and 10 dollars for San Po Kong. Conditions of employment are those
introduced by management on 13 April and which gave rise to original
dispute.
5.
Two out of 15 workers referred to in paragraph 4 of my telegram under
reference have collected wages plus one month's wages as severance pay
in accordance with terms of settlement.
Green Island Cement Company Limited.
6.
Peaceful picketing
No significant developments, continues. Number of workers who have
collected severance pay and gratuities has risen from 80 to 100. Local
Kai Fong (Street Association) is attempting to mediate.
General.
+
7.
Apart from series of kon strikes in support of Communists with no
industrial content, no other major disputes have been reported.
(Passed to D.S.A.0. for F.E. Dept. and Private Office (Commonwealth
offi.
CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL
- Mr. Hann
Major Koe
Mr. J.A.B. Darlington
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
En clair
D. 25 May, R. 25
1967.
0958Z
R117
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31
30 MAY 1967
F011
88
PRIORITY No. 702.
Addressed to Commonwealth Office (D.T.D.)
Repeated
H
FI
Peking No.270
Washington No.143
(S. of 3. please pass Washington)
Hong Kong Disturbances.
Tone of pro-communist press for 25 May
is rather less militant and more defensive. Much of front page of both
main papers is devoted to Peking news not connected with Hong Kong. "Wen
Wei Po" editorial attacks Government for using new "fascist" regulations
for suppression of struggle and emphasises unity of workers in carrying
out struggle to the end. A good deal of space is devoted to debunking
news items aimed at showing support of local population for Government,
(Passed as requested and advance copies to
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and Wilson)
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Hr. Henn
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Cypher
SECRET
OUTWARD TELEGRAN
FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
TO HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
Sent 25 May, 1967. 1230Z
にいつ
RECEIVER
ARCHIVES No.5 +
30 MAY 1967
FOI/I
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FLASH SECRET No. 1038.
-3-h
89
Addressed to Governor Hong Kong.
Repeated PRIORITY for information to Peking.
#
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86
" POLAD Singapore. "Washington.
Your telegrams 677 and 691.
From Commonwealth Secretary.
Disturbances,
I have now consulted my colleagues and we agree with you that the key to
the situation is the maintenance of public confidence and police morale.
I would like to congratulate you and your staff and particularly the
police force on your success in holding and keeping on top of the
situation. On this I am sending you a separate message which you can
make public.
2.
We agree our policy must be to continue to deal firmly and fairly with
any disorders which the Communista may try to instigate.
3. We also agree that action should be taken about selected Communist
leaders so as to disrupt their campaign but have some doubts about your
being able physically to deport them. We are advised that they might
well not be accepted at the border, and that therefore we might lose
face. But we must rely upon your judgment to weigh up the various
factors here. say this weapon should not be used lightly and I assume
that you would begin with only two or three key leaders at a time. You
have authority to go ahead if the situation deteriorates but please keep
me informed of any action you take,
As you
4. We also agree that if the Communist presa continueB to carry out or
step up the campaign of sedition and intimidation you should use your
emergency regulations to close down the printing presses. I would,
however, wish to be consulted before any action is actually taken.
5. With reference to paragraph 1 of your telegram 691, it is appreciated
that any decisions on action against the N.C.N.A. must fully take into
account the position in Hong Kong.
SECRET
16.
SECRET
6. I agree with views expressed in paragraphs 2 and 3. We had already
thought of taking up with the Americane a reduction of their use of Hong
Kong on the lines you suggest and this will be pursued.
7. It was not in any case intended to make any announcement about the
decision to withdraw a major unit (your paragraph 7) till later in the
year and, prior to your present troubles, the position was to have been
reviewed in June in the light of the situation in China.
The return of Parliament next week will give me an opportunity to make a
statement on the situation in Hong Kong and to report H.M.G.'s support
for the Hong Kong Government's measures to maintain law and order and of
our determination to stay in Hong Kong.
9. We naturally hope that a show of firmness in maintaining law and
order will not lead to an all-out confrontation with the C.P,0. We
ought, however, to be prepared for this possibility and I am sure that
you have already planned how you would meet it. I expect Galsworthy can
tell me about your contingency planning on his return.
10. Your telegram No. 698 has just been received. Please do not at
present say anything publicly about your intention to go on leave as
this may cause loss of confidence just when the situation seems to be
improving, paragraph 4 of your telegram refers.
(Passed to D.S.A.0. for repetition to Peking,
POLAD Singapore and Washington)
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SECRET
SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
117 86
30 MAY 1967
FO
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D. 24 May 1967 R. 24
#t
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ра
No.691
Addressed to Commonwealth Office (D.T.D. Repeated FRIORITY to: Peking
No.263
POLAD Singapore No.128 Washington No.139
(S. of S. please paus
(all)
سلام
82
action.
I.
My telegram No.680 (not repeated).
Following from Galsworthy.
