International Service in English 1445 GMT 20 May 1967--L
(Text) Peking--With no cause whatsoever, Red Guards this morning organized a new anti-Soviet demonstration in front of the Soviet Embassy here. Preparations for the demonstration were made yesterday. Loudspeakers were mounted in front of the embassy's entrance and a great number of anti-Soviet slogans were posted in the street.
The Red Guards barred traffic in the street, spitting on and bumping Soviet cars as they passed by They screamed and cried disgusting threats against CPSU and Soviet Government leaders.
It must be noted that the anti-Soviet campaign has never stopped in China. The Chinese press has been publishing daily a surprising variety of slander against the Soviet Union and the CPSU. The considerably delayed demonstrations before the British diplomatic mission here in connection with the dramatic developments in Hong Kong took place mostly under a anti-Soviet sign. A great number of demonstrators also passed by the embassies of Bulgaria and other socialist countries, carrying anti-Soviet slogans.
***
SCMP, 25 May 1967 (Page 1)
GOVT BAN ON BROADCASTS
Move To Stop Speeches Of Inflammatory Nature
NORMAL BUS SERVICE
In a new move to curb further disturbances in the Colony, Government yesterday passed emergency laws which prohibit the broadcasts of inflammatory statements.
Police have also been empowered to search for and seize equipment such as loudspeakers used for this purpose.
This action follows Tuesday’s warning about the improper use of loud speakers which was ignored by the Bank of China yesterday until Government loudspeakers drowned out its broadcast.
The situation in the Colony remained calm throughout the day yesterday and it is expected to improve further today as all bus services on Hongkong Island will resume their normal schedule.
The China Motor Bus Company reached an agreement on the resumption after a three-hour meeting with employees last night.
The new laws on broadcasting are contained in the Emergency (Prevention of Inflammatory Speeches) Regulations 1967. They were approved by the Executive Council under the Emergency Regulations Ordinance and were published in a special issue of the Government Gazette yesterday.
Under these measures, the authorities can now take action against any one who voices incitement to violence or law-breaking.
Any one who attempts to undermine the loyalty of the police or public services, or tries to stir up ill-will in the community, can be similarly dealt with.
“The introduction of these emergency regulations is a temporary measure which has been taken by the Governor-in-Council to deal with a specific problem of lawlessness and incitement to violence which has developed in recent days,” a Government spokesman said.
“It is intended that these regulations shall be administered in a sensible and restrained manner in the best interests of the maintenance of peace and good order in Hongkong and that they should be withdrawn from the statute book as soon as it is considered practicable to do so,” he added.
- No Incidents -
The Bank of China building began broadcasting propaganda in the morning but after, Government opened up with two powerful loudspeakers the Communist broadcast stopped at 10 am and the bank was silent for the rest of the day.
A junk in the eastern quarantine anchorage also broadcast propaganda in the morning but it did not continue to do so in the afternoon.
Apart from the “broadcasting war” the day passed without serious incident.
Few buses were running on the Island during the day as left-wing employees pressed their demands for the release of two busmen arrested during Monday’s disturbances.
Govt Ban on Broadcasting
Transport was badly disrupted and the situation became even worse when all bus services ceased about 5 pm. However lorries and “pak pais” helped ease the burden.
The complete stoppage occurred when relief crews were barred from taking their buses out of the North Point depot by about 100 left-wing workers.
The police were called and at a meeting later between the management and employees, agreement was reached after three hours of negotiation.
A brief statement issued by the management read: “The union, concerned for the interest of the public, has agreed with the management of the bus company that all the bus services will resume on Hongkong Island tomorrow.”
- Intimidation -
Just over half of the normal 157 trams were operating on the Island despite what a management spokesman called extreme leftwing intimidation.
If complaints about this “persuasion” were received from workers, the matter would be referred to the police, he said.
Police were present in the tram depots to ensure that workers who wanted to keep on with the job could do so. Detectives also travelled on trams to guard against intimidation on the way.
The spokesman added that it was expected the situation would improve today.
Normal bus services got under way in Kowloon at 9 am after employees held a three-hour token strike.
The token strike or stop-work in support of leftist protest against “persecution of compatriots” has become a familiar occurrence over the past two days.
Such “protests” were held yesterday by employees of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Co, Ltd (two hours) and about half the employees of the Hongkong and China Gas Company (four hours).
Mr G.W.A. Cam, Manager of the Gas Company, said about 190 workers took part in the strike from 8 am to noon.
“It did not affect gas production or key personnel and the workers on strike did assure us they would tend to emergency calls during the four-hour period,” he said.
Many calls for repair and maintenance were waived by the workers but all-returned to their jobs shortly after noon.
A seamen’s “anti-Hongkong British struggle committee,” organised by the Hongkong Seamen’s Union, has urged seamen to prepare for boycott action, if necessary, in support of leftists.
At the border, a number of demonstrations have been held on the Chinese side-where they have been a common activity over the past few months.
About 400 people chanted Communist slogans at Shataukok last week and on Monday there was a similar gathering at Shumchun.
However, individuals are now speaking out increasingly against the troubles of the past fort-night.
Many taxi drivers on late shifts yesterday were very vocal in expressing their disgust over the disturbances, which had led to fewer people travelling about at night, thus drastically reducing their takings.
Since the disturbances first broke out, 561 people in Kowloon and 249 on the Island have been arrested. The total number of convictions so far is 421 and 55 respectively.
In Kowloon, the two major age groups of arrested people were 14-18 (156 arrests), and over 25 (223 arrests).
- No Detentions -
Of the Island, 127 of the people arrested were over 25 - or just more than half the total.
A Government spokesman reiterated that there have been no detentions as opposed to arrests. He also denied rightwing press reports that 22 “undesirables” have been deported.
The Executive Council has met three times in the past week. It is understood that a meeting on Tuesday was a normal weekly meeting and the others were special meetings.
Before Tuesday's meeting, Sir Arthur Galsworthy, Deputy Under-Secretary of State in the Commonwealth Office, and his colleagues met members, of the Council.
It is believed that yesterday’s special meeting in Government House was for the purpose of introducing the emergency regulations to deal with the “loudspeaker war" and other matters.
With about $320,000 in donations doming in yesterday, the Police Education Fund now stands at $850,000.
The price of commercial gold dropped by $8.25 a tael yesterday to close at $273.75, compared with Tuesday's $282. This was the largest drop in a single day since the disturbances began.
No business was again transacted at the Hongkong Stock Exchange.
Among the latest postponements 13 the inter-school health education radio quiz, which was to have been held in the City Hall theatre on Saturday. It has been postponed to Tuesday, June 13.
Another is the annual meeting and dinner of the Diocesan Old Boys’ Association which was to have been held today and has been postponed until further notice.
Meanwhile, Hongkong businessmen, in reply to cablegrams from overseas, have been assuring head offices that the situation in: the Colony is not as bad as some newspaper reports have painted it.
This was revealed by enquiry among businessmen yesterday.
A check at Cable & Wireless Ltd showed there has been no change in volume of ordinary cable traffic, but despatch of press telegrams has increased.
***
SCMP, 25 May 1967 (Page 1)
GOVT CHALLENGE TO COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA
Government yesterday challenged the Communists to “produce the bodies or show us the graves” when it rejected as “baseless nonsense” a New China News Agency report which stated that “at least 200 Chinese compatriots were killed or seriously injured” in Hongkong.
“This report is of course laughable to people in Hongkong who can see the truth for themselves,” a spokesman said. “It has also been given the lie by the free press throughout the world who have reported factually on these events.”
“It is important, however, that this pointless lie should entirely refuted wherever it is given currency.
“The restraint of the Hongkong Police has been the subject of world-wide comment and has earned them renewed respect and admiration in Hongkong itself.”
- Fomented Rioting -
The spokesman said the result had been obvious in the streets and in the casualty statistics. Despite deliberately staged provocations and cold-bloodedly fomented rioting there had only been one fatal casualty - and he was a victim of the rioters themselves.
He said since the disturbances began two weeks ago, a total 17 people, including three policemen, had been admitted to hospital. All had been discharged except for three policemen and four civilians. However, none of the seven was seriously injured.
In addition to those admitted to hospital, 33 policemen had been treated at hospitals but not admitted, as had 56 civilians. Most of the injuries resulted from the “deliberately staged incident” on Monday.
The spokesman went on: “The story of the dead bus driver is the most shameless of all. Not only is he not dead but he appeared in court for all the press to see and his picture has been published today.
“Despite these irrefutable facts we now have this wild irresponsible talk of 200 killed or seriously wounded.”
“It is difficult to see what this kind of thing is meant to achieve. It certainly cannot shake the confidence of people in their police force.”
It was bad enough that violence should be deliberately fomented, he said. It was worse still that a shameless attempt should be made to engineer a violent clash and to fake injuries as was done on Monday.
“It is intolerable that when all these attempts failed there should be this resort it to out-and-out invention… those who are manufacturing these lies should cease now,” the spokesman added.
(Photo)
***
SCMP, 25 May 1967 (Page 1)
No Exodus From H.K.
Singapore, May 24
Singapore authorities were not able to say today whether there had been any marked increase in the number of visa applications from Hongkong.
(Reports from Hongkong quoting Japanese consular officials said the number of visa applications for Japan had doubled since the current troubles began. A Consular official was quoted as saying some Chinese apparently intended to escape to Japan if the worst happened).
