Mr. de la Mare
SECRET
2294
(152)
Hong Kong
Hong Kong telegram No. 699 attached reports
that the situation in the Colony remains highly
inflammable. As expected, temporary stoppages
continue in the public services and gangs of
demonstrators are forcibly resisting efforts by
the police to remove inflammatory posters and to
eject them from their workshops.
2.
Yesterday, I submitted a fuller account of the
present situation in China and, more particularly,
its implications for Hong Kong. All I would add
here is that paragraphs 6 and 7 of the Governor's
telegram support our conclusion that the main trouble
lies with the rank and file in Hong Kong who are
responding more or less spontaneously to the Cultural
Revolution atmosphere in China and the violent
propaganda being put out from Peking. Peking itself
does not at present seem to be trying to force the
issue. For over & week now they have not referred
to the "five demands". This is very different from
the action they took against Macao when they insisted
upon the Governor accepting their demands by enforcing
/a boycott
SECRET