#
H
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#
++
= = = =
-
D.I.O., J.I.R. P.8. to Mr. Rodgers Mr. de la Mare
-
Mr. Bolland
Mr. Wilson
Mr. Denson
-
Mr. Foggon
-
-
-
Mr. D. Hawkina
Mr. C.P. Rawlings
Mr. Henn
Major Koe M.Ö.2.
Mr. J.A.B. Darlington
Mr. B.E.P. MacTavish
Mr. P. Sedgwick
Treasury
Export Credits Guarantee
Ministry of Defence
Dept.
H
"
Rm. 7365) Rm. 7163
#
1+
**
Rm. 5131)-
Board of Trade
H
Hong Kong Government Office
(CRE 4)
CONFIDENTIAL
SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (0.A.G.)
Cypher
D. 30 June, 1967.
11152
151
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No.31
1967 الماني
!
+
PRIORITY SECRET
No. 945.
R. 30
Addressed to Commonwealth Office
Н
Repeated
忖
H
Peking No.372 and
POLAD Singapore No.209
Washington No.206
(S. of S. please pass to all)
My telegram No. 891.
Hong Kong Confrontation.
134
FDI1
से
Following is L.I.C. assessment of the situation
as at mid-day 30 June.
(a)
(0)
stra
Principal developments over the past week have been:-
the strike in public transportation, utilities, which spread also to
port facilities and the textile industry. This strike which began
on 24 June, has achieved varying degrees of success in these fields but
there has been no complete disruption in any one area. The buses,
particularly those of the Kowloon Motor Bus Company were worst hit, but
restricted services have been maintained. Gas and electricity supplies
have not been affected despite some absenteeism among labourers. The
ferries were least affected only one route being out. The tram company
was able to keep about half its fleet running. In the harbour, work
continued as usual on ships lying alongside but because of a refusal on
the part of tow boats and lighters to work in mid-stream for fear of
intimidation, delays have occurred in the loading and discharging of
cargo from ships at buoys. Since the 24 June, there has been a slow but
steady trickle of strikers returning to work and it is hoped that this
trend will continue. The majority of the employers concerned, have
dismissed the strikers though, in some cases, they are offering
reinstatement, on a selective basis:
an attempt to call a four-day stoppage commencing on the 29 June of
hakere, livestock dealers, retailers, tradesmen and employees of
commercial organisations who are largely dependent on supplies from
China for their livelihood. To support this strike local communist food
importers have ended food deliveries from China starting on ti. L5 June,
/although
SECRET
SECRET
although it is not clear to what extent this action has the concurrence
of the Kwangtung provincial government authorities. Present indications
are that normal supplies will be resumed at the end of the four day
period but in the interim there will be a shortage of some types of
foodstuffs:
(c) an increase in intimidation of workers who have refused to obey the
call for atrike action. (New emergency legislation has been promulgated
giving Government additional powers to deal with this offence. A number
of arrests have
(a)
(e)
(r)
already been made. These may have a salutary effect):
a stepping up of attacks on isolated bodies of police. In addition to
the incident involving members of the Rubber and Plastic Workers'
General Union (see my telegram No.894), police have been attacked on
three other occasions when arresting persons in connection with
intimidation and posting slogana:
a demonstration by some 500 persons, including a number from Chinese
territory, on the British side of the border at Sha Tau Kok on 24 June,
Following police intervention to break up a procession, another crowd,
also including persons from Chinese territory, attacked the police with
various missiles, surrounded the Sha Tau Kok police post and set fire to
a police vehicle nearby. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd and
it was subsequently alleged that some of the spent cartridges had been
found in Chinese territory, During the incident, border guarde manned
machine gune in Chung Ying Street, China territory, apparently as a
counter measure to two police armoured cars parked near the police post.
They made no attempt to interfere. On 27 June, several anti-British
demonstrations took place in Chinese territory near the border including
two at Lo Mu Bridge, involving several thousand people, one near Lo Fong
village and one at Sha Tau Kok. The crowds were orderly and were
controlled and no incidents occurred:
a speech by Chou En Lai made in Peking on 24 June, in which he referred
to the suppression or Chinese in Hong Kong. The People's Daily of the
same date hailed the strike of 24 June as a "fierce blow dealt by the
workers to the Hong Kong authorities:
(g) a C.P.G. protest Note of 27 June. This Note, which
H.K. Charge d'Affaires in Peking refused to accept, was in violent and
extravagant terms and reiterated the previous demands on the Hong Kong
Government by local communists and Peking. It did not, however, contain
any new threats other than inference that China does not intend to allow
local confrontation to die:
SECRET
/(h)
SECRET
2.