A spokesman for the Singapore Foreign Office said that as Singapore had no mission in Hongkong, visa applications went between immigration offices.
An Immigration Department spokesman said he could not say offhand if there had been any increase and this would not show up until the monthly figures were tabulated. - Reuter.
***
SCMP, 25 May 1967 (Page 1)
Police Fund Gets Indirect Boost
The Police Education Fund received an indirect donation from the leftists last night.
A Government officer, returning home from his office, bought a copy of the Ta Kung Pao to read its views on what was happening in the Colony, He paid ten cents.
As he walked away from the newspaper vendor, a man approached him and said: “Thank you friend for your support” and gave him a red packet containing $7.
The surprised officer thus showed a net profit of $6.90, but he promptly passed it over to the Police Education Fund.
***
SCMP, 25 May 1967 (Page 6)
Two-Hour Sit-Down
About 3,000 workers of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Co Ltd, stopped work for two hours yesterday in protest against persecution of their fellow countrymen.
The sit-down followed a one-hour token strike by 3,000 workers at the Taikoo Dockyard on Tuesday.
The Kowloon Docks workers sat down from 8 am to 10 am during which period, according to the Kowloon Dock Workers Amalgamated Union, they also held meetings in the respective departments.
Work resumed at 10 am and no incident was reported.
***
SCMP, 25 May 1967 (Page 6)
More Than 300 Organisations Support Government
Altogether 322 representative organisations have so far publicly announced their full support for Government’s firm action in maintaining peace in Hongkong.
Thirty-eight organisations yesterday added their names to those who have already recorded their support of Government.
The Cotton Industry Workers’ General Union, which has a membership of 1,500, deplored the recent disturbances.
“Nobody has benefited from the politically-inspired agitations during the past many days, not even those who are now actively promoting them.
“On the other hand, our growing economic prosperity and the livelihood of the working class have been threatened."
- Efficient -
“We strongly feel that no condemnation is too: serious for those people who resorted to illegal violence and riotous behaviour, designed to threaten both public safety and also the very structure of law and order in our Colony.
“We note with satisfaction the efficient manner Government has discharged its bounden duty in maintaining law and order.
“In fact, we have already called upon all our members to exercise their maximum patience and place full confidence in Government to restore law and order.
“To this end, you can count on the full support of our organisation.”
The Hongkong Taoist Association yesterday appealed to the citizens to refrain from joining any mob and not to be misled by rumours.
“Government has taken every possible measure to maintain the stability of currency and has sufficient necessary provisions in store.
“If we all remain calm, commodity prices will remain stable and all our worries will be over.
“The peace and order of the community depends on the steady mind of the residents and their determination in confiding in Government.”
Among others who voiced their support for Government yesterday were the Sun Wui Chat Po Clan Association, the Lung Kong World Federation and the Lung Kong (Chan Yee) Association of Hongkong.
Support also came from the Hongkong Association in London, whose members consist of representatives of leading firms in the Colony.
The Association called on all those whose livelihood was dependent on its industry and trade to give their full support to the efforts being made to restore peace; and the rule of the law.
They said: “All here endorse the firm stand taken by the Hongkong Government and are greatly impressed by the discipline and restraint demonstrated by the police in these difficult conditions.
- Reassured -
“We are reassured by the evidence that the vast majority of the people of Hongkong support Government and are confident that good sense will prevail.”
Members of the Hongkong Trade Development Council's mission to Spain have also expressed the utmost confidence in the way in which Government is handling the situation.
Speaking to journalists in Las Palmas, Spain, Mr J. B. H. Leckie, the leader of the trade mission, said: “We have been heartened by the manner in which the vast majority of people in Hongkong have supported the forces of law and order.
“We have also been impressed by the way in which the Hongkong Police have acted throughout these troubled times. Their conduct has been favourably commented upon by not a few of the foreign newspapers we have been reading.”
***
SCMP, 25 May 1967 (Page 6)
Seamen Lend Support To Leftists
Hongkong Chinese seamen have been urged to prepare for boycott action, if necessary, in support of leftists.
The “Hongkong Seamen's Anti-Hongkong British Suppression Struggle Committee” made an “urgent call” for’ immediate action against the “Hongkong British brutality and suppression.”
The letter urged them to:
- Form “fighting” sub-committees to watch developments closely, and prepare for immediate action in boycotting “the Hongkong British” when necessary until final victory;
- Hold meetings denouncing and protesting against “sanguinary suppression,”
- Raise funds to support the “victimised compatriots;” and
- Denounce the “brutality” to overseas Chinese and foreign friends.
A spokesman for the Hongkong Seamen's Union, which organised the committee, said the letter was also being sent to seamen serving on ships outside Hongkong.
***
SCMP, 25 May 1967 (Page 6)
TOURIST TRADE TO COUNTER ADVERSE EFFECTS OF RIOTS
Distorted View Given Overseas
Hongkong’s tourist industry leaders are planning to hold talks soon to start a concerted campaign to counter the adverse effects on the industry likely to result from the publicity - often grossly exaggerated - given overseas to the disturbances, a spokesman for the Hongkong Tourist Association said yesterday.
He said the Association was “horrified” at some of the newspaper clippings flowing into its office from the overseas press, particularly Singapore and the Philippines.
Asked whether the disturbances were having any great effect on tourism, the spokesman said: “We expected more cancellations than there have been. But the picture now is not what it may be in the months to come.
“Fortunately, this trouble has happened as we go into the summer months - our low season. This gives us an advantage to mount a campaign to restore confidence in the Colony as a tourist centre.
The HKTA was hoping all segments of the industry would co-operate in a joint attempt “to counter the adverse publicity - often grossly exaggerated.”
There was no way yet of telling what the riotings’ full impact was going to be.
“It could hurt us very badly,” he said.
“We are hoping that, by September and October, when we get our best flow of tourists, tourism should be back to normal.
- Optimistic -
He personally felt optimistic. “I think we can still look forward to an increased number of tourists for this year over 1966 - but the percentage increase may be down. Instead of our registering, say, a 25 per cent increase, the figure may be only 19.
Hongkong's leading hoteliers have been pleasantly surprised by the lack of panic among tourists and the number of people who have continued to visit the Colony.
“The Hongkong Hilton, which has been a favourite spot for demonstrators, rioters and police, has reported a negligible number of cancellations.
In the past few days, the Hongkong Hilton has suffered most from people who failed to attend its floor shows and said that there had been six banquets either cancelled or postponed.
But the disturbances outside the Hilton have upset the families and friends of the visiting Filipino troupe, the Bayanihan Dancers, who have been performing at the Hilton, so much that the troupe is packing up and going home today.
Their spokesman, Miss Zial Cita, said the 23-member troupe had been ordered to return to the Philippines immediately by Miss Hellen Benipez, the head of the Bayanihan Folk Association, because of fears for their safety.
They gave their last performance last night. The troupe were to stay, until June 3.
The Peninsula Hotel, in Tsimshatsui, reported the largest number of cancellations of all of the major hotels.
A hotel spokesman said the number of cancellations over the past few days averaged between 14 and 15 but he expected fewer cancellations as things returned to normal.
The Mandarin Hotel said that an average of four or five people had not arrived at the hotel to take up their bookings.
***
SCMP, 25 May 1967 (Page 8)
FORCED TO JOIN RIOT, WOMEN CLAIM
93 Charged In Central
Ninety-three people, many wearing blood-smeared clothes and bandages on their heads, appeared before Mr A. L. Leathlean in Central Court yesterday on charges arising out of the incidents outside the Hongkong Hilton on Monday.
All were charged with riot. Four were additionally charged with incitement to disaffection.
Four others did not appear as they are still in Queen Mai Hospital, 22 were women and one was a boy of 15.
All except 12 pleaded not guilty to the charges.
No sentences were passed. Dates were fixed for hearings and sentences to begin on Monday.
Most of the accused asked for earlier dates to be set, but were told they were being given the earliest possible dates. Many applied for bail, but the applications were refused.
Two young women, Yu Siu-chun (21) and Li Mo-fun (20), both wig factory workers, said they admitted the charge but claimed that they had been forced to do what they did.
In opposing bail, Insp Ivor Davies said police were investigating allegations that some of the accused acted under duress. If this was true they might be forced to repeat their action if they were allowed bail, he said.
Other grounds for opposing bail were the possibility of the accused not appearing for trial, a likelihood of the disturbances being repeated, and the serious nature of the offences.
In another case, Mr Leathlean fined Noor Khan, a Pakistani watchman $80 when he pleaded guilty to a charge of breach of curfew. Khan said in mitigation that he was on his way to lock the doors of the bank when he was arrested.
***
SCMP, 25 May 1967 (Page 8)
Jail ‘In Best Interests Of Peaceful Citizens’
A magistrate said yesterday that although he did not want to send women with no police records to jail, he thought it was in the “best interests of the peaceful citizens of Hongkong” for him to do so.
Four women, aged between 18 and 37, were before Mr E. Light in Central Court on charges of unlawful assembly.
They were alleged to have been members of a demonstrating group, which defied repeated warnings by the police to disperse.
The incident occurred on Monday at the junction of Upper Albert Road and Albert Path. The women were arrested when they tried to force their way through a police barrier.
