RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No.31
1 4 JAN 1969
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HND
तार
HKIL BR
肌
SECRET
VACYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
ΤΟ
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFIC
TELEGRAM NO. 49
13 JANUARY 1969
11
SECRET
FOLLG RECVD FROM HONG KONG
ADDRESSED F.C.O. TELEGRAM NO 43 OF 13 JANUARY REI POLAD SINGAPORE, WASHINGTON, CANBERRA AND PEKING(SAVING)
FOR F.C.0. AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AND CABINET OFFICE FOR J.1.C. FOLLOWING FROM L.1.C. ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION. AS AT 96.00
HOURS
13TH JANUARY, 1969 FOLLOWS.
THE PRINCIPAL FEATURES OF THE PERIOD HAVE BEEN:
(A) THE END OF THE MAJOR COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN REGARDING PRISONERS AND DETAINEES (PARA 1(A) OF TELEGRAM 2291/68). THE NCNA (PEKING) NEWS RELEASE OF 27 DECEMBER (PEKING TELEGRAM 1138/68), WHICH MANY LOCAL COMMUISTS HAVE INTERPRETED AS A
DEMONSTRATION OF C.P.G. SUPPORT AND AN ASSURANCE THAT GREY
WILL NOT BE RELEASED UNTIL ALL NEWS WORKERS HAVE BEEN FREED, WAS WELL PUBLICISED IN THE LOCAL COMMUNIST PRESS FOR SEVERAL DAYS.
IT WAS THE THEME OF SPEECHES AT A FEW FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING
THOSE HELD TO CELEBRATE THE RELEASE OF PRISONERS AND DETAINEES.
THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT SENIOR LOCAL COMMUNISTS ARE VERY ANXIOUS TO DISCOVER GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL PUBLIC REACTION TO
THE STATEMENT.
WKKI
(B) THE RELEASE OF SIX EMERGENCY DETAINEES SEMICOLON THE ONLY "ONE PLACED UNDER A POLICE SUPERVISION ORDER (TELEGRAM 7) HAS
FAILED TO COMPLY AND IS NOW IN HIDING. THE RELEASES HAVE BEEN
ACCORDED SOME PUBLICITY AND THE SUPERVISION ORDER STRONGLY
CRITICISED IN THE COMMUNIST PRESS AND AT WELCOME PARTIES FOR
OTHER DETAINEES.
1 AST
*=F.
/(c)
PREPARATIONS
ECRET