SECRET
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO.243 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
2
(D) FURTHER VISITS TO COLONIAL SECRETARIAT, SOCIAL WELFARE
DEPARTMENT AND THE RED CROSS BY UNION DELEGATIONS CONCERNING
JAGE INCREASE DEMANDS BY MEMBERS OF UNIONS OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, THE RECEIPT AND DISTRIBUTION OF CLOTHING TO
CONFRONTATION PRISONERS IN PRISONS RESPECTIVELY.
3
(E) TWO MEETINGS BETWEEN OFFICIALS OF THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
DEPARTMENT AND THE CHINA RESOURCES COMPANY (C.R.C.) DURING
WHICH THE LATTER DEMANDED THAT RICE DONATED FROM CHINA BE
IMPORTED OUTSIDE THE QUOTA AND IMPLIED THAT IMPORTATION
WOULD GO AHEAD NOTWITHSTANDING THE ABSENCE OF GOVERNMENT APPROVAL. A FORMAL APPLICATION FROM THE C.R.C. FOR A PERMIT
TO IMPORT THE RICE, COUCHED IN OBJECTIONABLE TERMS, WAS
REJECTED CTELEGRAM 239 REFERS).
:
(F) FURTHER MEETINGS HELD BY COMMUNIST UNIONS TO DISCUSS
THE DONATION OF RICE FROM CHINA AND THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR IN VIETNAM. MEMBERS OF A UNION OF WORKERS IN THE TEXTILE TRADE
WERE TOLD THAT THE PAYMENT OF STRIKE ALLOWANCE WOULD CEASE AT THE END OF FEBRUARY AND OTHER UNIONS WERE TOLD THAT GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO 'TAX' THE RICE DONATED BY CHINA. A SMALL DELEGATION
CLAIMING TO REPRESENT 30 SEAMEN DISMISSED FOR PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNIST WORK STOPPAGES VISITED A SHIPPING AGENT AND
DEMANDED RE-EMPLOYMENT.
(G) THE FORMATION IN CANTON ON 215 FEBRUARY OF THE KWANGTUNG PROVINCIAL REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE CK.P.R.C.) WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY A SMALL DELEGATION FROM HONG KONG. THIS EVENT WAS REFLECTED LOCALLY BY POSTERS PUT UP AT SHA TAU KOK, BRITISH TERRITORY (B.T.) BY YOUTHS FROM CHINESE TERRITORY(C.T.) AND BY CELEBRATIONS HELD BY COMMUNIST CONTROLLED ORGANISATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COLONY. REPORTS OF FACTIONAL FIGHTING IN
KWANGTUNG CONTINUE TO BE RECEIVED FROM TRAVELLERS.
ORY (C.1
(H) CONTINUED ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROPAGANDA IN THE COMMUNIST PRESS. PROMINENCE WAS GIVEN TO THE FORMATION OF THE K.P.R.C.
JAYD