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HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO.216 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
-3-
SETTLE DOWN TO THE PRE-SUPPRESSION LEVEL OF ABOUT 45,000 WITHIN A FEW DAYS. THE PAYMENTS OF THE OUTSTANDING MONEY, WITH THE IMPLICIT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE AUTHORITY OF THE COURTS, PROVIDES A FURTHER INDICATION OF THE DESIRE OF LOCAL COMMUNISTS TO AVOID, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, A DIRECT CLASH WITH GOVERNMENT. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN A LENIENT VIEW OF THE FACT THAT REPUBLICATION HAS OCCURRED BEFORE THE SUPPRESSION ORDERS EXPIRE CBY 11-18 DAYS ACCORDING TO THE PAPER CONCERNED> AND IT SEEMS LIKELY THE COURTS WILL DO LIKEWISE. THERE SEEMS
TO HAVE BEEN A GENUINE MISUNDERSTANDING OVER THE FACT THAT THE PAPERS WERE ALL SUSPENDED TOGETHER BEFORE THE COURT HEARINGS BUT SUPPRESSED AS FROM THE DATE OF INDIVIDUAL CONVICTION 11-18
DAYS LATER.
DATE
。
5. IT IS NOT KNOWN WHETHER THE THREATS MADE BY C.T. PERSONNEL
AT LOWU HAD OFFICIAL CPG BACKING, BUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF CHINESE CUSTOMS STAFF INDICATES THAT SOME OFFICIALS AT LEAST AT THE BORDER ARE PREPARED TO SUPPORT THE RAILWAY WORKERS. THE POSITION OF THE PLA IN THIS MATTER IS NOT CLEAR, ALTHOUGH THEIR INACTIVITY SUGGESTS THEY ARE NOT PREPARED TO OPPOSE THE WORKERS.
FOREIGN OFFICE PLEASE PASS WASHINGTON AS MY TEL 23 AND CANBERRA AS MY TEL 17.
SIR D.TRENCH.
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
[TRANSMITTED TO CABINET OFFICE FOR JIC]
FILES C.O.
H.K.D.
F.0.
F.E.D.
I. & G.D.
O.L.A.
J.I.R.D.
O.P.A.
F.E.P.D.
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
DEFENCE DEPT.
MR. HALL
MR. WILKINSON
D.I.S. M.O.D.
P.S. TO MIN OF STATE (LORD SHEPHERD)
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