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further attempts to attract more students including the establishment of
new schools and Branches. The emphasis placed on this sphere in the
Peking directive speaks for itself, and gives some cause for concern.
25.
While the Peking directive is followed there is unlikely to be
any resumption of violent communist activity in the Colony. However,
spontaneous incidents can still occur and could lead to some violent
reaction from local communist supporters. It is unlikely, but not
impossible, that a situation could be reached where once again local
communist leaders, and perhaps Peking, might be forced to support a more
violent opposition to the Hong Kong Government. As always, events in
China will dictate the nature and extent of communist activities within
the Colony and any major upheaval in Peking could well cause an abrupt
change of communist policy in Hong Kong.
26.
The tactics outlined in paragraphs 21 to 24, although containing
little that is new, will continue to present a long term and insidious
threat to the Government.
Conclusions
27.
Following the initiation of a policy of non-violent struggle, the
communists' efforts to widen their base of support among the population of
the Colony, since the beginning of 1968, have been largely unsuccessful and
morale within their own ranks has remained low. Only in the field of
education have they made any real progress. The most recent directive from
Peking indicates clearly that the communists in Hong Kong must continue to
confine themselves to a political campaign which will not interfere with the
progress of Sino-British relations. The drive to win the support of the
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