Hong Kong 1956 riots
Encyclopedia
The Hong Kong 1956 riots began with looting and attacks by pro-Nationalist
on pro-Communist
citizens and property in Hong Kong
during Double Ten Day
10 October 1956, and soon developed into large, and violent, riot
s.
, which brought about the downfall of the Qing Dynasty
, took place. It was an important Nationalist festival; however, a resettlement officer ordered some Nationalist flags to be removed. Shortly after this order was carried out, mobs spread out from the settlements to Kowloon
, looting shops and attacking property known to belong to Communist sympathizers in anger. The authorities refrained from firm intervention, hoping that the disorder would die out with the festival, but by the next day a full-scale riot had developed.
, five miles from central Kowloon. A mob stormed a clinic and welfare center, killing four people and ransacking the building. Prisoners were taken to the Nationalist headquarters and beaten. Communist-owned factories were attacked, and some people were brutally killed. Foreigners were not especially singled out for attack, but inevitably a number became involved. The worst such case occurred in Kowloon, when a taxi was fired upon on Nathan Road and a passenger, the Swiss
Consul Fritz Ernst's wife, died of burns 48 hours later. Most casualties occurred in the battles in Tsuen Wan between Nationalists and Communists.
The British then decided to take decisive action. Colonial Secretary
Edgeworth B. David ordered the British Army
to disperse the rioters. Armored cars of the 7th Hussars
were brought in to reinforce the police, who were instructed to fire without hesitation. Communists were given sanctuary in the police compounds, and by the 12th the riots had subsided leaving 15 killed by the rioters, and 44 dead by police action. In total 59 were killed, 500 were injured. Property damage cost was estimated at USD
$1,000,000.
Chinese nationalist
Chinese nationalist can refer to:* Chinese nationalism* Kuomintang - Chinese Nationalist Party in Taiwan....
on pro-Communist
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
citizens and property in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
during Double Ten Day
Double Ten Day
Double Ten Day is the national day of the Republic of China and celebrates the start of the Wuchang Uprising of October 10, 1911, which led to the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in China and establishment of the Republic of China on January 1, 1912...
10 October 1956, and soon developed into large, and violent, riot
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
s.
Tensions
On 10 October 1956, the celebration of the 1911 October RevolutionWuchang Uprising
The Wuchang Uprising began with the dissatisfaction of the handling of a railway crisis. The crisis then escalated to an uprising where the revolutionaries went up against Qing government officials. The uprising was then assisted by the New Army in a coup against their own authorities in the city...
, which brought about the downfall of the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
, took place. It was an important Nationalist festival; however, a resettlement officer ordered some Nationalist flags to be removed. Shortly after this order was carried out, mobs spread out from the settlements to Kowloon
Kowloon
Kowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...
, looting shops and attacking property known to belong to Communist sympathizers in anger. The authorities refrained from firm intervention, hoping that the disorder would die out with the festival, but by the next day a full-scale riot had developed.
Outbreak of violence
The Communist areas were the main targets of Nationalist attack, the most violent incidents taking place in the town of Tsuen WanTsuen Wan
Tsuen Wan is a bay in the Kowloon area of Hong Kong, opposite to Tsing Yi Island across Rambler Channel. The market town of Tsuen Wan emerged for the surrounding villages and fleets of fishing boats in the area. The town is around the present-day Tsuen Wan Station of the MTR...
, five miles from central Kowloon. A mob stormed a clinic and welfare center, killing four people and ransacking the building. Prisoners were taken to the Nationalist headquarters and beaten. Communist-owned factories were attacked, and some people were brutally killed. Foreigners were not especially singled out for attack, but inevitably a number became involved. The worst such case occurred in Kowloon, when a taxi was fired upon on Nathan Road and a passenger, the Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
Consul Fritz Ernst's wife, died of burns 48 hours later. Most casualties occurred in the battles in Tsuen Wan between Nationalists and Communists.
The British then decided to take decisive action. Colonial Secretary
Chief Secretary for Administration
The Chief Secretary for Administration , commonly known as Chief Secretary and abbreviated as CS, is the second highest position of the Hong Kong Government...
Edgeworth B. David ordered the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
to disperse the rioters. Armored cars of the 7th Hussars
The Queen's Royal Hussars
The Queen's Royal Hussars is the senior United Kingdom light cavalry regiment. It was formed on 1 September 1993 from the amalgamation of The Queen's Own Hussars and The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars...
were brought in to reinforce the police, who were instructed to fire without hesitation. Communists were given sanctuary in the police compounds, and by the 12th the riots had subsided leaving 15 killed by the rioters, and 44 dead by police action. In total 59 were killed, 500 were injured. Property damage cost was estimated at USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
$1,000,000.
See also
- 1950s in Hong Kong1950s in Hong Kong1950s in Hong Kong began after the Japanese rule ended in 1945 with sovereignty returning to the British. However, the Nationalist-Communist Civil War was renewed in mainland China. It prompted a large influx of refugees from the mainland, causing a huge population surge. The government struggled...
- Hong Kong 1966 riotsHong Kong 1966 riotsThe Hong Kong 1966 Riots was a series of disturbances that took place over three nights on the streets of Kowloon, Hong Kong in the spring of 1966...
- Hong Kong 1967 riotsHong Kong 1967 riotsThe Hong Kong 1967 riots began in May 1967. They were caused by pro-communist leftists in Hong Kong, inspired by the Cultural Revolution in the People's Republic of China , who turned a labour dispute into large scale demonstrations against British colonial rule. Demonstrators clashed violently...
- Hong Kong 1981 riotsHong Kong 1981 riotsIn Hong Kong, the riots of 1981 are two riots on the Christmas Day of 1981 and the New Year's Day of 1982. Since the majority of the participants were youths, the riots were also named as the Christmas youth riots of 1981 and New Year youth riots of 1982...