(h)
(1)
(a)
a one day stoppage of scholastic activities by 32 local communist
schools. In fact only three of the schools closed completely whilst the
remainder spent the day holding political studies and memorial services
for workers who had died in the confrontation:
a continuation of the vitriolic anti-British propaganda in the local
left wing press which has made exaggerated claims about the success of
the atrike action undertaken by the communists.
There were several very strong attacks on
His Excellency, immediately prior to, and following his departure from
the colony; and
a continuation of the distribution of
inflammatory leaflets, some of which are being thrown from the topa of
high buildings.
Posters and painted slogans continue to appear on buildings and public
places during the night. These are obliterated by police as soon as they
are discovered. Inflammatory posters and newspaper articles are still
displayed on much the same scale, in the windows and show-cases of
communist controlled premises.
Reliable information shows that the local
communist leaders are disappointed with the support that the strike of
24 June has obtained but feel that now that they are committed, they
must continue with their present course of action. Whilst this strike
has caused some disruption particularly in the bus services available to
the public, the local communisty has shown its usual resilience and
apart from a greater number of people walking to and from work and a
general reduction in the crowds on the streets during the evenings, life
in the community goes on very much as normal. The delays in loading and
off-loading ships in the harbour will, in due course, affect the
commercial life of the colony but it is hoped that over the next few
days there will be some improvement in this area. Increased intimidation
is the only tactic open to the communists if they wish to achieve any
greater success in this strike action but the additional powers granted
by the new legislation should have a deterrent effect.
3.
The interference with the flow of food and other supplies from China,
albeit on a temporary basis, is a new phase of the confrontation. It
seeme improbable that C.P.G. concerns such as Ng Fung Hong and China
Resources Company would become involved in such action without approval
from China, but it is significant that livestock and other food have
continued to arrive at the border, only to be refused by local communist
importers who are doing so on the quite fictitious grounds that no
transport or unloading facilities are available as a result of the
strike. The stoppage is obviously designed to intimidate the local
populace into siding with the communists in the confrontation, by
reminding them how much they are dependent upon China for their food.
However, any prolonged interference with food supplies must have an
adverse effect on China's own economy, at least
SECRET
SECRET
in its foreign exchange position. On the other hand, whilst the colony
can find alternative sources of supply, these apart from the local
farmers and pig-raisers, cannot be tapped at short notice. Consequently
there will be a shortage of some types
of foodstuffs over the next few days resulting in a rise in price of
such food as is available. There are reserves of most easential foods in
the colony, however, and no more inconvenience should be experienced
than during the period of a prolonged typhoon,
4.
There has been continued talk in communist organisations throughout the
week of a mass funeral procession but there is still no evidence that
the communist leadership wish this to take place.
A number of memorial services for workers who have died in the
confrontation have taken place inside individual communist controlled
premises throughout the week and it could be that this will be the limit
of their endeavours in this direction, at least for the time being.
Meanwhile, the bodies of the workers are still in the Government
mortuary.
5.
There have been further indications from reliable sources that the local
communist leadership believe that, to a large extent, they will have to
rely on their own efforts to achieve success in the confrontation. This
appears to be borne out by Chou En Lai's speech and the latest C.P.G.
protest Note both of which were strongly Worded but contained no new
threats. The resuscitation by the C.P.G. of the original demands
indicate that it is not prepared to allow the confrontation to die and
this protest Note will undoubtedly encourage local communists to
continue their struggle but its ain may have been to bring the dispute
on to the normal diplomatic network and thus incidentally to indicate to
the contending parties in Hong Kong that it is basically a matter for
London and Peking to settle. It is notable in any case that, contrary to
the pattern in Macao, no new demands have yet been added to the original
five,
(Passed as requested with advance copies to
Foreign Office (F.E. Dept.) and Commonwealth
Secretary's Private Office.)
Distribution H.K.#.I.D. 'C'
I.G.D.
J.I.G. EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
SECRET
/Copies
SECRET
Copies also sent to:-
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H
I
D.I.O., J.I.R.
P.9. to Mr. Rodgers Mr. de la Mare - Mr. Bolland
Mr. Wilson
怵
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Treasury
情
Ir. Denson
Mr. Foggon
Mr. D. Hawkins
Export Credite Quarantee Dept.
Ministry of Defence
E
H
KỸ. C.P. Rawlings
Rm.7365)
Rm.7163
Rm.5131
tt (CRE 4)
Board of Trade
Hong Kong Government Office
Mr. Hann Major Koe 1.0.2
Mr. J.A.B. Darlington
Mr. B.E.P. MacTavish Mr. P. Sedgwick
SECRET
CONFIDENTIAL
OUTWARD TELEGRAM
FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (O.A.0.)
Cypher D. 3 July, 1967.
1107Z
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No.31
FBUY: 1967 FD1|1
!
