HONG KONG: BOMB DISPOSAL SQUADS SIFT THE FAKE BOMBS FROM THE REAL ONES IN HONG KONG BOMB SCARES.

Record ID: 358382

  • Title: HONG KONG: BOMB DISPOSAL SQUADS SIFT THE FAKE BOMBS FROM THE REAL ONES IN HONG KONG BOMB SCARES.
  • Date: 22nd October 1967
  • Summary: BOMB EXPERTS IN PATROL; EXPERTS WEARING PROTECTIVE CLOTHING; 'BOMB' OUTSIDE HOUSE; PACKAGE EXPLODED; DEBRIS; HONG KONG STREET WITH CROWD;'BOMB' DISMANTLED IN BUSH; POLICE EXAMINE IT; POLICE VAN LEAVES. Initials IF/VS/CCT/BB Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 6th November 1967 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: HONG KONG
  • Country: Hong Kong
  • Reuters ID: LVAA7LR3J610VR17FXDPJQP0BU0I
  • Story Text: THE TROUBLE WITH BOMB DISPOSAL IS THAT, UNTIL ITS TRUE NATURE IS DISCOVERED, THE FAKE BOMB MUST BE TREATED BY HONG KONG'S ARMY BOMB PATROL WITH AS MUCH CAUTION AS THE REAL THING. THE SQUAD RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF REPORTS DURING THE PAST WEEK - MOST OF WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE FALSE ALARMS.

    DISPOSAL SQUADS WORKED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT, DURING THE LAST WEEK, TWO PEOPLE HAD BEEN KILLED AND OVER 30 INJURED IN BOMB INCIDENTS, THE WORST WAVE OF ATTACKS SINCE LEFTIST AGITATION BEGAN LAST MAY. THE CURRENT SCARES ACCOMPANY THE ARRIVAL OF LORD SHEPHERD, THE BRITISH MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

    BOMBS FALL INTO THREE CATEGORIES: (1) THE REAL ONES; (2) THOSE INTENDED TO LOOK LIKE BOMBS WHICH ARE IN FACT FAKE; (3) AND THINGS LIKE RUBBISH OR PARCELS MISTAKEN FRO BOMBS. LESS THAN A QUARTER OF THE SCARES TURN OUT TO BE GENUINE.

    TWO TEAMS OF TWO MEN ARE CURRENTLY ON DUTY IN THE COLONY, AND THEY ARE HARD PRESSED TO CHECK EVERY ALARM. IF A CALL IS RECEIVED, THE EXPERTS PREPARE THEIR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, AND LEAVE IN A LAND ROVER FOR THE SCENE OF THE SCARE. THEN, THE SUSPECT BOMB IS CAREFULLY ISOLATED, AND DETONATED WITH EXPLOSIVES. VERY OFTEN IT IS NOT UNTIL AFTER THE EXPLOSION THAT THE COUNTERFEIT BOMB IS REVEALED IT ITS TRUE COLOURS - A BUNDLE OF RUBBISH OR A BOX OF STONES.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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