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INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (0.A.G.)
08936
Cypher
D. 21 July, 1967.
R. 21
1130Z
IMMEDIATE
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No. 1084
3327
333
My telegrams Nos. 1061 and 1069.
Confrontation.
Police action against carefully selected targets has continued to produce invaluable dividends in respect of our own security intelligence and captured stocks of offensive weapons, increased public confidence, and increased apprehensiveness and disorganisation among the Communists, without, so far as can be judged at present, provoking any more hostile reaction from Peking.
2.
In only one instance since this action began on 12 July has there been active resistance to these raids but there is no reason yet to believe that the Communists intend to abandon or modify their present campaign of violence.
3.
Vigorous police action is principally being directed to:
(a)
raids on premises in which there is evidence of stocks of offensive weapons, explosives, etc., or the presence in hiding of wanted persons;
(b)
a campaign to clean up the streets of inflammatory posters, etc.,
(c) mobile patrols on the main traffic routes (in which
the military are co-operating) to protect
and encourage public transport.
4. In our considered opinion it is essential to press our present advantage still further home and move against a limited number of more important leaders while they are still accessible. The intention is to forestall any attempt by them to move into C.P.G. owned (and well fortified) premises where they could regroup and organise a new offensive.
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15.