SECRET
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 1678 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
4
AND MACAU BUT NO MENTION IS MADE FOR HONG KONG. THE RECENT!
DIRECTIVE GIVEN BY MAO TSE TUNG FOR EDUCATION. REFORM IN CHINA
INVOLVES PRIMARILY VIRTUAL ABANDONMENT OF THE EXAMINATION SYSTEM WITH INCREASED POLITICAL STUDY, AND IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN HOW FAR THESE METHODS CAN BE INTRODUCED IN HONG KONG. WITHOUT COMING INTO
CONFLICT WITH GOVERNMENT.
5. THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS THAT THE COMMUNISTS INTEND TO ABANDON THEIR CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE AT PRESENT BUT THEY, MAY TRY TO BE MORE SELECTIVE IN THEIR FUTURE CHOICE OF TARGETS, IN LINE WITH THEIR STEADILY INCREASING UNITED FRONT WORK TO GAIN THE SUPPORT OF A WIDER SECTION OF THE PUBLIC. HOWEVER, THE STATEMENT ATTRIBUTED TO THE A.C.A.P.S.C. AND THE APPARENT SABOTAGE ATTEMPT NEAR THE LION ROCK TUNNEL MAY PRESAGE THE USE OF MORE POWERFUL AND SOPHISTICATED
EXPLOSIVE DEVICES.
C.O. PLEASE PASS TO WASHINGTON 373 AND CANBERRA 143.
SIR D. TRENCH
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED
OFFICE FOR J.I.C.]
TRANSMITTED TO CABINET
FILES
!
C.O. HONG KONG DEPT.
I. & G. DEPT.
F.E. & P.D.
J.I.P.G.D.
J.I.R.D.
SIR A. GALSWORTHY
MR. HALL
F.O. FAR EASTERN DEPT.
S.E.A.D.
OVERSEAS LABOUR ADVISER
OVERSEAS POLITICAL ADVISER
MR. DE LA MARE
SECRET
ADVANCE COPIES SENT