PA
CYPHER/CATTO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
HONG KONG
TELNO 160
7 FEBRUARY, 1968
SECRET
6866
SECRET
ADDRESSED PEKING TELNO 54 OF 7 FEBRUARY.
WEEKLY ASSESSMENT AS AT 050600.
MAIN EVENTS:-
8 FEL 08
SIVED IN 10.63
(A) NO BOMB REPORTS. THE BAN ON FIREWORKS OVER LUNAR NEW YEAR
WAS EFFECTIVE.
(B) KWANGTUNG PROVINCIAL SUPPORT COMMITTEE, IN A LETTER IN THE
LOCAL COMMUNIST PRESS, HAS REITERATED SUPPORT FOR CONFRONTATION
AND ANNOUNCED A GIFT OF 5,000 TONS OF RICE AND 1,000 SUITS OF
WINTER CLOTHING. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE FT U HAS DECIDED
TO TRY TO ISSUE CLOTHING TO PRISONERS IN STANLEY AND TO BRING IN
CHINESE RED CROSS DOCTORS TO EXAMINE PRISONERS DURING
DISTRIBUTION WITH THE MAXIMUM PUBLICITY, UNIONS ARE TO REGISTER
PERSONS QUALIFIED FOR GIFTS OF RICE, NAMELY WORKERS ''ON STRIKE
AND UNEMPLOYED, AND DEPENDENTS OF VICTIMISED WORKERS.
(C). THE PATTERN OF MAO STUDY AND COMFORT VISITS HAS CONTINUED
IN UNIONS. EXHIBITIONS, GENERALLY WELL ATTENDED, OF MAO'S WORKS
CONTINUE IN VARIOUS COMMUNIST PREMISES INCLUDING THE LEADING
SCHOOLS.
(D) THE DONATION OF RICE AND CLOTHING HAS BECOME A MAJOR THEME
IN THE COMMUNIST PRESS. GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ATTACKED FOR ATTEMPTING
TO TURN IT INTO A COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION. DEVALUATION AND
SALINITY ARE STILL TARGETS AND THE SUCCESSFUL APPEAL BY THREE
POLICE OFFICERS AGAINST CONVICTION FOR MANSLAUGHTER HAS BEEN
DENOUNCED AS A LEGAL TRICK''.
CED MINOR INCIDENTS CONTINUE ON THE BORDER. ON 31ST JANUARY A
CROWD OF 90 CHILDREN AND 10 ADULTS STONED AND THREW FIREWORKS
FROM CT AT THE POLICE POST IN SHA TAU KOK FOR TWO HOURS WITHOUT
DAMAGE OR ANY INTERFERENCE BY THE P L A. THERE WAS ONE OTHER CASE
OF STONING OF A POLICE VEHICLE IN THE SAME AREA.
(F) A NUMBER OF LEADING COMMUNIST OFFICIALS, INCLUDING THE LOCAL
DIRECTOR OF THE N C N A, LEFT FOR CHINA ON 2ND AND 3RD FEBRUARY:
SOME OF THEM HAD ONLY RECENTLY RETURNED FROM A PROTRACTED VISIT
THERE.
SECRET
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