SECRET
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 248 TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
3.
·3-
THE ANTI-SOVIET PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN SEEMS LIKELY TO REMAIN
THE MAJOR PRE-OCCUPATION OF LOCAL COMMUNISTS IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE AND PROVIDES A VALUABLE 'PATRIOTIC FOCAL POINT FOR THEIR
AT THE TTEMPTS TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNIST IMAGE IN THE COLONY. SAME TIME THE ARTS AND CRAFTS EXHIBITION WILL BE USED EXTENSIVELY TO PROPAGATE MAO'S THOUGHTS AND SHOW THE PROGRESS ACHIEVED
IN CHINA. THE NEED TO AVOID OPEN CONFLICT WITH GOVERNMENT CONTINUES
TO BE EMPHASISED IN LOCAL ORGANISATIONS AND WAS ILLUSTRATED
BY THE TRANSPORTATION UNION OFFICIALS' EFFORTS TO DISCOURAGE
ACTIVITY LIKELY TO LEAD TO A FURTHER CLASH WITH POLICE.
4. IN THE LABOUR FIELD THE UNSUCCESSFUL FIRST PHASE OF THE UNIONS'
EFFORTS TO ERASE THE IMAGE GAINED IN THE 1967 'STRIKES'.
POLITICAL INDOCTRINATION IN SCHOOLS CONTINUES AT A HIGH LEVEL
AND THERE HAVE BEEN FURTHER MOVES TO EXPAND THE STUDENT ENROLMENT IN SOME ESTABLISHMENTS. CURRENT EFFORTS TO INCREASE CIRCULATION BY THE COMMUNIST PRESS INCLUDE THE RE-INTRODUCTION OF A RACING
AND BETTING SUPPLEMENT, BY A LEADING NEWSPAPER, WHICH WAS
DISCONTINUED IN 1966.
DAILY CIRCULATION, HOWEVER, REMAINS CONSTANT AT 272,500. COMMUNIST FILM COMPANIES ARE PLANNING A CONSIDERABLE INCREASE IN PRODUCTION DURING THE NEXT FEW MONTHS BUT CONTINUE
TO BE PLAGUED BY SERIOUS FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL SHORTAGES.
IN BANKING AND COMMERCIAL CIRCLES THE EMPHASIS REMAINS ON DEVELOPING BUSINESS. LOCAL INVITATIONS FOR THE CANTON SPRING TRADE FAIR
HAVE NOT YET BEEN ISSUED AND THERE IS NO INDICATION, SO FAR,
THAT THOSE TO LOCAL BRITISH FIRMS WILL BE RESUMED.
FCO PLEASE PASS TO CANBERRA AND WASHINGTON
SIR D. TRENCH
FILES
H.K. DEPT.
P.U.S.D.
F.E.D.
GUIDANCE DEPT.
O.L.A. O.P.A.
I.R.D.
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED] [PASSED TO CABINET OFFICE]
MR. MORETON
SIR A. GALSWORTHY
SIR J. JOHNSTON
P.S. TO LORD SHEPHERD
SECRET
ADVANCE COPIES SENT