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Hong Kong telegram No. 1509 to Commonwealth Office
3m
entering by land. Thirteen illegal immigrants have been arrested entering by sea (five from Macao and eight from
hina).
6. The reasoning which led the CPG authorities to release the abducted police constable is not at present clear, but among other possible factors it may be that they wish to lower tension at the border. There is no further news of the fate of the two police constables who crossed into China by accident (telegram 1500 refers).
7. Arrangements are well in hand by the Kuomintang (K.M.T.) in Hong Kong to stage celebrations on 10 October to
At mark the anniversary of the Sun Yet Sen Revolution. present, there are no indications of any planned violence by either the KMT or the Communists, but the local Communist Press has launched a propaganda attack on Government for permitting the celebrations. The resurgence of bomb incidents could also be a related phenomenon.
8. The statements issued by the ACAPSC calling for "revenge" against Government for "sabotaging" the National Day celebrations and the resurgence of bomb incidents run counter to the policy of the Communist leaders to further confrontation through political study and United front work. However, they may be designed to create an air of tension with a view to disrupting the Nationalist (KMT) celebrations on 10 October and also to excuse the poor turn out at some of the 1st October celebrations. Despite the fact that the call by the ACAPSC inferred widespread action, the bombs planted so far appear to have been the work of two groups only. It is significant that the Radio Peking broadcast regarding the incident on 1st October, which was comparatively mild in tone, contained no demands, and that no official protest has been made by the CPG. These ACAPSC statements apart, all other evidence still points to a desire on the part of the leadership to conduct a long term struggle by peaceful means, though it is quite possible that we may continue to see intermittent incidents of violence organised by local Communist militants in pursuance of their "tit for tat" policy.
Foreign Office please pass Washington as my telegram
No. 313 and Canberra as my telegram No. 111.
Sir D. Trench
FILE S
Sent 09372 9 October 1967
Recd 1015Z 9 October 1967
[Repeated as requested]ADVANCE COPIES SENT:
C.O. Hong Kong Dept. Sent to JIC]
Int. & Genl. Dept.
F.E.P.D.
J.I.R.D.
J.I.P.G.D.
Mr. Hall
F.O. F.E.D.
O.L.A.
O.P.A.
Mr. Hohler
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