0003230
3
G.F. 323
CONFIDENTIAL
Summary
i. The communists are still continuing their campaign of opposition to the
Government though the phase of violence now appears to be over.
2. In June the removal by the Administration of inflammatory posters caused
numerous incidents and stoppages of work.
This was
3. The communists declared a 'general strike' on the 24th June.
entirely a political manoeuvre and did not arise from industrial disputes.
It had some success particularly among the transport companies but it did
not succeed in causing serious disruption.
4. The 'general strike' was followed by a four-day 'food stoppage' at the
end of June and a boycott of the port on 17th July. No major disruptions
resulted from either.
5.
On 8th July a mob attacked a Police post near the border with China. Five
Police officers were killed and eleven injured. The post was relieved by army
units. Encouraged by this incident, which was interpreted as military support
for confrontation by the C.P.G. (which it was not) the communists staged
widespread demonstrations and violence in the streets of Victoria and Kowloon.
6. From the 12th July onwards the Police mounted successive raids on
communist centres, seizing stocks of weapons and subversive literature and
disorganising communist leadership. As a result communist action noticeably
decreased and was virtually confined to the planting of bombs. On Christmas
Day bomb attacks also ceased.
7. Children from communist schools in the Colony were increasingly employed
in confrontation. A school that was being used as a centre for manufacturing
bombs was closed in November.
8. There was a severe drought during the summer. Water supplied from China
by agreement was turned on at the due date (1st October) but there was a
possibility that it might be cut off. Given average rainfall the Colony's
own resources are sufficient to continue to provide an adequate, though
rationed, supply.
9.
The C.P.G. continued to issue protests following confrontation incidents.
In August the British Embassy was sacked in retaliation for the arrest in
Hong Kong of N.C.N.A. reporters and the suppression of pro-communist newspapers.
It was, however, increasingly plain that the C.P.G. was not prepared to
intervene directly in Hong Kong.
CONFIDENTIAL
12.