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HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 313 TO FCO
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3. THE LIMITED EXPLOITATION OF SITUATIONS LIKELY TO WIN PUBLIC SUPPORT AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE, PARTICULARLY PUBLIC TRANSPORT, CRIME, HAWKERS AND RESETTLEMENT PROBLEMS, CONTINUES TO BE A FEATURE OF LOCAL COMMUNIST UNITED FRONT WORK. THE RECENT CLASH BETWEEN POLICE AND EMPLOYEES OF A SMALL COMMUNIST SHOP HIGHLIGHTS
THE POTENTIAL DANGERS OF SUCH TACTICS. NEVERTHELESS, LOCAL COMMUNIST LEADERS ARE MAINTAINING A GENERALLY FIRM CONTROL OVER THEIR SUBORDINATES AND HAVE ONCE AGAIN EMPHASISED THE LONG TERM NATURE OF THE HONG KONG STRUGGLE AND THE NEED TO ADAPT COMMUNIST ACTIVITY TO MEET LOCAL CONDITIONS. LOCAL COMMUNISTS HAVE ALSO BEEN WARNED NOT TO BE TOO RED IN PUBLIC AND AGAIN URGED TO INTENSIFY THE UNITED FRONT CAMPAIGN, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON WOOING OVER THE NON- COMMITTED THROUGH A FACADE OF 'SWEET REASONABLENESS''. MORALE IN COMMUNIST UNIONS REMAINS LOW AS THEY CONTINUE TO MEET WITH LITTLE SUCCESS IN THE EFFORTS TO REGAIN THEIR PRE-1967 INFLUENCE IN THE KEY INDUSTRIES OF THE COLONY. THE FINAL PAYMENT OF STRIKE ALLOWANCE, NOW ISSUED ONLY BY THE MAJOR COMMUNIST TRANSPORT UNION, IS DUE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH AND LESS THAN 700 PERSONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE ANY PAYMENT.
A HIGH LEVEL OF POLITICAL INDOCTRINATION CONTINUES IN COMMUNIST SCHOOLS BUT SPECIAL COURSES HAVE BEEN ORGANISED TO IMPROVE THE ACADEMIC STANDARDS OF THOSE SITTING THE GOVERNMENT CHINESE SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION LATER THIS YEAR AND A REVIEW OF THE POLIT- ICAL CONTENT OF TEXT BOOKS IS ALSO NOW UNDER WAY AS A RESULT OF CRITICISM BY SOME PARENTS AND TEACHERS WHO CONSIDER THEY SHOULD NOT BE TOO RED''. COMMUNIST PRESS DAILY CIRCULATION REMAINS STEADY AT JUST OVER 270,930. THERE HAVE BEEN FURTHER RESIGNATIONS AND MORE ARE EXPECTED IN LOCAL COMMUNIST FILM CIRCLES, WHERE TECHNICAL STAFF ARE INCREASINGLY HOSTILE TO CONTINUING IDEOLOGICAL INDOCTRINATION. HOWEVER, COMMUNIST LEADERS ARE REPORTED TO HAVE DECIDED THAT, IN FACT, MORE IDEOLOGICAL TRAINING IS NECESSARY EXCLAMATION MARK PLANS FOR INCREASED PRODUCTION THIS YEAR, WITH LESS POLITICAL CONTENT, ARE GOING AHEAD, AGAIN AIMED AT CAPTURING
/ A WIDE
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