Hong Kong 1956 riots

Hong Kong 1956 riots
Riot photos

The Hong Kong 1956 riots (Chinese: 雙十暴動; literally "Double Tenth 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.[1]

Contents

Tensions

On 10 October 1956, the celebration of the 1911 October Revolution, which brought about the downfall of the Qing Dynasty, took place.[1] 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.

Outbreak of violence

Military dispatched

The Communist areas were the main targets of Nationalist attack, the most violent incidents taking place in the town of Tsuen Wan, 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.[2] 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.[2] 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.[1][3]

Aftermath

In the subsequent trials four people were convicted of murder and sentenced to death.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c HKheadline.com. "HKheadline.com." 雙十暴動：香港最血腥的一天. Retrieved on 2010-07-07.
  2. ^ a b Time "Hong Kong: Trouble on the Double Ten", Monday, Oct. 22, 1956
  3. ^ Chu, Yingchi. [2003] (2003). Hong Kong Cinema: Coloniser, Motherland and Self. Routledge publishing. ISBN 0700717463

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