§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many young boys were handcuffed by the Hong Kong police during the recent disturbances in Kowloon city during squatter accommodation clearance.
§ Mr. LuceOne 11-year-old boy had to be restrained with handcuffs during an attack on police in the course of a routine squatter clearance. The boy had become hysterical. The only alternative to handcuffs was for police officers to use force to restrain him, a course of action that was considered less desirable. A total of 14 policemen and four squatters were injured during the incident.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why armed policemen and members of the blue beret police tactical unit were despatched to the Kowloon city squatters' clearance area on 29 June; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LuceAll Hong Kong policemen are armed. In any clearance in which it is considered that a breach of the peace might occur members of the police tactical unit are held in reserve. The initial police deployment for this clearance was eight policemen and 12 unarmed women police officers. When they came under attack from a number of squatters, a platoon of PTU was deployed to assist.