- Convicted -
The women, who all pleaded not guilty, were convicted and given sentences ranging from one to three months.
A man involved in the incident also appeared before Mr Light on the same charge. He pleaded not guilty, but was jailed for nine months.
Shum Lap-chung (50) an office worker, of 37 Connaught Road West, ground floor, demanded in an unsworn statement that he be “released at once.” He asked why his trial was being kept “secret,” and went on to say that if anyone should be on trial, it should be the Hongkong Government.
Mr Light replied that members of the public were welcome to his court provided they did not misbehave. “My court is not a political arena,” he continued and said that his only duty was to preserve the peace and see that justice was done.
***
SCMP, 25 MAY 1967 (Page 8)
More Volunteer For Auxiliary Police
Ten more residents have offered their services to the Auxiliary Police to help preserve law and order.
They are: Messrs Ko Ying, Stanley Wang, K. H. Cheung, Eugene Chan, Chandroo Daryanani, Alexander Tsang, A. P. Pereira, Jr, Ray Smart, Lee Cross and Theodore King.
These volunteers bring to a total of 40 the number of local residents who have offered their services. They comprise 22 Chinese, six Indians, one Australian, four Englishmen, four Portuguese and three Americans.
***
SCMP, 25 May 1967 (Page 8)
POLICE FUND NOW $850,000
Large Contributions By Local Firms
The Police Education Fund for the children of the rank and file has reached $850,000, it was announced yesterday.
Together with the Royal Hongkong Jockey Club's contribution, the Fund now stands at about $1.7m.
Among the contributions made yesterday were large sums ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 from various companies and factories.
Msgr Lawrence Bianchi, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Hongkong, donated $500.
The Police Gazetted Officers’ Mess forwarded a cheque for $3,000 for the fund.
- Initial Sum -
This was an initial contribution and more contributions were expected, totalling about $10,000, members of the Mess said.
There are 120 gazetted officers honorary and associated members of the Mess who are civil servants and medical doctors attached to the police force and holding equivalent ranks, former gazetted officers living in Hongkong, and three members of the Canadian Mounted Police at present in the Colony.
More than $2,450 was collected for the fund at a “Ladies Day” luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club of Hongkong Island East yesterday.
Those attending the luncheon were told: “This is much more than a donation - it is a demonstration that we are supporting law and order.”
The local Rotarians gave $100 each, while another $110 was collected from 15 visiting Rotarians from Australia and New Zealand.
The Rotary Club of Kowloon West has pledged a contribution of $4,000 to the fund.
Taipo civic Ieaders yesterday launched a campaign to contribute to the fund and collected $1,250 on the first day. The money will be handed to the Taipo District Officer shortly to be forwarded to the fund.
The Hon T. D. Sorby acknowledges the following contributions to the fund:
Total amount forward, as published previously: $288,605.30
(Details of donors and donations)
Accumulated total: $612,075.25
***
SCMP, 25 May 1967 (Page 8)
SENTENCES REVIEWED
Four men and a 16-year-old boy had sentences imposed on them for charges arising out of the Kowloon disturbances reviewed by Mr F. de. F. Stratton in North Kowloon Court yesterday.
All were arrested on May 12 and 13, two for breach of a curfew and three for riotous assembly.
They had been sentenced from three to six months in jail. They have already served 11 to 12 days.
One of the two men charged with breach of a curfew said he was returning at the time because he was worried about his family. The other said that he was looking for his 13-year-old son.
The three charged with riotous assembly said that they were on their way home when they ran into riotous crowds and were consequently arrested with the rioters.
The two six-month sentences were reduced to fines of $1,000 each. The three sentences of three months were reduced to fines of $500 each. Failure to pay the fines would result in the original sentences being enforced.
***
SCMP, 25 May 1967 (Page 8)
Silent Drama In Court
There were a few moments of silent drama in Central Court yesterday when a deaf mute was charged before Mr A. L. Leathlean with riot.
Chan Tai-yuk (40), a cleaning worker, of 654 Queen's Road East, pleaded guilty through Mr Chan Chak-cheung, the headmaster of a dumb and deaf school. Mr Chan is himself deaf, and the court interpreter had to assist him in writing.
Insp I. Davies, prosecuting, told the court that Chan was among a group in Connaught Road on Sunday who were throwing stones at the police. Police made repeated warnings, but the defendant was among those who ignored the warnings and was arrested.
Chan obviously could not have understood when the police warned and shouted at the crowd, Mr Davies added.
He further pointed out that if Chan was imprisoned, there would be great difficulty for both the prison officials and Chan himself.
Chan was bound over in $80 for three years. He was also ordered to pay $20 costs.
***
SCMP, 25 May 1967 (Page 9)
‘Forced To Contribute To Struggle Committee’
Several small businessmen yesterday complained of being forced to make “voluntary” financial contributions to the left-wing organised Anti-Persecution Struggle Committee and take part in the earlier demonstrations against Government.
A letter to the editor of the S.C.M. Post by an importer of Chinese herbs wo(sic) wished to remain anonymous, said that many businessmen who imported goods from mainland China had been arbitrarily ordered to contribute $1,000 to $2,000 to the committee according to the volume of business each man did. The writer said his share was $1,000.
The letter added that each businessman had to supply two people to join the demonstrators. The merchants had no alternative but to appease them, and some were compelled to pay women or children to fill in the role.
“I therefore expose the Communist devilish scheme to you and hope you will publish the facts after an investigation.” the letter ended.
During the recent disturbances, it was observed that many hid their faces whenever possible behind the red books of Mao's Quotations and turned round to avoid press cameras.
It was understood that the Committee had raised a considerable sum from contributions of $100 to thousands of dollars.
***
SCMP, 25 May 1967 (Page 9)
More Centres For Youth Recreation Urged
(Photo on left)
Dr Alison Bell, an elected Urban Councillor and Vice-Chairman of the Reform Club, yesterday opened the Holy Carpenter Youth Centre in Valley Road Estate, Hunghom.
Dr Bell said there were not enough trained recreational leaders for youngsters between the ages of 12 and 16 who had left primary school and who had not been able to obtain a place in a secondary school.
In spite of all that Government and other agencies had done, there were still insufficient interesting and diversified recreational activities for the youths.
- Preyed On -
“We know from bitter experience in the past and recently how many youngsters have been preyed upon by bad and political elements in our society to take part in dangerous, unlawful riotous behaviour.
“Young people, who have pent up energy and avid interests but who are at a loose-end, roaming the streets, because they have nothing better to do have stood around recently watching bad people throwing stones and bottles and destroying property and defying authority and these youngsters have been wickedly persuaded to participate in such destruction and law-breaking. This is deplored by everyone,” Dr Bell said.
She said it was vital that Government and members of the community realised the great necessity for many more recreational youth centres - ideally one for every three or four streets in the city - and trained more recreation leaders.
***
25 May 1967 [FBIS]
SHANGHAI PEOPLE RUN OUT BRITISH PERSONNEL
Shanghai Domestic Service in Mandarin 1300 GMT 24 May 1967--B
(Text) In view of the fact that the British Government is bent on being hostile toward the Chinese people and that the British authorities in Hong Kong are carrying out bloody suppression against the Chinese compatriots, the CPR Government on 22 May declared null and void the arrangement by which the British charge d'affaires office posted personnel in Shanghai in charge of the affairs of British nationals there and ordered the British personnel, Hewitt to leave Shanghai within 48 hours.
On 24 May, after hearing the news about the "22 May" bloody slaughter by the British authorities in Hong Kong, which was unprecedented in scale, the broad revolutionary masses in Shanghai were extremely indignant. Amid the wrathful condemnation and protest by the revolutionary workers, revolutionary peasants, young Red Guard fighters, and revolutionary cadres in Shanghai, British imperialist element Hewitt got out of Shanghai on 24 May in a bad fix.
On the early morning of 24 May, the broad revolutionary masses in Shanghai gathered in front of the gate of the site of the British charge d'affaires office's personnel in.Shanghai, shouting "Down with U.S. imperialism!" “Down with British imperialism!" "Down with Soviet modern revisionism!" "Britishers, get out!" "Protest against the fascist atrocities of the British authorities in Hong Kong!" and other slogans. Hewitt, who was scared to death, dared not come out from the front door but slipped out the back door, When the angered revolutionary masses discovered that he had slipped away, they immediately rushed to him, condemning his despicable act and lodging the strongest protest against the fascist atrocities of the British authorities in Hong Kong against. the Chinese compatriots. The automobile in which the Britishers were riding was posted with the slogan "Britishers, go home!" On its way, the masses looked at it with anger and shouted "Down with British imperialism!"
When Hewitt slipped out to the gate of the airport, the indignant revolutionary masses and young Red Guard fighters wrathfully condemned the British Government and the British authorities in Hong Kong for their towering crime of bloody suppression of the Chinese compatriots. They recited this quotation from Chairman Mao: “‘Lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own feet’ is a Chinese folk saying to describe the behavior of certain fools. The reactionaries in all countries are fools of this kind. In the final analysis, their persecution of the revolutionary people only serves to accelerate the people's revolutions on a broader and more intense scale.”
The revolutionary masses and young revolutionary fighters also handed a letter of protest to this Britisher and pointed out to him in all seriousness that the 700 million Chinese people armed with Mao Tse-tung's thought are not to be trifled with and that there will certainly be no good end for the British Government in playing the role of an accomplice of U.S. imperialism. Under the severe condemnation of the revolutionary masses, Hewitt, sweating, ran and slipped into the cabin in great panic.
