CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 546
SECRET
TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
1 MAY 1968
61
Ha
SECRET.
ADDRESSED COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AS MY TELEGRAM NO. 546 DATED 1ST MAY,
REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PA SINGAPORE, URSP CANBERRA, PEKING AND WASHINGTON.
FOR COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AND CABINET OFFICE FOR J.1.C.
FOLLOWING FROM L.1.C.
158)
FURTHER TO L.I.C. WEEKLY ASSESSMENT IN MY TELEGRAM NO. 539.
A NUMBER OF TRAVELLERS ARRIVING IN THE COLONY IN THE PAST FEW DAYS HAVE TOLD OF RECENT DISTURBANCES IN CANTON WITH STUDENTS FREQUENTLY ENGAGING IN FACTIONAL FIGHTING. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR YET TO HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS DETERIORATION IN THE SECURITY POSITION IN THE CITY AND THE P.L.A. SEEMS TO HAVE THE SITUATION UNDER CONTROL BUT THERE IS SAID TO BE A FEAR AMONG THE POPULATION THAT INCREASED VIOLENCE MAY ERUPT WHEN THE TRADE FAIR CLOSES ON THE 15TH OF THIS MONTH. ANY BREAKDOWN OF LAW AND ORDER IN CANTON COULD ENCOURAGE LOCAL MILITANTS AMONG THE COMMUNIST RANK AND FILE TO TAKE A MORE AGGRESSIVE
LINE IN HONG KONG.
SECRET
AVED IN
UVES No. 63
HWA13/4
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