COPY FOR
SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
Cypher
'D. 15th May 1967
R. 15th
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RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 63 15 MAY 1976/
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No.607
Addressed to Commonwealth Office Repeated
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Peking No.221
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POLAD Singapore No.89
(Please pass FLASH to both)
Peking telegram No.478. 30
Kowloon Disturbances.
The M.F.A. statement, which has been published here this morning in a special edition of 'Wen Wei Pao', seems to take psychological warfare about as far as it can go. We have at present no clear indications of what physical action, if any, will be taken to back it up. But the statement that the "750 million people of China" are behind them will encourage the Left-wing rank-and-file to think that they need place no restraint on their actions; and we know that trade union circles have already been talking about starting disturbances in 6 or 8 places at once in the belief that this would overstretch the police (as it might).
2. An immediate problem arises from the fact that the 21 workers arrested in the incident of 6th May are due to appear for trial in the South Kowloon Magistrates' Court tomorrow 16th May at 9 aim. local time. If they do, it will be clear that we have rejected one of the "four demands" and judging by a reference in a "Wen Wei Pao" editorial this morning to the "impermissibility" of prosecuting them, this may be the signal for trouble.
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30 It would be possible to adjourn the hearing for a further period. This would have the disadvantage of simply putting off the evil day, while giving more time for the Left to develop their agitation and organise counter-measures. On the other hand, it could provide a breathing space in which to attempt to initiate negotiations. On the whole, I incline to the view that a 48-hour adjournment might be justified, especially as it would also provide more time for views on the major issues posed by the note to be formed in London: on the other hand, if the view is that we should resist the pressure fully it would be better to give no ground by adjourning.
40 I would be grateful for instructions at least on this particular issue in the next ten to twelve hours.
(Passed to D.S.A.0. for Resident Clerk as advance copy
and for repetition to Peking and Singapore)
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