PHOTOGRAPHY – The 1967 Hong Kong Riots

Date: 2012.07.04 | Category: History & Abandoned HK, Photography & Wallpapers | Tags: Photography & Wallpapers

The leftist riots began in May, 1967 and were pro-communist labour disputes in sympathy with the mainland Cultural Revolution and against British rule. The following photos are from LIFE Magazine…

Throughout the year, there were violent demonstrations, massive strikes, murders and even terrorist attacks on Hong Kong soil…

By the time the unrest had subsided, 51 people – including 5 police officers – had been killed. 5000 had been arrested, 15 were killed in bombings and another 350 were injured.

Interestingly, tycoon Li Ka-shing amassed his fortune by buying properties at rock-bottom prices at the height of the riots…

So impressed was Her Majesty with the local constabulary, that she granted the police force the title of ‘Royal’…

Since the early 1990s, communist party supporters – including some riot participants – have found respectability in the pro-Beijing DAB party (The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong)

In 2001, Yeung Kwong, a pro-Communist party activist of the 1960s, was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal under Tung Chee-hwa. The event was a symbolic gesture that raised controversy as to whether the post-1997 Hong Kong government of the time was approving the riot.

The HK Board of Enquiry concluded that the 1966 and 1967 riots were “entirely unconnected“. Liam Mullone begs to differ and penned a piece for Tatler which attempted to right the historical error. It can be found, in full, on his website: Page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4, page 5 and page 6.

It became known much later that, during the riots, the commander of PLA’s Guangzhou Military Region Huang Yongsheng secretly suggested invading and occupying Hong Kong, but his plan was vetoed by Zhou Enlai.

Below is a full issue of LIFE Magazine from 2nd June 1967…

Click for full issue