The broad revolutionary workers, revolutionary peasants, young Red Guard fighters and revolutionary cadres in Shanghai are paying close attention to the heroic struggle of the compatriots in Hong Kong. They pledged to be their backing and carry through this struggle to the end. They said that they are determined to be resolute, to fear no Sacrifice, and to surmount every difficulty to win victory.
***
25 May 1967 [FBIS]
MEETINGS, PROTESTS CONTINUE IN HONG KONG
Compatriots' Committee Meeting
Peking NCNA International Service in English 1827 GMT 24 May 1967--W
(Text) Hong Kong, 24 May--The committee of Hong Kong-Kowloon compatriots of all circles for struggle against British persecution in Hong Kong, called an enlarged session yesterday to condemn the 22 May massacre perpetrated by the British authorities Participants expressed readiness to carry the struggle against persecution through to the end at any cost.
Yang Kuang, chairman of the council of the Hong Kong-Kowloon Federation of Trade Unions, said that the British authorities in Hong Kong continued to expand their persecution of Chinese residents, thinking that the Chinese might be terrorized by fascist means. This would never work. "If the British Hong Kong authorities escalate their sanguinary persecution," Yang Kuang said, “we shall escalate our struggle against it. The Hong Kong-Kowloon Chinese, armed with Mao Tse-tung's thought, are determined to win final victory, whatever the sacrifice."
A representative from publication circles recalled that on 22 May several hundred thugs attacked the 20 or so people representing the publication circles with batons. Though many of them nearly lost consciousness as a result of the beating, they kept on shouting: "Long live Chairman Mao!" and refused to yield.
A round of warm applause greeted bus and trolley workers when they reported their protest strike and their courageous fight back in the face of the "riot police." A student representative got up to say that the Hong Kong-Kowloon students would learn from the workers and from the Red Guards on the mainland and strive to stand on the frontline of the anti-imperialist struggle.
Other speakers said: "Chairman Mao teaches us, 'We should support whatever the enemy opposes.' The British Hong Kong authorities are using high-handed tactics to prevent our Hong Kong-Kowloon compatriots from studying and spreading Mao Tse-tung's thought. We want to defend Mao Tse-tung's thought, even at the cost of our lives, so that it will shine with still greater splendor all over Hong Kong-Kowloon." They said that the Hong Kong Chinese would not have shed their blood in vain. Blood debts must be repaid in kind.
When a representative relayed the news that the Chinese Government had decided to cancel the arrangement by which the British charge d'affaires! office in China posted personnel in Shanghai in charge of the affairs of British nationals there and had ordered P.M. Hewitt to leave Shanghai within 48 hours, the meeting hall rocked with thunderous cheers.
***
25 May 1967 [FBIS]
Workers’ Meetings
Peking NCNA International Service in English 2057 GMT 24 May 1967--B
(Text) Hong Kong, 24 May--Chinese workers in the publishing, trading, and banking circles in Hong Kong, at meetings to condemn the British authorities!’ large-scale massacres and arrests, solemnly declared that the blood debts must be repaid in blood. The Chinese compatriots, armed with Mao Tse-tung's thought, will defy all sacrifices to carry their just struggle against the British fascist atrocities through to the end. They swore that the great red banner of Mao Tse-tung's thought will fly forever over Hong Kong.
More than 150 workers and staff members of the Joint Publishing Co., Teck Soon Hong Ltd., Chung Fu Hong, Hua Yuan Co., Yien Yieh Commercial Bank Ltd, Hong Kong, and five other organizations were beaten up by the British Hong Kong "riot police” in the 22 May bloody incident when they were on their way to the British Hong Kong "governor's house" to lodge protests. Most of the workers and staff members were seriously wounded and arrested.
At a meeting held yesterday in the Joint Publishing Co., representatives of the committee of Hong Kong-Kowloon compatriots of all circles for struggle against British persecution paid high tribute to the wounded workers for their heroic fight to defend the great thought of Mao Tse-tung, preserve the dignity of the Chinese people, and resist the British fascist persecution. The representatives pointed out that the imperialists mortally fear and bitterly hate the patriotic workers and staff members in publishing circles who have done a good job in spreading Mao Tse-tung's thought and bringing the truth to the compatriots in Hong Kong.
One of the purposes of the British Hong Kong authorities! present premeditated and systematic sanguinary atrocities is to use violence to obliterate the influence of the great thought of Mao Tse~tung and China's great proletarian cultural revolution they said. "However, the British Hong Kong authorities have miscalculated. They do not (words indistinct) compatriots who are armed with Mao Tse-tung's thought are the real iron bastion," one of the representatives said. "We Hong Kong-Kowloon compatriots have closely united. We are determined to increase our strength a hundredfold to counterattack the British authorities. As the British Hong Kong authorities have escalated their persecution, so we will also escalate our anti-persecution struggle. We are determined to struggle to the end, until the British Hong Kong authorities bow their head in acknowledgement of their crimes."
A worker of the Joint Publishing Co. who was injured in the 22 May bloody incident also spoke at the meeting. "I wasn't at all afraid when I was faced with 200 to 300 fascists. On the contrary, I was full of fighting spirit. When I saw a comrade in arms encircled and beaten up by the thugs, I dashed to his rescue, as I thought of Chairman Mao's teaching that all people in the revolutionary ranks must care for each other, must love and help each other. The thugs immediately turned on me. They used their batons to beat me around the head and back. Although I was Seriously wounded, the only thing in my mind was to follow Chairman Mao's teaching to take a stand of self-defense and resolutely to hit back at the fascist thugs."
At a joint meeting held by the workers and staff of Teck Soon Hong Ltd., Chung Fu Hong, and Hua Yuan Co., workers who were wounded by the fascist thugs sharply condemned the British Hong Kong authorities. Pointing to bloodstained clothes on exhibit, they said angrily: "These are evidence of the British Hong Kong authorities’ bloody suppression!" They sent large numbers of armed "riot police” to beat up completely unarmed people. "This is the British Hong Kong authorities! maintenance of good order!"one of them said. The Chinese compatriots never yielded before force. They fought the enemy, hitting hard at the thugs. Those who were arrested after being seriously injured shouted at the tops of their voices: “Long live Chairman Mao!"
Another worker said: "As Chairman Mao teaches us, historically, all reactionary forces on the verge of extinction invariably conduct a last desperate struggle against the revolutionary forces ... The British authorities' fascist atrocities show that they are not strong, but feeble. We are not isolated in our just struggle. We have Chairman Mao as powerful backing; we have the 700 million people, the powerful PLA, and the heroic young Red Guard fighters as our stanch support. We will definitely triumph in our struggle. The British imperialists must repay the blood debts they owe us!"
At the meeting held yesterday evening by the workers and staff of the Yien Yieh Commercial Bank Ltd, Hong Kong, speakers warned the British authorities that they must immediately and unconditionally accept the five demands put forth in the statement of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. If they persist in setting themselves against the Chinese people armed with the great, invincible thought of Mao Tse-tung, they will fail ignominiously.
***
25 May 1967 [FBIS]
Workers' Strikes
Canton Domestic Service in Cantonese 1125 GMT 24 May 1967--V
(Text) From yesterday, (23 May), all Hong Kong bus workers began to stop work to protest strongly against the fascist atrocities of the Hong Kong British authorities in perpetrating the mass slaughter of 22 May. A joint statement by the Hong Kong and Kowloon bus workers says: "The persecution by the Hong Kong British authorities has been escalated in a big way. Our anti-persecution struggle must, naturally, be escalated. In order to protest against the new sanguinary atrocities of the Hong Kong British authorities, we have decided that all buses in Hong Kong stop running from 23 May. We pledge to carry through the anti-persecution struggle to the end. We bus workers will certainly adhere to Chairman Mao's teaching 'be resolute, fear no sacrifice, and overcome all difficulties to strive for victories, never withdrawing until complete victory.'"
At the same time, all the 3,000 workers of the Taikoo dockyard from 1300 yesterday stopped work for one hour. The students of the Hong Kong Peichiao middle school stopped classes for one day to express strong protests against the unprecedented-scale of mass slaughter perpetrated by the Hong Kong British authorities.
***
25 May 1967 [FBIS]
New British Measures
Peking NCNA International Service in English 0213 GMT 25 May 1967--B
(Text) Hong Kong, 24 May--The British Hong Kong authorities have adopted new measures against Chinese compatriots there. Immediately after their big massacre on 22 May, the British Hong Kong authorities arbitrarily announced that very evening that "anyone taking part in demonstrations or holding meetings in public places without prior signed permission of the commissioner of police will be arrested and indicted." The British authorities continued to send large numbers of riot police to the Chung Wan district. They dispatched police vans to patrol other areas to intimidate the Chinese residents. Police vans of the British Hong Kong authorities constantly appear in the neighborhood of the Hong Kong branch of NCNA.
On 23 May the British Hong Kong authorities issued an "emergency order" prohibiting the masses from entering a "court." Anyone violating this order would be “indicted and brought to trial." According to the order, "if found guilty, the defendant is subject to a 5,000 Hong Kong dollar fine and two years imprisonment."
