THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED
IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SECTION 3(4) OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1958
CYPHER / CAT ́A
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
Copy
15D-022/293
198
⚫TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D..
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1833
7 DECEMBER 1967
MILIATE
7
TOP SECRET
ADDRESSED PEKING TELNO 652 OF 77 DECEMBER RFI CO.
DEDIP.
182
MY TELEGRAM 1820: CHINESE POLICY TOWARDS H.K.
HAS INDICATED THAT A
LEADING HK COMMUNIST WAS SCHEDULED TO HOLD A MEETING ON
DECEMBER WITH CHOU EN-ĻAI IN CANTON TO DISCUSS CONFRONTATION. HE IN FACT RETURNED FROM CANTON TO HONG KONG TODAY.
2. THE SOURCE SUGGESTED THAT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT IN CANTON ON THE FUTURE OF CONFRONTATION,
THAT POLICY PAPERS HAD BEEN DRAWN UP IN CHINA SETTING OUT
POSSIBLE COURSES OF ACTION, INCLUDING AN END, OR AT LEAST A
TONING DOWN, OF CONFRONTATION BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND
SUGGESTS THAT THERE IS CONCERN IN HK COMMUNIST CIRCLES
ABOUT HOW TO EXPLAIN A DE-ESCALATION TO THE MASSES IN HONG KONG,
AND THAT IT IS FELT THAT THE SITUATION HERE MUST AT ANY RATE BE MADE MORE FAVOURABLE THAN IT WAS BEFORE THE STRUGGLE, THOUGH
EMPHASIS IN FUTURE WAS LIKELY TO BE ON THE PROPAGATION OF MAO'S
THOUGHTS AND ATTEMPTS TO WIN OVER THE MASSES (NO DOUST BY UNITED
FRONT WORK).
3. IT WAS ALSO MADE CLEAR THAT THERE HAD BEEN CRITICISM IN
CHINA OF THE USE OF STUDENTS COR SCHOOLS) IN BOMB INCIDENTS.
GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD DESTROY THIS AFTER PERUSAL.
4.
FO PLEASE PASS IMMEDIATE PEKING AS MY TELNO 652.
3539
[H.K.D.] SUL N
GOVERNOR
Peking...
E
Filic (Tepp8) 4. H. Kong Dyt. 1
FEDI D.IS, MoDi
SENT 10362 7/12
RECD 104OZ 7/12
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