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Er. de la Kare Mr. Bolland Mr. Wilson
Mr. Denson
Mr. Foggon
Kr. D. Hawkins
Treasury
Exports Credits Guarantee
Department
Ministry of Defence (D.8.11)
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Mr. C.P. Rawlings
Mr. Henn Major Koe 1.0.2.
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Permanent Under Secretary
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 5,
24 KA: 1:07
FDY!
78
Hong Kong: Governor's Proposed Further
Measures to restore Order
70.
Hong Kong telegram No. 662 attached is self-explanatory.
The Governor proposes two courses of action:
(a) that several of the buildings in Hong Kong
from which the Communist campaign is being
directed should be neutralised.
He would do
this by declaring the area in which they are
situated subject to a 24-hour curfew or,
alternatively, by declaring them closed areas
under the Public Order Ordinance;
(b) to bring the Bulwark on a visit to Hong
Kong. The Bulwark is a light aircraft carrier
and carries commandos and helicopters.
2. The Governor has discussed these proposals with Sir
Arthur Galsworthy of the Commonwealth Office and Mr. Bolland,
the Head of Far Eastern Department, who is also now in Hong
Kong.
They concur. The Commonwealth Office also concur.
The submission which they have put up to their own Ministers
and their draft telegram to Hong Kong are attached.
have sought our views.
Recommendation
They
SECRET
/3. I
SECRET
2
3. I recommend that we also concur.
Copies to: Mr. Rodgers
Sir D. Allen
Private Office
WA. de kukman
(A.J. de la Mare)
22 May, 1967
ривоживой
떡
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Ros
telegram
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sent
day
Blesk.
تا
and
Ja
Je
Recedent
dim jas
23!5
de lag
Mr. de
23/5
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SECRET
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31 |
21967
FAL/I
:
Minister of state
Plazze sce Hong Kong tele roa 622,
The Gov.rmor would like urgent zy, roval of tro courses of, setion.
II Action to neutralice nevurul or the
buildings from which the compaign is being directed, 1,c, notably the
Bank of Chinu and the Communist-controlled Fode.ation of Trade Union
lieudgifiers,
IV
للحن
that 1,5,5, Bulwark, a Commurdo-carrier, equipped with helicopters,
chould visit liong Kong on a "routine visit",
hen the telegram came in this morning I wus le to have a brief word with
ir saville G.FIEF
1 his initial reution wus that these two
cuirson should be approved.. You will noe from 2-otaph 9 of the
tele、eum în-t
Sir Arthur Galsworthy und Mr. Bolland uppce with t.one ruletione und so
coca the Commoner of the
British Forces in Hong Kong,
I have had a brief word with the Hinistry or 2.Ponce, who are urgently
amuidering the function of the availability of H ̧ ̧3. Bulrurk, 1 choll
::100 consult the Foreign Crfice.
I submit the drift of a short tele,rom which
I hope we will be able to clor with the Hinistry of
Letence unu the Forsin tarice this uft.rnoon,
1
(H.P. L"11) 22 by 1>67
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XXXX
عکسن
SECRAT
HÚS KUIG
GOVLAKOR HONG KONG
+
+
POLVD, SINGATESLA PAKILO SASHINATOW
+
Your telegrum No. 662,
Disturbances.
Kinisters approve courses II and IV.
2. On course 11 imposition of curfew might be
preferable to declumtion of closed areas but
inisters leave decision on actuɛl method to you.
En ecurse IV Ministry of Defence are
issuing necessary instructions forthwith.
4.
Contents on other two-coupson will follow
Iuter.
+
+
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INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Information Office)
En Clair
D. 23 May 196 R. 23
21 09Z
PRESS
26
N
ARCHIVES NË 31;
241
Hong Kong Government has decided with immediate effect, no (repeat no)
further public processions or public meetings will be perfitted without
prior authority of Commissioner of Police. In a statement last night,
Government spokesman said although for the past few daya small groups of
petitioners have been permitted to move in procession to Government
House provided they did so in an orderly manner. disorders have
subsequently broken out on each day.
He said any person who in future participates in a procession or nesting
in a public place without prior permission in writing from the
Commissioner of Police will be liable to arrest and prosecution. He
pointed out that individuals who wish to petition the Governor may
continue to do so by post.
Latest police report states the curfew which was imposed on Hong Kong
Island at 6.30 last night is being observed.
