Hong Kong 1966 riots
Encyclopedia
The 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. The riots started as peaceful demonstrations against the British Colonial government's decision to increase the fare of Star Ferry
foot-passenger harbour crossing by 25 percent.
One person died in the riots, dozens were injured, and over 1,800 people were arrested during the turmoil.
The Star Ferry
was an important link between the Kowloon Peninsula
and Hong Kong Island
before the Cross-Harbour Tunnel
was built in 1972. In October 1965, the Government revealed that the Star Ferry had applied to the colonial Government for fare increases of between 50 and 100%. Star Ferry, which considered this a secret, expressed dismay that the application had been made public. It was further revealed that Star Ferry had solicited the views of the Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry
on the sought increase. This sparked public fears that if the increase in fares was approved, other forms of public transport would also raise their prices.
When the Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) approved Star Ferry's fare increase in March 1966, Elsie Elliot, an Urban Councillor and dissenting member of the TAC, created a petition against the fare increase and collected the signatures of 20,000 citizens.
A peaceful and rational protest was conducted by two participants. However, it was severely suppressed by the British Hong Kong Government. The public was outraged.
. Living and working conditions of the general population were appalling, and corruption in officialdom
was prevalent. Citizens were distrustful of the rampantly corrupt police, and the inequity of policing. As the Hong Kong 1967 riots
tends to indicate, social unrest was reaching a boiling point, and was skilfully exploited by agitators supported by the Maoist government in China.
In the morning of 4 April, So Sau Chung (蘇守忠), a 27 year-old young man who worked as a translator began a hunger strike protest at the Star Ferry Terminal in Central District. So wore a black jacket upon which he had hand-written the words "Hail Elsie", "Join hunger strike to block fare increase". He caught the public mood, and quickly drew a crowd of supporters.
5 April 1966
Another young man, Lo Kei (盧麒), joined So in the hunger strike. At 16:10, the Hong Kong Police arrested So Sau Chung on the charges of obstruction of passageway. A group of young "sympathisers" went to Government House
to petition the Governor, David Trench.
That evening, over 1,000 people gathered in Tsim Sha Tsui
, demonstrating against So's arrest and the government's support for the Star Ferry company's fare increase. Demonstrators marched to Mong Kok
, and back again to Tsim Sha Tsui.
So was put on trial in the Western Magistrate' Court, and was sentenced to two months' imprisonment.
Crowds started gathering at around 8 pm, and violence broke out among the protesters in Kowloon
about two hours later. On the busy thoroughfare Nathan Road, mobs threw stones at buses and set vehicles on fire. The Yau Ma Tei Police Station
was also attacked by a crowd of over 300 people. Riot police fired tear gas in response, but people continued to gather in Nathan Road, with the mob almost doubling in size once Hong Kong's cinemas closed at midnight.
The rioters looted shops, and attacked and set fire to public facilities including fire station
s and power station
s. Riot police continued to fire tear gas into the crowds and in some cases fired their carbines at looters. During that night, 772 tear gas canisters, 62 wooden shells and 62 carbine rounds were fired.
The British military was also called into action. Soldiers with bayonets fixed patrolled the streets in Kowloon enforcing a curfew
that was imposed after around 1.30 am.
7 April 1966
The next day the government announced that the curfew would start earlier, at 7 pm, and warned that any rioters risked being shot. But that night rioters still gathered on Nathan Road near Mong Kok. Again, vehicles were set on fire and shops looted. Hundreds of people attempted, unsuccessfully, to set fire to the Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok Police stations.
During the course of the evening, 280 rounds of teargas and 218 baton rounds were used. One protester was killed, four injured, and 215 arrests were made.
8 April 1966
The next day the government announced that the curfew would start early at 7 pm, and warned that any rioters risked being shot. There were huge queues for public transport when workers went home early, and the city was like a ghost town one hour before the curfew. Some 3,500 police were out patrolling the streets. There were some incidents of stone-throwing in Chungking Mansions
and Nam Cheong Street in Sham Shui Po
. Raids by plain-clothes police culminated in the arrest of 669 'agitators'.
The fare increase was approved on 26 April.
Damage caused was estimated to be no less than HK$20 million.
After the riot, the Government set up a commission of enquiry, but its findings were derided as "a farce" by Elliot.
