CONFIDENTIAL
OUTWARD TELEGRAM
FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
TO HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
Cypher
Sent 31 May 1967. 2200Z
188
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 63
огр
FLASH
CONFIDENTIAL
No.1097
-1 JUN1757
18
My immediately preceding telegram,
Text of notes for supplementaries.
Begins.
•
187
192
Is it not the case that labour conditions in the Colony are the underlying cause of the disturbances?
This is a mistaken view. There is much in labour relations in the Colony which we wish to alter, and, as I have said, we are in consultation with the Governor about this. But the cause of these disturbances was clearly political; it was an attempt by the local communists to exert pressure on the Hong Kong authorities.
What are we going to do about the "Four Demands"
(or "Five Demands")?
I can hardly be expected to respond to "demands" such as that we should immediately stop all fascist measures in Hong Kong. At the same time, as I have already said, without prompting from anyone, we shall continue to do what is necessary to improve labour relations. And in the meantime we are determined to continue to uphold the rule of law.
Has the Governor got all the powers he needs?
Yes. We have had the fullest consultations with him, and there is complete agreement as to how the situation can best be handled.
disrupted?
To what extent has the life of the community been
During the actual disturbances there was inevitable disruption, through the closing of roads, the imposition of curfews, and the temporary closure of some schools. The measures adopted by the authorities were designed to cause as little disruption as possible to the life of the Colony. The present series of token stoppages in public utilities and supply services are also inevitably causing some disruption and inconvenience.
Are the Hong Kong Government prepared to deal with more prolonged stoppages in the public utilities?
The Hong Kong Government have made plans for this
contingency.
CONFIDENTIAL
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