NIGHT SCENE


1.
MS ZOOM IN RIOT POLICE
0.09

2.
MS POLICE FIRE TEARGAS
0.12

3.
LS BLIND MAN ESCAPES FROM GAS FUMES
0.17

4.
MS POLICE SEARCH CURFEW BREAKERS (FOUR SHOTS)
0.44

5.
??? POLICEMAN BEATS UP YOUTH WITH RIFLE BUTT, YOUTH TAKEN TO POLICE TRUCK
0.59

6.
??? POLICE
1.05

7.
??? CHINESE STORE AFLAME (TWO SHOTS)
1.16

8.
??? ON WAY TO STORE
1.20

9.
??? OF STORE PAN TO FIREMEN IN ACTION
1.40

10.
??? FIREMEN INSIDE STORE
1.45

11.
MS POLICE EXTINGUISHING BLAZING CAR (TWO SHOTS)
1.56


MORNING SCENE


12.
LS (TOP VIEW) BUSY THOROUGHFARE
2.00

14.
MLS TRAFFIC SCENE
2.08

15.
MS TWO POLICE MOTORCYCLISTS ESCORT BUS
2.20

16.
CU RICKSHAW PAN TO LONG QUEUE AT BUS STAND
2.28

17.
MS SAME QUEUE
2.36

18.
CU LORRY TRANSPORTING WORKERS
2.44

19.
MS EUROPEAN WOMEN RIDE IN TRISHAWS
2.48

20.
MS TRAMCARS
2.54



Initials CAR/VS/MK/CA/YA/CHM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: RIOTING ERUPTED FOR THE THIRD SUCCESSIVE NIGHT IN HONGKONG LAST NIGHT (TUESDAY) AND A CURFEW CLAMPED DOWN ON HALF THE ISLAND. A 10.30 PM TO 4.30 AM CURFEW WAS DECIDED AFTER THE POLICE BATTLED LEFTIST RIOTERS IN THE NORTH POINT DISTRICT FOR MORE THAN THREE HOURS.

IN THE MELEE, A BLIND MAN GROPED HIS WAY TO SAFETY. TWENTY-SIX PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED FOR BREAKING THE CURFEW. THREE OF THEM SUSPECTED OF TAKING PART IN THE RIOTING WERE SENT TO HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. THEY WERE SLIGHTLY INJURED WITH GUN SHOTS.

THE RIOTING BROKE OUT WHEN MOBS OF YOUTHS BEGAN STONING TRAMCARS AND ATTACKING PEOPLE AT THE NORTH POINT TRAM TERMINAL. SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE TAKEN BEFORE RIOT POLICE ARRIVED TO DISPERSE THE MOB.

DURING THE CURFEW, A FIRE BROKE OUT IN A CHINA PRODUCTS STORE, A FEW MILES FROM THE CITY CENTRE. IT WAS LATER PUT OUT BY FIREMEN.

PRIOR TO THE FIRE, MAIN ACTION WAS AROUND THIS STORE WHICH SELLS GOODS FROM THE CHINESE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC. THE STORE SERVES AS A SORT OF COMMAND HEADQUARTERS FOR THE LEFTIST TROUBLE-MAKERS.

THE RIOTERS ALSO SET ABLAZE SEVERAL CARS.

THERE WERE SOME OTHER SCATTERED INCIDENTS AROUND THE ISLAND, BUT THE MAIN ACTION AS CENTRED IN THE NORTH POINT DISTRICT.

MEANWHILE, GOVERNMENT AND TRANSPORT COMPANY OFFICIALS HAD WORKED OUT SECRET MEASURES TO COMBAT LEFTWING ATTACKS ON HONGKONG BUSES AND TRAMS.

THE LEFTIST, IN THEIR NEW MORE AGGRESSIVE STRATEGY, ARE ATTACKING ISOLATED POLICEMEN AND BUS DRIVERS. BUS DRIVES HAVE BECOME A MAIN TARGET MAINLY BECAUSE THEY TURNED DOWN PROMISES OF CASH FROM LOCAL LEFTISTS TO GO ON STRIKE.

THE OFFICIALS ARE INVESTIGATING A REQUEST BY THE DRIVERS FOR WIRE MESHING TO PROTEST THEM AGAINST STONE-THROWING MOBS.

POLICE HAVE STARTED TO ESCORT BUSES. STRONG PARTIES OF RIOT POLICE ARE GUARDING APPROACHES TO BUS AND TRAM DEPOTS AND CARRYING SPOT CHECKS ON VEHICLES FOR TROUBLE-MAKERS. IN KOWLOON, BUSES ARE RUNNING IN CONVOYS OF THREE OR MORE.