hours tomorrow morning.
11 injured (1 serious).
2. By 2100 hours, 90 persons had been arrested and
At 2145 hours four C.S. gas shells were
fired in one incident in a resettlement estate: otherwise batons and
baton shells only employed so far.
(Passed as requested)
Distribution
-
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-
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J.I.C. EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION
Copies also sent to:-
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tt
tt
"
=
CONFIDENTIAL
D.I.O. J.I.R.
Mr. de la Mare
Mr. Denson Mr. Wilson Mr. Foggon
LAST
6
CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
an HOP
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
Cypher
D. 18th May, 1967. R. 12th
17522
5/12
îî
MAL
FLASH
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 581
COM FOR RICISTRATION
Addressed to Commonwealth Office (D.T.D.) Repeated Peking No.204
tt
tt
ar
P.A. Singapore No. 71
(Please pass Immediate to both)
In order to provide personnel from Auxiliary
Air Force for helicopter observer duties I have given approval to
Service Commander H.K. Defence Force making an order for limited
call-out of his unit or any part thereof for active service. By midnight
area affected by disturbances had returned to normal. Curfew effective
and most police units withdrawn although mobile patrols still operating.
127 persons arrested and 14 injured. In all 53 gas shells fired in
incidents during afternoon and evening. It is known that discussions now
taking place between Left-Wing Federation of Trade Unions and main
Left-Wing Unions. Kowloon Motor Bus Company employees considering token
strike action between 0700 and 0900. Although situation now quiet some
form of Left-Wing Union activity must be anticipated during the day.
(Passed as requested)
Distribution
-
H.K.W.I.D. 'C' I.G.D.
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Copies also sent to:-
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Foreign Office
10
1.
ון
11
-
D.I.O., J.I.R.
Mr. de la Mare
Mr. Denson Mr. Wilson
Mr. Foggon
CONFIDENTIAL
இரும்
VARO
CONFIDENTIAL
OUTWARD TELEGRAN
FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
TO HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
Cypher
HVB.5/12
Sent 11th May 1967.
2225Z
IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIAL
No.895
Repeated
T
Peking
#
" Singapore
8
Draft a
Addressed to Governor Hong Kong
5/12
HIJA #
Your telegram No.581.
Industrial Dispute.
We are very sorry to hear that you have this additional anxiety and do
not wish to add to your burdens at this present time. But it would be
most helpful if we could have very early telegraphic report on specific
labour background of this dispute leading up to the lock-out. What were
the matters in dispute? Were there any negotiations? If so, how and on
what points did they break down? Did the Labour Department offer its
services or intervene in any way?
(Passed to D.S.A.0. for repetition to Peking
and Singapore)
Distribution
-
H.K. W.I.D. 'C' I.G.D.
J.I.C. External Distribution
Copies also sent to:
Cabinet Office D.1.0. J.I.R. Foreign Office
"
Mr. de la Mare
11
10
=
++
-
Mr. Denson
Mr. Wilson
Mr. Foggon
CONFIDENTIAL
8
47
12.
PAR
1
En Clair
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 12th May 1967 R. 12th
It
0350Z
IMMEDIATE No.583
Addressed to Commonwealth Office (D.T.D.) Repeated
++
#
11
Peking No.205
POLAD Singapore No.72 "Washington No.111
My telegram No.581 (not to Washington).
Hong Kong disturbances.
The Left Wing papers this morning (12th May) devote the whole of their
front page, Hong Kong page and much other space to yesterday's incidents
in Sampokong. The reports and photographs are slanted to create the
impression of unnecessary police brutality.
