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CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NO.313
SECRET.
SECRET
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
22 APRIL 1969.
ADDRESSED FCO TELEGRAM 313 OF 22 APRIL RFI POLAD SINGAPORE,
WASHINGTON, CANBERRA AND SAVING TO PEKING.
FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AND CABINET OFFICE FOR J.1.C.
FOLLOWING FROM L.1.C. ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION AS AT 0600 HOURS
21ST APRIL 1969.
THE PRINCIPAL FEATURES OF THE PERIOD HAVE BEEN :-
(A) A REDUCTION IN THE TEMPO OF LOCAL COMMUNIST CELEBRATIONS MARKING
THE 9TH CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY CONGRESS WITH INTEREST LARGELY
SUSTAINED BY THE COMMUNIST PRESS AND POLITICAL DISCUSSION MEETINGS
BY INDIVIDUAL ORGANISATIONS. LOCAL COMMUNISTS WERE APPARENTLY
SURPRISED BY THE INTERIM COMMUNIQUE ON 14TH APRIL, ANNOUNCING THE
ADOPTION OF THE NEW PARTY CONSTITUTION AND THE POLITICAL REPORT, AS
THEY HAD BEEN EXPECTING A FINAL COMMUNIQUE ALMOST DAILY. THE ANNOUNCE-
MENT GAVE SOME FRESH IMPETUS TO LOCAL PROPAGANDA BUT GENERAL REACTION
HAS BEEN IN A LOW KEY. PLANS FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE CONCLUSION
OF THE CONGRESS, WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO BE SIMILAR TO THOSE HERALDING ITS OPENING, HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE BY A NUMBER OF ORGANISATIONS, AND INSTRUCTIONS THAT THERE MUST BE NO PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS HAVE
BEEN REITERATED BY SENIOR COMMUNIST OFFICIALS.
(B) A CLASH BETWEEN COMMUNIST AGITATORS AND THE POLICE, DURING A CLEARANCE OF ILLEGAL STRUCTURES AT A RESETTLEMENT ESTATE IN WHICH EMPLOYEES OF A COMMUNIST STORE CAUSED MINOR INJURIES TO FIVE POLICE OFFICERS - TWO PERSONS WERE ARRESTED. HEARING OF CHARGES AGAINST
THESE TWO WHO WERE BOTH INJURED IS PENDING, ALTHOUGH THE COMMUNIST
PRESS SEIZED ON THIS INCIDENT FOR PROPAGANDA, EMPLOYEES OF OTHER
/COMMUNIST
SECRET
LD M MY No 51 ADR 1969
HKKB/
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