98
DECRET
-2-
OVER THE RETURN TO WORK CAMPAIGN. PERMISSION TO DISCHARGE FIREWORKS
ON 1ST OCTOBER (PARAGRAPH 1(C) OF TELEGRAM 1008) WAS REFUSED AND
A LETTER OF PROTEST HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE ALL CIRCLES
PREPARATORY COMMITTEE.
<C> THE DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD AND MONEY TO SOME HUNDREDS OF TYPHOON
VICTIMS, PARTICULARLY IN THE NEW TERRITORIES BY COMMUNIST
ORGANISATIONS WITH EXAGGERATED PUBLICITY IN THE COMMUNIST PRESS
SEMICOLON MANY OF THESE EFFORTS, HOWEVER, WERE FORESTALLED BY
GOVERNMENT RELIEF MEASURES. IN OTHER FIELDS OF UNITED FRONT WORK
COMMUNIST LEADERS HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THE DISTRIBUTION TO NON-
COMMUNISTS OF FREE CINEMA TICKETS FOR A CHINESE DOCUMENTARY
FILM MET WITH LITTLE SUCCESS WHILE POLITICAL INDOCTRINATION AT
A PICNIC ORGANISED FOR HAWKERS WAS VERY POORLY RECEIVED.
(D) THE CONTINUED SMALL NUMBER OF DELEGATIONS SEMICOLON 8
VISITED GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CCHUNG WAH SCHOOL - 3 SEMICOLON
PRISONERS 3 SEMICOLON POLICE ACTION - 22. TWO VISITED COMPANY
OFFICES REGARDING REINSTATEMENT. (IT IS NOT INTENDED TO CONTINUE
REPORTING DELEGATIONS UNLESS SOME SIGNIFICANT TREND DEVELOPS).
(E) AN ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HONG KONG SEAMEN'S UNION THAT 'STRIKE
PAY' WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE END OF OCTOBER. IT SEEMS LIKELY
THAT OTHER UNIONS WILL NOW FOLLOW THIS LEAD AND IN THE MEANTIME
INTENSIFY PRESSURE ON 'STRIKERS' TO OBTAIN WORK OR TO ACCEPT
REDUCED 'STRIKE PAY'. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT DURING AUGUST
APPROXIMATELY 1,000 STRIKERS' OBTAINED ALTERNATIVE EMPLOYMENT
LEAVING SOME 8,000 TO 9.000 STILL WITHOUT ANY PERMANENT JOBS.
TOTAL 'STRIKE PAY FOR AUGUST IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE BEEN
4,051,000 DOLLARS AGAINST 4,796,000 DOLLARS FOR JULY,
(F) ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROPAGANDA IN THE COMMUNIST PRESS WITH THE
CHUNG WAH SCHOOL AND ALLEGED INEFFICIENCY IN DEALING WITH
TYPHOON VICTIMS AND DAMAGE BEING TWO CONTINUING THEMES. MORE SPACE
HAS ALSO BEEN DEVOTED TO PRAISING COMMUNIST EDUCATION GENERALLY
/WITH