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Communist organisations and activities.
This policy succeeded in
disrupting the Communist leadership and further depressing Communist morale.
5. Meanwhile, there had been a number of border incidents generally
consisting of attacks on frontier installations by civilians from Chinese
territory. In a particularly serious incident at Sha Tau Kok on 8 July,
five policemen were killed by machine gun fire for which the Chinese
militia are believed to have been responsible. After another serious
incident on 11-12 August at Man Kam To, the main road crossing point,
the border was temporarily closed.
6.
all
Throughout this campaign the Communist and pro-Communist Press has
conducted a constant barrage of vitriolic propaganda and incitement and
in particular has sought to cause disaffection in the Police. Many of
its employees have been involved in law-breaking. Consequently,
prosecutions were instituted against three of the lesser newspapers;
were suspended for the period of the trials and subsequently have been
suspended for six months; a number of journalists have been imprisoned.
No major C.P.G.-owned organ has been proceeded against, but action
against the smaller fry provoked more than usually violent reaction from
Peking, leading to the Chinese ultimatum of the 20th August and to the
burning of the British Mission premises there. Since the suspension of the
three newspapers roneo-ed broadsheets, seditious and inflammatory in tone
have been produced and distributed free and urgent consideration is being
given as to how this new threat should be handled. Action taken against
the Press has not led to any modification in the tone of the other
Communist organs. But any measures to include the C.P.G.-owned papers
will require the most careful consideration and the Governor will consult
us before any such measures are taken.
7.
The Communist reaction to failure has been to step up violence and the
point has now been reached where their main weapon is sheer terrorism in
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/the