Lo Kei was arrested after the event, allegedly for theft. In January 1967, he was found hanged in an apartment in Ngau Tau Kok
. Officially, his death was recorded as a suicide, but Elliot and So challenged the verdict. So, and a few others, staged a protest in Mong Kok
until April, when So was arrested and sentenced to Castle Peak Psychiatric Hospital
for 14 days.
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...
, Hong Kong in the spring of 1966. The riots started as peaceful demonstrations against the British Colonial government's decision to increase the fare of Star Ferry
Star Ferry
The Star Ferry, or The "Star" Ferry Company, is a passenger ferry service operator in Hong Kong. Its principal routes carry passengers across Victoria Harbour, between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon...
foot-passenger harbour crossing by 25 percent.
One person died in the riots, dozens were injured, and over 1,800 people were arrested during the turmoil.
Direct cause
Star Ferry
The Star Ferry, or The "Star" Ferry Company, is a passenger ferry service operator in Hong Kong. Its principal routes carry passengers across Victoria Harbour, between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon...
was an important link between the Kowloon Peninsula
Kowloon Peninsula
The Kowloon Peninsula is a peninsula that forms the southern part of the main landmass in the territory of Hong Kong. The Kowloon Peninsula and the area of New Kowloon are collectively known as Kowloon....
and Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
before the Cross-Harbour Tunnel
Cross-Harbour Tunnel
The Cross-Harbour Tunnel is the first tunnel in Hong Kong built underwater. It has become one of the most congested roads in Hong Kong and the world...
was built in 1972. In October 1965, the Government revealed that the Star Ferry had applied to the colonial Government for fare increases of between 50 and 100%. Star Ferry, which considered this a secret, expressed dismay that the application had been made public. It was further revealed that Star Ferry had solicited the views of the Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry
Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry
The Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited , HYF, is a ferry company founded in 1897 in Hong Kong. It is commonly known as Yaumati Ferry...
on the sought increase. This sparked public fears that if the increase in fares was approved, other forms of public transport would also raise their prices.
When the Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) approved Star Ferry's fare increase in March 1966, Elsie Elliot, an Urban Councillor and dissenting member of the TAC, created a petition against the fare increase and collected the signatures of 20,000 citizens.
A peaceful and rational protest was conducted by two participants. However, it was severely suppressed by the British Hong Kong Government. The public was outraged.
Underlying cause
The 1960s was a period of mounting dissatisfaction over British colonial ruleColonial Hong Kong
In the 19th century the British, Dutch, French, Indians and Americans saw Imperial China as the world's largest untapped market. In 1840 the British Empire launched their first and one of the most aggressive expeditionary forces to claim the territory that would later be known as Hong Kong.In a few...
. Living and working conditions of the general population were appalling, and corruption in officialdom
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
was prevalent. Citizens were distrustful of the rampantly corrupt police, and the inequity of policing. As the Hong Kong 1967 riots
Hong Kong 1967 riots
The 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...
tends to indicate, social unrest was reaching a boiling point, and was skilfully exploited by agitators supported by the Maoist government in China.
Demonstrations
4 April 19665 April 1966
Another young man, Lo Kei (盧麒), joined So in the hunger strike. At 16:10, the Hong Kong Police arrested So Sau Chung on the charges of obstruction of passageway. A group of young "sympathisers" went to Government House
Government House, Hong Kong
Government House , located on Government Hill in the Central District of Hong Kong Island, is the official residence of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong...
to petition the Governor, David Trench.
That evening, over 1,000 people gathered in Tsim Sha Tsui
Tsim Sha Tsui
Tsim Sha Tsui , often abbreviated as TST, is an urbanized area in southern Kowloon, Hong Kong. The area is administratively part of the Yau Tsim Mong District. Tsim Sha Tsui East is a piece of land reclaimed from the Hung Hom Bay now east of Tsim Sha Tsui...
, demonstrating against So's arrest and the government's support for the Star Ferry company's fare increase. Demonstrators marched to Mong Kok
Mong Kok
Mong Kok , less often known as Argyle , is an area in the Yau Tsim Mong District on Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong...
, and back again to Tsim Sha Tsui.
