En Clair
Coppered a HUD 72
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 9th May 1967 R. 9th
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0930Z
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Addressed to Commonwealth Office
No.561
Repeated
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"Peking No.198
"POLAD Singapore No.65
The left-wing papers this morning (9th May)
continued to give full front page treatment to the incident at the plastic factory on 6th May. They report that on 8th May the Executive Committee of the Federation of Trade Unions met and issued a statement condemning what it called police interference in labour disputes and the unprecedentedly serious, bloody and repressive violence. It alleged that about 100 patriotic workers and campatriots who were bystanders were beaten up. This incident was not accidental:
"It occurred
at a time when Hong Kong has become a military base for aggression in Vietnam which is being increasingly used by U.S. imperialism and when imperialists, revisionists and reactionaries are undertaking all conceivable sorts of anti- China activities; obviously the British authorities in Hong Kong in showing their hand were acting in an organised, planned and premeditated way. The British authorities in Hong Kong have all along tolerated and protected U.S./Chiang elements, fabricated disputes and provoked acts of violence" The statement then referred briefly to the Nanfeng Textile Company, the Taxi Company, the Green Island Cement Factory and the Kowloon Walled City disputes.
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2. The Rubber and Plastic Workers' Union also held an emergency meeting on 8th May and established an anti- persecution struggle committee' which swore not to rest until complete victory had been achieved .
3. The left-wing papers also printed short commentaries which said that the British authorities are attempting to treat the workers who had been unreasonably beaten up and arrested as criminals' and to use the law' to deal with them. They conclude that 'whether or not the situation worsens is entirely for the British authorities in Hong Kong to decide. People are closely watching to see how they will act'.
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The papers also include reports of the proceedings at the magistracy on 8th May which allege inter alia that the authorities attempted to trick the workers into admitting their guilt by raising bail but the workers 'refused to admit guilt and decided to stay in prison and enter into a struggle against the violent persecution of the British authorities'.
Distribution H.K. W.I.D. 'C'
ARED
I.G.D.
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION Copies also sent to:
Foreign Office - F.E.D.
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PAR
Overseas Labour Adviser