HC Deb 13 March 1958 vol 584 cc66-7W
53. Mr. S. O. Davies

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why police armed with Thompson sub-machine guns, tear-gas bombs, and other arms, were ordered into the Hong Kong naval dockyards on 1st March.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

After discharge notices had been given to twelve employees in the dockyard, a group of workers forced their way into the room of a civilian officer and demanded that the notices be torn up. A large crowd surrounded the office outside. The officer refused and was detained in a threatening manner. When the crowd persistently ignored requests to disperse, the dockyard authorities asked for police assistance. This was given and order was restored without the use of force. The police carried no Thompson submachine guns or other automatic weapons.

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