BACKGROUND
CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG
Japanese Attitude towards Hong Kong
At the time of the 1967 disturbances in the Colony, the Japanese press expressed some doubts as to whether we could main-
At one tain our position in the face of Chinese hostility. stage, it appeared that the Japanese Foreign Ministry advised
but this advice was Japanese nationals not to visit Hong Kong;
later withdrawn. It is to be hoped that Japanese doubts have
been put at rest now that violence has ceased and the high rate
of economic growth has been resumed. Certainly Japanese
investors in the Colony do not seem to show any lack of
confidence in its future.
Present Situation
2. There has been virtually no violence in Hong Kong since the
cessation of the disturbances there at the end of 1967. It is
clear that the Communist campaign of violence, which completely
failed to achieve its ends, has been replaced by a long term
ideological struggle to win the support of the general public.
The local Communist leadership has undoubtedly received
directives from Peking instructing them to avoid open clashes
with the Hong Kong authorities. There have as yet been no signs
that this communist non-violent long term campaign is achieving
any success; but neither are there any indications that the
CONFIDENTIAL
/Communists