4
150
INMEDIATE CONFIDENTIAL No. 956.
Belle
Addressed to Commonwealth office (D.T.D.).
Repeated
"Peking No. 379.
"P.A. Singapore No. 215. "Washington No. 210.
it
**
H
Ħ Canberra. No. 54. (8. of S. please pass
PRIORITY to all).
My telegram No. 948.
SITREP as at 031800.
149
Transport of food from Chiną vaa resumed yesterday Sunday 2nd when
waggons carrying 7,500 pigs and 428 cattle, Hore than a day's supply,
were sent in by rail. Large supplies of pigs, cattle, poultry, fish and
vegetables continued to arrive today by road, rail and sea. Local
supplies of fish and vegetables have been maintained, and the marketa
are rapidly returning to normal. Prices are still slightly high, but are
expected to return to normal after tomorrow.
2. Public transport continues to be restricted. Buses on Hong Kong
Island about 50% of normal, trams about 75%. In Kowloon the bus service
is only about 25% and although this is improving slowly, many drivers
have been discharged, complete rescheduling of routes is necessary and
it will be some weeke before anything approaching a normal service can
be resumed.
3. The port continues to be affected by the strike instigated by the
Coxswains and Engineering Union. This strike is mainly affecting the two
big European managed companies, Hong Kong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown,
and China Provident, because the majority of their lighter crews are
unionised. However, work in the port
is continuing at about 95% of normal by the use of amall firms employing
casual, non-unionised labour. Mainland barges appeared for the first
time this morning since Thursday and this led to a resumption of work
along the waterfront. However, there are reports of further stoppages
being planned.
4. All public utility companies affected by strikes are pursuing a
cautious policy of re-employment involving detailed screening of
applicants making use of police records.
(Passed as requested)
(Advance copies passed to D.8.A.0. for
Messrs de la Mare, Bolland, Wilson and Denson (F.E. Dept.) and to Prive
Office for Commonwealth Secretary).
/Distribution
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
Distribution
H.K. WID TO I.G.D.
J.I.C. External Distribution
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
Copies also sent to:-
P.S. to Prime Minister
Cabinet Office
Foreign Office
Ħ
Ħ
11
tt
*
Treasury
14
= =
H
Export Credits Guarantee Dept. Ministry of Defence Rm. 7365)
17
H
1
1+
Rm. 7163) Rm. 5131
Board of Trade
情
(CRE 4)
Hong Kong Government office
Australia House (Senior External
Affairs Representative) Canada House (Counsellor)
1
D.I.O., J.I.R. P.S. to Mr. Rodgers Mr. de la Mare
Mr. Bolland
Mr. Wilson
Mr. Denson
Mr. Foggon
Mr. D. Harkina
Mr. C.P. Rawlings Mr. Henn Major Koe 1.0.2.
Eг. J.A.B. Darlington kr. B.E.P. MacTavish Mr. P. Sedgwick
Mr. T. Critchley Mr. K. MacLellan
CONFIDENTIAL
FD!!
(149)
SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (0.4.G.)
Cypher D. 1 July, 1967.
R. 1
K117
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIV
31
10552
-3 JUL 1967
FO!/
INMEDIATE SECRET No. 948.
pales
Addressed to Commonwealth office (D.T.D.). Repeated PRIORITY to Peking
No. 373.
计
H
++
Ħ
My telegram No. 930.
SITREP as at 011800.
"P.A. Singapore No. 210. "Washington No. 207.
"Canberra No. 52. (s. of S. please
pass to all),
148)
No goods have been received from China but there have been no serious
shortages of food and prices have begun to go down. Working of ships in
the harbour is improving but there are still hold ups on the Kowloon
wharves. H.M.S. MINERVA has been accused of encroaching into Chinese
waters when carrying out speed trials in the Lamma channel south of Hong
Kong. Three policemen are to be charged in connection with injuries to a
man arrested on 24 June and now in hospital.
2. There has been no sign of any break in the hold up of supplies by
China although there are reports that stocks are coming in by sail to
the border area. Beef and pork prices have begun to drop but the latter
is still scarce despite increased supplies from the New Territories.
Fish landings were unusually high on Thursday and Friday because a storm
warning brought the fleet into harbour. Prices have dropped,
3. Harbour working has continued to improve although the storm warning
and weather disrupted work over the previous 3 days. Marine police
patrols appear to have reduced the thrt of intimidation. Nevertheless
there are still delays due to lack of labour and there is room for
considerable improvement still.
4. H.M.8. MINERVA was signalled by the Chinese station on the north east
head of the Lema Islands while rounding Po Toi Island preparatory to a
speed trial in the East Lamma channel. This is a normal procedure which
does involve a minor and short encroachment into Chinese waters. The
station on north east head fairly frequently sende warnings in these
circumstances but on this occasion the message was prefixed 'I lodge a
protest' which is unusual.
