CONFIDENTIAL
Ref.: GEN/9/39/2
Dissident Expatriates
Special Branch, Royal Hong Kong Police.
14th October, 1970.
Their Effect
Upon Youth in Hong Kong
THE
It was not until the early 1960s that there was any noticeable
interest in social and political affairs amongst the youth in Hong Kong.
This interest developed slowly culminating in the 1966 disturbances which
were largely instigated by young people. One result of these disturbances
was a realisation by many of the student leaders that demonstrations in
the overcrowded conditions and peculiar political circumstances which
obtain in Hong Kong were always likely to get out of control and Government
was not therefore prepared to tolerate them. This realisation was reinforced
by the developments of 1967 and 1968 and consequently, although youth and
particularly students in post-secondary colleges, have been taking an
increasing interest in both local social problems and international affairs
they have done so largely through legal and constitutional channels, a
trend which the Hong Kong Government seeks to encourage. However, the
majority of students in Hong Kong are still primarily interested in
obtaining their academic qualifications and take little part in political
discussions or activities.
2.
There have been, for years, exchange students and lecturers
from the United States and Europe attending post-secondary colleges in
Hong Kong. Since the establishment of the Chinese University their numbers
have increased and over the past two years groups of them have sought to
CONFIDENTIAL
/encourage......