Following is summary of our views on possible future
International Aspecte
1. Any deterioration in our relations with Peking runs the risk of
adversely affecting the situation over Hong Kong. We therefore again
strongly advise no action be taken against N.C.N.A. in London (Hong Kong
telegram No.682).
2. Providing we hold on successfully in Hong Kong and the Communist
campaign slackens, it may well eventually become necessary to offer
Peking some way out which they at least can clain sayes their face as a
means of terminating the whole incident. This, however, we should only
do from a position of strength. The enormous difficulty is to find
anything suitable to offer as a face-saving gesture and then to find a
means of "offering" it, without giving Peking the idea that we are
weakening. This would lead to further demands, which we would find it
increasingly difficult to resist as did the Portuguese in Kacao.
3. The Governor is considering whether there is anything local which
could be used in this way. Another possible course la as follows. It
would in any case be helpful if we could work out with the Americans a
reduction of their use of Hong Kong for the rest and recreation of their
armed forces. As regards naval visits, could these for example be
restricted as a general rule to small units, with only occasional and
well-spaced visits by major unite? If we could establish such a
position, while there could clearly be no question whatsoever of our
"negotiating" over this with Peking, it might nonetheless be possible
for them to claim it as a success. We would not of course admit this. We
reclise the difficulties, but feel it is worth considering.
II.
Internal Aspects
4. The maintenance of law and order here, which is obviously the first
essential, seems to us to require that the Governor should be authorised
to deport (and failing that detain) selected Communist leaders, if the
situation deteriorates to the point of demanding it (see his telegram
No.677).
SECLFT
15.
SECRET
5. Although the Governor is reluctant to take measures against the Press
(see paragraph 4 of his telegram No.677), Emergency Regulations have
been approved by Executive Council, but not yet made, providing powers
for dealing with inflammatory posters in public places and for the
temporary closing down if necessary of printing pres808. We agree t if a
stage is reached at which action against the Communis press has to be
considered, this would be a much swifter and more effective method of
action than prosecuting them through the Courts. If there were a
substantial deterioration in the present situation, we might well have
to contemplate action on these lines.
6. The Governor has already been authorised to close selected places if
necessary, by means of closed area orders as proposed in his telegram
No.662 paragraph 3.
This power has not yet been used in view of the present lull.
7. The presence of U.K. military forces in Hong Kong is one of the basic
factors in maintaining public morale, and very directly also the morale
of the Police. It would have a most adverse effect here if it became
known that we intended to withdraw a najor unit. We feel therefore that
this decision should be shelved for the time being.
8. Apart from the suggestion in paragraph 7, probably the most helpful
contribution we can make from London at the present moment is to repeat
H.M.G.'s support for the Hong Kong Government in their measures to
maintain law and order; and to do this in a way which will convince
people here that we intend to stay in Hong Kong.
(Passed as requested and advance copies to
Sir Saville Garner, Mr. Wilson and
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- Mr. D. Hawkins
Export Credits Guarantee
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Board of Trade
Mr. C.P. Rawlings Mr. J.A.B. Darlington
Mr. Henn Major Koe K.0.2
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Room 7+63)
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πt
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SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAL
TO THE COM) ONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
85
111783
RECEIVED ARCHIVES Nu.SI
30 MAY 1967
FOY/I
Cypher
D. 24 May 1967
R. 24
1 335Z
ILLEDIATE SECRET No.693
TI
Addressed to Commonwealth office Repeated
Peking No.264
11
L
POLAD Singapore No.129 Washington No.140
за
(5. of 3. please pesa PRIORITY to all)
My telegram No.678.
79
ŝitrep as at 24 2000 hours.
The
The day has again been one of uneasy calm. emphasis has been on
industrial action, mainly in the transport services, with intimidation
playing a substantial part. The threat of effective counter Beasures has
quietened all pro- Communist broadcasting over loud-speakers except from
the Bank of China which was again effectively jamned.
2.
There has been a mainly effective attempt to paralyse public transport
on Hong Kong Island. The Tramvay Company has continued to operate at 50%
efficiency. Only a very few buses of the Dhina Kotor Bus Company were in
operation. In both cases there were reports of successful intimidation.
The pro-Communist faction in the Kowloon kotor Bus Company succeeded in
keeping all buses off the road until 0900; thereafter services were
normal. We do not know what the situation will be tomorrow.
3.
Other developments on the labour front have been a two-hour token strike
by workers in the Hong Kong and Champao Dock Co. Ltd. and continued
Communist intransigence in the Government workshops where repairs on
Police vehicles have virtually ceased. Right-wing and neutral workers
have taken leave. Action to deal with this is under consideration.
4.
There are rumours that the Communiata are putting pressure on their
supporters, sympathisers and those over whom they have some form of
economic control such as small shopkeepers selling mainland goods, to
raise money and support for a major effort in the near future. He can
foresee continued harassment through industrial action such as we have
encountered this week, always with the possibility of a larger scale
series of atrikes. Nevertheless we still do not believe that the
Communists will rik: alienating the whole population by a general strike
or one in any of the major services such as electricity, telephones of
water.
