CYPHER/CAT A
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES NO 23-
COFEB 1968
Mein isly
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM-NUMBER 153.
SECRET
SECRET
35
TOP COPY
TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
5 FEBRUARY 1968
HW
ADDRESSED CO TELEGRAM NO. 153 OF 5TH FEBRUARY REPEATED SINGAPORE
WASHINGTON AND CANBERRA.
FOR COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AND CABINET OFFICE FOR JIC. FOLLOWING
FROM LIC WEEKLY ASSESSMENT OF SITUATION AS AT 5TH FEBRUARY
1968, 0600 HOURS FOLLOWS. THE PRINCIPAL FEATURES OF THE COMMUNIST CONFRONTATION DURING THE PERIOD HAVE BEEN:
(A) THE CONTINUED ABSENCE OF BOMB REPORTS. THE GOVERNMENT
BAN ON THE USE OF FIREWORKS PROVED EFFECTIVE DURING THE CELEBRATION OF CHINESE CLUNAR NEW YEAR ON 30TH, 31ST JANUARY AND 1ST
FEBRUARY.
(B) THE PUBLICATION ON 29TH JANUARY, IN THE LOCAL COMMUNIST PRESS,
3
OF A COMFORT LETTER' TO LOCAL COMMUNISTS ISSUED BY THE 'KWANG-
TUNG PROVINCIAL SUPPORT HONG KONG COMPATRIOTS COMMITTEE'
REITERATING SUPPORT FOR CONFRONTATION AND AMOUNCING A DONATION
OF 5.000 TONS OF RICE AND 1,000 SUITS OF WINTER CLOTHING.
*
(TELEGRAM NO. 137 REFERS). AT A MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
OF THE FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS (F.T.U.), HELD NEXT DAY,
i
TO DISCUSS THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE RICE TO 'NEEDY RESIDENTS' AND
THE CLOTHING TO INMATES OF STANLEY PRISON, IT WAS AGREED THAT
THE CHINESE RED CROSS SHOULD BE ASKED TO COME TO HONG KONG
J
AND BRING DOCTORS TO EXAMINE PRISONERS DURING THE ISSUE OF
CLOTHING. IT WAS ALSO AGREED THAT THE HATTER SHOULD BE GIVEN
MAXIMUM PUBLICITY AND REGISTRATION SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN BY
AFFILIATED UNIONS OF PERSONS QUALIFYING FOR ASSISTANCE, NANELY
WORKERS ON STRIKE, UNEMPLOYED WORKERS AND DEPENDENTS OF 'VICTIMISED'
WORKERS.
(C) FURTHER MEETINGS HELD BY COMMUNIST UNIONS AND ORGANISATIONS
TO STUDY THE WORKS OF MAO, ORGANISE COMFORT VISITS' TO THE
UNEMPLOYED AND OTHER VICTIMS OF GOVERNEMENT PERSECUTION' AND
SECRET
/TO
PA
6.2.69