2. The editorial in the Wen Wei Pao is entitled "A serious warning to
Trench". After a brief reference to the earlier incidents at the walled
city and the plastic factory the editorial gives a biased description of
yesterday's incidents at Sampokong. It then goes on "From this series of
bloody suppressions it can be seen completely clearly that this was a
planned premeditated action with a purpose taken by the British
Imperialist authorities in Hong Kong. This was a challenge by the
British Imperialist authorities in Hong Kong to our great Chinese
people. This racialist oppression was a serious atrocity committed by
the British Imperialist authorities in Hong Kong against our Chinese
compatriots in Hong Kong and Kowloon. This was a most brazen anti-China
activity taken by the British Imperialist authorities in Hong Kong in
carrying out United States imperialism's war policy and amounted to
taking United States Imperialism's chestnuts out of the fire".
3. The article adds "And now everything can be seen even more clearly.
In the drawing up of this plan the formulation of this decision and the
daring to commit auch violence the baton has been in the hands of the
highest local authority of the British Imperialists in Hong Kong. Trench
is the principal troublemaker behind the racialist oppression of our
compatriots in Hong Kong and Kowloon and the series of fascist
atrocities! Trench has carried out in Hong Kong the war policy of United
States Imperialism and has been the spearhead of anti-China activities.
All the criminal responsibility for the series of bloody suppressions
must be laid at his door",
40 "We wish severely to put to Trench the question: what do you think
you are doing in daring today at the door of our great motherland on
territory which has been occupied by the Chinese people over the ages to
engage in such frenzied
8
11918
/anti-
DA
anti-China activities to carry out racialist persecution and to suppress
bloodily our compatriots? Our great leader Chairman Mao teaches us "We
the Chinese Nation have the spirit to fig the enemy to the last drop of
blood, the determination to recover our lost territory by our own
efforts and the ability to stand on our own feet in the family of
nations". We wish severely to warn the highest local authority of the
British Imperialists in Hong Kong that the Chinese people who have armed
themselves with the ever victorious thoughts of Kao Tse Tung are not to
be trifled with! In accordance with the teachings of our great leader
Chairman Mao we shall wage a determined struggle "tit for tat and
fighting for every inch of territory" against whoever humiliates us or
persecutes us".
5. "We severely warn the highest local authority of the British
Imperialists in Hong Kong that you must immediately stop this violence
and persecution! You must immediately accept all the just demands put
forward by our patriotic compatriots. You must immediately stop this
bloody suppression. You must immediately release all those patriotic
workers and patriotic students barbarously detained by you. You must
immediately punish the culprits and apologise to our patriotic
6. "If you remain obdurate and do not heed our warning but go your own
way the responsibility for all the serious consequences will fall on the
shoulders of Trench the highest responsible person in the Hong Kong
British local authority".
7. Articles also contain further phrases inciting the police to
disaffect.
Distribution Hong Kong W.I.D. 'C'
- I.G.D.
J.I.C. External Distribution
Copies also sent to:
Cabinet Office - D.1.0. J.I.R.
-
Foreign Office Mr. de la Mare
##
-
-
"
It
=
Mr. Denson
Mr. Wilson
- Mr. Foggon
000116'G F. 316
SECRET
Ongival a Hit 13/4
SAVINGRAL
IOA
Copy No.
46
From:
To:
The Governor, Hong Kong.
Repeuted:
P.A. to C. in C. F. E.
21
The Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs
Poking
26
i'anuli
11
10.:
947
Kanila
5
Dute:
11 May, 1967
0. in C.F,Ë.
175
Ref.:
+
TS.2/57 III
1.
L.I.C. MONTHLY INTERNAL IN MULLIGENC. REPORT
APRIL, 1967
In the field of industrial relations in the Colony, the atmosphere has
remained consistently uneasy during the month. Disputes involving
left-wing unions have, in some cases, acquired an increasingly political
slant in that the left-wing has attempted to remove right-wing influence
in the firms involved, and, not unnaturally, both factions of the press
have, according to their political alignment, given considerable
prominence to the cause of the protagonists concerned. The continuing
publicity given in local left-wing circles to the co...unist victory
over the Macau Government remains an important influence in the militant
attitude being adopted by left-wing unions, (1.I.C. Int-mal Intelligence
Report for March 1967, paragraph 1 refers.) However this month 7 this
attitude itself has been subject to some fluctuation of intensity, a
reflection of the increased freedom allowed to the "rasses as a result
of local propaganda based on the Cultural Revolution in China. Certainly
the Federation of Trade Unions (...) and its affiliated Unions do not
appear to be exercising such rigid control ar in the past, though it is
pertinent to note that the disputes were largely confined to the parties
concerned and have received little organised support from unions
representing other trades.