Earlier today, police units on riot duty were issued with special
cameras that had been specially fitted with telephoto lens to photograph
people taking part in the illegal gatherings. Government loudspeakers
broadcasting Cantonese music also drowned out message inciting the crowd
which were broadcast from loudspeakers installed in the Bank of China
building.
So far police have arrested 167 people most of them on Hong Kong Island.
Fifteen people have been taken to Queen Mary Hospital where seven,
including one police constable, have been detained for treatment.
All day crowds of "demonstrators" frequently swelled by young hooligans
gathered in various parts of central Hong Kong, blocking traffic and
singing and chanting outside banka and public buildings. Traffic in
central district was also disrupted.
In Kowloon there were a few incidenta.
Another 19 representative organisations have pledged support for
Government's firm determination to maintain peace in Hong Kong. This
brings to 270 the total number of organisations which have so far
publicly stated their support for the authorities.
The education fund for children of junior police officers has now
reached almost 400,000 dollars (repeat dls.400,000) and contributions
from ordinary citizena continue to pour into the collection office at
the Department of Commerce and Industry.
(D.T.D.)
For Boxall, above cable sent Commonwealth Office
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IMMEDIATE SECRET
No. 677.
SECRET
INWARD TELKGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 23 May, 1967. R. 23
H
1005Z
RECEIVED ARCHIVES IN, A
2:
下
For decision bi
780-2577
ро
to Commonwealth office (D.T.D.).
"Peking No. 254.
"P.A. Singapore No. 122.
"Washington No. 133. (Commonwealth office please pass to all).
Addressed Repeated
H
75
Your telegram No. 1001.
Disturbances.
I am most grateful for your very speedy approval of courses ii and iv in
my telegram No. 662. At this morning's meeting of Executive Council
there was full endorsement of both these measures. We hope to be in a
position to implement course il tomorrow (Wednesday).
2. Meanwhile the situation is evolving here. Public opinion is flowing
strongly in our favour, is advocating firm measures on our part, and we
believe that extent of this aupport has perplexed the other side. So far
today has been quiet. The Committee of 17 have been in session most of
the day. They may of course be hatching up something fresh to launch on
us tomorrow, and this may well be simply the lull before the next atore.
3. Executive Council this morning were unanimously of the opinion that
deportation would be the most damaging and effective action we could
take against the Communist leadership. They have authorised me to deport
all or any of a list of 24 persons at my discretion. It is unlikely,
however, that I would wish to deport so many at once and would prefer to
use this weapon more selectively. It is of course a weapon which I would
not propose to use lightly or necessarily very soon: but the need to do
so may arise very quickly. If the Opposition begin tomorrow to act in a
more methodical and cc-ordinated manner it may be necessary to act
promptly to disrupt their leadership. I very much hope therefore that
you will be able to agree to my proceeding on this basis.
4. On Executive Council's advice, I am submitting fairly comprehensive
emergency regulations to Council tomorrow, primarily to assist me to
combat subversive publications such as posters, public address systems
and so on. These regulations will I hope give me better powers to act
against the Communist press than those I have mentioned to you so far
(my present thought is to act against printing works rather than the
newspapers themselves. I am however still reluctant to act against the
press and would not do so without consulting you.
SECRET
/5.
SECRET
5. You will be glad to learn that management of San Po Kong artificial
flower factory has reached agreement, with Labour Department help, with
some 240 of his employees and hopes to reopen factory towards the end of
this week.
6. Above, has been discussed with CBF, Galsworthy and Bolland who agree.
(Passed as requested)
(Also passed to Messrs. de la Mare
and Wilson)
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Cypher
IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 23 May 1967
R. 23
06452
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES N. 51
24 MAY 1967
Jiscured falt Fr Hall Co. of Nared.
ра
Bash
64
CONFIDENTIAL No.668
Following for Hall from Galsworthy.
Labour Situation.
We have had long discussion with Governor and Hetherington (Commissioner
of Labour).
2.
Background here may be briefly summarised as follows:
(a) When Labour Advisory Board met on 11 May to
consider proposed legislation to reduce hours of work for women and
young persons they were completely split employers v. workers
representatives.
-
(b) Events since then have, however, made their
mark on employers, and some at least are likely to be in more receptive
frame of mind.
(c) Governor and Hetherington wish to seize this opportunity to push
things forward as far as possible.
