SECRET
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 153 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
#
الشكل
3
Chop
V
3. REPORTS FROM KWANGTUNG PROVINCE INDICATE THAT EFFORTS
CONTINUE TO BE MADE TO ESTABLISH A PROVINCIAL REVOLUTIONARY
COMMITTEE BUT THAT FACTIONAL CLUSHES IN A NUMBER OF CITIES ARE
DELAYING THIS NOVE. THE EXODUS TO CHINA OF A NUMBER OF SENIOR
OFFICIALS OF LOCAL CPG ORGANISATIONS, SOME OF WHOM HAVE ONLY
ORNED
RECENTLY RETURNED FROM A PROTRACTED STAY THERE, MAY BE CONNECTED
WITH THE FORMATION OF THIS COMMITTEE,
4. THE OFFER OF RICE AND CLOTHING IS UNDOUBTEDLY A MAJOR MOVÉ
BY THE AUTHORITIES IN CHINA TO DEMONSTRATE TO LOCAL COMMUNISTS,
THE POPULATION OF THE COLONY AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT THAT
CHINA STILL SUPPORTS THE CONFRONTATION STRUGGLE. IT WILL, OF
COURSE, ALSO SERVE AS VALUABLE PROPAGANDA MATERIAL TO BOOST
THE MORALE OF COMMUNIST RANK AND FILE, AND THE INITIAL STAGES
OF A MAJOR CAMPAIGN ARE NOW, UNDER WAY IN AN ATTEMPT TO FORCE
GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW THE IMPORTATION OF THE RICE OUTSIDE THE
QUOTA AND NORMAL CHANNELS. IT IS NOT YET CLEAR WHETHER THE
KWANGTUNG AUTHORITIES WILL ACCEPT THE F.T.U. PROPOSAL THAT OFFICIALS
SHOULD BE SENT TO SUPERVISE ANY DISTRIBUTION, BUT SHOULD THEY
DO SO THIS COULD PRESENT PROBLEMS FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
FO PLEASE PASS WASHINGTON AS MY TELNO 17 AND CANBERRA AS MY TELNO 10.
SIR D. TRENCH
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED] [ADVANCE COPY TO CABINET OFFICE]
FILES
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
C.O. HONG KONG DEPT.
I. & G. DEPT.
F.E. & P.D.
J.I.P.G.D.
J.I.R.D.
SIR A. GALSWORTHY
MR. HALL
P.S. TO MINISTER OF STATE (LORD SHEPHERD)
F.O. FAR EASTERN DEPT.
O.L.A.
O.P.A.
MR. WILKINSON
SECRET