CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NO. 1008.
SECRET.
p.a.
$45 22/8
COP COP:
SECRET
TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
19 AUGUST 1968
Hи
RECEIVED IN
A
ES No. 53
19 AUG./00
13/1 H4047
ADDRESSED TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM NO. 1008 OF 19 AUGUST REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO P A SINGAPORE WASHINGTON CANBERRA AND
SAVING TO PEKING.
FOR COMMONWEALTH AND CABINET OFFICE FOR JIC FOLLOWING FROM LIC.
WEEKLY ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION AS AT 0600 HOURS 19 AUGUST
1968 FOLLOWS. THE PRINCIPAL FEATURES OF THE PERIOD HAVE BEEN: (A) THE DEREGISTRATION OF THE CHUNG WAH SCHOOL ON 14AUGUST SEMICOLON THE OWNER AND EX-SUPERVISOR, WHO IS IN EMERGENCY DETENTION, REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE KEYS OF THE BUILDING WHEN THE DEREGISTRATION NOTICE WAS SERVED. HOWEVER, ON 16 AUGUST HE
AUTHORISED SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES TO COLLECT THEM FROM THE EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT AND ON THE FOLLOWING DAY GROUPS OF STUDENTS, TEACHERS
AND PARENTS VISITED THE PREMISES WHERE THEY WERE SHOWN DAMAGE
ALLEGEDLY CAUSED BY GOVERNMENT WHILST THE SCHOOL WAS CLOSED SEMICOLON 'COMFORT' PARTIES FROM OTHER COMMUNIST SCHOOLS ALSO VISITED THE
BUILDING. ON 18TH AUGUST TWO TEACHERS AND SEVERAL STUDENTS SPENT THE
DAY APPARENTLY CLEANING THE PREMISES. THE MORALE OF THE STUDENTS
REMAINS RELATIVELY HIGH, BUT AT SEVERAL MEETINGS FOLLOWING DEREGISTRATION THE SCHOOL STAFF APPEARED CONFUSED AND CONCERNED
ABOUT THEIR FUTURE AND A SUGGESTION THAT SCHOOL BUSES SHOULD TOUR THE
OLONY TO 'PERPETUATE THE SCHOOL NAME WAS REJECTED BY THE HEAD
TEACHER AS LIKELY TO LEAD TO FURTHER TROUBLE WITH GOVERNMENT. SLOGANS, POSTERS AND LEAFLETS ATTACKING DEREGISTRATION HAVE APPEARED A VARIOUS POINTS IN THE COLONY SEMICOLON ONE POSTER WAS ACCOMPANIED
BY A HOAX BOMB. LOCAL COMMUNIST ORGANISATIONS HAVE HELD PROTEST MEETINGS BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER DEREGISTRATION INCLUDING A WELL
PUBLICISED RALLY AT THE CHINESE GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ON 12TH AUGUST ATTENDED BY LOCAL LEADING COMMUNISTS. (PARAGRAPH 1(A) OF TELEGRAM NO. 983). UNTIL THE WEEKEND THE ONLY NEW THEME INTROD-
UCED BY THE COMMUNIST PRESS CENTRED ON ALLEGATIONS OF DAMAGE TO
/THE
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