(Passed as requested with advance copies for
Foreign Office F.E. Dept.)
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FLASH SECRET
No.690
SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D: 24 May 1967
D. R, 24
E
1230Z
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31
30 MAY 1967
FD1/1
adopted.
Addressed to Commonwealth Office (D.T.D.) Repeated
it
14
Peking No.262
POLAD Singapore No.127 Washington No.1 38
(S. of S. please pass PRIORITY to all)
My telegram No.680 (not repeated).
Following (for Garner) from Galsworthy.
82
Following is a summary of the measures already
Maintenance of Public Confidence
2. Support of the Government's actions has been remarkably strong and
widespread. Its open expression has been officially encouraged by all
possible means and has been widely publicised through the press, radio
and television. H.M.G.'s clear support has been of very great assistance
in maintaining the momentum of this confidence. As this has been
reiterated and as each new step taken here to maintain order is
announced there has been a further surge in confidence. This has proved
a disconcerting weapon for the Communists and we cannot afford to let it
be blunted.
3. The Information Services Department has issued large quantities of
useful counter-propaganda material against the excesses in the Communist
press and this has been made full use of by the radio and the friendly
press. This is bling on the Communist press which is devoting increasing
space in attempts to defeat it.
The Department has also had marked success in promptly countering all
malicious rumours (e.g. of rice or water shortages, or bank runs) put
about by the Communists,
5. The Labour Department's achievement in obtaining a settlement of the
dispute in the two artificial flower factories (one of which has already
reopened) has had a good effect on confidence. It will continue to
conciliate wherever possible but stoppages of work in present
circumstances tend to be political not industrial and in at least one
case a conciliation officer was driven out by threats of physical
violence.
6. The arrival shortly of H.H.S. BULWARK is likely to have a very good
effect on confidence generally. Primarily, however, confidence depends
on the ability of the police to maintain order.
/Maintenance
SECRET
SECRET
Maintenance of Public Order
7. The Police Force went over to its emergency organisation after the
second violent incident at the artificial flower factory at San Po Kong
on 11 May. The auxiliary police (some 2,400 volunteers) were called out
on the same day. The turnout was 99.5%. The Government Emergency
Control Centre also opened on 11 May.
8. Very great restraint has been exercised throughout. Processions,
assemblies in public places and the sticking of posters on public
buildings, although unauthorised and therefore unlawful, were tolerated
so long as demonstrators remained reasonable despite extreme provocation
of the Police by way of shouted abuse, assault and incitement to
disaffection. It has, however, been necessary because of increasing
rowdiness to prohibit and disperse further unlawful assemblies and
processions since 20 May, although until 22 May parties of 20 were still
permitted to present petitions personally at Government House.
9. Where violence (stone throwing at the Police, hooliganism, and damage
to property etc.) has occurred mini-um force (626 rounds of tear gas,
batons and 329 baton shells) has been successfully used to stop it. No
firearms have been used (except 3 revolver shots wounding one man by a
constable over whom petrol was thrown). It has not been necessary to
call upon any military forces to help maintain order.
10. Generally speaking, disturbances have occurred principally in
North-east and West Kowloon, in the areas of Government House, the
Central District of Victoria, and the Magistrate's Courts. The Emergency
Court's Regulations made on 23 May empower Courts to exclude the public
other than bona fide press representatives. This has been necessary
because chanting and screaming mobs within and around Courts had made
hearings impossible.
11.
The Emergency (Prevention of Inflammatory Speeches) Regulations have
been made today to enable the Police to deal quickly and effectively
with the public address systems which have for some time been operating
from private buildings and blaring forth inflammatory and provocative
Communist propaganda and incitement to violence and disaffection.
Inability to take effective action under the existing law has had a bad
effect on public morale.
12. Disruption of public life by official action has been restricted to
curfews, the temporary diversion of traffic in areas of disturbances and
the temporary closure of some schools. A night curfew was imposed in
parts of Kowloon on the nights of 11, 12, 13, and 18 May and in the
Northern part of Hong Kong Island on 22 May.
13. Total arrests to date have been 788, of whom 42 were released or
acquitted. Of the remainder 439 have been convicted and 307 cases are
pending or unconcluded. Known casualties have been: Police 36,
demonstrators 70. or these two Police and 14 others were admitted to
hospital. Only death has been the bystander killed by a stone.
SECRET
/Other Measures
SECRET
Other Measures
14.
It has not been necessary to call out any units of the (Volunteer)
Essential Services Corps to maintain essential services. Apart from some
stoppages and reduction in land transport services, all public utilities
have continued to function normally. There has been no interruption in
food or water supplies from China; rice stocks are at present good. Food
prices have remained generally steady.