The most significa
L
of the new series of disputes which
the
same arosc during the month involved two t...li firs owned by local
Chinese family, one in Hong Kong and one in Kowloon. In Hong Kong: the
dismissal of a left-wing taxi driver on the 28 March for inefficiency
inspired the communist controlled Mouer fransport Workers' General unior
(.. U.) (claimed meribership, 3,5l; paid up me bership, 1,130) to uewest
mis reinstate vent, the disr iesal of the supervisor involveu, him elf
to vice-chulen of the very much smaller right-wing lator Car Driver'
General Unon (M.C.D.G.U.) (claimed membership, 310; paid up me bership,
310), and at the same time took the opportunity to demand betler
conditions of service. The management agreed to all the demands except
the dismissal of the supervisor which became the crux of the dispute. By
the middle of the month as a result of a "go slow" on the part of the
ler't-wing drivers and the reduced takings therefrom, the management
decided to close down the business, giving priority to the sale of the
taxis to those drivers who had not taken part in the "go slow" and who
wished to purchase them.
The .T. U. not unnaturally denounced this move as a trick and
placed "peaceful" pickets outside the firm's garages.
3.
The press of both factions, which had been watching
developments avidly, became involved when two right-wing press
photographers were prevailed upon to hand over to the left-wing drivers
films which they had taken of the pickets. A statement
/issued
SECRET
0001140 G F. 116
1
SECRET
-2-
issued by the council of the local Press Society criticised this
incident as unwarranted interference with the freedom of the press and
this in turn has brought forth a further spate of attacks in the
left-wing press accusing the society of being a "U.S./CHIANG dominated
body". The two leading left-wing dailies are members of the society but
they are not represented on the council.
4..
The dispute came to a sudden end on 21 April with each side making
certain concessions, the basis for agreement being that, as the firm was
closing anyway, the supervisor (one of the main purchasers of the taxis)
would be formally dismissed. Both left and right-wing press claimed a
victory, the left-wing because the object of having the supervisor
dismissed had been achieved, while the right-wing pointed out that the
left-wing drivers had been thrown out of work and right-wing or neutral
drivers had become owners of their own taxis.
5.
The dispute in Kowloon dated back to the dismissal in January of a
left-wing driver, also for inefficiency. (L.I.C. Report for Jamary,
paragraph 7 refers). The M.T.U. made representations to the management
at the time, but subsequently allowed the matter to drop. un 1 April in
sympathy with counterparts on Hong Kong Island they decided to
resuscitate the affair and threatened a "go slo if he were not
reinstated. The management agreed to re-cmploy him but would only acce t
him as a "new" driver with no accumulated benefits, a condition which
was not acceptable to the union. A "go slow" started on 14 April and
takings vere reduced to some 10% of normal; this apparently perturbed
union officials who directed that the drivers should not make less than
25% of normal as they did not want the firm to follow the example of its
fellow in Hong Kong and close down. On 22 April, folloving the
settlement of the Hong Kong Island dispute, the H.T.. called off the "go
slow" as a condition for the management considering the re-instatement
of the dismissed driver. At a meeting held in the Labour Department on
25 April, after some spirited haggling between the management and the
.T.U., the former agreed to re-instate the driver with his accumulated
benefits intact, but with certain undertakings with regard to his future
conduct. Thereafter business returned to normal. Ho ever, at the end of
the month a third taxi company owned by the same family as closed,
following negotiations for the sale of the taxis to the drivers the
majority of whom vere right-wing or neutral. There had been no dispute
in this company and it appears that the family concerned is endeavouring
to withdraw completely from this part of its manifold business
operations.