5. A corporal and two police constables are to be charged with causing
grievous bodily harm to a man held in custody from 24 to 26 June and now
in hospital. There is a possibility of
a more serious charge being raised.
SECRET
/(Passed
SECRET
(Passed to D.S.A.0. for Washington, Canberra, F.0. F.E. Dept. (Messrs.
Wilson, Bolland, de la Mare, Denson) Resident Clerk and Private Office
for Commonwealth Secretary)
(Passed to Singapore and Peking)
Distribution
-
H.K. WID 'C' I.G.D.
J.I.C. External Distribution
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
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P.8. to Prime Minister
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Treasury
#
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#
Export Credits Guarantee Department Ministry of Defence Rm. 7365)
D.I.O., J.I.R.
- P.8. to Mr. Rodgers
Mr. de la Mare
- Kr. Bolland
- Mr. Wilson
- Mr. Dens on
#
#
RE. 7163) Rm. 5131)
-
Board of Trade
π
(CRE 4)
Hong Kong Government Office
Australia House
(Senior External Affairs
Representative)
Canada House (Counsellor)
kr. Foggon
Mr. D. Hawkins
Mr. C.P. Rawlings Mr. Henn
Major Koe
N.0.2.
- Mr. J.A.B. Darlington
Mr. B.E.P. MacTavish Mr. P. Sedgwick
- Mr. Critchley
Kr. K. MacLellan
SECRET
R17
CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FRON HONG KONG (0..G.}
Cypher D. 28 June, 1967.
RELIVED IN ¡ARCHIVES No.31
30 JUN 1967
FD1/1
R.
28
H
1255Z
IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 930.
Addressed to Commonwealth office. Repeated PRIORITY to Peking No. 366.
11
==
"P.A. Singapore No. 205. "Washington No. 205. (s. of 3.
please pass to all).
147
My telegram No. 926.
SITREP as at 28 1800.
ре
The public transport situation has improved slightly. There have been no
deliveries of livestock, vegetables or poultry from China. Attempts are
being made to prevent the landing of fish and a four day strike in the
distribution and sale of foodstuffs is being planned.
2. There has been a small increase in the number of trams and buses
running except in Kowloon where however two shifts are now running again
and a larger and better service is being provided. In the harbour,
shortage of lighter crews continues slightly to hamper the discharging
of ships lying off the wharves- On land, the strike of lorry drivers has
created problems in the distribution of food, particularly that of
Chinese origin.
3. The stopping of deliveries of foodstuffs from China appears to have
stemmed from the initiative of workers here who during the last two days
have refused to handle arrivals.
As a result a more general attempt is now being made to paralyse the
Colony's distribution and retailing of food. The pigs held in Kowloon
last night were eventually unloaded at 2200, but there was a shortage of
pork today because kills were restricted. Prices rose about 15%. Only
limited supplies will be available tomorrow, No vegetables were
delivered but this has presented no problem. Attempts to stop fishermen
landing their catches here are being made and it is too early to assess
how effective this will be. Rice distribution, nearly back to normal, is
not a problem. The main issue is certainly the supply of pigs. If the
strike lasts only four days, as forecast for the C.P.G.- owned shops
known to be taking part, the difficulties are summountable. If however
supplies are withheld for a longer period, the situation could become
difficult. There is no evidence however that any such policy decision
has been taken by the C.P.G.
CONFIDENT IAL
/(Passed
CONFIDENTIAL
(Passed as requested and advance copies to
Commonwealth Secretary and Messrs. Bolland, de la Mare and Denson, Far
East Dept.)
Distribution
-
-
H.K. WID 'C' I.G.D.
J.I.C. External Distribution
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
Copies also sent to:-
P.8. to Prime Minister
Cabinet office
Foreign office
H
证
#
H
#
D.I.O., J.I.R.
P.9. to Mr. Rodgers Mr. de la Mare Mr. Bolland
Mr. Wilson
Mr. Denson
H
Ħt
Treasury
Export Credits Guarantee
Dept.
Mr. Foggon
Hr. D. Hawkins
Mr. C.P. Rawlings
Ministry of Defence Rm. 7365)
In
H
Board of Trade
#
幛 Rm. 7163)
-
(Rm. 5131)
H (CRE 4)
Hong Kong Government Office
Australia House
(Senior External Affairs
Representative)
Canada House (Counsellor)
Mr. Henn
Major Koe
1.0.2.
Mr. J.A.B. Darlington Mr. B.E.P. MacTavish
Mr. P. Sedgwick
Mr. Critchley
Mr. K. MacLellan
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM