FORMED IN CANTON ON 26 SEPTEMBER WITH THE ALLEGED SUPPORT
OF ALL PREVIOUSLY HOSTILE FACTIONS. DESPITE THIS, THE
AUTHORITIES HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT THE CANTON EXPORT COMMODITIES
TRADE FAIR WILL NOW OPEN ON 15 NOVEMBER, A POSTPONEMENT OF ONE
MONTH.
1
7. THE ACCIDENTAL CROSSING INTO CHINA OF TWO POLICE CONSTABLES
WILL PROBABLY BE INTERPRETED BY THE LOCAL COMMUNISTS, AND BY
THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AS DEFECTIONS DESPITE THE OFFICAL ACCOUNT,
PARTICULARLY AS IT FOLLOWS CLOSELY ON NEW APPEALS TO THE HONG
WHAT THE EVENTUAL REACTION KONG POLICE TO CHANGE THEIR ALLEGIANCE.
OR
OF THE CHINESE AUTHØITIES WILL BE IS STILL OPEN TO CONJECTURE
SEMICOLON PENDING RECEIPT OF THE POLICY LINE FROM CHINA LOCAL
COMMUNIST PRESS COMMENT HAS BEEN CONFINED TO THE ''SHOCK'
CAUSED
TO GOVERNMENT. THE PUBLICITY GIVEN TO THE APPEAL BY JOHN TSANG
IN THE LOCAL PRESS, OVER RADIO VILLA VERDE AND AT SHA TAU KOK
MAY PRESAGE AN INTENSIFIED PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE
POLICE FORCE WHICH CLEARLY REMAINS A MAJOR TARGET FOR SUBVERSION
BY THE COMMUNISTS.
*
8. THE DECREASE IN ATTENDANCES AT THE C P G NATIONAL DAY
CELEBRATIONS MUST BE DISAPPOINTING TO THE LOCAL COMMUNIST LEADERS
WHO HAVE SPENT THE LAST TWO WEEKS EXHORTING THEIR FOLLOWERS
TO PERSUADE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO ATTEND. NO DOUBT IT
REFLECTS IN SOME MEASURE THE EFFECT THAT GOVERNMENT ACTION HAS
HAD ON THE MORALE OF COMMUNIST RANK AND FILE. WITH THE EXCEPTION
OF STREET INCIDENTS LEADING TO VIOLENCE IN AN AREA WELL KNOWN
FOR ITS MILITANCY, THERE HAS BEEN GENERAL CONFORMITY WITH THE
LAW DURING 1 OCTOBER CELEBRATIONS AND THIS, TAKEN WITH THE SHARP
DECLINE IN TRUE BOMB INCIDENTS, THE RESUMPTION OF STUDY GROUPS
AND THE DESIRE OF THE C P G APPOINTEES TO RETURN, TO MORE NORMAL
CONDITIONS, POINTS TO A GENERAL DE-ESCALATION OF THE COMMUNIST
CONFRONTATION WITH GOVERNMENT. THE STATEMENT MADE BY THE ALL
TRADES A.P.S.C. MAY FORESHADOW ATTACKS ON GOVERNMENT ON INDUSTRIAL
AND SOCIAL ISSUES IN AN ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN WIDER, SUPPORT FROM THE
LOCAL POPULACE. THIS WOULD BE IN LINE WITH THE INTENTION
EXPRESSED BY THE COMMUNIST HIERARCHY OF CONCENTRATING ON EXPAND UNITED FRONT WORK IN THEIR FUTURE CONDUCT OF CONFRONTATION. IT
A REMINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER THIS IS A SHORT OR LONG TERM POLICY