CYPHER CAT A
IMMEDIATE FROM HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NO 2146
SECRET
TOP COPY
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
4 NOVEMBER 1968
pa.
$55/11
HR
SECRET.
ADDRESSED FCO AS MY TELEGRAM NO. 2146 DATED 4TH NOVEMBER REPEATED
FOR INFORMATION TO 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. WEEKLY ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION AS AT 06.00
HOURS 4TH NOVEMBER 1968 FOLLOWS.
THE PRINCIPAL FEATURES OF THE PERIOD HAVE BEEN:-
(A) CONTINUING COMMUNIST PRESS EXPLOITATION OF THE LABOUR DISPUTE
BETWEEN BLIND WORKERS AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND
(PARAGRAPH 1(A) OF TELEGRAM 2123) SEMICOLON AT THE WEEK'S END THE
COVERNMENT SPONSORED NEGOTIATIONS APPEARED TO BE MAKING SOME PROGRESS
(B) THE INTERCEPTION OF A U.S. FREIGHTER BY TWO C.P.G. GUNBOATS IN
CHINESE WATERS SOUTH OF THE COLONY SEMICOLON ALTHOUGH FLARES WERE
FIREDAND THE VESSEL ORDERED TO STOP NO ACTION WAS TAKEN WHEN THE
VESSEL PROCEEDED INTO HONG KONG WITHOUT COMPLYING WITH THEIR ORDERS
(WASHINGTON TELEGRAM 3181).
(C) SERIOUS INJURY TO A CHILD WHEN A BOTTLE WHICH HE FOUND ON WASTE
GROUND IN A NEW SUBURB EXPLODED IN HIS HANDS SEMICOLON THERE IS NO
EVIDENCE TO AS YET SUGGEST THAT THIS INCIDENT WAS POLITICALLY
MOTIVATED SEMICOLON IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE DEVICE HAD BEEN LYING
AROUND SINCE LAST YEAR'S DISTURBANCES. CNE 'HOAX' BOMB WAS ALSO FOUND
AND DISPOSED OF DURING THE PERIOD.
(D) FURTHER INTENSIVE PRESSURE TO FIND WORK ON THE REMAINING
UNEMPLOYED STRIKERS', THE MAJORITY OF THEM FORMER TRANSPORT WORKERS
SEMICOLON THE MORALE OF STRIKERS' REMAINS LOW. THERE ARE SOME
INDICATIONS THAT A FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN IS BEING LAUNCHED IN
COMMUNIST CIRCLES TO PROVIDE CASH TO MEET INDIVIDUAL CASES
LAST
REF.
LEAT
REF.
7
SECRET
/OF HARDSHIP