:
6.
There has been no settlement in the dispute at the Han Fun Textile
Factory (L.I.C. Monthly Internal Intelligence Report for March 1967,
paragraph 3 refers). For the first three days of the month the left-wing
Spinning Weaving and Dyeing Trade General Union (S. .D.T.3.Ụ.) (claimed
membership, 5,765; paid up membership, 3,623) became more active and
groups of workers visited the factory several times a day; while
representatives were seeing the management, other workers remained
outside chanting the Thoughts of MAO Tse-tun ̧. During one such visit on
3 April, a reporter from a right-wing paper, who had been taking
photographs, was chased when he refused to hand over his film to the
workers", He took refuge
in the Police Traffic Ofice, Tsuen Wan, where a crowd of some sixty
gathered and remained for over an hour. Apart from a visit by a small
group of Union officials to Tsuen an Police Station some days later to
demand that the films be handed over, the matter has not been taken any
further. Since then the Union's activities have been confined to
infrequent calls at the factory by a small group of Union officials.
However, visits to the Union premises by
comfort parties of workers from other factories have continued. The
/management
SECRET
000160 0.F. 316
SECRET
-3-
management has refused to accede to union demands and the situation
remains as it did at the end of arch with production normal
at the factory, and with the workers still apparently undecided as be
their future course of action.
7.
The Hong Kong Seamen's Union (H.K.S, U.) (cluimed membership,
27,000; paid up membership, 13,200) continued during the beginning of
the month to celebrate the "victory" over the Royal Interocean Lines (R.
I,L.) in the dispute concerning the shooting incident on their vessel
the "straat Malukka" (L. I.C. Konthly Internal Intelligence Report for
March 1967, para:raph 2 refers). The 7.T.U. is exemplirying this dispute
as the model of the way in w ich labour disputes should be conducted and
has organised a series of large scale meetings of representatives from
affiliated unions to discuss and analyse the lessons to be learned. The
R. E. S, U. has conducted three further successful negotiations with
ship owners during the month. The first dispute concerned the crew of a
Danish ship which was being sold to a left-wing shipping company.
The union demanded two month's severance pay in lieu of the one month
allowed by Danish law, and some reflections of the "Straat Malukka"
dispute were apparent in that the union also demanded an apology from
the captain for acking, the police to stand by when he feared trouble on
board. The union 100 threatened to send daily delegation to the rent's
office an! hold up the sale of the vessel, 1: the counds wore no moto
The sccord dispute concerned the entries in the discharge books of se.
en who had left their vessel in iopia after a quarrel rith other Chinese
members of the crew, and the third, the arrest of a Chinese motorman in
Port Moresby after a quarrel with a British ship's officer. On this
latter occasion an apology was again demanded from the Captain. In all
three disputes the owners or their agents agreed in full to the union's
demands.
Left-wing workers in a number of other companies have
approached their managements with demands for better pay and conditions
and in the majority of cases have at least been partially successful.
Stoppages of work have occurred in sever.l of the factories concerned,
including two factories owned by an artificial flower company where some
500 workers are affected, and the Green Island Cement Co., (L. I. C.
Monthly Intelligence Report for March, 1966, paragraph 4 refers). A
small group of workers in two Government departments, the later works
and the Medical departments, have also made representations on their
particular conditions of service, but so far there has been no overt
union support.
9.
24
Labour Day celebrations on 1 May passed off quietly; a large number of
left-wing union celebrations were held in the Workers' Club of the F.T.
