CONFIDENTIAL
the Garmasinin
2
W
J. H Hall, DTD (100
This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government.
PMV (W) (67)16
19 May, 1967
OTD (100)
Copy No. 20
Körtachunes
24/
VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER TO
CANADA AND WASHINGTON MAY/JUNE
1967
CHINA AND HONG KONG
1
Brief by the Foreign Office
Talking Points
1. All the available information suggests that the
incidents in Hong Kong on 6 May and later were not
instigated from mainland China. They may have occurred,
however, partly because control over pro-communist
organisations in Hong Kong from the mainland has recently
slackened and local leaders and the rank and file have taken
the initiative in acting in a militant fashion to keep up with
the present extreme atmosphere of the Cultural Revolution
in China.
2.
The Chinese Government came out in full support of
their sympathizers. Their statement of 15 May was the
strongest and most abusive about Hong Kong for some years.
There is no hard intelligence to indicate that the Chinese
Government has changed its basic policy of allowing British
rule in the Colony to continue. There are, however, strong
pressures within China tending towards intransigence and
though China would stand to lose a great deal of foreign exchange (£200 million annually) if they push matters to
such an extent that business confidence in Hong Kong is
damaged, it may be difficult for those elements favouring
caution to secure a hearing in the present overheated
atmosphere resulting from the Cultural Revolution.
CONFIDENTIAL
13.