David Trench
Beginning as a minor labour dispute, the demonstrations escalated into large-scale protests against British colonial rule. The use of roadside bombs and petrol bombs by local communists prompted the Hong Kong Police Force to storm the demonstrators' strongholds and arrest their leaders. A few police officers and several civilians were killed by the bombs, and several demonstrators were killed in the raids. As many of the bombs were made in communist-leaning schools, Governor David Trench closed those schools and banned communist publications.