SECRET
Hong Kong telegram, No. 38 to Commonwealth Office
2
G. Propaganda emphasis in the Communist Press on the study and application of Mao's Thoughts. Government continued to be denounced for its squatter clearance policy, ill treatment of confrontation prisoners and its failure to acknowledge that devaluation has resulted in a need for wage increases.
H. An unusually high number of illegal immigrants entered the Colony by sea. So far this month 132 have been arrested, all having come in by sea, largely assisted by the North East monsoon. No escapees have entered by land.
2. Limited police action has continued in connexion with the manufacture and storage of bombs. A further caché of explosive material was discovered in the new territories, and bomb manufacturing equipment together with 39 home made bombs were seized during a raid on a private flat in Kowloon. There were no arrests in connexion with these seizures.
3.
Although controls on the land frontier remain effective, the increase in the number of illegal immigrants coming in by sea may reflect disturbed conditions and relaxed authority in the Maritime areas of Kwang tung east of Hong Kong. However, it may also be that illegal immigrants are becoming encouraged by the spread of the knowledge that the Hong Kong Government has not recently repatriated any illegal immigrants.
40
The disturbed conditions in Kwangtung Province continue to be a matter of concern.
The
5. Whilst the Communist Trade Union movement continues to concentrate its efforts on agitation for wage increases, Union officials realize that there is a need for greater support from workers still in employment before they can hope for any success in this direction. current attempts to approach those workers who did not join the work stoppages last year have not, so far, been well received and these could lead to clashes. The reappearance of several local Communist leaders who have been in hiding for many months, shows a returning confidence on the part of the Communist hierarchy and indicates that attempts are being made to reimpose the pre-confrontation control structure. Meanwhile the policy of non-violence, which has now been dessimated throughout all major spheres of Communist influence, is still being followed, even by the more militant supporters of confrontation.
Foreign Office pass Washington 5 and Canberra 3.
Sir D. Trench
[Repeated as requested]
FILES
C.O. H.K.D.
F.0.
QQQQQ
I. & G.D.
F.E.P.D.
Sir A. Galsworthy
Mr. Hall
F.E.D.
Mr. Wilkinson
O.L.A.
O.P.A.
J.I.R.D.
J.I.P.G.D.
SECRET
ADVANCE COPIES SENT