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4. THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA
TRENDS OVER THE PERIOD. THE COMMUNIST PRESS CONTINUED TO BE
MILDLY CRITICAL OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FOR ITS POLICY OF
·MAINTAINING WATER RESTRICTIONS DESPITE INCREASED SUPPLIES FROM
CHINA.
KUOMINTANG.
5. AS EXPECTED, THE KUOMINTANG DOUBLE TENTH CELEBRATIONS TOOK
PLACE WITHOUT SERIOUS INCIDENT. DECORATIONS WERE ON MUCH THE SAME
SCALE AS LAST YEAR ALTHOUGH THERE APPEARED TO BE A GREATER NUMBER
OF FLAGS IN EVIDENCE. FUNCTIONS FOLLOWED THE USUAL PATTERN AND
THE MAJOR THEMES OF THE SPEECHES RELATED TO THE DEFECTION
OF THE CHINESE PILOT TO TAIWAN AND CRITICISM OF CHINA WITH A USUAL
CALL FOR PREPARATIONS TO RECOVER THE MAINLAND'. FUNCTIONS TO
MARK THE BBIRTHDAY OF THE LATE PRESIDENT CHIANG KAI-SHEK ON 31
OCTOBER PASSED WITHOUT INCIDENT.
ECONOMY AND LABOUR
6. INTEREST DURING THE MONTTH HAS CONCENTRATED ON NEGOTIATIONS IN
BRUSSELS OVER IMPORTS OF TEXTILES FROM HONG KONG. SOME
DISSATISFACTION HAS BEEN EXPRESSED IN PUBLIC AND IN THE PRESS ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS IN RECENT DEVELOPMENTS FOR THE HONG KONG ECONOMY
AND THE UK ROLE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS.
EDUCATION
7. THE DISPUTE OVER THE 'SURPLUS TEACHERS'' ISSUE CONTINUED
(PARA 5 OF THE ASSESSMENT FOR SEPTEMBER), WITH THE GOVERNMENT
SCHOOL NON-GRADUATE TEACHERS UNION CARRYING OUT A POSTER
CAMPAIGN TO PUBLICISE ITS DEMANDS FOR DIRECT NEGOTIATING STATUS,
THE UNION ALSO PREPARED A SIGNATURE PETITION AND SET UP A FUND
TO MEET THE COSTS OF ANY FUTURE LEGAL ACTION. THERE IS NO
EVIDENCE OF ANY POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE DISPUTE, ALTHOUGH
THE COMMUNIST-CONTROLLED HONG KONG FEDERATION OF EDUCATIONAL
WORKERS HAS EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE UNION. OVER 700 GOVERNMENT
PRIMARY TEACHERS HAVE SO FAR SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS FOR INTER-
DEPARTMENTAL TRANSFERS, OF WHICH SOME 200 HAVE SO FAR BEEN APPROVED, DESPITE A UNION STATEMENT URGING MEMBERS NOT TO TAKE
SUCH ACTION.
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