Dd.033009 Gp.863
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
demands.
taking more account of Chinese/susee
ties,
for taking a more relaxed view of the firmness
that we need to maintain over communist
activities in Hong Kong and for offering
worthwhile face-saving concessions.
But for
so long as we have reason to believe that China
is concerned only to exploit the present
situation with a view to weakening our position
in the Colony and extending its own influence,
there can be no one-sided gestures or damaging
concessions on our part. We must show by
firmness that we are not prepared to yield to
present Chinese policies and pressures.
It
is moreover a matter of prudence in this
situation to take such measures as are open to
us to prevent the communists in Hong Kong re-
establishing a position from which they could.
mount a repetition of last year's events
(e.g. by resisting the reinstatement of
dismissed strikers in the essential services).
This does not mean that we should embark on a
policy of suppression of local communist
activities; but it does mean that we deal
firmly with such activities when they have over-
stepped the mark in case they should be
encouraged and emboldened to resort again to
their earlier tactics.
16. Further separate study is being made of
this exchange of telegrams between Hong Kong
and Peking with a view to providing
Sir Donald Hopson with the clarification he
requests.
/Conclusions