3. We must recognise that action on labour front is extremely unlikely
to have any significant impact on present situation. This is because
Communist-dominated unions are basically disinterested in genuine
industrial issues, except in so far as they can exploit them for
political ends. Indeed, their demand is not for more Government
involvement in labour relations, but precisely the contrary, viz. that
Government should stay out of all labour disputes and leave it to be
settled by direct "struggle" between management and labour on cultural
revolution lines. And less than 12% of total working force of about 1.5
million are declared members of trade unions (100,000 favouring the
Communist F.T.U., 40,000 the right-wing 1.U.C. and 30,000 neutrals).
Paid up membership is smaller (% of labour force), but there are of
course other strong reasons for proceeding as in paragraph 2(c).
4. As regarde hours of work for women and young persons, the best of the
workers' representatives on the Labour Advisory Board suggested that the
approach should be to introduce a 48 hour week, but to permit overtime
up to 12 hours a week.
5. If acceptable to Ministers, a possible method would be for
legislation to empower Commissioner of Labour (by regulation):
CONFIDENTIAL
/(1)
6.
CONFIDENTIAL
(1) to introduce at once a 48 hour week for
individual industries where this is already the universal practice;
(11) to introduce at once in industries where the 48 hour week is the
common but not the universal practice, a 48 hour week with permissive
overtime of up to 12 hours per week for individual factories;
(111) to work out a phased programme for the reduction
of standard working week for all other industries, with the object of
bringing them all ultimately to 48 hours.
Garment industry would, of course, continue to present a special
difficulty for some time to come; steady pressure would need to be
exerted to achieve goal by set stages under the phased programme.
7. A scheme embodying certain of these features was put to the office
two years ago, and did not meet with a favourable reception. I realise
it has its imperfections; but I believe that in the circumstances of
Hong Kong it provides the most realistic and promising path to progress
(management representatives and Labour Advisory Board are now on record
as accepting the principle of a phased programme) and I hope we could
look at the proposition afresh.
8. Kore generally, Governor feels this is psychologically the right
moment to announce that the Hong Kong Government, with the advice and
assistance of H.M.G. (see below), intends to proceed with a review and
expansion of its labour legislation, on which considerable preliminary
work has already been done (there are about 30 pieces of legislation at
various stages of preparation). This would cover such subjects as:
(a) notification to Commissioner of Labour by any party to a trade
dispute, whether existing or apprehended;
(b) conferring on Commissioner of Labour power, in any trade dispute
existing or apprehended (notified or not notified), to appoint a
conciliation officer to examine the dispute on a good offices basis and
to require the parties involved to send representatives;
(c)
(d)
an examination of legislative safeguards against discrimination;
more precise definition of the law on illegal picketing. Such a review
would no doubt throw up other aspects requiring examination.
9. Governor would welcome expert assistance from us in carrying out this
review. He and Hetherington feel that an expert would need to be lent to
the Hong Kong Government for a period of between six to twelve months.
If it were possible to make available services of Miss Ogilvie for this
purpose, that would be very welcome here. Governor would like the review
to begin as quickly as possible.
CONFIDENTIAL
/10
CONFIDENT LAL
10. It would be most helpful if we could have very quick preliminary
reactions to these ideas, so that, if they look promising, we could try
to take them further here this week. None of this has yet been discussed
with Executive Council.
11.
Please pass copy to Foreign Office for information.
(Passed to Foreign Office
as requested)
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CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COLKONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
RECEIVER
ARCHIVES N 73
24 MAI!
FA
た
En Clair
D. 23 Way
1967
R. 23
01 352
IMMEDIATE No.665
داك
paldaslu
Addressed to Commonwealth Office (D.T.D.)
Repeated
牌
H
Peking No.251
POLAD Singapore No.118
#
Washington No.132
(S. of 3. please pass to Washington)
My telegram No.663.
72
Uneventful night in both Kowloon and Hong Kong.
The curfew in Hong Kong was well observed other than for a short period
in one district where 13 persons were arrested for breach of curfew. No
incidents were reported after 21.00.
2, I have decided that no further public processions or public meetings
will be permitted without the prior authority of the Commissioner of
Police. I have done this to prevent further disorders arising from the
small groups of demonstrators who have been allowed to proceed to
Government House to petition,
3. China Motor Bus Co. employees are refusing to operate vehicles today
and no buses plying at present.
AMBII
on island operating normally and public transport in Kowloon.
No formal strike has been declared and position somewhat confused.
Apparently they demand the release of several C.M.B. employees arrested
earlier before returning to work.
4. The total arrested in the 24 hours ended 08.00 on 23. 5. 67 was 203
out of whom 110 have been charged. Toral of arresta since beginning of
disturbances is 781 of whom 671 have been charged.
(Passed as requested)
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INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONTEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)