U., whilst, as in previous years, others were held at union premises and
restaurants throughout the Colony. The Kuomintang (K.M. T.) controlled
Trade Union Council (T. .U.C.) held its usual celebration at its
Headquarters and right- wing unions also held functions at union
premises and restaurants. There were no indications of an increase in
scale of either left or right-wing celebrations, but as a reflection of
the increased activity in the labour field, all functions were well
ttended, The main themes of the pucches at the left-wing fuccion were
praise of the Cultural Revolution in China and the manner in which the
Thoughts of M40 Tc-wn have been victorious in recent labour disputes,
Ble Fong Kong Seamen's Union/Royal Interocean Lines and the Central Taxi
Company disputes being cited as examples. Several references were also
made to the great "victory" over the Macau Government. At right-wing
celcbrations, the speeches followed the usual now well worn pattern of
condemnation of conditions on the mainland and the oppression of the
workers. Aaditional atı-
were made
against left-wing unions for creating .rest ip
'hdustric3
SECAC
5001166 OF 316
SECRET
-4-
10.
As anticipated, the study of the Thoughts of MAC Tse-
tung has been further intensified in all left-wing circles, and the
printing of copies of "Quot tions from Chairman M.0" is to bc speeded
up, special groups having been formed within printing companies for this
purpose. Although the target for the sales of this booklet in 20 Lon, is
200,000, soine le ng Ivetting personalities conside. wa mitin 10 too low
and should be raised to 600,000. 150,000 of the English version of the
"rone ciors" are being produced in the Colony, mainly for export to Port
America and Europe anl with staffs of printing comp.nie working
overtime, are expected to be available at the beginning of May.
- L
་
On
11.
Plans to expand communist controlled schools continue and the Sun Kiu
¡iddle School has decided to open a fund raising campaign to enable a
Primary succion to be opened in Wanchai, The campaign by the Heung To
Middle School to raise HK$500,000 for a new branch (L. I. C. Internal
Intelligence Report for arch, 1967 paragraph 6 refers) has already
raised over $100,000. 7 April the Chung Hwa Middle School held a formal
found..tion stone laying ceremony for a new school to replace the
present hired premises. It was announced cnat HK$600,000 had been raised
for the project, now due to be completed in August, although more was
still needed.
12.
During the first half of March the left-wing press
continued its attacks on Government, culminating in the middle of the
month with articles appearing in both the two leading left- wing dailies
listing a number of incidents dating from the riots in 1956 to the
flying of the K.1.7. flag during the recent Hong Kong Golf Championship.
These, it was alleged, proved that Government and H. L. the Governor in
particular are comiving with the "Chiang clique" who are intensifying
their activities in the Colony. An editorial in the Afternoon News
alleged that the C.P.G. has, since coming into power, been keeping a
record of the deeds of the Hong Kong Government and that "one day the
account will be settled". The presence of U.S. ships in the harbour,
particularly those which have been reported as taking part in the
bombardment of North Vietnam, and the use of Kai fak Tild by U.S.
military planes, we gain the subject of avbuc Government. Although onus
pcrles of anti-Governut abated somewhat by the end of the month,
criticin 1 of "50
"le.lot to turn Hong Kong into country" continued. An in action of Low
sensitive the left-win is on this subject is the prominence given in the
left-wing press to a series of letters criticising a debate held on 17
March between pupils of the Government Queen's College and the Catholic
Maryknoll Girls' School at which the subject was "Is the independence of
Hong Kong desirable?"
a
1
LL on
eticles had
Cypher
CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 12th May, 1967.
tt R. 12th
04102
Copy a HUD 3/2
COPY FOR DE NATION
Addressed to Commonwealth Office
Peking No.206
Repeated
...
帽
#
POLAD Singapore No.73
11
IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 584
·IN
No.61
REL
من
Lisbon No.1313
(S. of S. please pass to Lisbon, Routine).
My telegram No. 581 (not to Lisbon).
Industrial Disturbances in Hong Kong.
