CONFIDENTIAL
2
bring pressure to bear on the Hong Kong Government to release
other Communist prisoners who are still serving sentences in
Hong Kong for their participation in the disturbances of 1967.
Arrest of Communist Trade Unionista
In July, after several warnings, 23 Communist Trade Union
officials were charged and convicted for holding office while
ineligible to do so. They all refused to pay the fines imposed
on them and were consequently sent to prison for terns varying
from two to three months. Mr. Denson in Peking expressed anxiety
lest this development should have repercussions on Sino-British
relations. However, apart from the expected hostile comment in
the local Communist press there has been no official Chinese
reaction from Peking.
A further Trade Union official, for whose arrest a warrant
had long been outstanding in connection with an offence committed
during the 1967 disturbances, was arrested on 9 August and
subsequently sentenced to nine months imprisonment.
Immigration of Commonwealth Citizens into Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Goverment have announced their intention of
introducing controls over the entry of Commonwealth citizens into
the Colony for the purposes of residence or employment. In future
such persons (with certain exceptions) will require a visa for
entry into Hong Kong. The controls are relatively lenient and
are primarily aimed (although not overtly) at curbing the entry
of unskilled workers from India and Pakistan who have been
entering the Colony in increasing numbers during recent months.
The controls will come into force on 8 September, 1969.
CO FIDE T IAL