SECRET
CUPY 29
CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NO. 892
RECEIVED IN
TO COMMONWEALTH OF ARCHIVES No. 6.
15 JULY 19 68
16 JUL1968
HWB13/4
N
SECRET.
FOLLOWING RECEIVED FROM HONG KONG.
ADDRESSED CO TELNO 892 OF 15 JULY RFI PA SINGAPORE WASHINGTON
HC CANBERRA AND SAVING PEKING,
FOR COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AND CABINET OFFICE FOR JIC. FOLLOWING FROM
LIC. WEEKLY ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION AS AT 0600 15TH JULY
FOLLOWS. THE PRINCIPAL FEATURES OF THE PERIOD HAVE BEEN:
A) A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DELEGATIONS, 11 TO GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND 10 TO COMPANY OFFICES: 13 WERE CONCERNED WITH
REINSTATEMENT.
י
B) AN ANOUNCEMENT BY THE MAJOR COMMUNIST TRANSPORTATION UNION THAT HALF THE KOWLOON BUS COMPANY 'STRIKERS' SHOULD NOW ACCEPT ALTERN- ATIVE EMPLOYMENT AND SUBSIDISE THE REMAINING HALF WHO WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK REINSTATEMENT (PARA-1(B) OF TELEGRAM 864). THIS HAS RESULTED IN SERIOUS DISSATISFACTION AMONG UNION MEMBERS. MEMBERS OF 2 MAJOR GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES' UNIONS AND THE DOCKYARD WORKERS' UNION'S HAVE EXPRESSED FURTHER CONCERN OVER THE DIFFICULTY OF OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT.
C) CONTINUED PREPARATIONS IN ALL LOCAL COMMUNIST COMMERCIAL CIRCLES FOR NATIONAL DAY (1ST OCTOBER) CELEBRATIONS: PRESENT PLANS CALL FOR FUNCTIONS TO BE ON A LARGER SCALE THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS. D) AN ANNOUNCMENT AT A SENIOR STAFF MEETING OF THE CHINA TRAVEL SERVICE THAT BUSINESS WAS ONLY ONE THIRD OF THAT ACHIEVED IN 1967 AND THAT A LOCAL HOTEL OWNED BY C T S WAS LOSING DOLLARS 15,000 A MONTH. AT THE MEETING SENIOR OFFICIALS WERE. UNABLE TO AGREE ON METHODS OF IMPROVING BUSINESS: INDEED IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW THEY CAN BECAUSE OF THE PRESENT CONDITIONS IN CHINA AND PARTICUL- ARLY IN KWANGTUNG.
(E) ANNOUNCEMENTS
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p.a.
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