Hong Kong Erupts: 1 Dead, 1,800 Arrested in Ferry Fare Riots

A tense calm in Hong Kong shattered into a night of violent riots on April 7, 1966, leaving one person dead. Mobs ran uncontrolled through the streets of Kowloon for seven hours. They targeted buses and cars with stones, set vehicles and buildings on fire, and openly challenged police and troops. The unrest began after a day of public tension over a fare increase for the popular Star Ferry service. The violence only ended two hours after authorities imposed a curfew. Police arrested approximately 1,800 people during the disturbances. An uneasy quiet returned to the affected districts, which include Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei.