SECRET
15
TOP COPY
CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TEL NO.179
SECRET.
24 FEBRUARY 1969
ADDRESSED F.C.O. TELNO 179 OF 24 FEBRUARY RFI POLAD SINGAPORE, WASHINGTON, CANBERRA AND SAVING TO PEKING.
FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AND CABINET OFFICE FOR J.I.C. FOLLOWING FROM L.1.C. ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION AS AT
0600 HOURS 24 FEBRUARY 1969 FOLLOWS.
THE PRINCIPAL FEATURES OF THE PERIOD HAVE BEEN:
(A) COMMUNIST EXPLOITATION OF LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVITIES FOR FURTHER DISSEMINATION OF PRO-MAO PROPAGANDA THROUGH NUMEROUS, BUT RELATIVELY SMALL, PICNIC PARTIES SEMICOLON FILM-SHOWS AND
ART EXHIBITIONS. REPRESENTATIVE GROUPS FROM LOCAL COMMUNIST
ORGANISATIONS VISITING CHINA WERE REGALED WITH THE SUCCESSES
OF THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION. EMPHASIS IN SPEECHES WAS ON CHINA'S
SUCCESSES AND THE NEED FOR LOCAL SOLIDARITY SEMICOLON REFERENCES
TO LOCAL CONFRONTATION WERE IN A LOW KEY.
(B) THE RELATIVELY MILD TONE OF ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROPAGANDA IN THE COMMUNIST PRESS, ALTHOUGH DAILY ATTEMPTS TO DISCREDIT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONTINUE. INITIAL PUBLIC DISSATISFACTION
OVER NEWLY INTRODUCED ELECTRICITY TARIFFS HAS PROVIDED THE COMMUNIST
PRESS WITH A FURTHER SUBJECT FOR EXPLOITATION.
ALL, EXCEPT
THE MOST DOCTRINAIRE, LOCAL COMMUNIST NEWSPAPERS ARE NOW PUBLISHING
ADVERTISEMENTS FOR U.S. FILMS AND PRODUCTS.
(C)
THE COMMENCEMENT OF PREPARATIONS TO REDECORATE THE OUTSIDE
OF THE RECENTLY OPENED YU HUA MIDDLE SCHOOL PREMISES. IT IS
INTENDED THAT THE OFFENDING CHUNG WA MIDDLE SCHOOL SIGN
(PARA 1 OF TELEGRAM 157) WILL BE OBLITERATED AT THE SAME TIME, THUS PROVIDING THE SCHOOL AUTHORITIES WITH A FACE-SAVING METHOD OF AVOIDING A DIRECT CHALLENGE TO GOVERNMENT OVER THIS
/ (D) INCREASED
ISSUE.
3T
(14)
SECRET
18