SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
206
FOR RECISTRATION
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
15
JUN
Cypher
D. 3 June, 1967.
Ro
3
03402
# 12
10
1967
2
PRIORITY SECRET
No. 767.
Addressed to Commonwealth Office.
Repeated
"Peking No. 299. " POLAD Singapore No. "Washington No. 161.
154.
(s. of S. please
pass all).
SITREP at 031000.
190
My telegram No. 745.
After a rather anxious start, the Government dockyard resumed work with nearly half its staff. 256 employees have been interdicted, but so far only 17 have been given their letters of interdiction. The balance did not report for work.
20
Rumours of major strike action over this weekend continue though hard evidence is lacking. The very number of these reports tends to discredit the likelihood of a planned offensive which we would expect to be set up with greater regard to security. The expected stoppage in one ferry company did not happen on 2 June but remains a possibility for 3 June. In the other ferry company a pay claim is being presented. This could provide the veneer of a straight labour dispute to industrial action which has in fact political basis, thus. complication any resort to legal action by the Government.
30 There has been no increase in the number of posters displayed. It is intended to watch the situation to see the effect of warnings given by managements as a result of the new emergency regulations. If by tonight there is a substantial reduction in the number of posters we will not force the pace by police action. A decision on this will be made this evening. As a precautionary measure the police, less auxiliaries, were brought to a higher state of readiness from midnight on 2 June.
(Passed as requested with advance copies to
Resident Clerk and Foreign Office F.E. Dept.)
RECEIVED IN
AR
VID No. 63
FWB 1/171
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