Escalation
6 April 1966So was put on trial in the Western Magistrate' Court, and was sentenced to two months' imprisonment.
Crowds started gathering at around 8 pm, and violence broke out among the protesters in 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...
about two hours later. On the busy thoroughfare Nathan Road, mobs threw stones at buses and set vehicles on fire. The Yau Ma Tei Police Station
Yau Ma Tei Police Station
Yau Ma Tei Police Station is a police station in Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Its buildings at No. 627 Canton Road, at the junction of Public Square Street, were erected in 1922 after relocation from the junction of Public Square Street and Shanghai Street.-History:Yau Ma Tei Police Station...
was also attacked by a crowd of over 300 people. Riot police fired tear gas in response, but people continued to gather in Nathan Road, with the mob almost doubling in size once Hong Kong's cinemas closed at midnight.
The rioters looted shops, and attacked and set fire to public facilities including fire station
Fire station
A fire station is a structure or other area set aside for storage of firefighting apparatus , personal protective equipment, fire hose, fire extinguishers, and other fire extinguishing equipment...
s and power station
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
s. Riot police continued to fire tear gas into the crowds and in some cases fired their carbines at looters. During that night, 772 tear gas canisters, 62 wooden shells and 62 carbine rounds were fired.
The British military was also called into action. Soldiers with bayonets fixed patrolled the streets in Kowloon enforcing a curfew
Curfew
A curfew is an order specifying a time after which certain regulations apply. Examples:# An order by a government for certain persons to return home daily before a certain time...
that was imposed after around 1.30 am.
7 April 1966
The next day the government announced that the curfew would start earlier, at 7 pm, and warned that any rioters risked being shot. But that night rioters still gathered on Nathan Road near Mong Kok. Again, vehicles were set on fire and shops looted. Hundreds of people attempted, unsuccessfully, to set fire to the Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok Police stations.
During the course of the evening, 280 rounds of teargas and 218 baton rounds were used. One protester was killed, four injured, and 215 arrests were made.
8 April 1966
The next day the government announced that the curfew would start early at 7 pm, and warned that any rioters risked being shot. There were huge queues for public transport when workers went home early, and the city was like a ghost town one hour before the curfew. Some 3,500 police were out patrolling the streets. There were some incidents of stone-throwing in Chungking Mansions
Chungking Mansions
Chungking Mansions, is a building located at 36–44 Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The building is well known as nearly the cheapest accommodation in Hong Kong. Though the building is supposedly residential, it is made up of many independent low-budget hotels, shops, and other...
and Nam Cheong Street in Sham Shui Po
Sham Shui Po
Sham Shui Po, or Shamshuipo, is an area of Sham Shui Po District, Hong Kong, situated in the northwestern part of the Kowloon Peninsula, north of Tai Kok Tsui, east of Cheung Sha Wan and south of Shek Kip Mei. Sham Shui Po is known for its street market for electronic devices.-History:Sham Shui Po...
. Raids by plain-clothes police culminated in the arrest of 669 'agitators'.
Aftermath
Some 300 people were brought before the courts, and 258 people received sentences of up to two years' imprisonment. The riots began to die down, and by 10 April the curfew was lifted.The fare increase was approved on 26 April.
Damage caused was estimated to be no less than HK$20 million.
After the riot, the Government set up a commission of enquiry, but its findings were derided as "a farce" by Elliot.
Lo Kei was arrested after the event, allegedly for theft. In January 1967, he was found hanged in an apartment in Ngau Tau Kok
Ngau Tau Kok
Ngau Tau Kok is an area of Kowloon, Hong Kong, located at the northern part of Kwun Tong District, next to Kowloon Bay. It covers Jordan Valley, Ngau Tau Kok and Upper Kwun Tong town centre. The population of Ngau Tau Kok exceeds 210,000...
. Officially, his death was recorded as a suicide, but Elliot and So challenged the verdict. So, and a few others, staged a protest in Mong Kok
Mong Kok
Mong Kok , less often known as Argyle , is an area in the Yau Tsim Mong District on Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong...
until April, when So was arrested and sentenced to Castle Peak Psychiatric Hospital
Castle Peak Hospital
Castle Peak Hospital is the oldest psychiatric hospital in Hong Kong. Located at the east of Castle Peak in Tuen Mun, the hospital was established in 1961...
for 14 days.
See also
- Hong Kong 1956 riotsHong Kong 1956 riotsThe 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, riots.-Tensions:...
- Hong Kong 1967 Leftist Riots
- 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...