DEMONSTRATION AT U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL HONG KONG

UNCLAS HONG KONG 000432 STATE FOR DS/IP/EAP, DS/IP/ITA & EAP/CM TOKYO FOR POLITICAL SECTION E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC KPAO HK SUBJECT: DEMONSTRATION AT U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL HONG KONG ¶1. On Monday, 09 March, at approximately 1115 hours, a demonstration involving about 25 people was held at the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong. The protesters identified themselves as members of "The Diaoyu Islands Movement," and included Hong Kong Legislative Counselor LEUNG Kwok Hung "Long Hair." When the Hong Kong Police Force(HKPF)tried to corral the group in the designated protest area behind the Consulate General, the protesters began pushing and shoving the police and eventually forced their way to the sidewalk in front of the Consular Section entrance. The protesters remained at that location for approximately 15 minutes. As a precaution, both compound access control (CAC) points in the front of the Consulate General were locked down and employees were not permitted to exit the front of the compound until the protesters disbursed. ¶2. During the protest, the demonstrators expressed their displeasure at the US/Japan Joint Security Treaty, specifically the recent reported statement by a Japanese government official that the U.S. pledge to defend Japan applies to the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands as well. The protesters carried banners and chanted slogans denouncing Japan and the United States. Due to the agitated mood of the protesters, and their refusal to move to the designated protest area, the HKPF recommended against someone from the Consulate General accepting a petition from the group. Before departing, they burned the petition that they had intended to present to the U.S. Consulate General. Asia TV (ATV) daytime news covered the story in a 30 second report with video clips of the demonstration. ¶3. The Hong Kong Police advised the U.S. Consulate General of the planned demonstration only one hour in advance. A sufficient number of local guards, RSO personnel, and Hong Kong Police were on hand to monitor the demonstrators. The protest concluded peacefully after approximately 20 minutes. There were no injuries or damage to U.S. government property. Donovan