TOP SECRET
-8-
opposed have certainly conflicted with each other. For example, last
year they were quoted in support of violence, while at present they are
being cited to support the 'peaceful' conduct of confrontation.
13.
In general terms, therefore, it appears that the communists have
made little headway in their peaceful struggle by way of a local United
Front campaign, and are still in the isolated position in which they found
themselves at the beginning of the year.
Communist Policy
14.
In December, 1967, local communists had received a broad policy
directive from China which called for a halt to violence and the initiation
of a long term 'political' struggle against the Hong Kong Government;
based on the intensified study of MAO's works. This policy was quickly
implemented, planned violence has not occurred since then, and the
communists have restricted themselves to political anti-government campaigns.
15.
In the Spring of 1968 secret and delicate sources provided a
number of indications of the extent to which this new policy was affecting
the general course of communist activity in the Colony, and the attitude of
senior local communists towards confrontation with the Hong Kong Government.
During a private discussion attended by a Deputy Director of the local Branch
of the New China News Agency it was emphasized that conditions in Hong Kong
were very different to those in China and therefore different policies and
tactics must apply in the Colony. The senior communist in publishing
circles stressed to his subordinates the need to be 'flexible' in their
attempts to propagate MAO's Thoughts and cautioned them to cultivate the
'masses' slowly. At a subsequent meeting he provided some confirmation
TOP SECRET
earlier
miku