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IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NO. 640
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20 MAY, 1968,
LP COPY
21MAY 1960
HWA 13/2
ADDRESSED TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM NO. 640 OF 20 MAY, REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PA SINGAPORE, PEKING, WASHINGTON AND H.C. CANBERRA.
FOR COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AND CASINET OFFICE FOR JIC. FOLLOWING
FROM LIC.
WEEKLY ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION AS AT 0600 HOURS 20TH MAY
FOLLOWS IN TWO PARTS (PART I ONLY FOR CANBERRA AND PEKING). PART 1.
THE PRINCIPLE FEATURES OF THE PERIOD HAVE BEEN:
p.a.
(A) THREE MINOR INCIDENTS INVOLVING HARRASSMENT OF POLICE BY COMMUNIST SUPPORTERS. THEY AROSE DURING OR AS A RESULT OF A TRAFFIC OFFENCE BY THE DRIVER OF A CHINESE PRODUCTS LORRY, THE ARREST OF A DISMISSED TRAMWAY WORKER FOR EVADING PAYMENT OF
TRAM FARE AND THE ARREST OF AN UNLICENSED HAWKER.
(B) 31 VISITS BY COMMUNIST DELEGATIONS TO 8 GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNING 'GIFT RICE', REINSTATEMENT AND RELEASE OF PRISONERS AND 21 TO 12 PRIVATE COMPANIES SEEKING REEMPLOYMENT. ALTHOUGH SEVERAL DELEGATIONS, INCLUDED WOMEN AND STUDENTS AND SOME WERE NOISY AND HOSTILE, NO UNTOWARD INCIDENTS OCCURRED.
(C) FURTHER MEETINGS BY COMMUNIST UNIONS TO DISCUSS THE REINSTATEMENT OF 'STRIKERS'. IT WAS STATED AT TWO SUCH SESSIONS THAT ALL CIRCLES ANTI PERSECUTION STRUGGLE COMMITTEE HAD DIRECTED AN INCREASE IN THE SIZE AND NUMBER OF DELEGATIONS TO TWO COMPANIES WITH OFFICES SITUATED NEAR THE MAIN SHOPPING AREA IN KOWLOON, TO SHOW 'TOURISTS' THAT THE SITUATION WAS 'UNFAVOURABLE FOR THE HONG KONG BRITISH' THERE HAS BEEN SOME REFLECTION OF THIS TACTIC.
(D) A SPEECH BY YEUNG KWONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE F.T.U. AND THE A.C.A. P.S.C. AT AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE F.T.U. DURING WHICH HE REITERATED THE 'RETURN TO WORK POLICY # LAID DOWN IN HIS MAJOR SPEECH
(2) DURING LABOUR DAY CELEBRATIONS (PARA (A) OF MY TELEGRAM 569 REFERS)
AND DEMANDED THE RELEASE OF CONFRONTATION PRISONERS AND THE IMPORT
OF 'GIFT RICE' YEUNG AUNOUNCED ALSO A SERIES OF VARIETY CONCERTS
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TO ENTERTAIN STRIKERS' AND INSTRUCTED THAT 'COMFORT GROUPS' SHOULD
BE FORMED TO VISIT THEIR HOMES.
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