In Macao, the British Consulate, the Permit Office and the Consul's
Residence have been daubed with slogans expressing sympathy for
compatriots in Hong Kong. The Consulate is at present the centre of
attention but nothing more aggressive than daubing has yet taken place.
2.
We are keeping in constant contact.
The Governor of Macao is considering what steps he can take to protect
the Consulate and staff.
(Passed to D.S.A.0. for repetition to Lisbon)
Distribution
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Copies also sent to:-
Cabinet Office
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11
忖
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-
D.I.O. J.I.R.
- Mr. de la Mare
Mr. Denson
- Mr. Wilson
Mr. Foggon
CONFIDENTIAL
MA
SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
Cypher
D. 12th May, 1967. R. 12th
**
0825Z
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No. 63
U/
-2-01
8
FLASH SECRET No. 589
COM FOR NEZISTO A TIČNA
Addressed to Commonwealth Office, Repeated FLASH to Peking, No. 207.
IMMEDIATE to POLAD Singapore, No. 74
(3. of S. please pass to both).
12
mit a
fika
Your telegram 894.
ตุ
✓ see
Disturbances in Hong Kong.
19
All available information suggests that the disturbances at the
artificial flower works on 6th May were not planned in advance by the
Rubber and Plastic Workers' Union nor by any other organisation. The
rank and file had been encouraged to develop a "struggle" against the
management, and what started as peaceful picketing degenerated into
violence.
2. I do not believe that the Hong Kong Left wing leadership were at that
stage looking for a confrontation with Government. But with the arrests
of the workers the dispute became a "political struggle"; and it now
appears that the leadership have little alternative but to exert all-out
pressure on the Hong Kong Government to accept the demands
paragraph 2 of my telegram No. 557) which have been made in the style of
Macao. The Left wing press today publishes a further demand, that
Government apologise to the arrested workers; and no doubt more demands
are likely to be added.
3. There were some indications that the Left wing had been trying, at
least until yesterday, to restrict the "struggle" to the places where
disputes were actually taking place, notably the cement and the
artificial flover works. No sympathetic strike action has yet taken
plans.
However,
the leadership have clearly had difficulty in keeping the rank and file
under control; and these difficulties are now likely to be increased.
Until the Left wing leaders achieve some success which will prove the
power of the thoughts of Mao Tse Tung and will also prove that they
themselves are loyal followers of the cultural revolution, the
"struggle" is likely to be intensified.
SECRET
/4.
اختا
рад
SECRET
4.
The Left wing and Government now seem to be set on a collision course.
Even the incidents which have occurred so far could have a grave effect
on general confidence in Hong Kong; and they are clearly as little in
the interosto of the C.P.G. as of ourselves. We have been trying,
through the few channels at our disposal, to make this point to local
Left- wing leaders. But their freedom of action is very restricted. In
the circumstances, you may wish to consider the possibility of making
early representations to the C.P.G. in London if not in Peking, to
ensure that they are aware of the very serious implications of the
situation as it may be developing.
I
can see that there might be technical difficulties in finding a peg on
which to hang a discussion of this sort, but there seems a serious
danger that unless the local Left wing are directed from a very high
level to pursue a more moderate policy, things may get out of hand.
5.
An approach might take the following lines:-
(a) The Hong Kong Government much regret the disturbances
that have taken place in Hong Kong during the past week. The C.P.G.
should know that there is no change in Hong Kong Government policy
towards Left-wing labour organisations. The policy is now, as always, to
maintain the law impartially and fairly. Govern- ment realise that in
some cases workers may well have legitimate grievances. As the Royal
Interocean Lines dispute showed, there are ways of remedying these by
action within the law.
(b) But if the workers break the law, the Hong Kong
Government must enforce the law. Hong Kong depends for its existence on
stability and confidence. Disorderly action by labour here is bound to
attract world attention and to damage, possibly permanently, Hong Kong's
economic prospects for the future. The interests not only of Hong Kong
Government but of the workers of Hong Kong and possibly also China will
be seriously affected.