Cypher
CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (0.A.G.)
69
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 63.
14 AUG1967
нивут
D. 12th August, 1967 R. 12th
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1003Z
WITHE
PRIORITY
CONFIDENTIAL No. 1223
(60)
Addressed Commonwealth Office (D.T.D.). Repeated Priority P.A. Singapore No. 304.
(Peking omitted)
Washington No. 259.
(Secretary of State please pass all).
My telegram No. 1210.
Border.
A further incident occurred at Lo Fong Gate near Ta Ku Ling on 11th August. A group of farmers refused to accept closure of the gate and pushed their way through the border fence nearby. Though they were initially peaceful, violence later broke out. They surrounded small police patrol and tried to extract written guarantees about their right to be in British territory. Reinforcements had to be sent to extricate the patrol and in the ensuing fight to evict the farmers, who had been joined by other villagers from across the border, tear gas and baton shells had to be used. Some shells fell on Chinese territory. Eventually all were got back across the border into Chinese territory. One police officer was seriously hurt, and two policemen and two Gurkhas injured. One sub-machine gun is missing.
2.
From the point of view of local opinion, I hope that you will agree to make a protest about this and the Man Kam To incident of 11th August. It would seem that this can now be more effectively done in London. You might add that so long as hooliganism of this sort perisists at Man Kam To it is not our intention to reopen the crossing point (from which Chinese farmers reap a good deal of benefit).
(Passed as requested and advance copies to Resident Clerk, F.E. Department, Foreign Office, Mr. Glover News Department, Commonwealth Office and Private Office for Commonwealth Office).
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