During the past few days, the Hong Kong branch of the Bank of China has been using loudspeakers to broadcast to the people on the streets. Mortally afraid of this, the British Hong Kong authorities sent police and troops to install six powerful loudspeakers in the nearby building of the British Hong Kong information services to counter them with vulgar music. The British Hong Kong Police Department used the Hong Kong radio yesterday afternoon to clamor that the use of loudspeakers for “illegal propaganda" or "broadcasts that incite” was "lawbreaking, indictable action."
The British Hong Kong "governor's house" issued a declaration yesterday clamoring that they were "determined to continue to preserve order in Hong Kong" and that the British Government "pledges to back" this "determination." British Hong Kong Police officer Li Feng-chi openly yelled that they intended to continue to use force against the Chinese compatriots. Through the radio, the British Hong Kong authorities shouted that the "deputy under secretary of state in the Commonwealth office, Arthur Galsworthy, who arrived in Hong Kong on Monday (22 May--ed.) has fully confirmed that the British Government supports the actions taken by the Hong Kong authorities."
***
25 May 1967 [FBIS]
Peking Press Coverage
Peking NCNA International Service in English 0853 GMT 25 May 1967--W
[…]
The press is paying increasing attention to the British atrocities in Hong Kong and voicing a serious warning to the British imperialists. A PEOPLE'S DAILY commentary is entitled "The British imperialists are playing with fire." The press carries Hong Kong reports on the condemnation of the 22 May massacre perpetrated by the British authorities by the representatives of Chinese residents of all circles in Hong Kong “and Kowloon and by Chinese workers in publishing, trade, and banking circles. They declared that this blood debt must be repaid in blood. The press also prints a Hong Kong report saying that the British authorities are increasing their suppressive measures against Chinese residents.
***
25 May 1967 [FBIS]
REPRESSION OF CHINESE IN HONG KONG CONDEMNED
Hanoi VNA International Service in English 1501 GMT 24 May 1967--B
(Text) Hanoi, 24 May--NHAN DAN today strongly protested against the British authorities’ terrorist acts against the Chinese workers and people in Hong Kong and voiced full support for their struggle to defend their legitimate interests.
In an article, entitled "The British authorities must halt their repression of the Chinese people in Hong Kong," the paper denounced the British Government for allowing and encouraging its representatives in Hong Kong to carry out new and bloody repression of the Chinese people in this area on 22 May in defiance of the CPR Government's protests.
The paper said: It is evident that. the British Government's attitude in the so-called Hong Kong conflict constitutes a shameful reactionary move of the colonialists. Such an attitude shows the short~sightedness of those who are now ruling over Great Britain and are tailing after the United States in opposing the Chinese and Vietnamese peoples. The British Government and the British authorities in Hong Kong will certainly fail in their attempt to smother the just struggle of the Chinese people in Hong Kong.
The paper stressed: On 17 May the DRV Foreign Ministry issued a statement fully supporting the firm stand of the Chinese Government and demanding that the British Government put an immediate end to its persecution of the Chinese workers and people in Hong Kong.
The Vietnamese people indignantly condemn the British Government and the British authorities in Hong Kong for persisting in their repression of the Chinese people there. The Vietnamese people resolutely support the Chinese people in Hong Kong in pursuing their just struggle for their legitimate interests.
***
25 May 1967 [FBIS]
NLHX DENOUNCES U.K. ATROCITIES IN HONG KONG
Peking NCNA International Service in English 1819 GMT 23 May 1967--W
(Text) Khang Khay, 23 May--A spokesman for the NLHX Central Committee issued a statement on 19 May strongly denouncing the British authorities in Hong Kong for their fascist atrocities against Chinese workers and other Chinese residents there, according to Radio Pathet Lao yesterday.
The statement said that the fascist atrocities are evidently a component part of the British authorities! underhanded collusion with U.S. imperialism in opposing the People's Republic of China and widening the war of aggression in Indochina.
The Laotian people fully support the stand set forth by the Foreign Ministry of the People's Republic of China in its 15 May statement. They demand that the British authorities immediately stop all their fascist acts against the Chinese workers and other Chinese residents in Hong Kong, compensate the victims for their losses, release all these arrested, and immediately stop all their manuevers and collusion with U.S. imperialism against China and against the Indochinese countries, the statement said.
***
The Straits Times, 25 May 1967, Page 8
What Next?
The Hong Kong Government's ban on processions and demonstrations has brought an “uneasy peace” which may provide the climate which has been lacking for rational examination of the crisis the colony faces. Yet this is far from certain. The possibilities depend at least as much on the Chinese Government's attitude and intentions as on any chance incident in Hong Kong's streets which could erupt into a fresh outbreak of violence. The colony authorities have lost neither their nerve nor their prudence. All their efforts are directed towards reducing the tension. If, however, the Chinese Government is bent on humiliating the British in Hong Kong as it did the Portuguese in Macao, nothing the Hong Kong authorities can do will prevent the situation taking a far more serious turn.
The British Government has rejected Chinese allegations of atrocities, and while not otherwise replying to the five demands made by Peking has informed China's Charge d'Affaires that it is prepared to discuss in a reasonable manner all matters of common interest. The offer can be self-defeating. Peking is not in a mood to be reasonable, and is likely to misinterpret this gesture as an admission of weakness and hence an invitation to increase the pressure. Another shove, and the paper lion will be tattered and torn.
British newspaper comment on the Hong Kong crisis still largely mistakes the nature of the threat and overestimates the support which the authorities may expect from the population in general. The rioters are a small minority, without the sympathy of the bulk of the people. This is true enough and it is also true that the Chinese Government, having got itself into an undignified position, has much to lose by pressing the quarrel. However, the astonishing history of the cultural revolution suggests no reason to expect common sense to ride to the rescue, while rioters never yet have been abashed by finding themselves in a minority. If the worst should happen there are comrades enough on the other side of the border. But the odds still are against final calamity.
SCMP, 26 May 1967 (Page 1)
Galsworthy Ends Talks With Governor
Sir Arthur Galsworthy, Deputy Under-Secretary of State in the Commonwealth Office, left by BOAC for London yesterday after week-long talks with the Governor, Sir David Trench, on the current happenings in the Colony.
Sir Arthur was accompanied by Mr W. S. Carter, head of the Hongkong Department of theHongkong Department of the Commonwealth Office and Mr T. Holland, head of the Far Eastern Department in the Foreign Office.
Before his departure, Sir Arthur issued the following statement at the airport:
“As I indicated when I arrived here last Sunday, I am not in a position to make any kind of formal statement. I came here for consultations with His Excellency the Governor because
Sir David did not wish to go to London in the present circumstances. Ministers in London have been kept informed of the course of events here and I shall new be able to report to them in person more fully. Any statement would then have to come from the Ministers' rather than from me.”
“However, before I leave, I would like to pay a sincere personal tribute to the way the people of Hongkong have faced up to the recent difficulties. I shall certainly be reporting thus to our Ministers on my turn.”
“I would just like to say “Au Revoir”.”
- Macao Consul -
Meanwhile, Mr Normal Ions, the British Consul in Macao, arrived here yesterday for consultations with the Hongkong authorities.
Accompanying him on the visit were Mr J. H. Kemble, the Vice-Consul, and Mr Edward Pollard, officer-in-charge of the permit office of the Consulate.
Mr Ions had braved demon: Strattons at his Consulate bn(sic) several occasions, the last of which was on Wednesday when he was forced to stand in the sun for seven hours as demonstrators chanted “hate” slogans.
Mr Ions announced, yesterday that the permit office in Macao would be closed today, in addition to the normal holidays tomorrow and Sunday.
The announcement stated that arrangements would be made by Monday for the resumption of the issue of permits.
Applications for visas should be addressed by post to the Director of Immigration Hongkong and enquires about permits or visas should be made to the Immigration Department here for the time being.
***
SCMP, May 26 1967 (Page 6)
Heung Yee Kuk Voices Unreserved Approval Of Govt Measures
OVER 360 BODIES EXPRESS SUPPORT
The New Territories Heung Yee Kuk, the unofficial statutory advisory body to Government on all matters affecting the New Territories, has expressed in a statement, its unreserved approval of Government measures in maintaining order and stability in Hongkong.
The statement addressed to the Governor, was signed by 35 Councillors of the Kuk’s Executive Committee, including its Chairman, Vice Chairmen, all the New Territories Justices of the Peace and the Chairmen of many rural committees.
Forty-two more organisations yesterday added their names to the long list of organisations which have publicly announced their support for Government’s firm stand in maintaining law and order.
This brought the total number of organisations which, announced their support to 364.
The Cotton Spinners Association gave its whole-hearted support to Government.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Association said one of the main pillars of Hongkong’s economy was the manufacturing industry, which was based on two-to-six-month forward contracts.
"If the present disturbances are left to continue in no time all, our order books will be blank, and our raw material stock exhausted. Hongkong would face ruin should our trading relationship with overseas buyers become disrupted.
- Understanding -
“All manufacturing enterprises here are working on a month-to-month basis. Not a single company can afford to be idle for long. If all of us, both labour and management, do not remain cool-headed arid look far ahead, the residing economic disaster could become unimaginable and irreparable. And nobody in Hongkong can escape from it. It is of utmost importance, therefore for both labour and management to have a full understanding of this situation.
