SECRET
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 484 TO FCO
-3-
2.
POLITICAL STUDY CONTINUES TO BE THE MAJOR PREOCCUPATION
IN LOCAL COMMUNIST CIRCLES ALTHOUGH COMMUNISTS ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY
IN MAINTAINING INTEREST AMONG RANK AND FILE SUPPORTERRS. THE 'PUBLIC
APPEARANCE OF THE TRANSPORT UNION'S PROPAGANDA TEAMS WAS
UNOBTRUSIVE BUT REPRESENTS A DEPARTURE FROM CURRENT COMMUNIST
POLICY REGARDING ACTIVITY IN THE STREETS. HOWEVER, THE ABSENCE
OF ANY FURTHER SIMILAR GATHERING MAY INDICATE THAT THIS WAS AN
ISOLATED UNION-SPONSORED MOVE. THE GOOD TREATMENT ACCORDED
THE TOURIST WHO INADVERTANTLY CROSSED INTO C.T. AND HER VERY
EARLY RETURN APPEARS TO CONFIRM THAT THE BORDER AUTHORITIES DO
NOT WISH TO INCREASE TENSION IN THE SHA TAU KOK AREA AND THE
CONTINUING IRRITATIONS THERE ARE STILL SEEN AS LOCAL ACTION
BY MILITANT CIVILIANS.
(F C O PLS PASS TO WASHINGTON AND CANBERRA)
SIR D. TRENCH
FILES
H.K.D.
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED] [PASSED TO CABINET OFFICE]
P.U.S.D.
F.E.D.
GUIDANCE D.
CONSULAR D.
O.L.A.
O.P.A.
I.R.D.
I.P.D.
SIR S. TOMLINSON
SIR L. MONSON
MR. WILKINSON.
P.S. TO LORD SHEPHERD MR. PECK
SECRET
ADVANCE COPIES SENT