893.00/1–1648: Telegram
The Consul General at Canton (Boucher) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 16—8:31 a. m.]
10. Demonstration in protest against eviction of squatters in so-called walled city of Kowloon, commenced today82 from in front of Chung Shan Memorial Hall and proceeded through city with intent voted yesterday not to enter Shameen Island where almost all foreign consulates located. Paraders not counted but totaled many thousand including students from all universities, colleges and middle schools and labor unions carrying posters with anti-British slogans and shouting such things as we want Kowloon back and down with England. At first paraders orderly but at 12:30 they broke through the few guards on the two bridges connecting Shameen with remainder of city and massed in front of British Consulate where by 1 p. m. they had pulled down British flag in British garden in front of British Consulate despite armed police attempt protect it. Crowd rapidly increased, surrounding British Consulate and finally breaking into it. Crowd started by smashing windows and throwing furniture into street and garden in center of compound where they set it on fire. By 2 o’clock crowd had set fire to British Consulate building itself. We can see flames from this building, and latest report is that British Consulate General’s residence has also been set on fire. There have been two distinct explosions but we cannot ascertain their nature. Members of this staff are not going near British Consulate for fear causing incident and all information based on reports from our Chinese employees, newspapermen and other friends. Assistant Military Attaché, Lieutenant Colonel Covington, lives on their [the other?] side of British Consulate from our buildings. His wife and 3 sons have just arrived here safe but in highly nervous state saying their building extremely hot from flames of British building. By 3:30 crowd had set fire to British Chartered Bank of India and Australia which now in flames. Mayor Au-yang Chu of Canton now on spot of disturbance and has ordered up fire brigade which now attempting extinguish fires. British Consul General escorted safely off Shameen Island by gendarmes and British Press Attaché and his wife, after attack on them, now safe in American Assistant Naval Attaché’s house on Shameen, [Page 47] only injury so far reported is to a Chinese employee of the British Consulate General. Report just received that building occupied by Colonel Covington in flames. This is British-owned building adjacent to British Consulate. Will give subsequent reports adding to and confirming information herein.
Herewith later information just received: All members British Consulate accounted for. Following were injured struck by bamboo sticks or other weapons: Parkhouse and Wood of Butterfield and Swire; John Williams, British subject connected with YMCA here, and his wife who is employed in British Consulate. None seriously. Andersen, Meyer building also set on fire but not damaged. Covington’s quarters appear safe.
Sent Embassy, Nanking as 11, repeated SecState.
- The Shameen incident of January 16 was the second resulting from the action of the Hong Kong Government in ousting Chinese squatters from the Old Kowloon City area of Hong Kong. On January 5, eviction of the squatters on grounds of “sanitation” was carried out in accordance with the administration’s order, notice of which had been served on the residents on December 22, 1947; subsequently, the squatters trickled back to the area, and the Kowloon incident occurred on January 12, when another eviction took place, and police action was required to check protesting demonstrators.↩