“All of us, both labour and management, must, know that we are not the only suppliers in the international market. There are many of our competitors in the world who would be extremely happy to see our goods disappear from the international market,” the Association said.
Tourism, the other main pillar, top would be greatly affected as visitors would not come here unless peace and order prevailed, the Association added.
The recently formed 100-member Hongkong Royal Naval Reserve Association sent a letter to the Colonial Secretary, pledging full support for Government’s aim to restore present conditions to normality.
The letter, signed by Cmdr J. Montague-Ebbs, Vice-President of the Association, said that all its members stood ready for any duty, which Government may require of them.
The heads of 36 organisations in Taipo, including rural committees, chambers of commerce and clan associations, issued a joint statement in support of the firm stand by Government.
“We jointly appeal to everybody in the New Territories to support Government in its firm stand to safeguard the wellbeing and peaceful life of the Hongkong people and we are confident of the support of the New Territories’ people in this.”
The Council of the Young Men’s Christian Associations deplored the fact that many young people had become involved in the unrest and assured Government that it would continue to work towards providing for the youth of Hongkong those amenities and activities which would direct, their energies towards more lawful pursuit.
The Hongkong Bar Association, in a resolution passed at a recent meeting, deplored the wanton disregard of the laws of Hongkong arid expressed its support of Government and its appreciation of the activities of the regular arid auxiliary police forces in enforcing the rule of law.
In London, following a visit to Mr Herbert Bowden, the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, on Wednesday. Mr Anthony Royle, Conservative Member of Parliament, said in a press statement that during the discussion he paid tribute to the steadfast discipline and restraint of the Hongkong Police.
Mr Royle also stressed the necessity for Her Majesty’s Government to continue to stand firm behind the Government of Hongkong in the light of the lessons learned from the Macao trouble earlier this year of which he had first-hand knowledge following conversations with Communist leaders during his visit to the Portuguese province last February.
***
SCMP, May 26 1967 (Page 6)
TOURISM
Campaign To Counter Bad Publicity Under Way
Tourist agencies throughout the world will be bombarded with assurances that “business is back to normal in Hongkong,” a spokesman for the Tourist Association said last light.
A campaign to restore Hongkong’s shattered image as a safe tourist centre began yesterday.
Tourist Association photographers and interviewers began work in Hongkong streets getting photographs and comments from overseas visitors.
The pictures and accompanying stories will be sent to the visitor’s hometown newspapers and are aimed at restoring overseas confidence in the stability of the Colony.
Throughout most of yesterday afternoon, members of the Tourist Association Board, representatives of hotels, airline companies, shipping interests, travel agents and tour operators held discussions on the best way to salvage next season’s tourist trade.
The spokesman said airline, shipping and hotel representatives had promised to circulate articles in international trade publications that would counteract the bad publicity that Hongkong received during the recent disturbances.
The Tourist Association plans to write to 6,000 travel agents, trade publications and other personnel connected with the world travel business.
The letters will stress the fact that life has returned to normal in Hongkong and that there is no need for tourists to be afraid of the political situation.
- Back To Normal -
The spokesman said: "Most intending visitors will go to their travel agent for advice before cancelling their visits here. We hope that all travel agents will be able to assure their clients that business is back to normal in Hongkong.”
The meeting observed that individual tourists and tour groups had experienced only slight inconvenience during the past fortnight and had enjoyed their visit to the Colony despite the unrest.
In yesterday’s edition of the S.C.M. Post it was incorrectly reported that cancelled reservations at the Peninsula Hotel averaged 14 and 15 a day at the height of the disturbances. These figures were the total cancellations at the hotel during a fortnight of unrest.
***
SCMP, May 26 1967 (Page 6)
POLICE NOT AFRAID OF INTIMIDATION
‘Nastiest Trick Against The Force’
One of the nastiest tricks attempted against the police was intimidation, a Government spokesman said yesterday.
However, intimidation involved two parties—the intimidator and the intimidated - and if the latter refused to play his part the attempt would fail, the spokesman said.
He was referring to certain left-wing newspapers which had published the numbers of police constables carrying out their duty during the disturbances. This, he said, was designed to throw fear into the policemen.
- Admiration -
“Members of the Hongkong Police Force are not afraid and are, therefore, not easily intimidated.
“In fact, the manner in which the force has been facing up to a most difficult task recently has evoked admiration from everyone.”
As a mark of his gratitude and in support of the Police Force, an anonymous donor has sent a cheque for $1,500 requesting that this sum be given to the ten police constables whose numbers were published in the newspapers. These policemen were on anti-riot duty in Sanpokong earlier this month.
The donation has been made not only as an expression of disgust for the shameful attempts to undermine the police but also to put on record the donor's admiration for the way in which the police went ensuring peace for all, including the trouble-makers themselves.
“However, as policemen are civil servants and cannot receive money, the generous donation of $1,500 will be paid into the Police Welfare Fund,” the spokesman said.
Another person who has come out in support of the police was the proprietor of a shop selling tourist souvenir at Lok Ma Chau, in the northwestern part of the New Territories, just across the border from China.
- Contributions -
The shop proprietor has given $100 to the special fund that has been set up to provide higher education for children of members of both the regular and auxiliary forces.
A donation of $5,000 has been received from Mr Wong Fai, a Kowloon resident, and another donation of $1,000 has come from a factory in Castle Peak.
In addition to his donation, Mr Wong is also volunteering for service with the auxiliary police.
However not everyone has the money to spare for donating to the fund. One of these is Mr Luk Fook-wah.
Forty-five-year old Mr Luk has been deeply impressed by the great restraint shown by the police in dealing with the rioters and wanted to express in some way his admiration for the force. But being an ordinary working man, he did not have the spare cash to give away. So he did the next best thing - by offering his services to help Government in any useful way.
***
SCMP, 26 May 1967 (Page 6)
Sanpokong Plant To Reopen Today
The injection moulding department of the Hongkong Artificial Flower Works in Sanpokong will re-open at 7.30 am today, the management of the company announced yesterday.
A labour strike and subsequent lockout at the department had touched off a series of disturbances.
As a result of discussions recently with representatives of a group of 240 workers whose services had been terminated on April 29, the management said last night most of these workers had registered for reemployment. It was reliably learned that many of the workers dismissed or locked out earlier had found employment at other plants.
In view of the agreement that the firm would pay compensation wage to workers from May 1 to the day of re-employment, it was likely that most, if not all, would return to work in the plant.
Mr Tsui Tim-fook, Labour Officer of the Labour Department, personally assisted in the labour-management discussions.
***
SCMP, 26 May 1967 (Page 6)
A Pleasant Surprise For PC Tong
(Photo on left)
During visiting hours at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital yesterday, Police Constable Tong Wah received a pleasant surprise.
Representatives of the women’s section of the Kaifong Associations paid him a comfort visit - cheering him up and praising him for his bravery during the recent riots. They also gave him a tin of biscuits and a box of sweets.
Asked how he felt, he said that he was feeling better although his eyes were still bandaged. During the Sanpokong disturbances, rioters threw rocks at him badly, injuring his eyes.
Lying in his hospital bed, he said: “I thank all the ladies for being so thoughtful and kind in paying me this visit. My colleagues have been visiting me, too, and I hope to be back at my job soon.”
***
SCMP, 26 May 1967 (Page 7)
BATON CHARGE AT RIOT CROWD
In one of four courtrooms dealing with riot cases in Central Court yesterday, a magistrate heard a police superintendent describe his order to fire tear gas and baton charge a crowd attacking police in the Central District.
Mr John Wilson, Assistant Superintendent of Police, was giving evidence against four men charged with unlawful assembly at the junction of Redder Street and Connaught Road last Sunday.
Before Mr E. Light were Wong Pak-yu (32); an electrician, Lee Hon-man (18), unemployed, Tsang Chi-yin (17), a life operator, and Wong Hoi-suen (21), a student. All pleaded not guilty and were represented.
Mr Wilson had led two platoons to the junction to reinforce a party of police being attacked, by a mob of 100, he told the court:
“The crowd had set up barricades between themselves and police and were throwing stones and shouting abuse.
He warned them, repeatedly to disperse or they would be arrested. “But my warnings were met with jeers, screams, shouts and a barrage of stones and rubbish,” said Mr Wilson.
He had ordered eight gas shells to be fired and a baton charge.
“This mob in front of me was of such a nature that had I not used gas and a determined baton charge, I’m satisfied they would have attacked us,” the. Superintendent said.
He arrested Tsang and Wong Hoi-suen in the hallway of the Catholic Centre, other officers arrested the others nearby.
Earlier the defendants’ legal representatives — Mr I. C. Bond, Mr D. B. Gunston, Mr Steven and Mr A. J. Sariguinetti — had submitted that the charges against their clients were defective.
The case continues today.
- Other Cases -
In Mr A. Garcia’s court, two men were jailed for 15 months. Both So Wuk (24) and Wong Pui-ming (28) pleaded not guilty to unlawful assembly on Monday in Upper Albert Road.
Mr Garcia considered their offences serious because they had thrown stones at the police.
Yau Sin (18) was jailed for seven months on the same charge.
Another defendant, Leung Chak-ki (50), who claimed his whole family had been ruined by the Communists, was acquitted after hearing his evidence, Mr Garcia concluded that it was possible Leung had been “an innocent bystander.”
