Hong Kong 1956 riots
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The Hong Kong 1956 riots began with looting and attacks by Pro-Nationalist on Pro-Communist citizens and property in Hong Kong during October, 1956, and soon developed into large, and violent, riots.
On 10 October 1956, the celebration of the 1911 October Revolution, which brought about the downfall of the Qing Dynasty, took place. 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.
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 centre, 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 car was fired upon and a passenger, the Swiss Consul's wife, was burnt to death. Most casualties occurred in the battles in Tsuen Wan between Nationalists and Communists.
The British now decided to take decisive action. Armoured 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 the subsequent trials four people were convicted of murder and sentenced to death. According to local newspapers reports, over 30 people were killed in Tsuen Wan alone, most of the victims were believed to be workers in leftist-owned factories.
