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OFFICIALS OF THIS UNION WHO WERE 'STRIKERS' IN 1967. THIS ACTION APPEARS TO FOLLOW GOVERNMENT WARNINGS TO FOUR OTHER UNIONS ABOUT THE ELECTION OF INELIGIBLE OFFICE-BEARERS, WHICH HAVE SO FAR BEEN IGNORED -RESULTING IN THE SETTING IN MOTION OF A COURT PROSECUTION AGAINST OFFICIALS OF ONE OF THEM. THE OUTCOME OF THIS COURT CASE WILL HAVE A DIRECT EFFECT ON THE MANNER IN WHICH OTHER UNIONS COMPLY WITH THE LAW, BUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE DOCK WORKERS' UNION SUGGESTS THAT AT LEAST SOME OF THESE ORGANISATIONS MAY WISH TO AVOID A DIRECT CLASH WITH, GOVERNMENT ON THIS ISSUE.
(E) THE RELEASE UNDER POLICE SUPERVISION OF THE LAST TWO DETAINEES, BOTH MILITANTS FROM THE RURAL AREAS (SEE TELEGRAM 376). THIS WAS GIVEN SOME PUBLICITY IN THE LOCAL COMMUNIST PRESS AND DELEGATIONS TO GOVERNMENT OFFICES PROTESTED AGAINST THEIR SUPERVISION ORDERS WITH WHICH THEY HAVE SINCE NOT COMPLIED. A TOTAL OF FIVE EX-DETAINEES ARE NOW WANTED FOR SUPERVISION ORDER OFFENCES. THE REDUCTION OF HKKI SENTENCES ON CERTAIN LONG-TERM PRISONERS ANNOUNCED ON 9 MAY (SEE
TELEGRAMS 349 AND 374) WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY IGNORED BY THE COMMUNIST PRESS ALTHOUGH IT GAVE RISE TO WIDESPREAD SPECULATION IN ALL OTHER
NEWSPAPEERS.
(F) IN DEEP BAY ON 6 MAY THERE WAS A MEETING BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES
OF SHA TSENG COMMUNE AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REGARDING THE OYSTER BED DISPUTE (SEE TELEGRAM 354 PARA 1(H)) DURING WHICH C.T. PERSONNEL RAISED A NUMBER OF POINTS REGARDING A CLEARER DEFINITION OF THE AREAS OF THE OYSTER BEDS, COMPENSATION FOR THEFTS AND THE GENERAL ENFORCE- MENT OF LAW AND ORDER IN THE AREA. A FULL WRITTEN REPLY TO THE
VARIOUS POINTS RAISED IS NOW AWAITING COLLECTION BY THE C.T. REP-
RESENTATIVES. MEANWHILE THE AREA HAS REMAINED QUIET.
(G) THE SHOOTING IN C.T. NEAR LO WU BY C.P.G. BORDER GUARDS OF A° CHINESE WOMAN, APPARENTLY ATTEMPTING TO EMIGRATE ILLEGALLY. THERE WERE ALSO TWO MINOR STONING INCIDENTS AT THE BORDER IN WHICH THREE MEN AND SEVERAL CHILDREN THREW STONES AT BRITISH MILITARY PERSONNEL. NO INJURIES. A MEMBER OF THE CREW OF A HONG KONG FISHING JUNK WAS SHOT DEAD BY THE CREW OF A CHINESE VESSEL WHEN THE FORMER APPARENTLY IGNORED AN ORDER TO HEAVE-TO WHILST FISHING SOME 130 MILES SOUTH WEST
6.6 OF THE COLONY (SEE TELEGRAMS 399 AND 400).
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