- Five Jailed -
In the morning session, Mr Garcia jailed five men for nine months, each for unlawful assembly on Monday in Upper Albert Road. All pleaded not guilty.
They were: Wong Tin-chung, Ng Choy, Cheng Ka-yu, Lam Yau-keung and Lam Yee-wa.
In another court, Mr N. P. Power, jailed Wong Chiu-fung (42) for eight months for unlawful assembly. He adjourned two other cases until tomorrow for sentencing.
In the fourth court, Mr A. L. Leathlean adjourned the cases of five men charged with unlawful assembly, because there were others to appear on the same charges who were still being treated in hospital.
***
SCMP, May 26 1967 (Page 7)
Worker Found Not Guilty
A worker accused of having taken part in an unlawful assembly, was found not guilty in South Kowloon Court yesterday.
Mr J. J. Rhind, the magistrate, said the prosecution had not proved its case, beyond “reasonable doubt.”
The worker, Ho Shek-leung (25), of 19 Hing Yan Street, sixth floor, Tokwawan, was alleged to have been in a crowd that threw stones at an anti-riot squad at the junction of Carpenter Road and Takkuling Road in Wongtaisin on May 13.
***
SCMP, 26 May 1967 (Page 10)
A Wave Of Strikes
THE rash of strikes that has hit Hongkong since the end of rioting earlier this week is perhaps no more than an attempt by local “half” unions to save face; they can at least argue that they have shown solidarity with the demonstrators. But while the loss of a day's milk supply can be borne with fortitude a walk of several miles to and from work during some of the hottest May weather ever recorded is particularly infuriating to a community which has just endured a trying week of violence and demonstration. The commotion that occurred outside the Stay Ferry when it was announced that an hour’s stoppage would take place yesterday provided the strikers with a fair idea of the annoyance their tactics have caused. It is to be hoped therefore that last night's stoppage was the last and that the unions will in future give a little more emphasis to duty and a lot less to politics.
It would be amiss furthermore not to sound a word of warning to Hongkong’s seamen who are themselves talking about the possibility of showing solidarity with the demonstrators. The spate of incidents that have occurred on ships of various nation recently have combined to give Hongkong seamen a bad name and it will hardly be surprising if shipping lines in future decide that the economic and other advantages of employing local seamen are not worth the candle. There is a growing resistance among ship’s masters to serve with “Bolshy” crews and the seamen seem to forget that their own livelihood is threatened. This is not to say that the seaman is always wrong and the officer always right, but there are better ways of settling matters than by coming to blows. Hongkong seamen have built up their popularity in foreign and British ships through many years of hard work and efficient service and it would be a tragedy if this were to be sacrificed by allowing chauvinism to take over from common sense. This is not the only port that can supply Chinese seamen and it may well be found that other Asian crews can do the job just as well.
***
SCMP, May 26 1967 (Page 10)
Too Soon to Cry Disaster In Hongkong
By Iverach McDonald
Foreign Editor Of The Times
THE Hongkong that has been suddenly struck by the Long-live Mao, down-with-the-imperialists demonstrations can fairly claim to be the most audacious place in the world. There it is the times of footprints on China’s doorstep ready to be erased; it would seem the moment the door slams. Yet it is Hongkong that has made the Great Leap Forward while China is shuffling around. Anyone coming back, as I did last week, after 10 or 11 years, must be staggered by the boldness and blitheness of the upsurge. Planning and construction is going on, not perhaps with the thought that Hongkong will be eternal but at any rate on the assumption that there will be plenty of time for all the investment to be repaid, enough and to spare.
- Eagle Overhead -
Eleven years ago, as you looked across at Hongkong island from the Kowloon side, two tall buildings stood out above the rest - the two rival buildings, standing side by side, of the Bank of China and the Hongkong & Shanghai Bank. Now they are lost and dwarfed by dozens of multi-storey offices, hotels and flats appearing still taller as they stand, one above the other, on the steep side of the Peak. Kowloon too, from being a horizontal city has become a vertical one. At night the two sides are tiers of prodigal light, blazing without any apparent care in the world. Even at the back of the island, where the bays are blue and the sands are silver-white under the trees, the same kind of tall apartment houses have been recently built.
Between Kowloon and Hongkong island the harbour is what every harbour should be - astir whenever your(sic) look at it, with six or seven of the double-decked ferry boats pushing their way past the cargo boats, the tourist ships, the warships, and the Chinese sampans. For good measure, an eagle sails lazily overhead. On the Kowloon side an airliner comes in, low over the blocks of flats to land on the new airship that has been built out into the harbour.
Everyone you go there is change. On the Kowloon side the rows of open booths where tourists could buy Chinese brocades, silks and vases have given place to a covered-in and very chic shopping centre, air-conditioned enough to make you sneeze after the heat outside. New factories are being built both on the island and the mainland. The shops are mainly smart and well stocked. Even the many Communist Chinese shops make a lavish display with their teapots, ornaments, poor quality shirts and dresses, propagandist book, and jolly music.
- Full Impact -
Of course there is the other side. Walk from the banks and western shops of the Queen’s Road, or any other of the central streets, and you soon begin to believe in China’s 700 million. Hongkong has only about four million people, but in the narrow streets and alleys of the Chinese parts there is the full impact of teeming Asia. The streets seem still narrower because long vertical posters in Chinese characters stick out from each side, all very picturesque but overwhelming in their net effect. The pavements seem more crowded because booths encroach on them, and men, women, and children squat in front of the booths selling herbs, or matches, or newspapers. A few old men and women - their rags still more faded - move along with their begging bowls. Young women in pyjamas carry their babies stepped to their backs. A man pushes through the crowd and lets(sic) slip some writhing lobsters from his basket. Men and women shuffle along with heavy bundles dangling from each end of a pole across their shoulders - the immemorial picture of the east. Haggard men shout to ask you to take a riskshaw(sic).
- Twice A Day -
Up on the hills there still remain the horrible shanty towns where thousands of refugees from China still live under packing-case roofs. It seems a picture of irredeemable squalor, yet what is called the resettlement programme is one of the most heartening and successful things that has been done in Hongkong. In many parts are blocks of flats that have been built specially, and at high speed, for the refugees. It is said that well over a million have already been housed. The early types were as simple as possible; small families were put in one square room, larger families had two rooms, mainly for sleeping in, because the kitchens and lavatories were communal. These blocks look crowded and are crowded; washing hangs in profusion from each verandah, children swarm in the yards between the blocks, women jostle each other around the booths of fruits and vegetables. Chinese told us that, though they could afford to buy an ice-box on the never-never system, they had no space to put one, and so the women - insisting on everything being fresh - went shopping twice a day before each meal. On top of the blocks are the classrooms and playgrounds. As on most parts of the colony the children have to go to school in shirts, morning, afternoon, or evening, because the uprush and inrush of the population have swamped the provision of schools and teachers.
It is startling to be told that there is no real unemployment. On the contrary, factories call out for labour; and much work is done on the homes. The boldness and vitality of the colony are reproduced in its trade. Imports, exports, and re-exports have been rising. The largest share of the imports, mainly of food and raw materials, come from Communist China, with Japan as the next supplier, and the United States and Britain about equal as third. Over half the exports are made up of textiles (which account for 40 per cent of the labour force), with plastics second, and electronics coming along last. Exports are well directed, most going to the United States, the second largest to Britain, and the third to Germany. It is a long-term strategy, and the heavy investment in the new property is based on a similarly long view.
- Audaciousness -
It was the very audaciousness of the planning - the audaciousness of the colony itself - that caused may jitters when first the Communist demonstrations broke out. Would the Hongkong authorities have to give way to the pressures as the Portuguese did last December in Macao? Would investors be scared off once and for all? Had the uproars put paid to the economic miracle? Rumours spread far too quickly and far too wildly.
In fact throughout last week life in the colony went on much as usual. There could be scuffles in one street with people in the next street knowing nothing about them. If crowds of chanting youths then came into the next street shopkeepers simply ran down their shutters and went on serving customers until the demonstrators, clutching their little red books, had passed. Then the shutters were run up again. Until the weekend it was the exception for tempers to get out of hand. The gates and railings of Government House might be so plastered with Chinese posters and proclamations that it looked like a bargain basement. The shoutings(sic) from the groups outside were fierce, but the actual exchanges through the railings were usually decorous ending with regrets that the Governor was too busy to see the petitioners except by appointment, or some such phrase.
- Little Red Books -
Many observers must have wondered what was going on in the heads of the young demonstrators as they marched along in disciplined ranks, uniformly dressed in white shirt and black trousers, uniformly brandishing their little red books, and uniformly chanting the finest expressions of Mao’s thoughts. Many, it seems, were paid to do it. Many were working off frustrations of different kinds. Many - in a way not often understood in the west - were attracted by the prowess of the Red Guards in China. To us the Red Guards seem a reversion to hooliganism and irregular pressure. But to some of the youth in Asia - and in Hongkong today - they are examples of militant youth in action, sweeping aside the hesitations and downright obstructions of conservative age, and storming the Bastilles directly in the name of the people. Not only that: the Chinese who march in Hongkong - only a tiny number among the whole - do so with the direct encouragement of Peking.
- Resentment -
The Chinese Communist leaders have several obvious reasons for resenting Hongkong. It is a piece of Chinese soil in foreign possession - and they are nationalists first and foremost. It is an attractive bolthole for the many hundreds of thousands of Chinese who have fled from the blessings of Communist rule. It is a place where these and others of the proud Han race seem content with alien rule. For all these reasons there was some natural nervousness in Hongkong when the troubles began and were whipped on by Peking.
No one can tell how they will develop. But when the dark clouds come down low on the Peak, and the shouts grow in some of the streets, it is as well to remember the other side. Most of the Chinese in Hongkong have shown no wish to join China as it now is; and, though Peking has called the British authorities almost every name it could think of, it has not declared that they should be swept aside. It is still true that Peking finds Hongkong useful as a market place and as a large source of foreign exchange. In short, it is too soon to cry disaster. What Hongkong is likely to face is uncertainty, and the people fear for the effect of uncertainty on investment. But if investors waited for all uncertainty to clear they would have to stop putting their money into large areas of Asia and Africa.
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26 May 1967 [FBIS]
Kuo Mo-jo Speech
Peking NCNA International Service in English 1706 GMT 25 May 1967--W
(Text) Peking, 25 May--Kuo Mo-jo, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and chairman of the China Peace Committee, […]
Kuo Mo-jo denounced British imperialism for colluding with U.S. imperialism and the Chiang Kai-shek gang in carrying out vicious fascist suppression against patriotic Chinese compatriots in Hong Kong. He issued a most serious warning to the British Government and the British authorities in Hong Kong: “You must immediately and unconditionally satisfy our five-point demand and immediately stop your suppression of our compatriots in Hong Kong. If you cling to your perverse course and obstinately remain hostile to the Chinese people, you are bound to have your heads smashed."
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26 May 1967 [FBIS]
BRITISH IMPERIALISTS IN HONG KONG CONDEMNED
PEOPLE'S DAILY Commentator
Peking NCNA International Service in English 1622 GMT 25 May 1967--W
(Text) Peking, 25 May--Today's PEOPLE'S DAILY publishes an article by Commentator, vehemently condemning the British imperialists for their fascist atrocities against Chinese residents in Hong Kong. The article, entitled "The British Imperialists Are Playing With Fire," reads in full as follows:
For several days running, the British authorities in Hong Kong have been turning out a large number of policemen and special agents and recklessly carrying out bloody suppression and persecution of patriotic Chinese residents in Hong Kong. Many more patriotic Chinese in Hong Kong and Kowloon have been illegally arrested, put on secret trial, severely beaten and unwarrantedly sentenced to imprisonment. The number of dead and injured and those arrested and missing runs into thousands. On the 22 May the British authorities in Hong Kong again sent out an army of police and "riot police" and created a new sanguinary incident in which several hundred Chinese residents and members of the staffs of our institutions in Hong Kong were injured and unreasonably imprisoned. Hong Kong has become a land of terror.
The bloody "22 May" incident, like those of "6 May" and “11 May," was carefully planned and deliberately created by the British imperialists. On 17 May disregarding the solemn protest lodged by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Commonwealth relations office in Britain issued a statement openly supporting the British authorities in Hong Kong in their bloody suppression of Chinese residents and encouraging them in their reckless course. On 19 May at a meeting with the Chinese charge d'affaires ad interim in Britain, British Foreign Secretary George Brown blatantly uttered a torrent of abuse and viciously slandered the just action of the Chinese people in voicing support for their patriotic countrymen in Hong Kong and Kowloon. Moreover, on 21 May the British Government sent high-ranking officials out to Hong Kong to hatch further criminal plots to suppress Chinese workers and residents. The bloody "22 May” incident was created against such a background. The British Government and the British authorities in Hong Kong will never succeed in denying this.
The savage persecution of Chinese residents by the British authorities in Hong Kong is an out-and-out fascist outrage. However, the British imperialists have stubbornly refused to admit their crimes. As soon as he heard the words "fascist outrage,” British Foreign Secretary George Brown, touched to the raw, gave vent to a hysterical outburst. We ask Brown: What are you making such a fuss about? You turned out thousands of police and “riot police" and used helicopters and tear gas bombs to suppress completely unarmed Chinese residents. what is this if not a fascist outrage? On the main thoroughfares and in the side streets, you severely manhandled and arrested Chinese workers, students, journalists, and even young teenagers. What is this if not a fascist outrage? You sent out a large number of plainclothesmen and special agents, illegally kidnapped patriotic Chinese residents, tried them secretly and savagely beat them up. What is all this if not an out-and-out fascist outrage?
Furthermore, Brown had the audacity to lodge a ‘protest with the Chinese people against their just action of condemning the fascist atrocities of the British authorities in Hong Kong. Hold your tongue! Instead of hanging your head and admitting your guilt after killing, arresting, illegally trying, and cruelly persecuting Chinese residents in Hong Kong, you made countercharges. You have indeed overreached yourselves! Today, in the 1960's are you still dreaming of the good old days of the opium war?
In all seriousness it must be pointed out that the British Government is now playing with fire in Hong Kong. After our Foreign Ministry issued a statement of protest on 15 May against the persecution of our patriotic compatriots by the British authorities in Hong Kong, the British Government, far from accepting our government's solemn and just demands, has deliberately aggravated the situation and gone still further in directing the British authorities in Hong Kong to intensify their suppression and persecution of our patriotic countrymen. This shows that the British Government is diehard, stubbornly hostile to our 4 million compatriots in Hong Kong and the 700 million Chinese people.
Blood debts must be repaid. Is the debt of blood, accumulated over more than a century, which British imperialism owes the Chinese people a small one? The Chinese people have all enmity, both new and old, engraved in their minds. The day will come when British imperialism is called on to repay its debt in full.
The Chinese people have carried on a struggle against British imperialism for over a century, and long ago became well acquainted with the paper-tiger nature of this decadent imperialist power of bullying the weak and fearing the strong, being fierce of visage but faint of heart. On the eve of the victory of the Chinese People's revolution, when our heroic troops were crossing the great Yangtze River by the millions, British imperialism jumped in our way like a grasshopper trying to stop a speeding car. At the time we gave this old-style imperialism a lesson a small one but well deserved. Today, when the tide of the great proletarian cultural revolution in China is surging forward and the 700 million Chinese people are arming themselves still further with Mao Tse-tung’s thought and advancing rapidly along the road of revolution, this old-style imperialism is once again playing with fire, making repeated provocations against the Chinese people. In this, it is only knocking its head against a brick wall!
Our compatriots in Hong Kong and Kowloon possesses a glorious rich tradition of revolutionary struggle. The great general strike of 1925 in Hong Kong shook British imperialism which was then quite arrogant. Today under the leadership of our great leader Chairman Mao and the Chinese Communist Party, we Chinese people have stood up like a giant. Under the guidance of the invincible thought of Mao Tse-tung, our compatriots in Hong Kong and Kowloon are carrying on a tremendous struggle against persecution, in the face of the British authorities' barbarous fascist atrocities . They are writing a brilliant new chapter in the epic of the Chinese nation's struggle against imperialism.
Chairman Mao teaches us: "It is impossible to persuade the imperialists and the Chinese reactionaries to show kindness of heart and turn from their evil ways. The only course is to organize forces and struggle against them." The absurd diehard attitude of British imperialism once again serves as a proof of this truth. Now, our compatriots in Hong Kong have raised their political consciousness as never before. They have further organized themselves and have formed "the committee of Hong Kong-Kowloon compatriots of all circles to fight against persecution by the British authorities in Hong Kong." Our heroic patriotic countrymen in Hong Kong have solemnly declared their determination to struggle against British imperialism until they win the victory. Under the guidance of the great thought of Mao Tse-tung, their just struggle will certainly be victorious.
The patriotic Chinese in Hong Kong are our close kinsmen, The Chinese people absolutely cannot tolerate the British imperialists! wild suppression and persecution of them, We Chinese people--all 700 million of us--who are victoriously carrying on the great proletarian cultural revolution, stand powerfully behind our patriotic Hong Kong brothers. We sternly warn the British imperialists: You must unconditionally accept the five-point demand put forward by our Foreign Ministry and the four-point demand raised by our compatriots of all circles in Hong Kong and Kowloon, If you persist in your hostility toward the Chinese people you will come to no good end!
***
26 May 1967 [FBIS]
Macao Committee Formed
Peking NCNA International Service in English 2138 GMT 25 May 1967--W
(Text) Hong Kong, 25 May--Chinese of all circles in Macao have set up a committee to support the struggle of their Hong Kong compatriots against persecution by the British Hong Kong authorities.
At the inaugural meeting held on 23 May, representatives of all circles expressed great anger at the repeated, barbarous suppression of Chinese residents in Hong Kong, Speakers said that the Chinese in Hong Kong and Macao were kith and kin. "We Chinese in Macao cannot stand idly by while our compatriots in Hong Kong are being persecuted, When the enemy attacks us frenziedly, we must repulse him." Ina ‘message to all Chinese compatriots in Macao," the committee called on all Chinese residents to organize and support the Hong Kong-Kowloon Chinese in their struggle.
The committee adopted several decisions, including: Similar committees be immediately formed in all units, trades and neighborhoods; activities to condemn British atrocities to be conducted on a more extensive scale; an extensive fund-raising campaign be launched; a delegation be formed to extend solicitous regards to patriotic compatriots in Hong Kong; and a movement be launched to refute and completely discredit U.S. and British imperialism politically.
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