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2.
On 10 March, Union officials announced that the F.T.U. directive was not final, and that the strike would continue until alternative employment had been obtained. It was also claimed that the C.P.G. would put pressure on the Hong Kong Government to ensure that the strikers were reinstated. On 7 March representatives of seamen dismissed for participation in Communist work stoppages during 1967, accompanied by an official of their Union, called on a shipping agent to demand reinstatement.
(f) Anti British propaganda in the Communist Press directed at 'Fascist' police action, 'interference' with the importation of 'gift' rice and Government 'persecution' of D.P.V. drivers, hawkers and squatters. Salinity of water and devaluation have now been almost completely dropped as propaganda themes.
(g) Continued calm in the border area broken only on 4 March when children in C.T. threw stones at the Immigration Office in B.T. at Lo Wu and were dispersed by P.L.A. No damage was caused. On 5 March C.T. residents put up a number of anti British posters in Sha Tau Kok (B.T.) in the connection with the formation of the Kwangtung Provincial Revolutionary Committee.
(h) Further attempts to repatriate illegal immigrants at Lo Wu, all of whom refused to cross into China. 69 illegal immigrants were arrested during the week bringing the total for March to 148.
(I) All Communist newspapers gave prominence on 11 March to an ACAPSC statement on 10 March in protest against Government's 'Fascist action' and 'obstruction' of the importation of gift rice from China. The statement concluded with the warning that Government should stop using violence otherwise the situation will reach 'a more tense and serious stage'.
There is no evidence to suggest that the incidents outside a police station and a China products store were pre-planned, but local Communists were ready to exploit them quickly to obtain maximum propaganda value and they have provided an illustration of the continued militancy of some of their rank and file. There is little doubt that they will continue to challenge the authority of Government whenever they feel they can do so on an issue which may attract some public support and stir up hatred for established authority.
3.
The Union delegations which have visited Government offices in connection with "gift rice' could serve a useful purpose, in that an increasing number of representatives of Communist organ- isations are being made aware that Government has not unconditionally refused the importation.
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