1956 Hong Kong riots
Members of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force dispatched to quell the riots
Date	10–12 October 1956
Location	British Hong Kong
Caused by	Several provocations, particularly the removal of the Republic of China flag and the large "Double Ten" emblem hanging from Lei Cheng Uk Estate.
Goals	Apologies from the staff of Lei Cheng Uk Estate Public support for the government of the Republic of China
Methods	Demonstrations, strikes, arsons, occupations of buildings, attacks against police
Resulted in	Protests quelled Several protesters arrested and/or deported Diplomatic protest by the PRC government against the British government ROC / Kuomintang influence in Hong Kong weakened
Parties
Rightists: Pro-Kuomintang camp Rightist unions and labour groups Triads Supported by:  Republic of China Kuomintang Leftists: Pro-CCP unions and labour groups Supported by:  People's Republic of China Chinese Communist Party  British Hong Kong Royal Hong Kong Police Force Department of Political Affairs Supported by:  United Kingdom British Army Royal Air Force
Lead figures
Alexander Grantham (Governor) E.B. David (Colonial Secretary) Arthur Crawford Maxwell (Commissioner of Police) Lui Lok
Units involved
• Riot team  • Special Police Force  • Special Reserve Force  • Auxiliary Air Force  • British Forces Overseas Hong Kong
Casualties
Death(s)	59
Injuries	500
Arrested	6,000[1]
Charged	2,195[1]

1956 Hong Kong riots
Protest photos
Traditional Chinese	雙十暴動
Simplified Chinese	双十暴动
Literal meaning	Double Ten riots
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Shuāngshí Bàodòng Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Sēung sahp bouh duhng Jyutping Soeng1 sap6 bou6 dung6

The 1956 Hong Kong riots, also known as the Double Ten riots (Chinese: 雙十暴動), were the result of escalating provocations between the pro-Kuomintang and pro-CCP camps on Double Ten Day, 10 October 1956.^[2]

Most violence took place in the town of Tsuen Wan, five miles from central Kowloon. A mob stormed and ransacked a clinic and welfare centre, killing four civilians.^[3]

The protests spread to other parts of Kowloon including along Nathan Road. By 11 October, some of the mob began targeting foreigners. Protesters in Kowloon turned over a taxi carrying the Swiss Vice Consul Fritz Ernst and his wife on Nathan Road. The rioters doused the cab in gasoline and lit it on fire resulting in the death of the driver and Mrs. Ernst who succumbed to her injuries two days later.^[4]

To quell the riots, Colonial Secretary Edgeworth B. David ordered extra manpower from the British Forces Hong Kong, including armoured troops of 7th Hussars, to reinforce the Hong Kong Police Force in protecting civilians and dispersing the rioters.^[3] In total, there were 59 deaths and approximately 500 injuries. Property damage was estimated at US$1,000,000.^[2][5]