RIOT-SQRADS. POLICE. AND MARINES CALLED OUT IN HONGKONG

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 February 1950, Page 5

RIOT-SQRADS. POLICE. AND MARINES CALLED OUT IN HONGKONG

HONGKONG, Jan. 30.—Riot squads and police reserves and Royal Marine commandos were called out tonight, when demonstrating tramwaymen and 400 delegates from other utility company unions attacked a small police squad outside the trapiwaytnen's headquarters. The police attacked with tear gas when hundreds of angiy, shouting demonstrators resisted them with sticks, stones and batons, but the services of the commandos were not called upon. About 60 rioters were taken to hospital, mostly suffering from the efforts of the tear gas. These and at least 10 others have been placed under arrest. Three .European police and a number of Chinese constables were slightly hurt. The first reactions of observers to the riots are grave. All the utility company unions involved are members of the powerful pro-Communist Federation of Labour and it is thought likely that there will be serious repercussions inside the colony, with the threat if a general strike brought closer. FIGHT STARTS WITH POLICE. The tramwaymen were locked out by their employers at Christmas time, following go-slow tactics in support of industrial demands. They and othen unionists had gathered tonight to discuss further action in the current series of industrial disputes here. A fight started when several police, under an European officer, attempted to break up a demonstration in a narrow street near the tramwav sheds by seizing a loudspeaker. The tramwaymen resisted, and screaming police cars and trucks raced hundreds of reserves from all parts of the city, while the police in the rest of Hongkong Island were alerted. The fight extended, and the tramwaymen, besides using all weapons at their disposal, began dropping flowerpots and other missiles from nearby buildings. The police were forced to retire temporarily, but after a n hour’s fighting and the use of tear gas. they had the situation in hand. The police then cordoned off the area and placed barricades across approaching streets. —Reuter.